School me in polishing

[BigJules]

My Cruiser gets well used whenever I go away and consequently it carries the marks down each flank. I'd like to polish out a lot of the scratches, how should I go about it?

Do I use a cutting compound? If yes, do you then wax it after buffing?

[D4D]

I'd start with a paint cleaner, then a clay bar, then a polish and finally a wax. I don't like to cut until I sell it. You'll find it will come up ok. Buy a random orbital sander otherwise your arms will get sore.

Most of the scratches will be in the clear coat rather than the colour. Using the clay bar to smooth the paint out is a start. When you use the polish do it in a circular motion as this will fill in the scratches. Whereas the wax should go on/off the way the ait flows over the car.

Let me know if you have any more questions. I used to spend a whole weekend polishing my Audi by hand, as I have said before I am a little OCD

[Tractor88]

Mate, use a buff machine and a good quality cut/polish in one. There are plenty of good products on the market and if you are unsure of what to get just ask at a Auto Paint supplier as they are well ahead of the staff at Supercrap or Auto Bungles.
With a buff machine you could do both sides of your 4wd in about 15 mins and have a great shine and protection for the next jaunt. You'll get better and faster with practise. Just keep the buff pad moving over the surface you are polishing as if you don't you may burn thru the paint. Its really not that hard. I usually use a wool double sided buff pad that makes it real easy. That and the quality of the polish will make your task so much easier.
Happy polishing. Cheers.

[schmik]

You want to ping VooDoo (on lcool). He does this for a job. I asked him for advice on the subject too. He recommends 'poor boys' products.   PS. when you finish yours...

mike

[Teabag]

I'm a religious polisher of my truck to keep it in the best condition possible and I highly recommend Mothers polishing products, Auto Glym is not bad also but IMO Mothers is a little easier to use.

Takes me no longer than and Hour to do the truck from start to finish.

http://www.motherspowerball.com/index.html

[BigJules]

Thanks, now I just need to find the motivation to go with the knowledge

[Snow]

Thanks, now I just need to find the motivation to go with the knowledge

Wax on......Wax off.......Wax on.......Wax off. 

[kylarama]

I don't like to cut until I sell it.

Especially if you have a Toyota commercial vechicle, they have one of the thinnest factory paint jobs around.

A panel beater mate showed me how to buff a car years ago.  For light scratches and slightly dull paintwork , a foam dimple pad on a sander/polisher with Meguiars Swirl Remover, which is a very very fine cutters so you can't go too nuts.

[Bill]

I pay a local guy $200 to totally detail mine once a year.
The rest of the year it gets a wash about once a month...
Bill and Morag