Shine up that ugly paint!

[Dead91silvia]

Skill level 1-5

Level 2-3, difficult, but doable

WARNING! I am not responsible if you burn your paint, and or damage any trim parts or hurt yourself.

Ok, so you have a car and you love it! But the paint looks like a 50 year old thats done way too much tanning! I can help you with that! :smt023

I used to work for a used car lot that re-build insurance totals and this is a DIY I did for a Toyota Forum a few years back, forgot I had the pics...

Some cars have really bad paint fading problems, even more so single stage paint cars. This is a 1998 Toyota Tacoma I replaced a front end on and ended up having a new painted front end and door, but the rest was faded and ugly as hell!

Tools you need! Buffer, compound, and a heavy buffing pad. You will also need something to clean the pad every now and then. I use a big flat headed screwdriver.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4413-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4412-1.jpg

Here is the truck... She's seen better days... Owner never waxed it or ever polished it, and this is what happens...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4409-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4408-1.jpg

These are areas I needed to cut a buff dirt out off, but this is how you prep everything. I re-finished the new parts and the blend panels with a base/clearcoat. You want to make sure you dont burn the rubber trim, plastic door handles, or damage anything else.
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4411-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4410-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4407-1.jpg

This much compound should finish off this little area...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4418-1.jpg

This is after about 5 minutes of polishing...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4415-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4417-1.jpg

I ended up doing the whole truck and she looked really nice!
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4420-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4421-1.jpg

This is what the pad will look like if you have single stage paint...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/03/IMG_4414-1.jpg

This is a big job so dont take it lightly. This took me about half the day, but can be a great way to make a toasted paint finish, look new again! :smt023

Now to maintain this look, you will need to wax it about ever 6 months. This is really only a temp fix for bad paint. The real way to fix it is to repaint it. You can even do this to a car you think looks good, and then it looks great! I do this about once a year to my BD.

Also, if you thing it will only work on or car over another, I also did thi to part of my 1967 Chevy truck and it even made 45 year old paint shine! Mind you, I didnt have much paint left by then... haha, but this car be done to any car!

If you are scared to try this, find a car that no one cares about and practice on it. I tried to teach my dad and he burned the paint on his car, but it didnt matter because it was getting new paint soon anyway.

[chuckthefuk]

I like.. but how come you did not describe the technique / motion ?

Can you describe the:
- motion you used
- pattern you used (if you overlap the buffed section)
- duration of area to buff?

Things like that..

BTW.. that really brought back the luster of that Tacoma.. I like Toyota trucks for Fun.. not for Work :-D

[chuckthefuk]

Also .. is that a pay-station vacuum outside your garage ?

[Dead91silvia]

Also .. is that a pay-station vacuum outside your garage ?

HAHA! Yeah, someone tried to steel it and left it in the street and my old boss thought he would be a good citizen... LOL


I'll work on the other details... I need to get pics of it, it's ust raining and dont have rome in the shop for a car right now. ... :smt023

[Matty2Hotty]

Might not be the best idea for me to try this on my flat black rattled can paint job LOL

[psalm51ajm]

Where did you get those buffer wheels?

[Dead91silvia]

Might not be the best idea for me to try this on my flat black rattled can paint job LOL

HA! Yeah no.... Bad idea for you and your flat black, it would become a blotchy satin.


Where did you get those buffer wheels?

Autobody supply shop. Wesco Auto body supply over here in Seattle... About #10 a pad if I remember right...

[psalm51ajm]

oh nice i will have to look into those. my car could use it. Love the DeWalt by the way!

[bulldozer24]

Nice write up, btw for the beginners a dual action polisher would be a much better choice, i have seen many burn right through the paint with a rotary.

[Dead91silvia]

oh nice i will have to look into those. my car could use it. Love the DeWalt by the way!

That was my boss's at the time. I run a Makita now. Love it!


Nice write up, btw for the beginners a dual action polisher would be a much better choice, i have seen many burn right through the paint with a rotary.

This is very true! I myself have done the same. Best way to learn is on a crap car with crap paint and you can figure out how and how not to use it.

I'll add some more detail when I get the time to take some pics, or have Red85celica help me take some vid...

[redlegacygt]

yeah. like i said the porter cable 7424 is very user friendly and can picked for about $100