Cluster's Last Stand!

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 12:49 pm Post subject : Cluster's Last Stand!

Why didn't I do this years ago? I've read about you machine polisher guys buzzing over the lamp clusters and thought, "one day ... when I buy a polisher, I'll do that".

Being a "by hand" kind of guy my use of polishes has largely been restricted to Autoglym SRP and the occasional use of a more abrasive polish for dealing with isolated scratches and blemishes. I must confess, I'd always been a little scared of hand polishing a car with compounds and thinking about it, it's probably down to my earlier experiences with T-Cut and Autoglym Paint Renovator, the latter a product which I still use on occasion, but with great care.

Well, our pal John1970 sent me a couple of little bottles of the Autosmart Evo and Evo Fine polishes which I have been using to great effect recently in a newfound love of hand polishing. Blimey! These modern polishes are easy to use and do exactly what you think they'd do with great efficiency leaving surfaces that do not need much finessing. Cheers John! You've given me a whole new aspect to this hobby and a big old grin on my face Very Happy

I used the Autosmart Evo polish on my white car the other week when that section of roofing hit my white car and really cleaned up the finish on our black car yesterday with Autosmart Evo Fine.

'nuff rambling ... today, I thought I'd tackle the light clusters. Yes, why didn't I do this years ago?

So amazed, I popped in to get my camera and take an after shot:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0742.jpg

... now, onto the other side with before and after pictures:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0745.jpg
Above: Before

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0746.jpg
Above: Top half of that middle cluster done

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0747.jpg
Above: Bottom half of that middle cluster done

... and a couple of glamour shots, just for fun Cool

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0751.jpg

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0757.jpg

I also tackled the sunroof spoiler/sunblind:

http://www.pjgh.co.uk/gallery_albums/swd2009/DSCF0758.jpg

If you look carefully, you can see the double shadow of the street lamp as it reflects up from the paint beneath Cool

Yes, I haz skillz Twisted Evil

To say I am really pleased would be an understatement. I am chuffed to bits! As I said, my hesitancy has been entirely down to a lack of confidence in the efficiency of hand polishing. Now I know better, I can happily encourage all to have a go at this job - it's very pleasing indeed.

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject :

Great job Paul cool pics too. I have always fancied trying out the AS polishes.

Guest

good job as alway's paul.

Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject :

Thanks - I used Chemical Guys SQD to spritz over the lights after polishing and a microfibre to give it a good rub over the embossed logos and serial numbers ... and a final spritz with Serious Performance Show Detailer, which is a spray sealant.

I gather these Autosmart polishes are much akin to the PO85RD IP and FF polishes but cheaper ... others say there nothing close and you get what you pay for. Having not used the Menzerna polishes I cannot comment. Having been very pleased with being able to polish by hand with good results, I think the Menzerna polishes will be in my next order from CYC.

Moderator Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 3424 Location: Dorset

Nice work - and full respect to your leet skillz Wink

Facebook · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 7:20 am Post subject :

Nice one Paul, admitedly my clusters do get overlooked. I've failed an MOT before because the lacquer was peeling and ruining the light spread through the lens, it's peeling again and my MOT is in 2 weeks, think I better have a bash at this!

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 9:50 am Post subject :

Nice one paul Cool

and good title for the thread Laughing

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject :

Great stuff.

Again, it's the little touches like these that really finish a job off well.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject :

This is the odd thing - in direct light it looks flawless. I hoped to capture that in a couple of pictures and if you look at the last couple, they're taken in macro mode and would have picked up scratches. I've just popped out to have another look and using my little Petzl light I am very hard pushed to find any marring - it really is smooth. One thing I do need to get is a sunlight lamp.

On paint, I used the direct sunlight to check for marring and there are some glints still there on paint. Sure, it need finessing and I have a couple of good finishing polishes (Evo Fine, included) but on plastic, it seems to work very well on its own ... Evo, that is.

On the black car under direct sunlight, I can still see glints after the Evo Fine session on Saturday, but on the whole the finish looks very good indeed and a dramatic improvement of a finish which is getting more than a little worn recently.

By hand, I am fast favouring terry for use with the Evo polishes. I was a little scared of using what is an abrasive compound, but whether its the polish that is well made or my technique which I have happened upon some kind of gilded beginners' luck I don't know - they don't half work for me, though Cool

Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject :

Its suprising how "buzzing" Cool

over the rear lights can really finish a car off Smile

Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:49 am Post subject :

Nice work mate.

I did the lights on a mates S4 recently and he was well chuffed.

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:54 am Post subject :

I've sat behind my cars before with some 1500 grit and made the moulding marks dissapear, before polishing them up. It makes a world of difference and also save them from catching polish and what have you.... Very Happy

Takes a while but it works... Smile