Fresh 32 Hours Old Clearcoat Cut & Buff - No Rotary Needed

[RedXray]

Just finished the Denali Conversion on my truck. Found a used bumper that was scuffed up in a few places. Feathered it down, Adhesion Promoter, Epoxy Primer, Basecoat, Clearcoat.

This SPI Universal Clear has to be the best clear I've shot in the 35 years I've been doing this. Laid down slick and cut like butter, good value also. It sanded so easy I decided I didn't need the aggressive wool pad on the rotary which is the norm for buffing fresh clearcoat. The Griots 6" did quick work on the clear.

Truck Before

Epoxy Primer

Cut and buff... 1000 grit, 2000 grit, Meguiars M105, HD Polish.

Test with the M105 and a Orange CCS Pad and HD Polish with a Gray CCS Pad. It cut the fresh (32 hour) SPI Universal Clear like butter. So this was the combo chosen.

Finished

Still need to cut & buff the mirrors.

Well I'll be done when I clean up the mess... tomorrow... this old mans tuckered out! Not really just enjoying a cold beer, the mess can wait.

 

[thebamboo23]

Love it!!

 

[Styka]

What an amazing job ! Beautifully done.

 

[CamaroSS27]

Amazing work, looks much better too!!!

 

[MrCleanit]

I agree your one hell of a body guy. And i see you have those nice LED's in your lens.

 

[hoyt66]

Now there's a nice skill set to have! If I knew how to do that I'd change the color of my car once a year probably.
Nice work. Looks good!

 

[dpscoupe]

Awesome! That made a huge difference!

 

[Mazda.Mark]

Been waiting for this update! Well done! Love the look! Are you nervous about paint chips now?

 

[BlueApolloIV]

Looks incredible...I wish I was able to paint cars.

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Beautiful Red.

 

[RedXray]

Thanks Guys!

Been waiting for this update! Well done! Love the look! Are you nervous about paint chips now?

The epoxy primer has great elasticity and perfect for problematic substrates like urethane. The OEM's original base/clear was void of rock chips (just a couple) so after DA and hand sanding with 180P giving it some tooth, I applied three coats of the epoxy. Epoxy doesn't fill as well as 2K (two part primer/catalyst) primers but the three coats did fill enough to block out the scuffed edges I had to feather back.

I guess time will tell as there is a lot of vertical surface exposed. I tend to stay far back of 18 wheelers anyways but you never know when or what gets kicked up on the road. I'm more concerned about dragging or misjudging those parking stops. I'm seriously thinking about installing a backup camera up front just to park lol.

5 1/4" clearance

 

[Shtexas]

I've heard and seen nothing but positive things about the Spi universal clear. That holds true with your conversion it looks great.
Did you use the normal activator, or did you cocktail mix some of the slow into it as well?

 

[RedXray]

I've heard and seen nothing but positive things about the Spi universal clear. That holds true with your conversion it looks great.
Did you use the normal activator, or did you cocktail mix some of the slow into it as well?

Thanks

Yeah I read a lot about the universal clear before shooting it and IMO it lives up to it's positive reviews. I used the slow 4003 activator on a 92 degree day and did get one minor clear slide on the bumper cover which cut down very easily. Maybe just a splash of medium activator would have dialed me in just right for panel spraying. On an all over, the slow would be perfect with the temps. You know us painters like to get it wet just before it want's to fall off on the floor, so signing your name in a place or two means a super slick flowed out job.

SPI is in Georgia and when I ordered it was on my door step (SC) the next day with free UPS shipping. Great deal on the prices, great products and free shipping!

I also bought the 2K primer for the tailgate. It has a small ding plus I'm adding the RST tailgate spoiler. I'll update my opinion of the 2K when I get that done and sprayed. If it's as good as the epoxy I'll be buying most everything from Barry except the base.

 

[Dave'sDetails]

I would say that after such stellar work... and the coolest garage I have seen in a long time, you sir deserve a FEW cold beers. Great job. I always enjoy the pics you post of your truck. Clean, simple, yet very aggressive looking. Thank you for posting this write up.

 

[dpscoupe]

Red - Speaking of the garage, is the floor peel and stick vinyl or is it the floating click lock stuff?

 

[RedXray]

Red - Speaking of the garage, is the floor peel and stick vinyl or is it the floating click lock stuff?

Yeah it locks together.

It's "MotoFloor" from Costco manufactured by Snaplock Industries, the same company that makes RaceDeck.

 

[Mazda.Mark]

Of all the mods done to your car, and I may be looking at it wrong, I do not see tint on the front widows? Is that correct? Do you have any performance modifications? Do you have another vehicle you drive as a DD? Just curious to know how scuffed up the bed gets.

 

[sproketser]

Great conversion job mate ! Only the material might have cost a fortune ! Great stuff by the way .

 

[Klasse Act]

Looks great, can't really see in the pics but do you have projectors now?

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online

 

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Excellent job. Beautiful results. Looks like it came from the factory. Talented work. On a side note if you don't mind me asking about the lights in the garage, are those t8 or t5 lights and what is the wattage of the bulbs?