Clean UP

[band1t]

looking for 2 bits of info.
My Trans ams red paint is about 7 years old and is starting to haze
I was wondering whats a good polish to bring the red back?



also I have seen some people (on tv) do polish
without washing the car down is that a smart thing to do???
or should I wash and than polish?

[brans72]

I know I am not a pro but I would recomm a good washing first,then clay bar entire car (yes this will suck and you will hate it),afterwards I would apply a good wax. I know I might forgot then buff stage which I think somes after wax. This way is back breaking but have seen super good results from clay baring a car and good wax. Just my .02 Brandon

[band1t]

I never used a clay bar.
But I have been around modeling clay and I know its oily
will the clay bar leave a oily film on the car??
to give it a wet look??

[elitecustombody]

Clay bar will not leave oily residue or give wet look, it's made to remove rail dust,dead bugs,e.t.c. that have attached to the paint, nothing more. It is however is highly recommended prior buffing. I use 3M compound

[band1t]

ok so wash than clay bar
( I think the hand wash will get it clean but anyways)
I was told wax pits into the paint and to always polish

so my question is whats a good brand to bring the red back
and lose the haze look

[astroracer]

When I bought the red '94 Formula the paint was terribly hazed. It actually took 4 polishings to get the shine to stay. I ended up with a 3 step process that worked well.
The first step is as the guys mentioned above. Wash and clay bar. You will not believe the way the paint will feel after the claying. This will not really do anything for the shine BUT it cleans all of the junk off the paint so you aren't polishing that crap into it. Very worth while.
Second step was using 3M's hand glaze to cut through the haze.
Third step was finishing it off with a good quality wax. I use different waxes with no certain recommendations, your choice, basically. most of them are good and will do the job.
If the paint has been neglected, as in my case, you may end up doing this a number of times.
Mark

[band1t]

I am going to try Turtle Wax Ice Car Polish(if thats a good brand???) this weekend if its not to hot outside.
Ill post a before and after pic.
hope to see some change in the shine.

[brans72]

doing all the steps right?

[band1t]

doing all the steps right?

thats the game plan

mothers makes the clay bar right?

[astroracer]

Here is a pic of the car the day we brought it home.

After the 2nd round of polishing.

As it sits today in which I haven't touched it since last year.

The last time I polished and waxed I used Eagle 1 Nano Wax it made quite a difference in the shine.
You can see it here between the unpolished door and the polished rear fender

[brans72]

yes mothers makes a whole line of great products if used right.

[band1t]

now wont crap build up on the clay bar and start scratching into the paint over time??

[astroracer]

The recommendation is to constantly turn and fold the bar to keep a clean side out. If your paint is really grundgy you will want to pay attention to the bar. if it gets to loaded up you will want to toss it. most of my vehicles have never been that bad and I can generally get two or three uses out of one bar. Just go easy, follow the directions (sic) and DON'T rub the bar on the paint. Use the lube generously and simply slide it along...

[band1t]

just read some reviews on that ice polish and people say its CRAP
I am glad I didnt wast my time with it

so the question remains on what is a good polish ?

I don't care about what makes water bead off cause I am not driving in the rain
all the time

[brans72]

I like meguiars classic gold since I can get local.

[capinpimp]

If your not going to use a buffer and are going to hand apply a product try a swirl remover, I prefer the blue coral swirl remover. When I am satisfied with the look I have I use paint sealer from blue coral also. It can withstand much more heat than wax and lasts longer also. After the sealer you can come back with wax to give it "that look" I have used many combinations of many companies when I wetsand and buff a car.

Lately I have had best results with 3M rubbing compound to get sand scratches/sanding out of the clear. Do that with a white foam cutting pad, or wool if you prefer. Then I use a light cutting blue pad with poorboys SSR2.5 to massage out the compound swirls. After that blue coral swirl remover is applied with a black polishing pad, then sealer and/or wax (both of which are poorboys products)

[band1t]

well I washed the car down real good
I dryed the car
I asked myself where to start so took the clay bar to the truck deck
smoothed the sucker out real good ( took for ever)
than after a dozen coats of polish its still hazed

I dont get it