Getting ready for Concours - Full detail with Paint Correction
#21
Quick update before I get cracking this morning
I'm making progress but it has been slower than I originally estimated as I have added another step.
The WGTSR I used as my first step was not aggressive enough even with a yellow pad and was not able to get out many of the blemishes. I thought I had some Megs 105 but it was only the 205 so I used Megs UC with different pads, finally settling on yellow. This worked well but left a cloudy finish. I definitely didn't miss the dusting that the TSR produced though!!
I then decided that I would do a two step polish to bring back the shine. I started with Sonax Perfect Finish with a white pad and then used the Wolfgang Finish Glaze as a fine polish with a black pad. This seemed to produce a very pleasing shine with good clarity but was a lot of extra work. I have about half the car to finish polishing today then it's on to applying the sealant.
The polishing also revealed many tiny chips in the paint that I have been painstakingly fixing with the Dr. Colorchip kit. This stuff works great!!
All in all I am really enjoying the process and it has been a real learning experience with some valuable lessons learned, see pics below
This is what happens when you use too much speed and pressure
A lot of dust created by the Swirl Remover
After polishing, a nice clear reflection with no sign of the slight orange peel that was there before.
More anon.
Allan
I'm making progress but it has been slower than I originally estimated as I have added another step.
The WGTSR I used as my first step was not aggressive enough even with a yellow pad and was not able to get out many of the blemishes. I thought I had some Megs 105 but it was only the 205 so I used Megs UC with different pads, finally settling on yellow. This worked well but left a cloudy finish. I definitely didn't miss the dusting that the TSR produced though!!
I then decided that I would do a two step polish to bring back the shine. I started with Sonax Perfect Finish with a white pad and then used the Wolfgang Finish Glaze as a fine polish with a black pad. This seemed to produce a very pleasing shine with good clarity but was a lot of extra work. I have about half the car to finish polishing today then it's on to applying the sealant.
The polishing also revealed many tiny chips in the paint that I have been painstakingly fixing with the Dr. Colorchip kit. This stuff works great!!
All in all I am really enjoying the process and it has been a real learning experience with some valuable lessons learned, see pics below
This is what happens when you use too much speed and pressure
A lot of dust created by the Swirl Remover
After polishing, a nice clear reflection with no sign of the slight orange peel that was there before.
More anon.
Allan
#22
Another update
It's been a long day but I think I see the finish line in sight
Finally finished all the paint correction and i have to say I'm quite chuffed with the results. It's late at night but the paint seems to be gleaming and perhaps just a touch darker?
I'll be putting the sealant tomorrow and will take some more pics hopefully in the sunshine!! But here are a few shots after colour correction.
My nice gleaming bonnet
One side of the boot
Other side of boot
Wheel arch compared to the shot I posted earlier, what a difference!!
Cheers,
Allan
Finally finished all the paint correction and i have to say I'm quite chuffed with the results. It's late at night but the paint seems to be gleaming and perhaps just a touch darker?
I'll be putting the sealant tomorrow and will take some more pics hopefully in the sunshine!! But here are a few shots after colour correction.
My nice gleaming bonnet
One side of the boot
Other side of boot
Wheel arch compared to the shot I posted earlier, what a difference!!
Cheers,
Allan
#23
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AllanG (08-22-2013)
#24
Well I managed to get her outside for a few pics but the light was failing so they may not be that good. Still have a couple things left to do, clean the glass, polish the front and rear lights and add a coat of wax but she is basically done!! (on the outside at least )
Here are a few pics, I think she's looking rather spiffy for 19 years old and I'm quite pleased at my first attempt at colour correction.
I'll post a full report this weekend. It's certainly been an interesting ride
Here are a few pics, I think she's looking rather spiffy for 19 years old and I'm quite pleased at my first attempt at colour correction.
I'll post a full report this weekend. It's certainly been an interesting ride
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psinsyd (08-24-2013)
#26
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AllanG (09-08-2013)
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AllanG (09-08-2013)
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AllanG (09-08-2013)
#34
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#35
Results and Final Thoughts
So the big day came yesterday as I presented the old girl at the Smoky Mountain Jaguar Club Concours.
My aim with this project was to improve the score awarded by the Concours judges. Last month at the Carolina Jaguar Club Concours, my car scored 995.9 points out of 1000. One month and a lot of elbow work later, I am happy to report that my score jumped to 999.8 out of 1000 That may not seem like a huge jump but in Concours it is significant.
I don't have my final score sheets yet but the judges commented on how good the paint looked
Overall my project followed the plan very closely except that I decided to do the interior last, not a big deal either way IMO. Also I did not initially get the results I was hoping for with the Wolfgang TSR, so I switched to a Meguiars Ultimate compound for defect removal and followed that up with a two stage polish using Sonax Perfect Finish and Wolfgang Finishing Glaze. I added a coat of EZ creme glaze prior to applying the sealant and wax.
I completely underestimated the time needed to complete the task . For those interested my time was spent as follows:
Initial prep which included, washing, drying, Iron-X, Claying, LSP stripping, wheels off cleaning, taping and test spot completion, took 14 hours. The wheels were the big hold up, consuming 6 hours alone, also taping took almost 2 hours.
Compounding took longer than expected as I decided to change products to improve defect removal. Altogether 8 hours.
The two step polishing procedure and then glaze application took another 10 hours.
The sealant and wax applications were relatively quick, just three hours of actual work time plus one hour for sealant to dry and 12 hours for it to cure.
Polishing and sealing the chrome trim took 2 hours and exterior dressing with final clean up took another 2 hours.
So all told I spent about 49 hours working on the exterior.
The interior which included removing and re-dyeing front seats, polishing and sealing all wood and chrome trim as well as shampooing, vacuum, dusting, glass etc. took 12 hours in all.
So at the end of the project I spent 61 hours over the course of 10 days detailing the car. Now I know why it's called detailing, you really have to pay attention to details!!!
This was the first time I have done anything like this and although I was a little apprehensive at the beginning, it really is quite straightforward so long as you do the proper research, develop a detailed plan and work it methodically and slowly. The results can be very rewarding
My prize.
Cheers,
Allan
My aim with this project was to improve the score awarded by the Concours judges. Last month at the Carolina Jaguar Club Concours, my car scored 995.9 points out of 1000. One month and a lot of elbow work later, I am happy to report that my score jumped to 999.8 out of 1000 That may not seem like a huge jump but in Concours it is significant.
I don't have my final score sheets yet but the judges commented on how good the paint looked
Overall my project followed the plan very closely except that I decided to do the interior last, not a big deal either way IMO. Also I did not initially get the results I was hoping for with the Wolfgang TSR, so I switched to a Meguiars Ultimate compound for defect removal and followed that up with a two stage polish using Sonax Perfect Finish and Wolfgang Finishing Glaze. I added a coat of EZ creme glaze prior to applying the sealant and wax.
I completely underestimated the time needed to complete the task . For those interested my time was spent as follows:
Initial prep which included, washing, drying, Iron-X, Claying, LSP stripping, wheels off cleaning, taping and test spot completion, took 14 hours. The wheels were the big hold up, consuming 6 hours alone, also taping took almost 2 hours.
Compounding took longer than expected as I decided to change products to improve defect removal. Altogether 8 hours.
The two step polishing procedure and then glaze application took another 10 hours.
The sealant and wax applications were relatively quick, just three hours of actual work time plus one hour for sealant to dry and 12 hours for it to cure.
Polishing and sealing the chrome trim took 2 hours and exterior dressing with final clean up took another 2 hours.
So all told I spent about 49 hours working on the exterior.
The interior which included removing and re-dyeing front seats, polishing and sealing all wood and chrome trim as well as shampooing, vacuum, dusting, glass etc. took 12 hours in all.
So at the end of the project I spent 61 hours over the course of 10 days detailing the car. Now I know why it's called detailing, you really have to pay attention to details!!!
This was the first time I have done anything like this and although I was a little apprehensive at the beginning, it really is quite straightforward so long as you do the proper research, develop a detailed plan and work it methodically and slowly. The results can be very rewarding
My prize.
Cheers,
Allan
Last edited by AllanG; 09-08-2013 at 06:03 PM.
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GGG (09-08-2013)
#36
I was just posting my final thoughts from yesterday's concours
I will be going to the North Georgia Concours in early Oct and I think I will be able to make the SC event in Columbia too. Should know this week.
Cheers,
Allan
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