Fixing Faded or Marked Paint Work on Car?

Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 13:08

Hello there just curious, I have no experience at all with buffing or polishing so was curious is it even possible to do it yourself?

Let's say I have a car with a 30yo paint job in white, it's lost some shine and had some light scratches from cats and leaves and such over the years…

What exactly can be done? I've seen a few car TV shows where they use some kind of spray or cream with a buffer machine and can restore paint like new?

I do not want to respray as that can cost 5K+
I'm willing to pay someone professional to do the cut and polishing if it's possible to restore shine and stuff?

Any actual feedback appreciated if someone has been successful just by using certain products?

Thank you kindly.

Automotive

Comments

  • nubzy on 06/10/2020 - 13:36
    +4

    Meguiars Ultimate Compound and a DA polisher such as this https://www.repco.com.au/en/car-care-panel/power-cleaning/po…

    Follow up with a good coat of wax and sealant over the top. Should be a remarkable difference after that. No need to pay a professional, just take your time.

  • Hithere on 06/10/2020 - 13:50

    If the surface isn't too bad use Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Polish and Wax.

    It helps remove moderate scratches and paint oxidation.

    You don't need to have a polisher, although it'll speed up the job, as you can get a good finish using a couple of microfibre cloths.

    • nubzy on 06/10/2020 - 13:54

      You really need a DA to get rid of scratches effectively, the heat and movement helps to get the abrasives working. You can restore shine using a hand polish applicator or microfibre cloths but wont be quite as good of a job. I have been thinking of picking up that Repco DA polisher to take care of swirls.

      • Hithere on 06/10/2020 - 13:59

        picking up that Repco DA polisher

        Not a bad price for the motor size.

  • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 13:51

    If it's possible to completely fix paint make it shine like new?

    • apsilon on 06/10/2020 - 14:54

      That really depends on it's actual condition. Peeling paint will require respray, just oxidised then yes a proper detail will restore it.

  • corky on 06/10/2020 - 13:52

    The Haynes Manual on Bodywork may be helpful?

  • Hithere on 06/10/2020 - 13:53

    You could start with a clay bar but a 30 year old neglected paint finish will never look as good as new again.

  • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 14:06

    Put simply: cut and polish.

    • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 14:18

      How exactly can I do it

      • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 15:32

        I could explain it, but there’s probably a million YouTube videos. I don’t know which is best, it Chris Fix seems to make good videos.

        Here’s one.

  • Muzeeb on 06/10/2020 - 14:09
    +1

    Wash
    Clay bar
    Wash
    Dry
    Meguiar's Ultimate compound with a DA
    Meguiar's Ultimate Polish with a DA
    Any wax or sealant
    Enjoy

    *just follow instructions on each bottle

  • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 14:21
    +1

    You aren't willing to pay a professional. Another wilco88 post, another YouTube answered question.

    • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 14:25

      I'm asking is it possible for a DIY or do I pay someone professional. Stop being so negative

      • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 14:27
        +2

        It's not possible for diy for someone who can't search YouTube for "how to Polish a car", and it isn't possible for someone to pay when they don't like paying for labour.

        Sell your car.

        • Nugs on 06/10/2020 - 15:01

          I'd maybe buy it. we considered an RS when we instead bought our CC GSR
          .

          • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 15:12

            @Nugs: Please do so. The you can just fix it and we won't have a million threads about it.

          • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 17:36

            @Nugs: I've got big plans 😁

        • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 17:37

          I'm currently saving and have been for a long time but can't do much due to covid19

      • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 15:37

        You have asked something that is easily answered by viewing YouTube clips or getting into google and viewing some blogs and stuff. There’s literally hundreds of videos explaining basic maintenance of vehicles (and everything else for that matter). This has been the case for years.

  • jackinyourbox on 06/10/2020 - 14:53
    +1

    Depends on the paint. Clear coat flaking cannot be buffed and polished with good results. Older paint without clear coat can be polished

  • Butt Scratcher on 06/10/2020 - 16:44
    +1

    It sorta depends on the condition of the paint. If the paint is just faded from lots of tiny scratches on the clear coat, then you certainly could restore it.

    Deep cuts or peeling pain, you won't be able to.

    Need pics

    • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 16:56

      Yes just faded nothing like peeling or flaking just need to restore some shine

  • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 16:55
    -4

    STOP BEING NEGATIVE NANCY and allow ppl to talk and ask for help… Why is it you guys are so happy to answer stupid road rule questions and insurance scams yet won't help someone with some actual questions

    • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 17:34

      Some questions can’t be answered by a quick google. Road rule technicalities fit that category.

      You’ve been told what it’s called, and that YouTube will help out (I’ve even provided a link). It is a lot easier to tell you what to look for than to actually describe all the steps - which is apparently what you want. Very few people will come to a bargain forum expecting to search here and find how to polish a car because it’s been done to death on other sources.

      • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 17:35
        -1

        Well I have specific question for my exact requirements okay so I like to talk to people and share information not sit and watch and waste data on YouTube

        • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 17:40

          You call it wasting data on YouTube. I call it looking up how to do something.

          The answer to your specific question is: cut and polish.

          Go to your auto parts store and buy some ‘cut and polish’ most ranges have something similar or it’ll be called faded pint restorer or something. If you can’t work it out, the salesperson will be haply to talk to you.

          • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 17:43

            @Euphemistic: I wasn't sure the exact procedure.. some can be done by hand, some need multiple products, some need a machine, sometimes they require a specific process with multiple products that is why I needed more information… And if it is even possible to restore paint that way or not… Thanks

        • randomusername2017 on 06/10/2020 - 19:29

          I like to talk and share information not sit and watch

          Siri, Alexa et al may fill the void..

    • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 17:42

      Your questions are stupid, and can be answered categorically by using either Goole or YouTube. You don't need to ask questions about every single little thing. If you can't figure out simple things by yourself, you shouldn't be doing up an old Subaru, especially if you have no.job and no money. Learn about priorities.

      • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 17:47

        Well I think 50% of the questions on here are just as bad, 100s of people who don't know basic road rules.

        Anyway I'm on a pension and I'm saving everything I can along with Coronavirus $ to get this car restored when I'm able to.

        Also it doesn't cost you anything to read my questions nor are you required to respond unless you have useful information but it appears some get their kicks from harassing others….

        Thanks

        • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 17:51

          If you have no spare cash get a couple of old t shirts a bottle of cut and polish and karate kid it. Wax on, wax off. Perfect if you have loads of time and not much cash. People have been doing it for decades.

          Once you are done wax it with a protector or you’ll be doing it again too soon.

          • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 18:02

            @Euphemistic: Okay thank you I'll definitely look into further

            • Euphemistic on 06/10/2020 - 18:03
              +1

              @Willco88: do it that way and aside from a few hours rubbing it’ll cost you like $30 with product left over for next time.

        • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 18:43
          +1

          I'm a mechanic and am always happy to help people on here, with caveats. People have to be willing to help themselves in basic things. You are asking people how to use cut and polish, and want to do a full "restoration" on a car with no money. If you don't have cash, you have to be able to do it yourself.

          You have one of the most commonly modified and diyed cars around, yet you can't seem to operate YouTube, which is why I say to sell the car.

          You would get much better reactions from people if you said "I've bled the clutch, but it still has issues, what should I check next?", rather than what you had in your other post. People dislike spoon feeding.

          • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 19:00

            @brendanm: Well you have to realise not everybody is a mechanic, but still want to enjoy a nice car.

            I wanted specific instructions for my problem.

            I have money in the bank and I plan to fix the car up I'm simply here for more insight and knowledge before I start.

            Until I can when the covid19 relaxes I will definitely get it done but for now I'm online to seek information that is what the internet was made for "information"

            I enjoy talking to others and learning more thank you

            • brendanm on 06/10/2020 - 19:30

              @Willco88: You have made zero effort though. That's the point.

              You can try my way, and get results, or continue doing it the way you've been doing, with poor results. Up to you.

              • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 19:39

                @brendanm: I'm doing research via multiple formats thank you

  • Willco88 on 06/10/2020 - 19:05

    I don't understand the negativity it doesn't cost you anything to read questions nor are you required to put your 2c in to every question, if you don't like the question you can move on and let me talk to people who are actually here to help ME

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