Well I dont want to spend the money on a respray but it needs help. The previous owner (or the one before that ha) had the car sprayd - looks like a maco job or a home brew. It is just my DD so I dotn want to spend a ton on it right now.

Anyway the car is very faded/hazed. What process do I need to do? I have never used a buffer always done things by hand but I have no prob trying it - not like it can get any worse. Do I need to "polish" then clay then wax etc? What steps would you guys do to try to revive this beast? I'll start on the hood just in case i mess it up, since the hood is already fubard.

I have a Maguires clay kit in the garage, along with some turtle polisher and mothers wax - I know crazy mix but its what I already have. Will those work? Get something else? HELP!

http://www.kernscoating.com/images/Edited/New_Cars/images/new_cars_002.jpg

http://www.kernscoating.com/images/Edited/New_Cars/images/new_cars_001.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/redefinedWRX/e30/IMG_3052.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y238/redefinedWRX/e30/IMG_3053.jpg

If its a crummy paint job I dont think theres a whole lot you can do yourself.

If its a crummy paint job I dont think theres a whole lot you can do yourself.

Well I think its a single stage paint. Which means if i take some off the top it should be ok right? LOL

First job is to clay the paint!

Once you get that out of the way, I would use a light paint cleaner since single stage paint tends to be very soft, especially if it is a crappy respray. Follow up with a dedicated polish, and top it off with your favorite wax. Results will blow you away, I promise.

As much as some may criticize it, for single stage paint, one of my favorite combinations is Meguiar's Deep Crystal System's Paint Cleaner and polish (though I tend to use M7 over the DC#2 polish). I then just top it off with my wax of choice, and to say the absolute least, the results speak for themselves. For the $15 it costs for those two products, make sure you get at least a few GOOD foam pads to apply the polish and paint cleaner with; I would probably get around 4-6. Top it off with your Mother's wax (Mother's makes good stuff), and enjoy the results.

I love single stage paint for the simple reason that when it is neglected, it is so much fun to see the dramatic change that takes place with a little polishing.

Thanks for the info Wolf. Is this all stuff I can do by hand with pads or is a buffer needed? Sounds like it can be done by hand from your post.

Wash - Clay - Polish - Wax

Now I can buy actual "polish"? Or is this like a rubbing compound?

Thanks man!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v248/wolfstrong/detailing/Image9.jpg

First, wash the car, then clay it completely.

The polishing step can actually be split into two steps if you are working by hand. A pure paint cleaner with no polishes will remove oxidation, blemishes, and all that jaz to create a level surface. Working by hand won't get you a show car finish, and likely, you won't achieve a swirl free finish, but it will take care of water spots and light marring. Most paint cleaners are also called polishes, so don't get confused. Your goal here is to use a product that will remove oxidation and water marks. If you are working with a machine, then you can also remove swirls and scratches as well.

You also have polishes, which simply add luster to the paint. On a clear coated car, it isn't too big of a difference, though on a single stage like you are working on, it makes all the difference! Only go to this step once you are satisfied after working with a paint cleaner. What this polish will do is fill in pours in the paint, and give it a rich shine. This step is optional, though I do HIGHLY recommend it on a single stage.

Next step would be to simply wax the car with your wax of choice. The most important step though, is the maintenance. Upkeep the car by not letting water spots, bird droppings, or bugs to stay on the surface! Even allowing them to stay on the paint for more than a few hours, or even sometimes a few minutes in the sun, will completely eat through your wax and etch themselves into the paint! I like to keep a bottle of quick detailer and a microfiber in my trunk just for this reason!

As for machines, if you are using one of those cheap 10" orbitals that you put bonnets on, than you are better off just working by hand. If you have a machine other than that, let us know so we can point you to the best possible polish. If you do have that, then just go get the Meguiar's/Mother's Paint Cleaner/Pre-Wax Cleaner, Meguiar's/Mother's Polish/Sealer & Glaze, and a case of your favorite beverage! Post up pictures when you are done!

Sounds good thanks again. I have never used a buffer before as all of my cars have had nice paint so I just kept them waxed and what not. I might try to borrow someones but I dont want to make it worse (ie burn it or whatever) with the machine.

I'll take a pic of what cleaning materials I have tomorrow and post them up because I forget what I have.