Dodgy spray can work
Author
Discussion

Mrmagicdan

Original Poster:

26 posts

166 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Afternoon every one,
Just a quick question,
I've had my mx5 for just over a week and am lovin it, always finding an excuse to pop out for a bit just so I can take it for a spin!
There is a long list of stuff that I will be doing and as its my 2nd car I will be taking my time over the work.
One of my jobs that I will be doing, at a much later date, is to give it a re spray.
It's in Silver Stone at the moment and I'm either thinking of a complete re spray (if funds allow and havnt decided on colour yet) or a re spray in the original colour.
The reason I'm doing this is that the paint is looking a little tatty, there are only a few dings but nothing that can't be sorted, the main problem is some where along its 5 owner history it has had the rear bumper and rear near side flank sprayed with a can.
It's the same exact colour but it's dull as its not been done properly.
My question is this, is there any thing I can use to bring it to a shine?
Thanks in advance chaps!

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
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Flat & polish wink

Mrmagicdan

Original Poster:

26 posts

166 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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I'm guessing that's the name of a type of product? If so, where would I get it from? (this is all new to me as I've never owned a car worthy of a polish!)

mattius

457 posts

238 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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If the surface is rough, Get some 3000 gritt wet and dry, very wet (bucket of water) dont press hard just gently preasure small amounts until its smooth.

Then get some Cutting compound, farcella G3, put it on reasonably thick 0.75mm-1mm, polish it off (quite hard pressure), repeat a few times until its nice and even.

Then get some farcella G10 (or T-CUT) and put it on, allow to set slightly (2mins or so), polish off with reasonably hard preasure, repeat 2 or 3 times until the shine comes.

Finish off with a good quality carnuba wax (or any polish) don't leave without polish or wax, t-cut is not a polish!

Your arm should hurt, your car should shine.

Edited by mattius on Monday 14th May 13:11

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
And that is "flat & polish" wink

Back in the day when I used to do that sort of thing I'd have used fine sandpaper (wet & dry) with loads of water followed by T-Cut then a fine polish and finally a wax. I managed quite a good finish most of the time too. You might find that the new paint looks better than the rest of the car afterwards though.

Mrmagicdan

Original Poster:

26 posts

166 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
Cheers guys, when it stops raining everyday I'll give that a go!
One more thing, where's the best place to get all that stuff from, would a trip to Halfords be enough?

MX-5 Lazza

7,954 posts

242 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
Yep.

mattius

457 posts

238 months

Tuesday 15th May 2012
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halfords only go as low as 1500 on the wet and dry, be very very careful if you use that, it can be too abraisive for spray cans. Go on ebay get some 3000 it feels like paper, but is abraisive and is much more forgiving.

halfords also didn't stock farecla G3 cutting compount last time i looked so ebay that as well a little goes a very long way, so a small tube will do, it is expensive £10 a tube get the paste but well worth it as you could be hours just using t-cut. I bought a tub 2 years ago, i've done various panels, two whole cars, one bike and im still half full.

T-cut halfords sell although you'll find morisons or tesco petrol stations are cheaper.

Take your time, too little is always better than too much, go through the three stages, if its still flat work the flat bits again through the three stages and so on.

Finally do the whole panel with t-cut as the bit you did will look better than the rest of the panel.

Remember though, with wet and dry especially and the cutting compound, you are taking a fine layer of paint off, don't do it too often only when needed. T-cut will usually bring back some shine. The trick is when its done, build up layers of polish and wax over the next few weeks over the whole car, you'll find it keeps its shine and you even have to clean it less.

SixtySpeedTwin

321 posts

175 months

Saturday 7th July 2012
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Not sure if you had any luck with t cut but if its a metallic paint job thee is a chance they never clear coated it....