Detailing and Polishing

[jmoffo]

I am going to get my car detailed PROFESSIONALLY in two weeks. "Sweetie" is actually near perfect, yet I want them to polish and buff the finish to remove a few swirls and a few surface marks. What should I look for or ask the detailer to do? And what product works best for paint on a 1976?:nik:

[JTraik]

Make sure they do the door jambs.

[jmoffo]

Never thought about that! Just got new sill plates for it...I'll also have to make sure they do around them as well. Should look great once it is done. Just curious as to what I have to watch out for. I don't want to get it to a shoddy detailer.

[misfit6794]

There is a detailing section on here somewhere. I am a detailer so hopefully i can give you some expert advice. Is it the original 1976 paint? Older paints tend to be thicker and may not have a clear coat on them. What color? The darker the color the more scartches you see, it has to do with the way light reflects off the paint. Depending on how deep the scratches are they may or may not come out, if its down to primer, you gotta live with them, unless you want to get into wet sanding, which some detailers, including myself, don't do. Find out exactly what they are going to do. Sometimes they will use too harsh of a compound to remove deep scratches and not follow it up with a finer compound, leaving you with swirl marks. I assume they will use a highspeed buffer, and not do anything by hand. BTW if they do not clean the door jams they shouldn't be calling themselves professionals. All door jambs, trunk jams, and weather stripping should be cleaned and the weather stripping protected. All extreior vinyl or rubber should be cleaned and dressed, as well as all of the interior trim. If you have leather it should be cleaned and conditioned. The carpets should get shampooed. They should give you a description of exactly what they will clean and not clean, the dealer I work for charges extra for engine bay detailing, paint sealer, and underbody deatiling. I am not too familiar with what products to use on a 76. Hope this helps, if you want more info just leme know, I didn;t want to type a novel

[jmoffo]

It is the original paint. Car was garaged its whole life. NEVER driven in SNOW or RAIN. I want the paint POLISHED and buffed to highlight how nicely the car has been kept. There are FEW swirl marks and NO scratches. Not a one! Just looking to give the old girl a "SHOW" look for the summer.

[misfit6794]

What color is it? I am not sure whether your car has a clear coat or not, it may require different wax or polish. They most likely will compound the paint, or machine polish it. Either way you should like the end results. I am guessing theres alot of chrome. It should be polished, (theres seperate chrome polish) as well as any stainless. There's alotta sheetmetal on that car, I would not wana have to be the one to detail it.

[turbomangt]

First of all you have a PM... second, I'm one of the sponsors here and I do this for a living, one of the biggest no no's I see in the trade is shops that use a high speed buffer. using this machine on a dark color can be dangerous. I get many cars in my shop that other detail centers screw up either using too aggressive compounds (producing swirls) and or using the wrong buffers, the steps are not difficult once you know them, wash/clay/wash again/ deep clean/polish/seal. the dual action machine is much safer for your finish, I made a DVD that has all the steps you can watch on your TV and get a much better idea of what is involved. any questions contact me here gary@perfectautofinish.com
www.perfectautofinish.com

[jmoffo]

First, thanks for the offer, but I was basically wondering how to go about finding a detailer that knows what the hell they are doing with one of the older cars. The car has been WONDERFULLY KEPT and not an ounce of haze on the chrome whatsoever. I just want the paint BUFFED and POLISHED LIGHTLY to give it that last eye catching, head-turning, "WOW" Factor!

[JimHare]

Originally Posted by jmoffo

First, thanks for the offer, but I was basically wondering how to go about finding a detailer that knows what the hell they are doing with one of the older cars. The car has been WONDERFULLY KEPT and not an ounce of haze on the chrome whatsoever. I just want the paint BUFFED and POLISHED LIGHTLY to give it that last eye catching, head-turning, "WOW" Factor!

Perhaps if you gave us an idea of your geographic whereabouts, there might be someone who can recommend a local detailer. Unless you're close enough to drive to Gary (turbomangt) in the Chicago suburbs....

I'd second his opinion - you definitely want to keep the Deville out of the hands of "gorillas"....

[turbomangt]

Here is a web site that has certified details all over the states, perhaps you can find one near you, I served on the board a few years ago. a great bunch of qualified detailers.......www.detailersassociation.com

[jmoffo]

I am in Northern NJ. Too bad I cannot get out to the Chicago area!!!

I would love anyone's input as to a good, reliable detailer who has worked on older cars.

[GMBOUND]

Originally Posted by turbomangt

Here is a web site that has certified details all over the states, perhaps you can find one near you, I served on the board a few years ago. a great bunch of qualified detailers.......www.detailersassociation.com

The website is not showing a directory. Do I have to be a member?
I need some one in Kansas City, Kansas.

Couple of scratches in the hood, minor swirls.
I want them gone, and I'll maintain it from there.

[ZX_man]

Hello guys, I'm also a professional detailer here in Austin Texas. I would recommend going to www.autopia.com and looking in their regional section for a detailer. Many of the guys on there are top notch.

Regards


Walter

[GMBOUND]

Thanks, I may be returning home to Houston at the end of july, If I haven't got it done by then I may be lookin you up!