Compounding Guards Red
11-08-2013, 12:53 PM
#1
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Compounding Guards Red
The week before Marble Falls, I got the urge to improve the paint job on my “Barn Find” 87 5 speed with original single stage red paint. The car looked ok, but tired. It had a white haziness to it, and some scratches in some areas. It looked like old red paint. I did some research and found a combination that gave amazing results so I thought I’d write it up.
First step was to get a new polisher with better speed control than the one I had. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up this 7” polisher that has a digital RPM display. You set the RPM with +/- buttons and it stays at that RPM all the time. I used 12 (1200 RPM). This is much better than a variable switch where you have to guess at the speed. Cost was about $42 with a coupon. This is not a dual action or orbital polisher, just a simple 90 degree polisher. I also picked up a few Velcro foam pads, heavy, medium and fine.
For the compound, I wanted something I could buy locally since I was in a hurry. I wanted 3M professional products available only at auto paint supply shops, but they were all closed on the weekend I was shopping, so I decided on Maguire’s Professional 105 and 205. It can be bought for 30 something a bottle at Auto Parts Stores, mid 20’s online. I’m totally sold on these products now.
The 105 is the heavy cutter used first. I sprayed some water on the foam pad for the first use, after that it stays wet. I didn't find it hard to control the polisher or keep from burning or wearing through the paint. You just have to keep the pressure light and constant, working small areas, maybe 2x2, and holding the pad at a shallow angle to the paint surface. The residue from the 105 is hard to completely remove, but the next pass with 205 takes care of it.
(There was also a deep paint chip I had touched up previously and intentionally built the paint up higher than the rest of the surface. I was able to wet sand the spot level with 2000 grit, and these compounds brought the shine back perfectly.)
Switching to the medium pad, the 205 came next. I did a 3rd pass with a product that I have had for years called Amigo. It’s a super fine polish available from Detailersparadise.com. The Amigo easily removed any residue left from the 205, and brought the paint to an amazing deep shine.
There were some heavy scratches on the hood so I decided to do the complete process a 2nd time just on the hood, which made the scratches almost completely disappear.
The final (4th) pass was with a Maguire’s Poly wax, which didn't buff off as cleanly as I would have liked. I’ll try a new wax next time.
The result of all this is paint that just pops! It has a deep red color that looks brand new, and a deep shine with zero swirls in the sun. It took a lot of work, but the results are fantastic. Here are some pics, but it’s hard to capture in a photo the white haziness that existed before.
Here's an attempt to show before and after...
Before
After
And a few more after shots...
First step was to get a new polisher with better speed control than the one I had. I went to Harbor Freight and picked up this 7” polisher that has a digital RPM display. You set the RPM with +/- buttons and it stays at that RPM all the time. I used 12 (1200 RPM). This is much better than a variable switch where you have to guess at the speed. Cost was about $42 with a coupon. This is not a dual action or orbital polisher, just a simple 90 degree polisher. I also picked up a few Velcro foam pads, heavy, medium and fine.
For the compound, I wanted something I could buy locally since I was in a hurry. I wanted 3M professional products available only at auto paint supply shops, but they were all closed on the weekend I was shopping, so I decided on Maguire’s Professional 105 and 205. It can be bought for 30 something a bottle at Auto Parts Stores, mid 20’s online. I’m totally sold on these products now.
The 105 is the heavy cutter used first. I sprayed some water on the foam pad for the first use, after that it stays wet. I didn't find it hard to control the polisher or keep from burning or wearing through the paint. You just have to keep the pressure light and constant, working small areas, maybe 2x2, and holding the pad at a shallow angle to the paint surface. The residue from the 105 is hard to completely remove, but the next pass with 205 takes care of it.
(There was also a deep paint chip I had touched up previously and intentionally built the paint up higher than the rest of the surface. I was able to wet sand the spot level with 2000 grit, and these compounds brought the shine back perfectly.)
Switching to the medium pad, the 205 came next. I did a 3rd pass with a product that I have had for years called Amigo. It’s a super fine polish available from Detailersparadise.com. The Amigo easily removed any residue left from the 205, and brought the paint to an amazing deep shine.
There were some heavy scratches on the hood so I decided to do the complete process a 2nd time just on the hood, which made the scratches almost completely disappear.
The final (4th) pass was with a Maguire’s Poly wax, which didn't buff off as cleanly as I would have liked. I’ll try a new wax next time.
The result of all this is paint that just pops! It has a deep red color that looks brand new, and a deep shine with zero swirls in the sun. It took a lot of work, but the results are fantastic. Here are some pics, but it’s hard to capture in a photo the white haziness that existed before.
Here's an attempt to show before and after...
Before
After
And a few more after shots...
Last edited by Don Carter; 11-08-2013 at 03:59 PM.
11-08-2013, 01:02 PM
#2
Archive Gatekeeper
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That's a great looking result! Good tech on the process as well.
11-08-2013, 04:01 PM
#4
Shameful Thread Killer
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I stopped by to compliment you on your car when you were in the conga line and checked out your wheels as well. The car looked great in person, and very nice attention to detail. It does take time, but the results are sweet.
11-08-2013, 04:04 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Thanks Doc, Andrew, Rob...
Next I need to have some door dings removed, re-cover the window pads, then replace the side window tint. Years ago I never liked red 928s, now I own two, go figure.
Next I need to have some door dings removed, re-cover the window pads, then replace the side window tint. Years ago I never liked red 928s, now I own two, go figure.
11-08-2013, 04:39 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
Your car looked really good, Don. Guards Red is one of the colors that seems to fade/oxidize the most, therefore the benefits of a good polishing job are quite noticeable - more so than on other colors IMHO. Well done!
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11-09-2013, 08:53 AM
#10
On the Bandwagon
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Don, that looks great!
I did a similar job on my 88 Guards Red last weekend. I had bought a 3-part 3M Paint Restoration system on Woot several months go for $26 so decided to give it a try. It came with 3 bottles - Scratch Remover, Shine Restorer, and Wax, and 3 color coded 6 inch pads. I bought a 6 inch orbital polisher and went to work.
My car had been sitting outside in the Texas heat for the last 2 years and the paint on the DS door, roof, PS door, and rear 3/4 panel were badly faded and whitened and I thought a respray would be needed -(it was weird that everything else was not faded).
I used masking tape on the trim an lights, and started the process. It only took me a couple of hours, but the difference was amazing. Deep luster on every panel, lots of scratches removed, and the car almost looks new.
I would highly recommend it!
I did a similar job on my 88 Guards Red last weekend. I had bought a 3-part 3M Paint Restoration system on Woot several months go for $26 so decided to give it a try. It came with 3 bottles - Scratch Remover, Shine Restorer, and Wax, and 3 color coded 6 inch pads. I bought a 6 inch orbital polisher and went to work.
My car had been sitting outside in the Texas heat for the last 2 years and the paint on the DS door, roof, PS door, and rear 3/4 panel were badly faded and whitened and I thought a respray would be needed -(it was weird that everything else was not faded).
I used masking tape on the trim an lights, and started the process. It only took me a couple of hours, but the difference was amazing. Deep luster on every panel, lots of scratches removed, and the car almost looks new.
I would highly recommend it!