Oxidized paint restoring

[greenforest56]

I had an 83 Pontiac Grand Prix with white paint that had become oxidized. Around 92 I restored it using McGuiar's products, as they recommended at the time. The results were great. I now need to repeat this with my 78 white Caddy Seville.

Here was the three step process:

1) Medium cut cleaner. This actually took off the top layer of paint (great GM paint jobs, you could do this). It was a self-limiting abrasive and I was very pleased with it. I believe the Mirror Glaze 1 Medium Cut Cleaner would be that product now.

2) Sealer. This slathered on very easily and came off very easily. It left a glossy finish but you could tell it just sealed and would easily weather off. It was just a prep for the last step.

3) Waxing. I used a a hard paste wax, which I think was essentially a pure carnuba wax.

The result was like a new paint job. My question is, what product would be equal to step number two, the sealer? Remember, this was circa 92 when I did this.

I guess your top grade wax would now be step three.

Thanks

[Don]

The options available to you are even more broad than they were then. The questions that need answered before any real sound advice can be given are:

Are you going to be working by hand or machine?

What exactly is the condition of your paint? This is best demonstrated by a picture.

The simple answer is to start with either Scratch-X or Color-X.

Scratch-X is a heavy-duty HAND cleaner, no protection, but great cleaning/swirl removal.

Color-X is comparable to Megs Cleaner Wax (The Maroon bottled stuff available everywhere), but it's stronger with better protection.

To finish thing off, NXT paste or Liquid will work fine, or you can use the tried and trusted #26 paste.

[Murr1525]

Well, I think with all the new products over the last few years, you are going to have a lot more options. Also, there is a basic 5-step procudure to getting best results. (Assuming working by hand).

1. Wash - Use a high quality wash like Gold Class or Nxt.

2. Clay - Use Meguiars Quick Clay

3. Clean - For some oxidation/swirls, you may have to go around the car with ScratchX.

4. Polish - A polish like Deep Crystal System #2 will be easy for this step.

5. Wax - 2 thin coats of wax is best. Gold Class, Nxt Wax, or #26 will all be good for u.


If you only have light oxidation, and want to remove a step or two, you can also try this process:

1. Wash - As above

2. Clay - As above

3. ColorX - This is a great one step product, really can make a huge difference.

4. Wax - as above, though you can use 1 coat.

Be sure to check out this link:

Bronco Makeover

[greenforest56]

Thanks. However, If I do use the medium cut cleaner, what would be the next step? A sealer of some sort? If so, which product?

Also, to change the subject, I have the 1990 4Runner with cloth seats that still look like new. Over the years I've tried many products to keep them clean. The best I have ever found is plain Spray and Wash (availabe, any grocery store) and a damp sponge. After cleaning and drying with towel, spray a couple of coats of Scotch Guard. Do this every 4 - 6 months. (more often w/kids)

[Murr1525]

Well, if you want to use the medium-cut, you would want to follow it up with a polish. Either DC#2, or something like #7 Glaze or #81 Hand Polish from the professional line.

#1 would just be the cleaner used in the 'Clean - ' step I mentioned above.

[greenforest56]

Glaze!

Yes, I think that was it, 'Glaze'. Thanks.

BTW, what do the numbers on the product represent, anything important? I dont mean the product ID #, but the number that is part of the name, i.e. Glaze #7, Medium cut cleaner #1, etc.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by greenforest56
Thanks. However, If I do use the medium cut cleaner, what would be the next step? A sealer of some sort? If so, which product?

Hi greenforest56,

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Typically in what we call an Old School hand rub-out using products from our traditional Mirror Glaze Professional Line, after using our M01 Medium Cut Cleaner you would have the option to either follow this fairly aggressive paint cleaner with a less aggressive paint cleaner like the M02 Fine Cut Cleaner, or move on to using either a cleaner/polish like M09 Swirls Remover 2.0 or a pure polish like M07 Show Car Glaze and then after this apply one or two thin coats of a pure wax like the M16 Professional Paste Wax or the M26 Hi Tech Yellow Wax.

Today we don't recommend using the M01 Paint cleaner by hand but that's because a majority of cars on the road today have a clear coat finish and this product is too aggressive for clear coat finishes unless it's applied using a rotary buffer. Because the paint on this Cadillac is a single stage finish you can still get away with applying #1 Medium Cut Cleaner by hand, typically with a piece of terry cloth toweling.

From your post I can tell you are very aware that this is a very aggressive paint cleaner so do use caution if you choose to apply it by hand to your Cadillac's finish.

You might consider either ScratchX or ColorX using a piece of terry cloth toweling instead. Both of these products, like the #1 Medium Cut cleaner, utilize diminishing abrasives, but they are microscopic in size and more gentle to the finish. You will get the same great cleaning results while working more gentle on the finish which may be a good idea considering the age of this paint.

When you get a chance, read through these threads...

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX



While the title of this thread is "How to Remove Swirls by Hand", the products and process will work just as effectively for removing oxidation and restoring a beautiful finish.

How To Remove Swirls By Hand


Then... how about a before and after picture of your handiwork?

[greenforest56]

two stage beginning

When did American auto makers start using two stage, clear coat paint finishes? Sometime in the mid 80's? I know most mid 80's Corvettes had really lousy paint jobs, clear coat peeling is very common. As usual, it takes a while for GM to get it right...... It sometimes seems their older paint jobs were better than the 85-93 jobs. Especially the 58-82 jobs....

[greenforest56]

type buffer

Also, I see references to rotary buffers. I have a buffer that both rotates and moves in and out. I use it only for removing dried wax during the waxing process. It seems unsatisfactory for applying anything. It lseems ike others have buffers that only rotate, are these better for applications?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: two stage beginning

Originally posted by greenforest56
When did American auto makers start using two stage, clear coat paint finishes? Sometime in the mid 80's? I know most mid 80's Corvettes had really lousy paint jobs, clear coat peeling is very common. As usual, it takes a while for GM to get it right...... It sometimes seems their older paint jobs were better than the 85-93 jobs. Especially the 58-82 jobs....

The change-over started in the early 80's.

Here's a 1982 Corvette I buffed out with the original clear coat still intact...



I tend to enjoy working on single-stage finishes more than clear coats and especially enjoy restoring older, original paint finishes.

Here's a modern single stage finish I had the opportunity to buff-out that for some reason just looks blacker than a clear coated black finish.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: type buffer

Originally posted by greenforest56
Also, I see references to rotary buffers. I have a buffer that both rotates and moves in and out. I use it only for removing dried wax during the waxing process. It seems unsatisfactory for applying anything. It lseems ike others have buffers that only rotate, are these better for applications?

Read this,

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

[Pete-FWA]

Re: Oxidized paint restoring

Originally posted by greenforest56
I now need to repeat this with my 78 white Caddy Seville.

Is it the original white? Hard top or vinyl? I'd love to see some photos of that car. That was such a revolutionary body style for Cadillac. It retained the stylish lines, but had a more compact and efficient size that many people enjoyed.

[greenforest56]

truck

That truck looks awesome. Do you recall what you used on it?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: truck

Originally posted by greenforest56
That truck looks awesome. Do you recall what you used on it?

Wipe down with Quik Detailer
Clay with Quik Clay System
M84/W-7006/RB - 1500 RPM
M83/W-8006/RB - 1500 RPM
M80/W-8006/G100 - 5.0 SS
NXT/W-9006/G100 x 2 - 3.0 SS

Charge: $400.00
Tip: $75.00

[gb387]

Re: Re: truck

Originally posted by Mike Phillips

Charge: $400.00
Tip: $75.00

The look: priceless!

looks great!