How to remove micro-scratches out of a flamed paint job on a 1972 Nova?

[novaman]

G'day Mike: Sure wished I lived closer. I would attend these classes, no problem. I just purchased a Flex DA polisher from "AutoGeek" and I'm a little reluctant to use it on my 1972 Chev Nova. The Nova has a pristine paint job (ghost flames) and has a small amount of micro scratching and a few swirls. Nothing really, really bad. I purchased Optimum Hyper polish and Optimum hyper compound to use with "Edge pads". Now I feel like I might have gotten in over my head as I'm afraid to even start with these advanced products and I don't have any experience with car polishers.

There is one more thing that I hope you or anyone else experienced in detailing cars could advise me on, and that's removing dust only from my show car. I had my car out to the garage yesterday and it got very dusty. I usually use Zanos detailing spray when it has minor dust. This time I have major dust and I'm a little worried about scratching the paint just removing the dust. Any suggestions would be welcome, gentlemen.

Thanks so much

Novaman

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

G'day Mike: Sure wished I lived closer. I would attend these classes, no problem.

Hi Novaman,

I moved your post out of the "announcement" thread where I found it and created for you your very own dedicated thread as it will get more attention this way.

I just purchased a Flex DA polisher from "AutoGeek" and I'm a little reluctant to use it on my 1972 Chev Nova.

The Nova has a pristine paint job (ghost flames) and has a small amount of micro scratching and a few swirls. Nothing really, really bad. I purchased Optimum Hyper polish and Optimum hyper compound to use with "Edge pads".

Now I feel like I might have gotten in over my head as I'm afraid to even start with these advanced products and I don't have any experience with car polishers.

Have no fear, our forum community will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you out...


First... which specific Edge pads did you get? Here's the link to the page for Edge pads...

Edge Pads

There is one more thing that I hope you or anyone else experienced in detailing cars could advise me on, and that's removing dust only from my show car. I had my car out to the garage yesterday and it got very dusty.

I usually use Zanos detailing spray when it has minor dust. This time I have major dust and I'm a little worried about scratching the paint just removing the dust. Any suggestions would be welcome, gentlemen.

Thanks so much

Novaman

Great question... just to note, because this question is so different from "how to remove swirls by machine" question, it really could be it's own thread with it's own title that describes the question in the thread, again creating a dedicated thread helps you to get more and better replies...

Let me take a stab at this one...

Spray Detailers are meant to remove light dust, fingerprints and smudges, as soon as you have anything more severe than this then it's probably safer to wash the car using some other means.

Since you're in Australia, I believe you're under water restrictions and cannot use a free flowing source of water to rinse the heavy accumulation of dust off your car's paint?

Correct?

If so, then you're going to have to use one of the other options which include,

• Using a spray detailer
• Using a rinseless wash
• Using a waterless wash

Here are some threads on the above topics...

For the spray detailer option, this is very detailed article and note that if followed you'll be using a lot of microfiber towels and the reason why is explained in the article. This is for the D.O. personality type that has a car with a show car finish that is important to the owner to preserve.


Tips & Techniques for using a Spray Detailer to Remove Light Dust, Fingerprints and Smudges


And here's two more related articles...

How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?

The difference between a Normal Car Wash, a Waterless Car Wash, a Rinseless Car Wash and a Spray Detailer


p.s.

I owned a black 1971 Nova SS with a 396 Big Block back in the 1990's, fast car...

 

[novaman]

Hi Novaman,

I moved your post out of the "announcement" thread where I found it and created for you your very own dedicated thread as it will get more attention this way.



Have no fear, our forum community will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you out...


First... which specific Edge pads did you get? Here's the link to the page for Edge pads...

Edge Pads





Great question... just to note, because this question is so different from "how to remove swirls by machine" question, it really could be it's own thread with it's own title that describes the question in the thread, again creating a dedicated thread helps you to get more and better replies...

Let me take a stab at this one...

Spray Detailers are meant to remove light dust, fingerprints and smudges, as soon as you have anything more severe than this then it's probably safer to wash the car using some other means.

Since you're in Australia, I believe you're under water restrictions and cannot use a free flowing source of water to rinse the heavy accumulation of dust off your car's paint?

Correct?

If so, then you're going to have to use one of the other options which include,

• Using a spray detailer
• Using a rinseless wash
• Using a waterless wash

Here are some threads on the above topics...

For the spray detailer option, this is very detailed article and note that if followed you'll be using a lot of microfiber towels and the reason why is explained in the article. This is for the D.O. personality type that has a car with a show car finish that is important to the owner to preserve.


Tips & Techniques for using a Spray Detailer to Remove Light Dust, Fingerprints and Smudges


And here's two more related articles...

How dirty is too dirty to safely use a rinseless wash?

The difference between a Normal Car Wash, a Waterless Car Wash, a Rinseless Car Wash and a Spray Detailer


p.s.

I owned a black 1971 Nova SS with a 396 Big Block back in the 1990's, fast car...

Hi again Mike: Thanks for your interest in my post. To let you know I purchased the blue and white and green Edge foam pads to use on my Flex 3401 DA polisher. I did go ahead and I tried the white pads ( as they are least aggressive) that you allude to, and didn't get the results and then changed to the blue pads with the Optimum Polish and the compound. I'm fairly happy with the results. Thanks for highlighting some of you instructions for removing dust. I am pretty careful and never let the Nova get caught in the rain. So it's usually just dust. I will try and download some pics of my Nova for your perusal in a later post.

Just to let you know I'm from Kingston Ontario Canada. Not Australia, not that there is anything wrong with being Aussie.

Thanks again. If you could add anything more now that you know what Edge pads I'm using it would be appreciated.

novaman

 

[S2K]

I'm afraid to even start with these advanced products and I don't have any experience with car polishers.

I feel your pain, my plan is to do a couple of "practice" cars that I can't mess up before I touch the soft black paint on my Honda to get a feel for the machine and products and hopefully develop a little technique.

 

[Christopher]

If you want to practice, use a silver car if you have one; that way it won't be obvious if you mess up. Alternative options are to find a free hood or something on Craigslist list; or the next time you have to get a rental: get it in black, and practice on that.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

or the next time you have to get a rental: get it in black, and practice on that.

Rental cars also give you a chance to work on the newest paint technology coming off production lines...


Also anytime you're driving by a body shop stop and tell them that you're leaning how to wetsand, cut and buff and ask them if they have a hood they don't want you can practice on...

As long as it's not too dented you can get a practice panel for free...

Wrecking yards will sell you a hood for anywhere from $50.00 to a couple of hundred depending upon the value of the hood/car for parts... bu most that are straight and have enough paint to practice on will be around $80.00 to $100.00

Take plenty of tools with you to remove it and a friend to help balance it so it doesn't just fall onto the ground...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

If you could add anything more now that you know what Edge pads I'm using it would be appreciated.

novaman

Not much more to add except the perfect centering of the pad makes for a much smoother buffing experience...

Clean your pads often, most people don't clean their pads often enough when working on a detailing project...

How about some pictures?