Detail Alert - Red Paint On Cloth After Polishing. Should I be worried?

[jb3t]

I've got a 1978 Big 10 that is a reddish maroon color. I took a little Magiires Ultimate Polish to it the other day and noticed that some red paint came off on my towel. Should I be worried? I don't want to ruin the paint.

I need to give this truck a good detailing. I'm sure nothing has been done to it in decades and I think it's the original paint job. I went out and bought a DA polisher from Harbor Freight and rubbing, polishing, and waxing pads. The plan is to compound it, polish it, and wax it.. All using Maguires Ultimate products. Has anyone had good results using this method.

See almost 40 years of oxidation below.

[95 S_Trucker]

It's not a base coat/clear coat system. It's normal. It's easy to buff through the paint though, so be careful.

[jb3t]

Is the 3 step process (compound, polish, wax) too aggressive?

I'm going to use Maguires ultimate compound. They have a more aggressive cutting compound but I don't want to risk it.

[andrewmp6]

Its normal when your buffing but watch the paint on the truck make sure your not taking it all off.

[jetmech85]

You could try just polish and wax to see if that will give the results you want.

[andrewmp6]

Or do a test spot on a door jam in case you mess it up no one will see it.

[jb3t]

More to come. I'm going to do part of the roof.

1. Wash with two buckets
2. Clay to remove gunk.
3. Meguiar's 105 compound with a DA buffer to cut.
4. Meguiar's 205 polish with a DA buffer to shine.
5. Some wax or protectant.

I'm not messing around. Will see what happens. I'm slightly scared.

[Jaysonb]

You can get yourself in trouble in a big hurry using something as aggressive as the 105 compound. I would try something a little less aggressive first. Make sure to put tape on the edges to protect them from cutting through. I think that the ultimate compound should be more than aggressive enough to clean your truck up.

[jb3t]

Ok. Am going to test tomorrow. I'll test a small area with M105 and M205 and then an area with Ultimate Compound and M205. Done with a DA polisher.

[andrewmp6]

I would try by hand first with the lightest compound you can get to see if you need the rougher stuff.Yeah taping off the edges is a good idea also tape off the trim and badges its a pain to get the compound off black trim and badges.

[jb3t]

To finish the story here, I did a test and it was successful. Remember, we are talking a 78 C10 with single stage (no clear coat) paint. It was one owner and, from the great records they provided, it looks like they painted some or all of the truck over 25 years ago. A Maaco job. Here's what I did.

1. Learned all I could about detailing the safe way. I was/am scared to death that I will destroy this old paint. Best video series was by a dude named Junkman 2000 on YouTube. It's a long watch but I learned a ton.

How To for Novice to Machine Polishing - Part 1 -...

I followed his instructions and got phenomial results.

2. Washed the truck using Junkmans 2 bucket method. Little did I know that many of the scratches you get come from washing your car. Especially when you dip your sponge into dirty water and rub dirt on your car.

3. Clayed the car to remove gunk on the paint. It's a little workout. Clay lubricated with detail spray. Used Junkmans sandwich bag test and to test before and after. Major difference.

4. Used DA polisher with Maguires M105 compound/polish with an orange hex logic pad. Two solid passes with that working slowly.

5. Used DA polisher with Maguires M205 pokish with a white pad. Two passes with that as well

6. Wiped off after each pass with a good microfiber towell.

I could not be happier with the results. The picture does not do it justice. It looks like brand new paint. Little scratches, swirl marks, oxidation is GONE.

I tested in a small area and will start doing the entire truck next week. The process, according to Junkman, is safe and effective BUT NOT FAST. You're not going to knock this out in a day. It's more of a couple weekends job.

[andrewmp6]

Looks better already,And remember to wash and wax it after you buff it.