Filling Chips and Removing Swirls and Small Scratches

[TCKTPLZ]

I have a few small stone chips on the front fascia of my snake as well as some small scratches and swirls in the finish and I would like to know how I should go about correcting them.

Regrarding the small scratches and swirls, I hear that the Porter Cable 7424 polisher is best for the job. Is this so? Or perhaps is there a more effective model?

Also, what else would I need beside the Porter Cable? Could I just use Zaino or do I have to use some special polishing compound? Is there anywhere online I could get good deal on one?

Now regarding the small chips, what do you guys/gals use to fill them? I know you have to use the stock paint, but should I use anything else? I think I have read somewhere on here about Langka. How is this product?

http://www.langka.com/index.cfm?page=howitworks.cfm

Thanks in advance!

[2BADD 4U]

Hey Rich! Check your email! I got you covered my brother!

Dave

[KURT E]

I spent the last 2 days using Zaino on a black '88 (17 years of build-up) Mustang GT. This is a labor intensive project, but, for small swirls it did wonders. The rock chips, however, are still an issue. I did the entire car by hand.

This was my first time using the Zaino so I am sure it could have been done quicker and even better, but, I was impressed with the results.

Kurt

[jeffdai]

well yesterday i hit a piece of wood someone lost in the road and i guess the front tire pushed it around nicely and put a nice scrape in the lower corner ot my facia, not extremely noticable, but very annoying. It feels like it not only took the paint off but put some small indentations on the plastic. Are body shops able to fix the front facia?

[PaViper]

Hey Rich! Check your email! I got you covered my brother!

Dave

What....the rest of us aren't good enough to know your secrets

[2BADD 4U]

What....the rest of us aren't good enough to know your secrets

Carmen, well since you traded your FE...well.......well.....well

OK , check your PM...you are my brother too !

Dave

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

The Porter Cable 7424 seems to be a good polisher based on the Internet info. I bought one a few weeks ago, hoping to fix a couple scratches. Used 3M finesse polish and it worked good on the small surface scratches. Deeper scratches and chips are another story. If the paint color coat is damaged you can only touch up the scratches and chips. The scratches I wanted to remove were pretty deep so I ended up taking the cars(two) to a body shop that also details cars. They did a great job and explained how to touch up chips and scratches. They gave me their extra paint to use as needed and suggested I practice the application technique before attempting to work on the Vipers. This was the first time I allowed someone to wash or polish these cars. They did a great job and pointed out all the areas of concern and how they addressed the problem areas(debris from track events impacting the front area and behind the wheels) with 2000 grit sand paper/hand sanding then polish.

The touch-up technique they suggested - uses a very small artist brush, the paint is applied with small strokes depositing small amounts of paint. The goal is to not apply to much paint. Try to keep the paint within the chip or scratch walls. Excess paint is very noticeable and looks worse than the chip.

Regarding the question about the bumper. Some body can repair the bumper cover depending the the damage. A tear may be sent to a specialty shop that reapirs bumper covers.

[plumcrazy]

2BADD, can ya hook a brother up ? ? ?

[2BADD 4U]

2BADD, can ya hook a brother up ? ? ?

Hey Plumcrazy here ya go my friend!

And to any others that might want to get some swirls/scratches/chips out!

Dave





ITEMS YOU WILL NEED:

Porter Cable # 7424 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/se...370078-9890562 Best Price.

3M Foam Polishing Pad Glaze # 05996 Napa Auto Stores

3M Perfect it Rubbing Compound # 39002 Napa Auto Stores

Micro Fiber Towels http://www.rightlook.com/index.asp?P...mp;Category=88

6" Porter Cable Velcro Pad holder

http://www.topoftheline.com/porcabvelpad.html

6" Velcro Foam Polishing Pads: http://www.buffandshine.com/index.html Rich, Call the factory and tell them you need 6" Yellow, Black, and White Velcro Pads. I no longer see them at Top of the Line Co. This is where I got mine. http://www.topoftheline.com/polisherpads.html Or just call top of the line too. Tell them the pads you want are 6" x 2 " wide. (thick) Velcro.

Yellow....More Abrasive for deeper swirls/scratches
Black...Less Abrasive for minor swirls/scratches
White...Buffing Pad For Finishing




Some tips and facts :

The Viper has 3 thick coats of clear coat on it. As do the rims.

You CANNOT burn thru the paint or clearcoat, you can stand on the PC, and there will be no damage at all.

Stay away from sharp edges or corners, there is less paint in these areas, be gentle on these areas.

Do NOT use the PC and 3M products in the SUN.

Only do the areas with swirls, no need to do the complete car.

Do not rub the PC against the black plastic door button areas.

DO NOT use the wool pads or any others that come in the PC Box.

You can also use the 3M products on your rims. But use a small Micro-fiber towel instead of the PC.

Use the California Dusters between Viper Drives. Get a large and a small one. Get a few! Gentle on those rims!!!




Ok now for the Process!

Wash Viper with dawn detergent and use claybar. After drying Viper , take car outside in the sun and look over real well for all swirls and make a note or sketch of the areas of swirls.

Use Porter Cable with 6" Yellow pad on Swirls and scratches. Use a quarter size dab of 3M 39002 on pad, place pad and PC on swirl and set for 5-6K rpms. Work 1/2 pad pressure at all times. If the pad is 2 " wide ..compress it against Viper 1/2 way. Move Buffer "slow" back and forth. Remove after 15-30 seconds. and wipe area with a Micro-fiber towel and inspect swirl area. If you create any HAZE..don't worry, Just apply more 39002 and go at it again , BUT move the buffer "faster", back and forth.

When swirls are all removed from your Viper, you can use the Black pad and the 3M Glaze 05996. The Glaze is a wonderfull product. It is actually a milder abrasive containing micro-scopic glass beads that crush down. Use 5-6 K rpms, BUT go faster back and forth. Buff to a high gloss. Aply the same amount on the pad, about a dime to quarter size to work a 2ft. x 2 ft. area. then wipe with the micro fiber towels. You will like the results.Now take car out in the sun and inspect it. If happy then you can apply wax.


NOW WAX ON!!!

Go get your Zaino Z-2 and ZFX and go to it! Use Micro-fiber towels to buff Zaino off. Or Pinnacle Products. They are BOTH The Best out there.

Then take your PC and the white pad and use it at 3K rpms..and buff that awesome finish out!!!! NO PRESSURE ON THE WHITE PAD! You are finishing.

Then use the spray! Z-8, or Pinnacle Crystal Mist!
You will be impressed with the results!

The first times you get the swirls out you will start laughing and say to yourself..this is cool! It is Easy!!! I myself have never had a buffer in my hand untill I had the Viper. It is really easy and once you get the hang of it...you will look forward to doing it on a regular basis.

As far as the deeper scratches and stone chips use the Langka.

http://www.langka.com/



Remember :

SLOW moving buffer at high rpms 5-6 K removes SWIRLS
FAST moving buffer at high rpms 5-6 K removes HAZE
MEDIUM moving buffer at 3K rpms makes your wax job SHINE

Good Luck and don't be at all afraid of hurting your Viper. It is fun.

If you have any more questions or need anything, drop me a call or email!

Dave

[TCKTPLZ]

Dave was so kind to give me the same incredibly helpful info he posted above. As far as the polishing pads he recommended, you can buy them here:

http://www.detailnet.com/catalog.php...mp;item_id=145

One link he posted is the manufacturer and they do not sell to the public. The other link he posted no longer sells those pads. The link I gave above has them in stock. I ordered some today and the price is great.

If any of you also have a German car, it might be worth taking a look at these pads:

http://www.properautocare.com/padkiforpoge.html

I got these for my M3. I remember reading on numerous forums that German paint is quite different than American paint. The tree-huggers make American manufacturers add a lot of crap to the paint to make it more enviornmentally friendly, safe, and disposable. The result is lower quality and occasionally orange-peel. These pads are specially designed for German paint. I also bought a couple of their regular pads to compare them with the pads Dave recommended. I will let you guys know how they compare.

[2BADD 4U]

Hey Rich!!!

Thanks for the "up dated" links!!!

Dave

[Sellshomesdrivesviper]

Wow, thanks for the useful and informative information.

[2BADD 4U]

Wow, thanks for the useful and informative information.

Your Welcome!

Have Fun!

Dave

[RandyS]

Hey 2BADD... Is there enough clear for a cut and polish? My car has a lot of water marks, if you use the ten foot rule it looks great, up close, lots of little marks. Or, will the process above remove the water marks too? I did a small test area at the rear of the hood and it worked fine, but, I was worried about the amount of clear on the rest of the car. Thanks

Randy

[WOT!]

Check out this sale for the PC...

http://www.allprotools.com/store/index.htm