Gloss starts first with a smooth surface...

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Gloss starts first with a smooth surface...

This is the definition of a high gloss finish!

Question: Where else do you get a chance to work on a show car?

Answer: At Autogeek.net in sunny Stuart, Florida!


Learning the basics...
3-4 people that attended Autogeek's Car of the Week had never used detailing clay before and for their first time they got to learn on a numbers matching 1969 Camaro Pace car!


Remember, gloss comes from a smooth surface
One of the most important things you can do to create a high gloss finish is to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants and if discovered remove them using detailing clay.



Next up we wiped the car clean using Detailer's Pro Series Waterless Auto Wash and Pinnacle Clay Lubricant, which can be used to remove light dust, smudges and fingerprints.

In this shot, Rene is sharing some tips and techniques on how to carefully wipe a car down... (Thanks Rene!)

It doesn't take long to wipe a car clean with 7 guys...

After wiping the car clean, we felt the paint with our bare hands and also using the baggie test and the paint felt pretty rough so we went ahead and clayed each panel using Pinnacle Clay Lubricant and Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay.



Same thing... it doesn't take long to clay an entire car with 8 guys claying the paint...

In this picture, Robert from Impressions Fine Auto Detailing and a regular here at our weekly projects shares with Ron, (in the blue shirt), how to use detailing clay the right way. These projects are a great way to learn about products and techniques by guys that have been doing this for years...

Here's Hector and Glen claying the rear clip of the Camaro... Hector is going to be one heck of a Pro Detailer if he keeps attending our weekly projects plus he's going to get to work on a lot of really cool cars. Glen is to the right helping with the claying step.

Pictured with the green microfiber towel over his shoulder is Steve the owner. I want to thank Steve for trusting Autogeek with his precious car... you're in good hands at Autogeek...

Every step we performed in the above pictures is explained in The Art of Detailing, which shares not only how-to but also why-to...

See the end-results from this project here,

1969 Camaro Pace Car - Show Car Makeover - Modeled by Michelle


Gloss starts first with a smooth surface...

Products
Detailer's Pro Series Waterless Auto Wash
Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay And Clay Lube


Microfiber Towels
Cobra Gold Plush Jr. Microfiber Towel, 16 x 16 inches
Super Soft Deluxe Blue Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges
Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels with Rolled Edges

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Using Detailing Clay

The Baggie Test - How to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants

The 3 primary benefits of using detailing clay to clay paint

Tips and Tricks for using detailing clay

Do I need to wash my car after I use detailing clay to clay the paint?

How often do I need to clay my car?

Video: How detailing clay works and how to use detailing clay to remove above surface bonded contaminants

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

To see how we created the high gloss finish on Glen's 1954 Ford F100 or to see more pictures of the end-results, check out these two threads,


1954 Ford F-100 - Extreme Makeover - Process and products used

Robert using the PC and Glenn using the Meguiar's G110v2

1954 Ford F-100 - Modeled by Janna

Janna wiping some polish splatter off the passenger side mirror...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's a recent article on the topic of creating a high gloss finish...


How to create a high gloss finish

I did a test on the scoop using clay but to do the actual car I used a Nanoskin pad on the Flex 3401 as to me this is the best way to get the paint as flat and smooth as possible.

I share and recommend this in my new book for anyone that really wants to create show car gloss on their car.

A quality show car wax, sealant or coating is important too....

The end-results start however with a great foundation and that means getting the paint completely smooth by mechanically decontaminating it.


:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

:updated:

Shared here,

How to make a White BMW X3 Pop?

 

[mbkite]

As one progress in this hobby one learns the value of high quality products.

Sad to say it took a long time for me to see the light..

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

As one progress in this hobby one learns the value of high quality products.

Sad to say it took a long time for me to see the light..

I've learned the hard way too...