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The first impression that an automobile gives is based on the condition of it's body and paint. It's also the part of a restoration which is shunned by most owners as being too difficult, requiring too much skill, or in the realm of "black magic". None of these thoughts are true. The plain fact is that painting a car correctly is a lot of work and requires a lot of attention to detail. Once you've painted a car you will have a better appreciation for the fees charged by professionals. The average owner has more than sufficient skills to perform a very nice paint job and the equipment required is neither exotic nor is it unaffordable. All of my painting experience has been on my 74 Corvette but should be applicable to any project car you wish to tackle. To Paint or Not to Paint… The first thing that must be assessed is the overall condition of the paint and the quality of the body beneath. If your paint is chipped severely, peeling, spiderwebbing or so thin that primer shows through, you need to repaint your car. If prior bodywork has been done poorly or, in the case of the Corvette, if body seams are cracking you should also consider a repaint in order to correct defects that will eventually cause damage to the best of paint jobs. If none of the above describe your vehicle and your only problems are a few chips and dull paint you should consider trying to revitalize your existing paint. If you've already decided to take the plunge and paint your vehicle jump to here. REVIVING OLD PAINT In order to polish any object, whether it is paint, aluminum, steel or precious metals, you must apply abrasives in steps working from coarse to fine until the surface is as smooth as possible. This is what shine is all about. No amount of wax or sealants can bring poorly prepared paint up to a reasonable shine. The steps which you will have to perform to perfect your paint are Compounding Swirl and Haze Removal Polishing Waxing Compounding Compounding should only be performed if your paint is scratched or very dull. It is an aggressive process and should only be performed if required. If your paint is only |
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The first impression that an automobile gives is based on the condition of it's body and paint. |
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Paint and Polish |
