Bananarama! Paint Q!

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Kev
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Joined: Sun Apr 18, 04 11:04 pm
Location: Brisbane, Oz.

Bananarama! Paint Q!

Post by Kev »

So me Val has a backyard reverse action vacuum cleaner spray job and lives in the Qld Sun all day, all year, at work. The paint from bonnet to boot is now matt. Bought a cheapo polisher and gave it a go with some hand rubbing compund and hand wax polish. D'oh! It now looks pants! Here's the Q.......should I use a cut compound designed for a machine? And polish designed for a machine? I've now got a thick haze of cut and polish over me bonnet and can write in it! It was going to be my triumphant return to the Mopar scene this Sunday after being away for a few years but now i'm embarrasssed with me paint! :? Gonna have to miss the cruise there, leave late, park up round the back!!!! :? Any advice gratefully accepted! I'm thinking satin black for the body, gloss black for the chrome, trim and wheels..... :help:
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John
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Post by John »

If its not got clear coat you could use fine wet and dry before cutting compound and polish.

Just be carefull of the edges!
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Dave999
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Location: Twickenham,London, England

Post by Dave999 »

no idea

but its a valiant

doesn't need paint

its just cool

welcome back sir Kev

life is not all fishing

dave
The Greater Knapweed near the Mugwort by the Buckthorn tree is dying
VGVIP

Post by VGVIP »

To test if it has a clear coat:
1) Wash the spot you will perform this test on.
2) With fine wet and dry (say 1500 or 2000) wet sand a small patch.
3) Check the colour of the water under the paper.
If the water has started to turn the colour of your paint, say black in your case there is no clear coat. If the water started to go a milky colour you probably have a clear coat.

Either way have a go at JohnS advice, you may surprise yourself.
Be very careful of the edges when sanding or machine polishing - best not to sand and only hand polish the edges to start with.

Few ideas for polishing.
- Wash and check no dirt etc before polish.
- If using wet and dry it may pay to use a soft pad behind the paper - better than leaving pressure marks where your fingers are.
- Do it in the shade with panels as cool as possible (drive down to Vic! :P )
- If you have a few compounds and pads for your machine, start with the least aggressive.... you can always escalate if it is not doing it for you!
- Your VG is black if I remember, be patient it will be likely to show swirl marks so you will need to finish with a good polish. Have a look at the Meguiar's products, they used to indicate how aggressive they are with a numbering system 10 being the most aggressive.
- don't use too much polish
- don't polish dry - dont let the compound dry out as you are polishing. this can cause bad swirl marks. You can spray a little mist of water on with a hand pump bottle.
- don't polish with extremely high rotational speed (can cause too much friction)

Being an Oz classic it was probably painted in acrylic. Does the paint mark with your fingernail leaving a very slight dulling on the surface (faint scratch)?
Reason I ask is the paint may be quite soft even though it is years old (this is the case with my Monaro painted about 17 years ago) used to polish ok but am running out of paint to polish.

Good luck :thumbright: We all know black is the worst colour to keep looking good on close inspection.
Hope to see some before & after shots if you are happy with the results.
Last edited by VGVIP on Tue Jul 26, 11 3:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
VGVIP

Post by VGVIP »

One other thing, personal opinion... don't paint the stainless trim or at least think twice.
I painted the stainless trim and chrome bumpers on the Monaro about 17 years ago.
Decided I did not like it any more two years ago.
Takes for ever to get the stainless trim back to original. A lot of time and effort.
Strip paint, wet sand to remove all scratches (was sanded so paint would key), machine polish.

If you are unhappy with the finish of your trim now you will be surprised at how you can repair dints with hammers, punches, fine files, wet and dry and high speed machine polish.
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