Quick colour polishing/colour restorer
Discussion
My good lady Fiancee has a nice red VW beetle on a W plate, being bright red and 9 years old it's now a little faded in places. I was planning on getting some red colour polish and giving it a good going over this weekend, i know it'll give decent temporary colour and shine (basically going to sell in a month or two and want to see how good it can look before working out a price) Can any of you give a recommendation on what kind of "rags" I should be buying to do this with?
I'm guessing it'll have to be lint free, but other than that I'm clueless. I'll be buying from Halfords (probably - unless I travel further afield) and cost isn;t too much of an issue but considering I'll probably only do it twice I'd rather not spend a fortune!
Just to clarify, not looking to remove swirl marks or anything like that, just get it a bit more red again.
Cheers.
I'm guessing it'll have to be lint free, but other than that I'm clueless. I'll be buying from Halfords (probably - unless I travel further afield) and cost isn;t too much of an issue but considering I'll probably only do it twice I'd rather not spend a fortune!
Just to clarify, not looking to remove swirl marks or anything like that, just get it a bit more red again.
Cheers.
Personally i wouldn't bother with colour magic. It's damn awful stuff. Spend a little extra on a good quality polish. Something Menzerna RD3.02 or 203s. These can then be used on your cars in the future. While you're at it get hold of some Lake & Country CCS cutting pads. All available from Polishedbliss.co.uk elitecarcare.co.uk etc.
The main trick here to keep the look will be to wax it afterwards and keep it waxed. Otherwise you'll only have to do it all again in a couple of months before you sell it. Spend about £30 on products now and you'll be able to use them on other cars in the future for the next couple of years.
If you're really not bothered then just get a roll of muslin rag from halfords and go at it with the colour magic.
The main trick here to keep the look will be to wax it afterwards and keep it waxed. Otherwise you'll only have to do it all again in a couple of months before you sell it. Spend about £30 on products now and you'll be able to use them on other cars in the future for the next couple of years.
If you're really not bothered then just get a roll of muslin rag from halfords and go at it with the colour magic.
Longevity of the finish really isn't an issue. it would be nice for it to last, but it's not vital.
Is it worth getting a machine polisher? I don't mind spending out on one if it'll make the job better and quicker.
One thing, you mention using a good polish, will that bring the colour back to red again? I would have thought it'd just make the slightly pinker bits just shinier pink!
pretty clueless when it comes to this to be honest.
Is it worth getting a machine polisher? I don't mind spending out on one if it'll make the job better and quicker.
One thing, you mention using a good polish, will that bring the colour back to red again? I would have thought it'd just make the slightly pinker bits just shinier pink!
pretty clueless when it comes to this to be honest.
pimpin gimp said:
Longevity of the finish really isn't an issue. it would be nice for it to last, but it's not vital.
Is it worth getting a machine polisher? I don't mind spending out on one if it'll make the job better and quicker.
One thing, you mention using a good polish, will that bring the colour back to red again? I would have thought it'd just make the slightly pinker bits just shinier pink!
pretty clueless when it comes to this to be honest.
Yes machine polishing will make tonnes of difference to ease and speed. Plus you 'll get a much better result. VAG group paint is notoriously tough. A machine polisher, worth having, with the right kit such as the Kestra DA will set you back about £105 - £120 if you can find one in stock somewhere. Yes there are cheaper rotary machines on ebay but you really need to know what you're doing with this type of machine or you could end up kissing goodbye to the colour layer of your paint. Is it worth getting a machine polisher? I don't mind spending out on one if it'll make the job better and quicker.
One thing, you mention using a good polish, will that bring the colour back to red again? I would have thought it'd just make the slightly pinker bits just shinier pink!
pretty clueless when it comes to this to be honest.
Nope a polish or compound as they are also known will cut through the top layer of paint showing a fresh layer of paint. Not just make the pink bits pinker.
Honestly, colour magic really isn't all that and you'll only ever be able to use it on red cars.
As above,buying a Dual Action machine polisher would be a good investment and just to show what can be achieved with a DA and menz polishes.....
This is assuming your paint hasn't got a clear coat and the pigment hasn't faded underneath! In which case you probably would just make the pink bits shinier!
This is assuming your paint hasn't got a clear coat and the pigment hasn't faded underneath! In which case you probably would just make the pink bits shinier!
(Until it fades again in a few years time).A clay bar is used after washing the car. It is a specialist piece of soft clay that you rub over the bodywork with a suitable lubrication. It removes all the bonded on contaminants from the paintwork such as tar spots, tree sap, paint overspray etc. It should leave the paint glassy smooth to the touch and provide the best preperation for polishing.
In the case of your 944 it would be a valuable step in the process but it will do little if any to restore the gloss and lustre to the paint used on its own. To achieve any sort of permanent restoration it would require machine polishing and waxing/sealing.
If this is a bit daunting, I have used Bilt Hamber autobalm as a quick fix on a faded Guards red 944 with stunning results. However it is only a temporary fix as the colour fades back relatively quickly..
But here is what it can do. Sorry not the greatest pics but considering it was also like the volvo before...
In the case of your 944 it would be a valuable step in the process but it will do little if any to restore the gloss and lustre to the paint used on its own. To achieve any sort of permanent restoration it would require machine polishing and waxing/sealing.
If this is a bit daunting, I have used Bilt Hamber autobalm as a quick fix on a faded Guards red 944 with stunning results. However it is only a temporary fix as the colour fades back relatively quickly..
But here is what it can do. Sorry not the greatest pics but considering it was also like the volvo before...
OK so 5-6 hours with 'Liquid Claybar' and Colour Magic, along with some 15 year old Autoglym Bumper care (bought for my old Scirroco GT) has yielded this:
I still need to do a lot more, but it is now a '10 foot' car ie it looks good from 10 feet, any closer and you will see the paint is still a little faded and streaky in places, but I have passed my first objective to get it to a state where my Wife will want to drive it!
I still need to do a lot more, but it is now a '10 foot' car ie it looks good from 10 feet, any closer and you will see the paint is still a little faded and streaky in places, but I have passed my first objective to get it to a state where my Wife will want to drive it!
Had to machine polish these classic in myself a few weeks back .
It took alot of time but did manage to turn the paint around to new without using coloured wax etc ,
i now have loads of compounding foams that are red !
before
bonnet up close
wing up close
gloss reading or lack of gloss
After
The owner is bringing a 911 that is even more faded
It took alot of time but did manage to turn the paint around to new without using coloured wax etc ,
i now have loads of compounding foams that are red !
before
bonnet up close
wing up close
gloss reading or lack of gloss
After
The owner is bringing a 911 that is even more faded
You'll struggle to beat a machine polisher for effortless results, but make sure you read GOOD GOD STRIKE THROUGH! first!
In untrained/unpractised hands, they can cause a lot of damage.
In untrained/unpractised hands, they can cause a lot of damage.
Yes TP, I resprayed a couple of doors on an old Astra about 15 years ago (Davies in Baldock used to colour match your car and then mix bespoke paint and put it in an Aerosol for you)
I did it on a damp day and the finish was very dull, so I was lent a very nice professional mop to shine it up......
anyhoo...the second time I sprayed the doors and then polished them they came up really nice!
I did it on a damp day and the finish was very dull, so I was lent a very nice professional mop to shine it up......
anyhoo...the second time I sprayed the doors and then polished them they came up really nice!
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