Today's Detail
 

I decided to take advantage of the good weather today and detail my fiance's 07 Focus. There are some before pictures in my gallery to show the type of swirls I was dealing with. I took some afters when I was done but the sun was hiding behind the trees so they don't show the detail I would have liked. I'm gonna try again tomorrow for some direct sun shots and will post them when I get them.

My process was as follows:
1. Wash with Gold Class soap (2 bucket method)
2. Clay
3. #80 - 2 passes on the hood, trunk and roof. 1 pass everwhere else
4. #21 - 1 coat
5. Gold Class Wax - 1 coat
6. Stoner's on windows. Put some RainX on the windshield.
7. Hyperdressing in wheel wells.
8. Meg's Hot Shine on tires.

I'm happy to say that I think my technique with the DA is improving but there were still some spots I was dissappointed in. Everything didn't come out swirl-free, like I wanted it to. I'm blaming it on technique. Maybe not using the right amount of pressure or polish. Maybe trying to tackle too big of an area at once. Not sure yet. But I managed to get out 95% of the swirls.

However, the paint looks terrific. Great reflections. Great depth.

Don't worry, I'll get those pics up as soon as I get them.

The more you use the DA the better you get at it. It takes a lot of patience to get all the swirls and scratches. I am still a novice using the DA but I feel like I have improved the results. I am going to tackle my 89 Corvette again soon and that clear coat is HARD!

Let's see those pix.

Kevin :)

what pads are you using?

Talking to me?? I have been using Meg's W8006 pads and #80. I just ordered some CCS pads, 4 white and 2 orange.

Kevin :)

Let me know how you like the CCS pads...word on the street is that the VC pads are getting hard to come by.

I have a voicemail and an email in to lake asking if they are keeping the VC pads.

Make sure you get photos up or you'll suffer from a 500 post demerit.

That would put you in the hole somewhere of -200 posts. :D

I also am using Meguiar's pads.

photos son, photos.....

Pics are in!
 

Alright, Alright...

Was able to get some direct-sun shots this morning. I was surprised that it looked better than I thought it did yesterday. The goods are below:

Here's a before and after of the hood. There's some kind of marring that I couldn't get rid of. It's only noticable in the sun and you have to be looking at the right angle (below).

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212722.jpg

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212723.jpg


Next are a before and after of the trunk

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212724.jpg

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212725.jpg

Another angle of the hood, before and after:

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212726.jpg

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212727.jpg


Here is an angle of the hood that shows the some swirling that I talked about yesterday that I couldn't remove.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212728.jpg


Finally, a view down the passenger's side:

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...701-212729.jpg

The hood, roof and trunk were done with 2 passes of #80 and a W8006 pad. The rest got 1 pass of #80. Also, like I mentioned in the original post, I used 1 coat of #21 and one coat of Gold Class. The wax was applied and removed by hand.

I decided to use the Gold Class because I have a little bit left that I'm trying to use up. I like the look that Gold Class gives, and in fact have always used it on my other cars, but I think it attracts dust too much. After using #26 on my truck, it seems that it doesn't attract dust like Gold Class does.

geezz....well done.

Great transformation for sure.


Good photos!!

Nice! :thumbsup: :beers:

Kevin :)

Good job !! :rocker: :rocker:

Thanks for the compliments guys, appreciate it.