14 Hour Complete Exterior Detail!

[gnotti211]

Originally posted by red kiosk
gnotti211,

Beautiful, beautiful detail job. You know what they say… Nissan Super Black is the new black. Seriously, before I purchased my new MO, looking at photos of your car on this forum, cemented my desire to finally purchase a black car. I too lurk around the Autopia forum and have picked up some helpful info for detailing. Lately, I've been using Aerospace 303 Protectant inside my wheel wells. It keeps them looking great and they clean-up even better.
What do you use on your wheels? They look great! I'm kind of a Zymol guy and like using their Estate Glazes. Something about applying wax with your bare hands is so satisfying. I've got five coats of their Titanium Estate Glaze on my LE wheels , a very deep gloss and it seems to hold up quite well, even through a Chicago winter.
But then again, I'm a 09' LE owner and we get new wheels every year (that is, until the warranty runs out).

Once again, a great detail job and thanks for posting the photos. Next weekend, I'll be looking for your upcoming thread…

14 Hour Complete INTERIOR Detail!

Take care!

Jim

Jim,

Autopia can be dangerous...it should come with a disclaimer that says "browsing this forum may lead to an uncontrollable urge to purchase every kind of detailing product!"

I have heard great stuff about 303, but I like to stick with Chemical Guys...it smells great! On my wheels, I usually just clean them with soap and water cause they are never THAT dirty...and then I chose to protect them with Collinite 845 this time.

As for the interior -- its never dirty!! I don't think I could even do a 3 hour detail on it...I would find myself making a mess just so I can clean it up.

[Scott-Murano]

Excellent job man.

[gnotti211]

Originally posted by Scott-Murano
Excellent job man.

Thanks Scott...appreciate it!

[Warhammer]

gnotti211 -- What kind of pad did you use for your orbital? Terry, microfiber, or foam?

You've inspired me to do the same thing to my MO but have some of the same heavy swirling and some minor scratches. I have the following products sitting in my garage:

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...1=MEG+SWIRL+16
http://www.autogeek.net/3mperllrubco.html

I'm thinking that these will take care of pretty much any swirl marks but will need something more agressive for the bigger ones.

Thanks!

[gnotti211]

Originally posted by Warhammer
gnotti211 -- What kind of pad did you use for your orbital? Terry, microfiber, or foam?

You've inspired me to do the same thing to my MO but have some of the same heavy swirling and some minor scratches. I have the following products sitting in my garage:

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/produc...1=MEG+SWIRL+16
http://www.autogeek.net/3mperllrubco.html

I'm thinking that these will take care of pretty much any swirl marks but will need something more agressive for the bigger ones.

Thanks!

Warhammer,

I used a 6.5" orange foam pad with the Ultimate Compound and a 6.5" white foam pad with the #205. For those two, I would purchase a orange foam pad to use with the compound and a white pad to follow up with the meguiars #9 to remove any other imperfections. What kind of orbital do you have?

I'm glad that I inspired you...there's nothing like a clean car (and garage)...

[Warhammer]

Duh...I should have read your initial email in more detail. I was too captivated by your pictures.

I checked my equipment this morning and I have the following:

10" Vector WaxxPro 3000RPM Random Orbital Waxer/Polisher -- http://www.buy.com/prod/vector-vec23.../90144533.html

2 x 10" Terry Cloth Bonnets
2 x 10" Microfiber Bonnets
1 x 10" Foam Bonnet

And tons of microfiber cloths for wiping things down after the work is done. I keep everything in quart size plastic freezer bags while not in use so dirt doesn't get caught in the fibers while sitting in my garage.

What do you think?

[gnotti211]

To be honest, I think you might have a hard time removing swirls and scratches with that orbital because it only has 3000RPM. I could be wrong though. I am just basing this off of my experience with my random orbital that had 6000RPM, which I was at consistently throughout the detail...and I felt like it wasn't powerful enough.

What color is your MO? If its anything other than black, you could get away with it...but I would hate for you to waste your time cause I know how that feels. Do a small test section on your hood and see if you made any progress, if you did...go for it then!

Let me know..

[Warhammer]

Mine is the dark blue. It came from CarMax with lots of swirl marks and has gotten a few deeper scratches since I've owned it.

If I need double the RPM or go even higher, then what I have will not work. I'll call the local paint supply company or go by an auot parts store to see what else they have. But if what you had worked well, then maybe it's time to step up my game as well.

I'm ultimately looking to get out some deeper scratches out of my wife's black Sentra. The daughter drug a window squeege over the paint when there was dirt on it. Looks like a damn checker board. I want to practice on the swirls and deeper scratches on my MO before tackling the big job.

I'm always down for more tools though!

[gnotti211]

I would look into either a Porter Cable 7424XP or the Meguiars G110 Polisher...both have gotten good reviews and can be used by anyone with little experience

[MRM1]

gnotti211 - Your picture post totally motivated me today. I spent the better part of the morning reading your thread, and then hopped over to autopia.org and really went to school.

Your MO looks amazing. I was so inspired that I ran down to the local auto parts store and picked up some Meguiars Ultimate Compound and a few Micro towels. I already had some of Megs NXT 2.0 liquid. A few days after I brought my '06 MO home last month my cat decided the top of the MO was a perfect place to sleep. scratched up the top pretty good He was getting up there from the stairs. I moved the MO after 3 days of that - problem solved - but scratches remained.

I got home today and used my cheap orbital polisher with the Megs UC and was amazed at the results. I clayed first, then UC'ed the top, then applied the NXT. Fantasic. Sratches are still there (not filled) but not directly visable anymore

When I have time I want to start over bumper-to-bumper from the begining with:
1. Wash and Clay
2. IPA wipe 50/50
3. UC
4. IPA wipe
5. Klasse All-In-One
6. And some kind of multi layer LSP (maybe with Klasse High Gloss Sealant or P21S Carnauba Wax or maybe #16 or #26 - not sure yet)

But I have searched the Acronym Decoder and around on the boards - WHAT IS THE MEGS #205 you used? Have not been able to find it. Why did you use this product between the UC and the KSG? What is the purpose / benifit of #205

**EDIT**

Never mind, found the #205
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-finishing-polish.html

[MRM1]

Originally posted by Warhammer
I'm always down for more tools though!

Did you ever get a Higher RPM polisher? What did you end up with?

I would like to get an entry level polisher as it appears my MVP died today. Did not work well any way.

I keep getting pointed toward the Porter Cable 7424XP. Kinda pricy for my 2 or 3 times a year needs, but what else is there. Here are the best prices I have found so far on the Porter Cable:

Polisher and 6" hoop and Lake Country loop back pad- $119
http://www.coastaltool.com/a/port/7424xp_polisher.htm

Then you need to by the various pads you might need at $10 each:
http://www.coastaltool.com/a/lakecou...ffing-pads.htm

Seems the same PC kit with pads would be about the same if you needed all the pads - PC Polishing Kit - $189:
http://www.detailcity.com/porter-cab...ofile-kit.html

Still a bit more than I want to pay. What are others using for the few times a year DIY polisher?

-Mike

[Scott-Murano]

Congrats on a job well done, wish I had your tile floor in my garage. Cool

[Phatty McPatty]

What is IPA? I'm familiar with the beer!

My MO is in serious need of a detail. I was spray painting a chair about 40 feet away from the MO and somehow covered it in fine, white specks of paint. It got on everything. When you polish the vehicle, do you polish the glass too? Not sure what I'll do for the paint specks on the plastic and rubber. Can you use the clay bar on these materials? Any tips would be appreciated.

Patrick

[g1teg]

Amazing! I have the black also, and I spent just 3 hours a few weeks back, and it didnt feel great, there were too many places I could see for improvement... Might end up doing what you did, though likely not as well!

Did you pay for your grille to be painted, or was that a DIY? I want to do it, but afraid it wont look great. Yours is amazing!

[MRM1]

Originally posted by Phatty McPatty
What is IPA? I'm familiar with the beer!

Sorry, IPA is Isopropyl Alcohol. Use a 50/50 mix with distilled water to remove old wax, clean.

Here is a pretty good starter on Paint Repair:
http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...nt-clinic.html

I used Meguiars Ultimate Compound to do the scratches and restore of the top. This may also work for your paint over spray

On Cleaning Glass ... does this help?
http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-d...s-plastic.html