Greg from GA

So no part trois because I did not get a picture doing the Mazda CX-5 this weekend and it is back to college now. But same drill as my previous two posts and it worked out great. In this final post of this theme, I matched the previous three car redos but I went ahead and redid paint correction (Adam's orange and white) on this one because I feel like I've learned a lot since I did if the first time and I was not happy with the way it turned out the first time. After a couple passes at increasing levels of aggression I left a couple of scratches on the hood that only I can see. Everything else came out fine. I am really excited about how the black plastic on the doors came out (see pic) using Adam's Orange and White polishes by hand and with a timid hand. Edit - Looks like you need to rotate your monitor on the last pic - sorry... And what you are looking at is the After picture of me shining a flashlight right at the plastic and into the camera up close. it was really scratched up before and it all came out.

Thanks - I get the math and that's the reason I bought this meter but danged that is scary.

This is the rule of thumb-type stuff I was not wanting to learn on my own. Thanks.

So I got a HighLine Meter II ($149 new online at a place that seems to only sell that and another brand) and I calibrated it. It has no problems always zeroing but the numbers definitely jump around on the calibration shims before and after the car measurements so take the data here with a 'you get what you paid for' brush. It is for personal use I am just looking to be directionally accurate over the lives of the cars so I think I am okay. I'll tell you two stories and a question and I look forward to your experienced opinions. Story 1: Orange metallic New car - 2016 Hyundai Tuscon bought new from dealer inventory. I do not remember how long it sat on the lot. About a month ago, I clayed and paint corrected it with PC and Adams correcting and finishing polishes. Did not really need to be done but wanted to start with a blank canvas so not very aggressive on the polishes. Did go to town on the hood though due to some love marks. from either bad washes from me or dealership. Just took readings. Hood averages around high 4s to 5. sides low 4s. rear mid 3s. Roof mid 4s. Story 2: Black metallic 2013 Audi Q7 bought new and watched it ride over on the ship and come straight to me (in other words only went through dealer prep - no sitting on lot love washes). Went through it's first paint correction about a month ago. Prior to that I clayed it and waxed it a couple of times and went to town on the hood once due to TWICE some Orlando hard water stains (thanks WDW resort sprinklers!) with some hand applied water spot remover. About a month ago, I clayed and paint corrected it with PC and Adams correcting and finishing polishes. I am happy with the results and only looking to maintain it and wash it right at this point. Also, going to drive this car into the ground. Just took readings. Hood averages around low 4s. sides low 5s. rear mid 3s. Roof mid 4s. Question: Black metallic 2015 Audi SQ5 bought new but was a dealer trade and clearly the paint was in rough shape when we got it. Lots of swirls. About a month ago, I clayed and paint corrected it with PC and Adams correcting and finishing polishes. I am not happy with where it is now and I want to get more aggressive based on my recent experiences. This car will NOT be driven into the ground - it probably will only be in my hands for another 18 months. I have not taken readings yet because it is not in the garage today. What do all these numbers mean in terms of setting a baseline? I get that this is total thickness (primer, paint stages and clear coat) and has nothing to do with clear coat thickness but hey that's what I get for $149.

well, crap - great idea: Off to Home Depot!

This is meant as a general humor/intense pain post... So I love that my trusty pressure washer now gets heavy utilization. Before I always worried that the carb was going to gum up with lack of use cleaning driveways, decks annually etc. Now i am thrilled to roll it out as part of the regular car washing routine with the foam cannon and then using it to rinse. That brings me to something that I cannot get out of the back of my mind: through years of using my pressure washer to clean driveways and decks I ONCE IN A BLUE MOON found myself chasing the pressure tip down the driveway after not fully seating it and BOOM firing it off as a bullet. I KNOW this is going to happen into the side of my car. I can't get it out of my mind! I have started the habit of firing the pressure washer into the ground THEN lifting it up to wash the car. But things happen... Anybody want to fess up? Have you shot your car?

Yes this one is the turbo.

Same thing scenario as my other post but on a new car. By the way this is a amazing car if you are a bells and whistles person. Plus not only is it NOT a CVT which are dominant for this segment, it is a DCT! From my other post: So not knowing that sealing paint was a thing and learning as I go, I took a recently clayed, corrected , polished and waxed car (100% Adams products) and then strip washed, feeled around to confirm claying was unnecessary, paint sealed with a PC on 4 this time and patriot waxed (again, 100% Adams products adding in the paint sealer and upgrading to the Patriot wax).

Maybe the machine application helps? Just a guess...

The top two are actually POST liquid paint sealer and PRE Patriot Wax. The bottom two are 'done for the day and ran out of sunlight'

So not knowing that sealing paint was a thing and learning as I go, I took a recently clayed, corrected , polished and waxed car (100% Adams products) and then strip washed, feeled around to confirm claying was unnecessary, paint sealed with a PC on 1 and patriot waxed (again, 100% Adams products adding in the paint sealer and upgrading to the Patriot wax). Here is the end result, not bad for a 2013 DD with ~40k miles. Now I have to repeat this same process on three other cars...

Thanks - that's when I discovered lighting is everything to hiding love marks (bright overcast)

!una mas!

more pics

New Addict checking in - see pic! Well it started with a Christmas present from my best friend in Denver containing the finishing polishes and pads (and a coordinated gift Porter Cable from wife). I had a bought-new 2 year-old black metallic Audi SQ5 that I have always cared for and I was beginning to notice the love marks that were starting to drive me crazy. As you can see in the pic, I am full-blown now and trying to make up for mistakes of the past! I'll post some after pics of my cars here after I hit submit. Cars in my care all that have been paint corrected and waxed and in the new wash regimen: 2013 Honda NC700x 2013 Audi Q7 2014 Mazda CX-5 2015 Audi SQ5 2016 Hyundai Tucson