DFB's Garage
- Thread starter DFB
- Start date
Tasmania
Active member
- Jan 12, 2017
- 973
- 37
I'm telling my mum on you Dave!
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 3,944
- 850
- Thread starter
- #2,028
XR8 Paint Enhancement!
Back in on the 5th of November 2014, my FG-X Falcon XR8 drove off the production line, one of the first built. As of December 11th, I will have owned the car for 10-years. I can’t believe it’s been that long!
Straight off the truck, December 2014.................
Delivery day, December 11th, 2014. That same showroom housed my new Ranger in 2016, my S550 Mustang in 2017 and almost 10 years later, my new S650 Mustang........................
So, to celebrate the cars anniversary and to put some of my newly honed skills into practice, I’ve decided to give the car a light polish and reapply an old favorite.
Decontamination and Prep Work -
For a car that spends most of its time sitting under a fleecy car cover, the level of contamination would be minimal here. For that reason, I decided I wouldn’t be dousing this car in acidic shampoo’s and iron removers. But I did feel it worthwhile giving the car a wash using a high-pH soap to help remove previously used drying aids. In this case I decided upon ADS Decon Soap.
After the wash, I inspected the paint with my hands and determined a clay step wasn’t necessary. So, a wash with an alkaline soap, then dried using Carpro Eraser was the only decontamination needed. From here, I went around the car taping up the trims. I'm slowly getting better at taping, and smarter too, why tape something that doesn't need to be? For example, on an FG-series Falcon, the upper door seal trims are on the door and not the door frame, so why tape them when you can simply open the door. Don't know why I didn't think of that sooner.
Products Used -
Armour Detail Supply Decon Soap
Microfiber Madness DeliPad Wash Pad
Carpro Eraser Prep Spray
The Rag Company Platinum Pluffle Drying Towel
Carpro Red Masking Tape
Gyeon Q2M Wheel Covers
Polishing -
With only a few minor wash induced love marks, there wasn’t a need for extensive correction on this car. Nor did I want to be hammering down on the paint, the goal with this car from the very beginning has been preservation. In other words, a light jeweling polish to boost gloss.
With that in mind, I knew what product I was going to use, the delightful Carpro Reflect. However, I needed to check which pad would give me the desired result without removing too much clearcoat. Remember, preservation here. I started with the ShineMate red foam finishing pad, but I found that I needed just a little more as it left behind a couple of isolated fine scratches on the test spot. So, I switched to the orange ShineMate foam polishing pad, and bingo, combination sorted.
After the Mustang back in October, and that Subaru last week, the FGX Falcon is so simple to polish, the byproduct of the swathes of flat, simple panel contouring. Even the masking process is simple.
One of the things I learnt at the polishing workshop last week was regarding edge work, as in, polishing up to edges safely. One of the first things Sandro guided me with was placing a towel behind the latch to prop the door open. With the front door opened as well, this makes it safer for the adjacent edges. For front door, you can then tape the front quarter panel edge in addition to the towel trick to protect both edges. This might sound obvious to some, but it was news to me. That's why I went to the class, to fine tune my process, and in this case, make it safer too.
Product, Pad & Machines Used -
Carpro Reflect Finishing Polish
ShineMate Orange Foam Polishing Pad (4-inch & 6-inch)
Rupes Yellow Fine Polishing Pad (2.5-inch)
The Rag Company Creature Edgeless Polish Removal Towel
Carpro Eraser Prep Spray
Rupes iBrid Nano Long Neck (2-inch)
Rupes HLR15 (5-inch machine)
ShineMate EB351-3/12 (3-inch machine)
Rupes Claw Pad Tool
And that's where I leave it for today. The car was wiped down with Eraser and covered up, ready for another session tomorrow.
Back in on the 5th of November 2014, my FG-X Falcon XR8 drove off the production line, one of the first built. As of December 11th, I will have owned the car for 10-years. I can’t believe it’s been that long!
Straight off the truck, December 2014.................
Delivery day, December 11th, 2014. That same showroom housed my new Ranger in 2016, my S550 Mustang in 2017 and almost 10 years later, my new S650 Mustang........................
So, to celebrate the cars anniversary and to put some of my newly honed skills into practice, I’ve decided to give the car a light polish and reapply an old favorite.
Decontamination and Prep Work -
For a car that spends most of its time sitting under a fleecy car cover, the level of contamination would be minimal here. For that reason, I decided I wouldn’t be dousing this car in acidic shampoo’s and iron removers. But I did feel it worthwhile giving the car a wash using a high-pH soap to help remove previously used drying aids. In this case I decided upon ADS Decon Soap.
After the wash, I inspected the paint with my hands and determined a clay step wasn’t necessary. So, a wash with an alkaline soap, then dried using Carpro Eraser was the only decontamination needed. From here, I went around the car taping up the trims. I'm slowly getting better at taping, and smarter too, why tape something that doesn't need to be? For example, on an FG-series Falcon, the upper door seal trims are on the door and not the door frame, so why tape them when you can simply open the door. Don't know why I didn't think of that sooner.
Products Used -
Armour Detail Supply Decon Soap
Microfiber Madness DeliPad Wash Pad
Carpro Eraser Prep Spray
The Rag Company Platinum Pluffle Drying Towel
Carpro Red Masking Tape
Gyeon Q2M Wheel Covers
Polishing -
With only a few minor wash induced love marks, there wasn’t a need for extensive correction on this car. Nor did I want to be hammering down on the paint, the goal with this car from the very beginning has been preservation. In other words, a light jeweling polish to boost gloss.
With that in mind, I knew what product I was going to use, the delightful Carpro Reflect. However, I needed to check which pad would give me the desired result without removing too much clearcoat. Remember, preservation here. I started with the ShineMate red foam finishing pad, but I found that I needed just a little more as it left behind a couple of isolated fine scratches on the test spot. So, I switched to the orange ShineMate foam polishing pad, and bingo, combination sorted.
After the Mustang back in October, and that Subaru last week, the FGX Falcon is so simple to polish, the byproduct of the swathes of flat, simple panel contouring. Even the masking process is simple.
One of the things I learnt at the polishing workshop last week was regarding edge work, as in, polishing up to edges safely. One of the first things Sandro guided me with was placing a towel behind the latch to prop the door open. With the front door opened as well, this makes it safer for the adjacent edges. For front door, you can then tape the front quarter panel edge in addition to the towel trick to protect both edges. This might sound obvious to some, but it was news to me. That's why I went to the class, to fine tune my process, and in this case, make it safer too.
Product, Pad & Machines Used -
Carpro Reflect Finishing Polish
ShineMate Orange Foam Polishing Pad (4-inch & 6-inch)
Rupes Yellow Fine Polishing Pad (2.5-inch)
The Rag Company Creature Edgeless Polish Removal Towel
Carpro Eraser Prep Spray
Rupes iBrid Nano Long Neck (2-inch)
Rupes HLR15 (5-inch machine)
ShineMate EB351-3/12 (3-inch machine)
Rupes Claw Pad Tool
And that's where I leave it for today. The car was wiped down with Eraser and covered up, ready for another session tomorrow.
Dirty Harry
Member
- Aug 28, 2023
- 64
- 23
The XR8 looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor 10 years ago. Nicely done!
Old favorite...hmmm... Collinite 845? WDGPS?
Old favorite...hmmm... Collinite 845? WDGPS?
DFB
Well-known member
- Aug 12, 2019
- 3,944
- 850
- Thread starter
- #2,031
XR8 Paint Enhancement Continued……………….
With the rest of the polishing finished up, it was time to prepare for the application of some protection. To start, I wiped the car down with KCx PPS, I had forgotten how good this stuff is.
At the moment, I have three products that could have gone on this car. Gyeon Can Coat EVO would have been a quick, easy product to apply and would have delivered an excellent washing experience. But I just feel that Can Coat isn’t appropriate here. Collinite 845 has been a favorite of mine for so long, it certainly delivers on the tactility front. But, I’ve decided to reacquaint myself with another old favorite, a product that I know works really well on this colour and rewards the extra effort and time needed to apply. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant (DGPS), a product that is sadly no longer offered in Australia. I actually got sent a bottle in error, so I have enough to last me the rest of my life.
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
I first tried this product after reaching out to Waxit, who were actually a forum sponsor at one point. I wanted something to use on my XR6 above and beyond the Meguiar’s wax I had been using prior. Waxit suggested Wolfgang DGPS to enhance the deeper tones within the Sensation blue paint. This was back in the early 2010’s, a time before ceramic coatings and spray sealants becoming a mainstream option. After using DGPS, the gloss and slickness levels were insane, as were the hydrophobics. For the first time, I was being asked what I was using on the paint!
Application -
Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a cross-linking polymer paint sealant, with longevity said to last up to 6 months. Having said that, I can get years out of it on a garage queen. Wolfgang also make note of the anti-static properties DGPS provides, helping to repel dust, dirt and grime.
There are a few key reasons why I come back to the product –
- The glossy, wet look it creates. After application, Wolfgang suggest that the “paint looks like a clear glossy coating was just poured over it”
- The slickness! No toppers required!
- The depth that it adds to paint, enhancing the colour beyond its natural state
- Hydrophobic qualities that rival fancier ceramic coatings
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant can be used on all painted surfaces. This is a product I would avoid getting on unpainted rubber and plastic trims, it will otherwise stain. DGPS can be applied to the car by hand or via machine. I prefer to use the machine with a black waxing pad to speed up the process and ensure even coverage, swapping to a small foam hand applicator for intricate areas like the wing mirrors and bumpers. Working panel by panel, apply a thin coat to the whole car, reapplying product to the pad as needed. Remember, a little goes a VERY long way. Be sure to also shake the bottle prior and during application. You will also notice it smells like an old school product, all solventy and no with attempt to lace it with fruity scents.
Note that I'm using the ShineMate and not the Rupes, the ShineMate on speed 1 is much slower running than the Rupes on the same setting. For wax and sealant application, you really don't want or need pad speed here, so the slower rpm is more than sufficient to do the job and won't cause any accidental splatter.
From here, you then need to be patient, DGPS needs to sit for untouched for 30 to 45 minutes to set up. After setting, you can then remove the residue with a microfiber towel, starting where you began the application. When applied thinly, buffing off DGPS is a dream, way way easier than leveling a ceramic coating.
The curing of DGPS is activated by oxygen, so exposure to moisture during the first 12 hours will compromise proper curing and tamper with the long-term durability. So, just like a ceramic coating, you need to think ahead.
While the sealant was setting up, I went around and removed the tape and deep cleaned the plastic and rubber trims with Meguiar’s M39 and PPS. I then applied Carpro Reload to the areas not coated with DGPS, including the grill surrounds, fog light area, front fender features, and plastic trims.
Finishing up, the door jambs and engine bay were wiped down with ECH20 to remove any accumulated polishing and sealant dust. Using towel dampened with ECH20, I went around and lightly wiped the car down to pick up any remaining sealant dust. The glass was then cleaned with Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect.
Products Used Today -
KCx PPS Panel Prep
The Rag Company Eagle Edgeless 500 Towels
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
ShineMate EB351 5/15 5-inch Polisher
ShineMate Black Foam Waxing Pad (6-inch)
Foam Wax Applicator Puck
The Rag Company Creature Edgeless Sealant Removal Towel
Meguiar's M39 (NLA), Nexzett Plastic Deep Cleaner the alternative
Carpro Reload
Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect
Carpro ECH20
Note - While you can clean a pad or applicator used with DGPS, it's a tedious and annoying task that won't totally remove it. Once dried, the pad will be very dusty. To me, it's not worth the trouble, so count on binning them.
The Result -
This is not the first time I have applied DGPS to the XR8. Other than a variety of toppers since, the last sealant applied to this car was Gyeon Q2 Wax. The Gyeon wax certainly had the gloss and extremely good hydrophobics, but I feel like DGPS has an edge in gloss and slickness.
After applying mostly ceramic coatings over the last couple of years, it was like stepping back in time with this car. No, a sealant like this won't have the chemical resistance or longevity of a coating, but for a car like this, its the better option. I also have waaaay less anxiety applying a sealant over a coating, which overall, made it a much more pleasurable experience.
This is what I love about Emperor Red, in the shade it takes on a glassy, pearl-like finish. But in the sun, it transforms into a glowing beacon of gloss and metal flake................................
And so, with that, Happy Anniversary Miss. Jane
With the rest of the polishing finished up, it was time to prepare for the application of some protection. To start, I wiped the car down with KCx PPS, I had forgotten how good this stuff is.
At the moment, I have three products that could have gone on this car. Gyeon Can Coat EVO would have been a quick, easy product to apply and would have delivered an excellent washing experience. But I just feel that Can Coat isn’t appropriate here. Collinite 845 has been a favorite of mine for so long, it certainly delivers on the tactility front. But, I’ve decided to reacquaint myself with another old favorite, a product that I know works really well on this colour and rewards the extra effort and time needed to apply. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant (DGPS), a product that is sadly no longer offered in Australia. I actually got sent a bottle in error, so I have enough to last me the rest of my life.
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
I first tried this product after reaching out to Waxit, who were actually a forum sponsor at one point. I wanted something to use on my XR6 above and beyond the Meguiar’s wax I had been using prior. Waxit suggested Wolfgang DGPS to enhance the deeper tones within the Sensation blue paint. This was back in the early 2010’s, a time before ceramic coatings and spray sealants becoming a mainstream option. After using DGPS, the gloss and slickness levels were insane, as were the hydrophobics. For the first time, I was being asked what I was using on the paint!
Application -
Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a cross-linking polymer paint sealant, with longevity said to last up to 6 months. Having said that, I can get years out of it on a garage queen. Wolfgang also make note of the anti-static properties DGPS provides, helping to repel dust, dirt and grime.
There are a few key reasons why I come back to the product –
- The glossy, wet look it creates. After application, Wolfgang suggest that the “paint looks like a clear glossy coating was just poured over it”
- The slickness! No toppers required!
- The depth that it adds to paint, enhancing the colour beyond its natural state
- Hydrophobic qualities that rival fancier ceramic coatings
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant can be used on all painted surfaces. This is a product I would avoid getting on unpainted rubber and plastic trims, it will otherwise stain. DGPS can be applied to the car by hand or via machine. I prefer to use the machine with a black waxing pad to speed up the process and ensure even coverage, swapping to a small foam hand applicator for intricate areas like the wing mirrors and bumpers. Working panel by panel, apply a thin coat to the whole car, reapplying product to the pad as needed. Remember, a little goes a VERY long way. Be sure to also shake the bottle prior and during application. You will also notice it smells like an old school product, all solventy and no with attempt to lace it with fruity scents.
Note that I'm using the ShineMate and not the Rupes, the ShineMate on speed 1 is much slower running than the Rupes on the same setting. For wax and sealant application, you really don't want or need pad speed here, so the slower rpm is more than sufficient to do the job and won't cause any accidental splatter.
From here, you then need to be patient, DGPS needs to sit for untouched for 30 to 45 minutes to set up. After setting, you can then remove the residue with a microfiber towel, starting where you began the application. When applied thinly, buffing off DGPS is a dream, way way easier than leveling a ceramic coating.
The curing of DGPS is activated by oxygen, so exposure to moisture during the first 12 hours will compromise proper curing and tamper with the long-term durability. So, just like a ceramic coating, you need to think ahead.
While the sealant was setting up, I went around and removed the tape and deep cleaned the plastic and rubber trims with Meguiar’s M39 and PPS. I then applied Carpro Reload to the areas not coated with DGPS, including the grill surrounds, fog light area, front fender features, and plastic trims.
Finishing up, the door jambs and engine bay were wiped down with ECH20 to remove any accumulated polishing and sealant dust. Using towel dampened with ECH20, I went around and lightly wiped the car down to pick up any remaining sealant dust. The glass was then cleaned with Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect.
Products Used Today -
KCx PPS Panel Prep
The Rag Company Eagle Edgeless 500 Towels
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
ShineMate EB351 5/15 5-inch Polisher
ShineMate Black Foam Waxing Pad (6-inch)
Foam Wax Applicator Puck
The Rag Company Creature Edgeless Sealant Removal Towel
Meguiar's M39 (NLA), Nexzett Plastic Deep Cleaner the alternative
Carpro Reload
Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect
Carpro ECH20
Note - While you can clean a pad or applicator used with DGPS, it's a tedious and annoying task that won't totally remove it. Once dried, the pad will be very dusty. To me, it's not worth the trouble, so count on binning them.
The Result -
This is not the first time I have applied DGPS to the XR8. Other than a variety of toppers since, the last sealant applied to this car was Gyeon Q2 Wax. The Gyeon wax certainly had the gloss and extremely good hydrophobics, but I feel like DGPS has an edge in gloss and slickness.
After applying mostly ceramic coatings over the last couple of years, it was like stepping back in time with this car. No, a sealant like this won't have the chemical resistance or longevity of a coating, but for a car like this, its the better option. I also have waaaay less anxiety applying a sealant over a coating, which overall, made it a much more pleasurable experience.
This is what I love about Emperor Red, in the shade it takes on a glassy, pearl-like finish. But in the sun, it transforms into a glowing beacon of gloss and metal flake................................
And so, with that, Happy Anniversary Miss. Jane
Coatingsarecrack
Well-known member
- Dec 9, 2018
- 7,483
- 146
Big Dave
Well-known member
- Jan 7, 2018
- 2,964
- 386
And I thought it looked good yesterday, stunning. Those last two shots in the sunshine are glowing.XR8 Paint Enhancement Continued……………….
With the rest of the polishing finished up, it was time to prepare for the application of some protection. To start, I wiped the car down with KCx PPS, I had forgotten how good this stuff is.
At the moment, I have three products that could have gone on this car. Gyeon Can Coat EVO would have been a quick, easy product to apply and would have delivered an excellent washing experience. But I just feel that Can Coat isn’t appropriate here. Collinite 845 has been a favorite of mine for so long, it certainly delivers on the tactility front. But, I’ve decided to reacquaint myself with another old favorite, a product that I know works really well on this colour and rewards the extra effort and time needed to apply. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant (DGPS), a product that is sadly no longer offered in Australia. I actually got sent a bottle in error, so I have enough to last me the rest of my life.
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
I first tried this product after reaching out to Waxit, who were actually a forum sponsor at one point. I wanted something to use on my XR6 above and beyond the Meguiar’s wax I had been using prior. Waxit suggested Wolfgang DGPS to enhance the deeper tones within the Sensation blue paint. This was back in the early 2010’s, a time before ceramic coatings and spray sealants becoming a mainstream option. After using DGPS, the gloss and slickness levels were insane, as were the hydrophobics. For the first time, I was being asked what I was using on the paint!
Application -
Deep Gloss Paint Sealant is a cross-linking polymer paint sealant, with longevity said to last up to 6 months. Having said that, I can get years out of it on a garage queen. Wolfgang also make note of the anti-static properties DGPS provides, helping to repel dust, dirt and grime.
There are a few key reasons why I come back to the product –
- The glossy, wet look it creates. After application, Wolfgang suggest that the “paint looks like a clear glossy coating was just poured over it”
- The slickness! No toppers required!
- The depth that it adds to paint, enhancing the colour beyond its natural state
- Hydrophobic qualities that rival fancier ceramic coatings
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant can be used on all painted surfaces. This is a product I would avoid getting on unpainted rubber and plastic trims, it will otherwise stain. DGPS can be applied to the car by hand or via machine. I prefer to use the machine with a black waxing pad to speed up the process and ensure even coverage, swapping to a small foam hand applicator for intricate areas like the wing mirrors and bumpers. Working panel by panel, apply a thin coat to the whole car, reapplying product to the pad as needed. Remember, a little goes a VERY long way. Be sure to also shake the bottle prior and during application. You will also notice it smells like an old school product, all solventy and no with attempt to lace it with fruity scents.
Note that I'm using the ShineMate and not the Rupes, the ShineMate on speed 1 is much slower running than the Rupes on the same setting. For wax and sealant application, you really don't want or need pad speed here, so the slower rpm is more than sufficient to do the job and won't cause any accidental splatter.
From here, you then need to be patient, DGPS needs to sit for untouched for 30 to 45 minutes to set up. After setting, you can then remove the residue with a microfiber towel, starting where you began the application. When applied thinly, buffing off DGPS is a dream, way way easier than leveling a ceramic coating.
The curing of DGPS is activated by oxygen, so exposure to moisture during the first 12 hours will compromise proper curing and tamper with the long-term durability. So, just like a ceramic coating, you need to think ahead.
While the sealant was setting up, I went around and removed the tape and deep cleaned the plastic and rubber trims with Meguiar’s M39 and PPS. I then applied Carpro Reload to the areas not coated with DGPS, including the grill surrounds, fog light area, front fender features, and plastic trims.
Finishing up, the door jambs and engine bay were wiped down with ECH20 to remove any accumulated polishing and sealant dust. Using towel dampened with ECH20, I went around and lightly wiped the car down to pick up any remaining sealant dust. The glass was then cleaned with Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect.
Products Used Today -
KCx PPS Panel Prep
The Rag Company Eagle Edgeless 500 Towels
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
ShineMate EB351 5/15 5-inch Polisher
ShineMate Black Foam Waxing Pad (6-inch)
Foam Wax Applicator Puck
The Rag Company Creature Edgeless Sealant Removal Towel
Meguiar's M39 (NLA), Nexzett Plastic Deep Cleaner the alternative
Carpro Reload
Opti-Coat Glass Clean & Protect
Carpro ECH20
Note - While you can clean a pad or applicator used with DGPS, it's a tedious and annoying task that won't totally remove it. Once dried, the pad will be very dusty. To me, it's not worth the trouble, so count on binning them.
The Result -
This is not the first time I have applied DGPS to the XR8. Other than a variety of toppers since, the last sealant applied to this car was Gyeon Q2 Wax. The Gyeon wax certainly had the gloss and extremely good hydrophobics, but I feel like DGPS has an edge in gloss and slickness.
After applying mostly ceramic coatings over the last couple of years, it was like stepping back in time with this car. No, a sealant like this won't have the chemical resistance or longevity of a coating, but for a car like this, its the better option. I also have waaaay less anxiety applying a sealant over a coating, which overall, made it a much more pleasurable experience.
This is what I love about Emperor Red, in the shade it takes on a glassy, pearl-like finish. But in the sun, it transforms into a glowing beacon of gloss and metal flake................................
And so, with that, Happy Anniversary Miss. Jane