First: Sorry in advance for dumb/n00b questions and mistakes. I've been reading a fair bit and it's been quite a lot to take in So I'm about to make my first purchases with a keen mind toward learning to do paint correction and general detailing..Any input would be appreciated! I'm used to getting dirty with my cars (professional technician) and have relatively little experience with the clean-up side of things beyond some DIY headlight/tail light plastic polishing and clay bars/waxing. My wife has a 1986 MR2 I've been doing a lot of work to and the project is coming to a finish.. So it's time to clean the body up as best we can! Here's my shopping list so far: - Porter Cable 7424XP polisher - Clay bar (?) (have a fresh one already with some Mother's detailing spray/lube) - A set of uber foam pads from Detailer's Domain (one of each color, to start?) - Sonax Wheel Cleaner - Menzerna Power Gloss - Menzerna Power Finish P0203S - Undecided on a wax/sealant? Will do more reading to find out what's most useful. Already have a good supply of clean microfiber towels, buckets and various cleaning brushes as well as a 23-gal air compressor I can use to blow away water/debris/dust and what not as I go along. That said, I'm very interested to see how the whole process works for myself and what it can do for paintwork in woeful shape such as this one:
Here's the project car itself.. As I mentioned before I'm more of a mechanic than a detailer. The paint is.. mostly undamaged but horribly stained from sprinker water, rain water and sitting in a yard for roughly five years. I'm not expecting to bring it back to anywhere near showroom condition, but I figure it's a great opportunity to learn how to correct paint with minimal risk! Up in the air for engine R&R: "New" engine ready to go in: In! The whole car: Close-up of ome of he paint damage: Sun-baked 25-year-old plastic: More paint: Unpleasant: Dust-stained wheel and the remnants of some goofy stick-on fender protector:
Welcome to detailing! Your list looks pretty good but I would suggest, if it can be afforded, purchasing a bottle of ONR to use as clay lube and go with two of each color Uber pad versus one. These aren't absolutely necessary to get going but it's just my suggestion.
I agree especially if that's single stage paint, you're going to need numerous pads!!! I would suggest M105 mixed with some powerfinish over powergloss.
ONR? I'll search that one up.. same goes for M105 and it's applications.. Thanks! Will double up on pads too.. Might as well, as they're not that expensive. Are they going to be usable after this or will the amount of use from this project likely wear them out? Yes, it's single stage paint.. this car seems to be something of a survivor as the paint is fairly consistent. 25+ year old single-stage Toyota Super White, slightly ravaged by two decades in San Francisco and five more years of sitting through 115* Summers and sub-zero Winters here in Sacramento. Like I said.. it won't ever be perfect again, but it should be a great learning car! I'll also be re-painting some of the flat black trim on the car.. mainly the wiper arms, a-pillars and window trim. I've had good luck with polishing up the c-pillar trim on my own '86 MR2 (that's the section photographed above), so we'll try that first before paint..
Ordered the PC today! Installed new exhaust/catalytic converter for smog test last night.. Hopefully it gets through this week! Ordering materials after next pay check *excited*
