Black Z06 Polish or not?

Gary Sword

Gary Sword

New member
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
4,168
Reaction score
0
It's been 2 years since I've purchased this car and polished it to remove all the dealer's swirls caused by their poor washing techiques. I have managed to keep it pretty much swirl free but it does have some very light scratches that are starting to bug me. Under most lighting conditions the paint looks near perfect except for the orange peel. I'm wondering if it's just me or how many other people would polish their cars when the paint is in this condition.

Before11.jpg

Before21.jpg

Before31.jpg

Before5.jpg

Before4.jpg

Before6.jpg
 
Does you're normal wax or paint sealant for this car mask these fine swirls and scratches?

If so, just wax it, if not... it's up to you...

If it were my Corvette and a garage queen that I show or show off I would probably polish it.

If it were my Corvette and I drove it regularly, then I'd wait till winter weather is over and then polish and wax it.

Just my take...

:)
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Does you're normal wax or paint sealant for this car mask these fine swirls and scratches?

If so, just wax it, if not... it's up to you...

If it were my Corvette and a garage queen that I show or show off I would probably polish it.

If it were my Corvette and I drove it regularly, then I'd wait till winter weather is over and then polish and wax it.

Just my take...

:)
Click to expand...

As a northerner, and just out of curiosity, what is this nasty winter weather, you Floridians speak of? 6-10" of Snow? Freezing Rain? -20* with a wind chill of -60?
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Does you're normal wax or paint sealant for this car mask these fine swirls and scratches?

If so, just wax it, if not... it's up to you...

If it were my Corvette and a garage queen that I show or show off I would probably polish it.

If it were my Corvette and I drove it regularly, then I'd wait till winter weather is over and then polish and wax it.

Just my take...

:)
Click to expand...

I usually put some Souveran Paste on it. It doesn't hide too much IMO. Between my wife and I we have 5 cars, a truck and a van. We both work out of our house so none of the cars have high mileage. My 1985 vette only has 33,000 miles on it. Living in south Florida winter doesn't really apply. The summer rainey season is the worst weather we have. I think I'm going to polish because it's starting to bug me and I like it to be near perfection. I guess I'm crazy or maybe just an autogeek.
 
If you have the time I say polish that sucker.
If you don't, then just wait until you do. I wouldn't go to an extreme trying to get it crammed in.

When you do polish it though - we wanna see.
:Picture:

DLB
 
Cmon Gary, you know you can't stand seeing those scratches. 85rd or Ultrafina will clean up that puppy and make it glow in the dark.
 
What about experimenting with the Pinnacle paint cleaner (Not sure of exact name) Shawn did his truck with. It turned out great and he got best of show.

I'm new to the game and wanted every scratch out but I think I'd be polishing every week unless I locked my car up in air tight, sanitary chamber somewhere and looked at it through glass.

I'm starting to wonder unless a show or garaged car if it's not better to use something to fill if swirls and just get that nice shine. If I can't see it outside of my halogens or have to really look for it out in the sun at certain angles, I'm starting to think it's better to save the paint.

Then maybe polish once a year for kicks or before I go to sale.

Anyway just throwing out another angle. Looks great whether you touch it or not.
 
Go over it with a finishing polish. You've done a good job keeping up with it so far, might as well not let the hairline swirls get any worse.
 
Gary,

I will have to see what my friend did on THIS Z06 a few months ago:



DSCF0353.jpg


DSCF0361.jpg


DSCF0355.jpg


I was being mean and did not want to hang around it all afternoon. he he he I know they did not use my Flex since that black paint was way too hot sitting outside.

They did it HIS WAY which was a 5 stage. Don't ask. He has a PC. he he he Here is what they did:

Meg's 105
Menz Nano
Menz Final Glaze
Menz Final Polish
Menz Finishing Glaze
Rejex Paint Sealant

It they would have just brought the Z01 over to MY PLACE, things would have run sooo much smoother and quicker and alot less time in doing everything.

oh yeah. they had to keep the car cover on it since it was almost 100 degrees outside with plenty of humidity to make it worse.
 
I think that a light finishing polish, say 085rd, might bring out some additional reflection and gloss after two years even on the best of finishes.
 
Thanks guys for your comments. It sounds like most of you are a bunch of autogeeks who are as crazy about their cars as I am.

Rsurfer said:
Cmon Gary, you know you can't stand seeing those scratches. 85rd or Ultrafina will clean up that puppy and make it glow in the dark.
Click to expand...

killrwheels@autogeek said:
I think that a light finishing polish, say 085rd, might bring out some additional reflection and gloss after two years even on the best of finishes.
Click to expand...

I just purchased a new bottle of PO85RD over the Thanksgiving weekend. It was on sale for 25% off less an additional 15% off for the Thanksgiving / Cyber Monday sale. That's what I had planned to use on it when I decided to polish it. That should take care of most of the very light scratches and I love the way it jewels the paint.


SRHTX said:
Gary,



Do you have any Optimum?
Click to expand...

I really like Optimum polishes but I like Menzerna better. The only Optimum polish I have left is some Hyper Compound that I don't use very often.
 
Last edited:
You know you won't be happy until it's cleaned up some more.And as a owner of a black vette also you know how much that paint shows every little imperfection.If your a little low on motovation shoot me a PM and i will come by and help you knock it out.:dblthumb2:
 
Harleyguy said:
You know you won't be happy until it's cleaned up some more.And as a owner of a black vette also you know how much that paint shows every little imperfection.If your a little low on motovation shoot me a PM and i will come by and help you knock it out.:dblthumb2:
Click to expand...
You better watch out Adam...Gary will have you polishing his undercarriage.:buffing:
 
Gary Sword said:
Thanks guys for your comments. It sounds like most of you are a bunch of autogeeks who are as crazy about their cars as I am.

I really like Optimum polishes but I like Menzerna better. The only Optimum polish I have left is some Hyper Compound that I don't use very often.
Click to expand...

I guess I have really narrowed down what items I like best. Those are Optimum, Meg's 105/205 and Menzerna. Also, I no longer use Yellow or Orange pads. I go straight for the purple wool pads. I just have to look at each and every vehicle I do up close to figure out which waxes I will use. Just really have fallen in love with Optimum. lol
 
Harleyguy said:
You know you won't be happy until it's cleaned up some more.And as a owner of a black vette also you know how much that paint shows every little imperfection.If your a little low on motovation shoot me a PM and i will come by and help you knock it out.:dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

Thanks Harleyguy! I'm not sure if you know that I live on the southwest coast but regardless I do really appreciate your offer. I know you're on the southeast coast. When it comes to my cars I don't need any motovation. I really enjoy detailing them.

Rsurfer said:
You better watch out Adam...Gary will have you polishing his undercarriage.
Click to expand...

lol
 
Last edited:
I would definately vote to take a pass with 85rd over the car. You will remove a tiny fraction of a percent in terms of paint thickness and you will correct the very slight defects and freshen up the paint since clearcoat oxidises over a period of time as well.

You did a great job maintaining the finish, if thats all two years does to the paint you are doing something right.;)
 
Most of the members of this forum know of your cars and of how well they're kept. That said, I have to believe you couldn't live with yourself if those minor but bothersome marks were left without attention being given them. Do what you know in your heart should be done and sleep well not listlessly staring at the ceiling. Good luck.
 
Did you really think that people on here where going to say you should leave it? Haha You could have done a full correction, wrapped the car in bubble wrap (that new kind of bubble wrap that will protect you car from swirls), and let the car sit for 2 two years; and people would still say to give it a fresh pet with a finishing polish.... All you needed to say was 2 years, and that it's a beautiful car. Of course you need to give it some love.... You don't want it to get it's feelings hurt do you?

This is a detailing forum after all; full of Autogeeks.

Pics please!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top