This rather tasty black R26 with Lux and 'Black Pack' belongs to a fellow forum member, who contacted me to see what I could do with the paint on his Deep Black R26.
After a few false starts, I finally managed to be free for the car last Sunday. Below details the detail (excuse the **** pun!)...
A few before pics - nothing too scary so far, just a pretty dirty Meg
and so the process began:
- Arches and Tyres cleaned and scrubbed with Autosmart G101 mixed 4:1
- Wheel front and back cleaned with Autosmart Smart Wheels and various brushes
- Car cleaned with Optimum Car shampoo and left wet ready for...
- Claying with Elite PolyClay and Autosmart Reglaze as luuuuube
- Car rewashed with Optimum Shampoo and dried.
At this stage, the condition of the paint was becoming apparent under the unforgiving 11am sunlight/Brinkmann
I began testing combinations of pads and polish. Now, for me, Deep Black (along with Racing Blue) has got to be one of THE hardest colours to correct, especially when trying to do so in the space of 8 hours or so. It marks VERY easily, yet can be a right bugger to correct. Use too firm a pad and you will marr the paint, too soft and you will do nothing! I had to use different combinations on most panels, and most panels had more than one set to get them to an acceptable level. Generally, I used 3.02 with either a polishing or cutting pad (new Megs 4" ones - great btw!), with the exception of the bonnet, which needed Power Gloss (S100) to get anywhere with, coupled with Menzerna's breeze block esque White Compounding pad.
Here are a few 50/50's:
We also had a slight issue with overspray on the roof!!! :scared:
Which came off at the cost of my poor, brand new, pad!!
I finished up with Lime Prime to refine the finish where needed, and topped with Swissvax's Best of Show (£145!)
I also:
- Cleaned glass with new 3M Foaming Glass Cleaner
- Shuts with Britemax #6S
- Wheels with Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine
- Tyres with Pinnacle Onyx
- Exhausts with Megs NXT and Wire Wool
Some afters:
It was hard work this one, but it looked stunning when I was finished (excuse the modesty lol!)
Great to meet you Stuart, and thanks for choosing me!
Thanks for reading all,
Russ.
After a few false starts, I finally managed to be free for the car last Sunday. Below details the detail (excuse the **** pun!)...
A few before pics - nothing too scary so far, just a pretty dirty Meg
and so the process began:
- Arches and Tyres cleaned and scrubbed with Autosmart G101 mixed 4:1
- Wheel front and back cleaned with Autosmart Smart Wheels and various brushes
- Car cleaned with Optimum Car shampoo and left wet ready for...
- Claying with Elite PolyClay and Autosmart Reglaze as luuuuube
- Car rewashed with Optimum Shampoo and dried.
At this stage, the condition of the paint was becoming apparent under the unforgiving 11am sunlight/Brinkmann
I began testing combinations of pads and polish. Now, for me, Deep Black (along with Racing Blue) has got to be one of THE hardest colours to correct, especially when trying to do so in the space of 8 hours or so. It marks VERY easily, yet can be a right bugger to correct. Use too firm a pad and you will marr the paint, too soft and you will do nothing! I had to use different combinations on most panels, and most panels had more than one set to get them to an acceptable level. Generally, I used 3.02 with either a polishing or cutting pad (new Megs 4" ones - great btw!), with the exception of the bonnet, which needed Power Gloss (S100) to get anywhere with, coupled with Menzerna's breeze block esque White Compounding pad.
Here are a few 50/50's:
We also had a slight issue with overspray on the roof!!! :scared:
Which came off at the cost of my poor, brand new, pad!!
I finished up with Lime Prime to refine the finish where needed, and topped with Swissvax's Best of Show (£145!)
I also:
- Cleaned glass with new 3M Foaming Glass Cleaner
- Shuts with Britemax #6S
- Wheels with Planet Polish Wheel Seal and Shine
- Tyres with Pinnacle Onyx
- Exhausts with Megs NXT and Wire Wool
Some afters:
It was hard work this one, but it looked stunning when I was finished (excuse the modesty lol!)
Great to meet you Stuart, and thanks for choosing me!
Thanks for reading all,
Russ.