Just got done with a full paint detail. Spread it out over about a week's time. Washed it with Dawn. Full polishing with both Menzerna Intensive and Final Polishes using my Porter Cable. So far, I've thrown one coat of Blackfire caranuba on there. I will probably put another coat on the top surfaces and be done with it. The polishing came out great. Not perfection, but as close as it will get with the amount of time I had to invest on this go around. You can drive yourself crazy trying to get every swirl or imperfection out of the paint. I try to spread it out and do an hour a day or so, and I only go through this process once or twice a year.

It takes me about an hour to wash it. Probably 3-4 hours of polishing. And then about 1 hour per coat of wax. I had waxed it a few weeks ago and I wasn't satisfied with the condition of the paint underneath. Decided to scrap my previous work, strip it, and start over and polish before waxing this time. I thought it came out pretty good, if I do say so myself

The only downside is that every time I do this I get intimately familiar with new paint imperfections that I picked up since the last polishing, and this time was no different . I guess if you're gonna actually drive it, stuff like this happens.

 

Man, when your rotors get that rusty in your garage that's a sign you need to drive it more and fret less! Looks great though - those wheels look like a PITA to keep clean...

 

Looks good dog! Love the Ducati too...I had a 998 and that was the bike I was on when I got hit on Dale Mabry and lost my leg...BE CAREFUL. Anyway I just did the same and spent 2 days on my black 997s Cab. I used Griot's and Mexerna products and it came out great. I was going to drive it a few times this weekend but saw clouds and said to the wifey forget it.
see ya around! Mike

 

They actually look like that in about 20 mins after washing it. Kind of annoying. The drive into my garage after washing isn't long enough to sguee gee the rotors dry. It makes quite the noise when I back it out after the rust sets in. Not to mention it rains rust on to my wheels. I'm starting to think I should drive down the street and ride the brakes before I bring it in to dry it. Always afraid I'll fling dirt on the car though. I may see one of those car blower dryers in my future.

The wheels aren't bad to clean. I use a soapy MF towel and run it around the spokes. If I was using a MF sponge, yes, it would be tough. But you're right, not nearly as easy as the factory 5 spokes were.

 

Sorry to hear that. That's terrible. How long ago did the accident happen? I thought we had met before, but I don't remember that fact about you. Do you have a prosthetic leg? How does it work with driving, I'm assuming tiptronic?

 

Hey deputydog95,

If you drive down the street slowly at first the car will stay clean.
I always take a lap and dry the rotors to avoid all of that rust coating my clean wheels when I do take the car out later...think of how much better your car will look in pictures that way.

But to answer your question, I drive myself nuts when it comes to driving it after cleaning it cause it's always clean...

 

Looks sweet, and love that spoiler..those inlets are nice...I am the opposite. I use to love waxing and polishing my car but with kiddos, I can't find the energy to get out there and really do a good job I am satisfied with. Maybe when they get a little older.

 

Car looks great deputy. I personally can't wait to drive my car after a proper detail. It always seems to run smoother and better....can't explain why?

 

I spent a bunch of time with the polisher this time around. It was amazing how good the paint looked with no wax. Very shiny, lots of depth. The wax made it look better and adds protection, but it looked pretty damn good without the wax.

Moe: What type of lighting do you recommend? I hate doing it in natural light. Things seem to stay hidden in normal light, especially so outside under sunlight. Too much reflection I suppose.

I usually try to work at night. For some reason under my crappy garage lighting, it really exposes a lot of the flaws. The only problem is that the lighting is not effective all the way around the car. I'm sure I could make this process go a lot faster using the proper lighting and going right after the problem spots instead of my hit or miss method.

On a side note, I really need to be more aggressive about not letting other people wash my car. There have a been a few situations this year (body shop, audio work, car show) where I let other people wash the car. While I appreciate them doing it, I always seem to end up with light scratches. I can only assume that their sponges or drying towels weren't clean. Either way, I need to not let that happen. Too much work for me later on.

 

No need to say sorry...Things happen, life goes on and it's not passing me by. I am just lucky and happy to still be alive. I was lucky to have the best surgeon in the world and he happen to psot here at times and is one hell of a PCA instructor.
It's my entire left leg so yeah I do not have any muscles to push the clutch so I have a Tiptronic. I can't wait for the DSG/PDK tranny to come out. I have found the limits of the Tip at the track. I do not believe we have ever met unless you go to Sebring. I need to get out to Cars and Coffee but it is way to early in the morning. Hope to meet you soon though.
Mike

 

Well..

It does run better. Your car knows you put a lot of positive energy into it and it rewards you..


Some people think they're just a bunch of nuts and bolts but.....


we know better.

tw

 

I'd drive it and not worry so much about the imperfections. However, I avoid driving mine on crappy roads and dirty rain etc. That's what the DD is for.

 

Different lighting will expose different issues in the paint. Make sure your garage is well lit with flourescent lights because this way you can work and see everything. When I polish, I check my work with an LED Maglite. It mimics the sun and if all the imperfections are illiminated and verified by this light, I know I'm safe under halogen, flourescent, and sunlight.

 

Gday Moe,
How many LEDs are in the Maglite?? I use an LED head torch with only two LEDs and it works well, but I've been thinking recently that more LEDs would be better. Personally it my opinion that theres no substitute for full natural sunlight. If only we could have the sun without the heat! Buffing outside is such a double edged sword.
Cheers
Brett

 

I don't like checking the car under sunlight. I find it way too reflective. Maybe it's just the color of my car, but when I bring it out in direct sunlight I end up squinting at the car to try and find the imperfections. I think I will install a couple of strip light fluorescents over the car.