How to polish your paint!

[Cow_doc.308]

Out of curiosity, what would you expect to pay for a shop to do this? My runner has some pretty good oxidation on the hood and roof and I'm going to go ahead and say I don't have the time, patience, or skill to go through this whole process myself.

 

[snivilous]

Awesome, thanks! Bookmarked so when I go home my truck can look like it isn't owned by a poor student

 

[Spaceman33]

Think this method will remove scratches I put on my ride when I removed the pin stripes?

I used a heat gun to get the stripes off but the residual glue was a PITA.

I used some rubbing compound that got the glue off but left rough areas with minute scratches.

Paint is in great shape and I hate that I f#$% it up.

Thanks

 

[5RUNNERZ]

No it will definitely get out a lot of scratches even some deep ones!

 

[tee-bone]

- this is just another person's experience, not intended to be anti-OP, whose post I thought was great.

About 18 months ago, I decided to do the same kind of project. My white runner was looking a little chalky. There were a fair number of surface scratches. And I wanted to remove the luggage rack (it was faded, and frankly I never use it) and the paint underneath it was all stained.

I heard that using a rotary buffer was scary stuff - and being someone who can screw anything up, I decided to go for a random orbital polisher.

I looked at the Griot's Garage, Porter Cable, and the Meguiars. I ended up with the Meguiars, mostly because I found their forums really useful, and the pricing was similar on all three.

I got the polisher, some Ultimate Compound, some NXT wax, and the pads they recommended. I also got some spray on quick cleaner like they use at dealerships to clean up the splatter. And some 3M blue tape. I think the whole thing was around $200. Spendy, but less than what I'd pay for one thorough polish/detail. And it really, really looks good. I have redone most areas a second time by now, but frankly I don't think it really needed any more than a wax.

I highly recommend both the Meguiars products and their forums.

 

[voda48]

It is amazing what a good polisher and some time can do. I recently detailed my 2002 with my Porter Cable RO. The oxidation that comes off the paint is amazing, it really helps the color pop.

In the photo, the pad on top is actually orange like the pad below. The sad thing is that was only after hitting just the hood. I went through sooooo many pads that weekend... good thing I have an arsenal of detailing products.

 

[LittleCaesar]

It is amazing what a good polisher and some time can do. I recently detailed my 2002 with my Porter Cable RO. The oxidation that comes off the paint is amazing, it really helps the color pop.

In the photo, the pad on top is actually orange like the pad below. The sad thing is that was only after hitting just the hood. I went through sooooo many pads that weekend... good thing I have an arsenal of detailing products.

Did the Lake Country pad just pull away from its backing plate? Wow. And to think you managed doing that just using a PC.:hail:

 

[I-4x4]

First thing first make sure you wash the truck first! MAKE SURE THERE IS NO DIRT ANY WHERE. If dirt gets in the pad or on the truck it will destroy you truck! So make sure you are watching what yo do!

Unto that end, you should edit your post to include cleaning with a clay bar.

Clay Bar Auto Detailing Guide - Detailed Image

I watched someone polish a black Tacoma (washed but didn't use a clay bar). Swirl marks galore!

 

[voda48]

Unto that end, you should edit your post to include cleaning with a clay bar.

Clay Bar Auto Detailing Guide - Detailed Image

I watched someone polish a black Tacoma (washed but didn't use a clay bar). Swirl marks galore!

Polish and a good pad will get ride of the swirl marks. Really the clay helps remove crude that is sticking to the paint surface. I really only clay every other time I polish (however I polish my cars several times a year).