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First time paint correction/serious cleaning


camp316

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I just bought a new to me black 2014 ram and i wanted to look fresh. Long story short, i found Adams and the serious detailing community. Prior, i used to roll through the local car washes, then found out that's bad, pretty bad. So i began buying mystery boxes, kits, and some other stuff to build my arsenal, and on monday I finally got to bust it all out and get to work.

 

Never did a write up of any kind, so if yous have any questions or something that i missed or especially advise, i would appreciate it. 

 

Heres my truck prior and during

 

post-15728-0-31231500-1493865341_thumb.j post-15728-0-31231500-1493865341_thumb.jpg

 

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To start I rinsed the wheels off, I then hit them one by one with wheel cleaner and let it sit as i sprayed down the next. Then i went back to the first one and sprayed down the rubber, rim, and wheel well with all purpose and began to scrub. I used the short and long handled brushes i got as part of Adams winter washing kit. Then rinsed, repeat for all 4 tires. 

 

Sprayed the truck off with the hose then attached a foam gun filled with water and strip wash. Foamed up pretty good (pictured), but i assume the regular shampoo will do a little more foam. Then went over with the Adams wash pad. ( i have one of those micro fiber wash mitts, used both and really like the way the Adams mitt worked)

 

I left the truck wet and started to clay bar. Halfway through i realized that it would of saved me of ton of detail spray if i just would have hit the panel i was about to start with the hose. It was hot and sunny and it really dried up pretty quick. I used 3/4 of my detail spray before i realized. 

 

Now was time to break out the Swirl Killer. Started on the roof (probally least visible spot on a big truck) with the orange pad and orange correcting polish. It didnt really remove any of the scratches but did the swirls. I move up to the blue pad and blue polish, after a couple passes i wiped clean to check, still the same result. As this is my first time with a polisher in my hands, i was kinda afraid to mess anything up. Went back to the orange pad and polish and went over the whole truck. Switched up to the white pad and polish. 

 

After wiping down, it was really a noticeable change, no swirls, really clear reflection, but im not sure that i got any decent scratches out of it. This is my first time so i know i wouldnt get things perfect. i kinda wanna get some more time with the polisher before breaking out the micro fiber pads and really going ham on the scratches. Overall, I was extremely happy with the way the paint turned out when i was done. 

 

Another strip wash and micro fiber towel dry 

 

VRT on all the plastic and trim as well as the tires. I really like the look of the tires right after applied but only really lasted two days. They still look good but not as good (rubber and tire cleaner will be in the future). The trim, as of today (3 days later) still looks great, but it also hasn't rained yet. 

 

After that i used 50/50 distilled/90 alcohol mix and wiped down the truck. 

 

Decided to move onto the paint sealant before glaze. Used the Swirl Killer and grey pad to put it down. This was the new Paint sealer and on the bottle it did not mention any kind of dry time. So i went over the entire truck, then wiped it down with a micro fiber. Pretty easy wipe down, and im glad i got the new seal, i hate licorice smell. 

 

Next to the red pad and glaze. Kinda surprised how thin and watery the glaze was. I probably soaked the pad more then i should have but, ill get it better next time. After the whole truck was glazed down, it started to haze up. Was a little difficult to wipe down clean but well worth it. Looked great when i was done. 

 

Now after all that, I went with a competitor wax and seal. I bought the bottle before i really knew what i was doing and getting into and kinda wanna get through it before i buy another. I wont give out the company but the product is called Top Coat. It went on pretty easy and wiped down easy too. Cant say it added anything to the look. After the glaze, not much would really be an improvement.  

 

So after all that, I was tired. About 9 hours of work, but i am loving my truck now. Sooo impressed, especially for my first go at it. 

 

Now, im hoping for a little while i can get away with weekly or everyother week shampoo and H2O guard and gloss for a few months. Maybe at the end of summer Ill strip it down again and try to get a few more of those scratches out. Bunch of my friends at work saw my truck and want me to come by and help them with their cars so I should get a bunch more practice in. 

 

The next morning i walked out to my truck, and the South Jersey pollen was ALL over my fresh truck. I bought a California duster, ran it down with that, finished with some detail spray and looks good as new. 

 

 

Really happy that i found this sick expensive hobby and found the Adams forums. I cant tell you how helpful everyone has been and such a huge help. I wish i got some pics while doing it but here are some of the end result. 

 

 post-15728-0-32228500-1493868986_thumb.j post-15728-0-32228500-1493868986_thumb.jpg

 

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 post-15728-0-88339800-1493869015_thumb.j  post-15728-0-88339800-1493869015_thumb.jpg

 

 post-15728-0-22505100-1493869029_thumb.j  post-15728-0-22505100-1493869029_thumb.jpg

 

 post-15728-0-79022800-1493869038_thumb.j post-15728-0-79022800-1493869038_thumb.jpg

 

 post-15728-0-24384200-1493869046_thumb.j  post-15728-0-24384200-1493869046_thumb.jpg

 

 

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The duster you bought might be a issue at causing some marring in the future. I hate those things with a passion. I would do a waterless wash instead much much safer. Great results for your first time with the polisher as well. Welcome to the addiction

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The duster you bought might be a issue at causing some marring in the future. I hate those things with a passion. I would do a waterless wash instead much much safer. Great results for your first time with the polisher as well. Welcome to the addiction

I agree about the duster, you are dragging dry particles across the finish...DS or WW is much safer and doesn't take much longer. Edited by Nathan
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wouldnt the waterless was drag particles too? Or does the moisture added make all the difference?

Yes, the lubricants are everything. Both the WW and DS have lubriciants so when you are wiping you are wiping safely, and product is there helping you pick up dirt as well.

 

The method is to fold the towel in fourths, spray the WW or DS on the vehicle, first wipe in straight lines, then flip the towel and buff the residue

 

There is a video on YouTube

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2vCuSifHQHI

Edited by Nathan
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Ahh, thank you. Now i gotta suck up the 25 bucks on the duster and buy some waterless wash. Learning curves suck.

 

If it's not very dirty, just use detail spray, no need for WW, you can also dilute RW 16 or 1 (15 oz distilled water to 1 oz rinseless wash) and that makes WW!

 

Make sure you are using quality towels, not that cheap made in China low gsm towels. Not only will they hurt your finish, the quality ones soak up detail spray and waxes / sealants so much easier! :thumbsup:

Edited by Nathan
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So what you're saying here is china doesn't have high GSM towels? I see detailing business's using Chinese towels daily and should I have you call on them to let them know what a terribly mistake they're doing on people's whips?

 

 

If it's not very dirty, just use detail spray, no need for WW, you can also dilute RW 16 or 1 (15 oz distilled water to 1 oz rinseless wash) and that makes WW!

Make sure you are using quality towels, not that cheap made in China low gsm towels. Not only will they hurt your finish, the quality ones soak up detail spray and waxes / sealants so much easier! :thumbsup:

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So what you're saying here is china doesn't have high GSM towels? I see detailing business's using Chinese towels daily and should I have you call on them to let them know what a terribly mistake they're doing on people's whips?

Best ones are made in Korea.

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I have to agree with Joe on this one. Do you realize that even the Adam's Ultra Plush towel is made in Korea? You can buy good, quality towels that are made in a low cost manufacturing country. China, Korea, etc... all produce high GSM towels. A general rule of thumb is to buy from an online reputable company. The cheap ones as Walmart and your local auto parts store, probably aren't the best for touching paint (although they are great for interior and engine bays).

 

 

If it's not very dirty, just use detail spray, no need for WW, you can also dilute RW 16 or 1 (15 oz distilled water to 1 oz rinseless wash) and that makes WW!

Make sure you are using quality towels, not that cheap made in China low gsm towels. Not only will they hurt your finish, the quality ones soak up detail spray and waxes / sealants so much easier! :thumbsup:

 

So what you're saying here is china doesn't have high GSM towels? I see detailing business's using Chinese towels daily and should I have you call on them to let them know what a terribly mistake they're doing on people's whips?

 

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I have to agree with Joe on this one. Do you realize that even the Adam's Ultra Plush towel is made in Korea? You can buy good, quality towels that are made in a low cost manufacturing country. China, Korea, etc... all produce high GSM towels. A general rule of thumb is to buy from an online reputable company. The cheap ones as Walmart and your local auto parts store, probably aren't the best for touching paint (although they are great for interior and engine bays).

I know the best are made in Korea, point was that the ones that are made in China aren't usually good and as usually are sold at big box retail stores for cheap. These towels don't soak up product well at all.

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I know the best are made in Korea, point was that the ones that are made in China aren't usually good and as usually are sold at big box retail stores for cheap. These towels don't soak up product well at all.

Another large retailer of microfiber, sells microfiber towels from China and Korea. All microfiber has its place. Some of the China towels have come a long way. Not the ones from most of the big box stores but there are even exceptions made for that now too.

 

Low cost manufacturering has it's places. Items made in the USA will always cost more. If there is a cut that can be made that will positively impact your bottom line without sacrificing quality then a business owner would be smart to make it.

 

I love the good ole USA as much as the next guy but not everything is "cheap China junk". Read the tags on most items, especially clothing. it's not coming from China anymore.

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I usually look for the Adam's kits. A lot of the product you get will come with a few towels for just a couple bucks more. And also mystery boxes always seem to have some in there.  

 

I know you can never have enough microfiber towels, but by doing this, im running outta room for all them. 

 

For what its worth, not just cause the is an Adam's forum, Ive gotten a few from other detail shops and Adams really do feel quality, especially the double soft. 

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I got waterless wash in a box. How does it work exactly? Trying to fight the pollen

WW works as a product to wipe down the car. It is used when it is a little too dirty for DS and not dirty enough for a full 2 bucket wash or RS.

 

You spray WW on the car, wipe once in straight lines, then buff the residue with a new side of the towel.

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WW works as a product to wipe down the car. It is used when it is a little too dirty for DS and not dirty enough for a full 2 bucket wash or RS.

 

You spray WW on the car, wipe once in straight lines, then buff the residue with a new side of the towel.

Sweet. I'll be using that more often then!

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Sweet. I'll be using that more often then!

The only downside is that DS will make the finish slick and add a little bit of shine while WW won't do that, it will make a non slippery surface.

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