Finally started to polish/buff the RX. Got about 5hrs into it so far. Got the hood, roof and right side done. I have to go over every area twice, sometimes 3 times(hood was real bad). Using Mothers carnuba cleaner wax and I'll try something else to buff it. One thing about black, it sure shows the imperfections of the body. I'm finding dents and dings I never saw before:o

(quote Turbone)

One thing about black, it sure shows the imperfections of the body. I'm finding dents and dings I never saw before:o (end quote)

 

Yeah, Black shows everything... I love a Black car or Truck, but I'd never re-paint one that color again. To much time spent on getting panels straight and smooth, only to find you missed a spot AFTER you do a color coat. Black shows everything, magnafied atleast 30 fold......

 

But they do look good all nice and polished..........................

yeah Rob I know the feeling. My RX is basically perfect for showing me where I need to get the body straight and in the direct sunlights, helps me figure out where I need to work on. I get a paint pen and circle where I need to work because in fluoresent light, it doesn't show as much.

Are you using a foam pad or a wool pad to buff it? The wool pad will remove oxidation faster than the foam, use finesse-it from 3M or any medium compound that is specific for a buffer. If you go over it again with the foam pad after the wool pad, it will polish out the scratches that the wool pad makes. You should use a very mild compound for the foam pad. Also, I'm not sure what speed your buffer turns, but if it is adjustable I would try turning it to about 1200 rpm's and just going over everything slow. This will actually work better than going faster because you build up less heat and have less risk of burning through the paint.

nice job! takes alot of work. I did the same on my rusting loyale over a year ago. Still shiny in alot of places. (it even helped my electrical anomaly...basically why I did it:) )

Are you using a foam pad or a wool pad to buff it? The wool pad will remove oxidation faster than the foam, use finesse-it from 3M or any medium compound that is specific for a buffer. If you go over it again with the foam pad after the wool pad, it will polish out the scratches that the wool pad makes. You should use a very mild compound for the foam pad. Also, I'm not sure what speed your buffer turns, but if it is adjustable I would try turning it to about 1200 rpm's and just going over everything slow. This will actually work better than going faster because you build up less heat and have less risk of burning through the paint.

 

Right now I'm just using a terry cloth pad, changing frequently when it gets nasty. I'll go back over it with a foam pad I bought from a auto body paint store. My buffer is adj and I'm turning it at about 12oo.

Pics of the results to come soon.