• Welcome to The Truck Stop! We see you haven't REGISTERED yet.

    Your truck knowledge is missing!
    • Registration is FREE , all we need is your birthday and email. (We don't share ANY data with ANYONE)
    • We have tons of knowledge here for your diesel truck!
    • Post your own topics and reply to existing threads to help others out!
    • NO ADS! The site is fully functional and ad free!
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

    Problems registering? Click here to contact us!

    Already registered, but need a PASSWORD RESET? CLICK HERE TO RESET YOUR PASSWORD!

Black paint....

BoostN

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Administrator
Messages
8,708
Reaction score
1,562
Location
Tennessee
I've never been happy with the paint on my truck. From day one swirls and marks have been noticeable. So, this weekend I've got a project for myself.

I purchased some widely used detailing products from a detailer forum and have been studying the correct process for paint correction. So, we shall see how it goes.

Here is a picture of my current paint situation. Keep in mind this wasn't washed, but still shows what I'm dealing with.

IMAG0004_1_r.jpg
 
Black is one of the worst colors for showing swirls and marks, as you know. There are very few people that can run a buffer properly, even though, there are millions that think they can. To date, I know two people on this planet I would allow to run a buffer on any of my vehicles. I am not one of them, either.

I'm interested in seeing how this turns out. The Wax Shop used to make a product for getting swirls out and marks from buffing. It worked pretty well, in my opinion, but that was 20 years ago when I bought it and there are probably much better compounds available today.
 
I'm not really "buffing". I've purchased a Dual Action polisher ( a total kit) that most say is about impossible to "burn" the paint with this equipment. I'm not an expert, but I'm curious to see how it comes out. I've been watching videos, reading auto detailing forums, you name it. The "professional" that was suppose to do it for me this week never showed up. Considering it would of been $700 + dollars I'm kinda glad :D.

I'm starting tomorrow night. I also bought a "Foam Cannon", these just look cool :D.
Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SS66yCEtwQ
 
What DA did you get?

I've got a PC 7424... that with a pink pad and light swirl remover will take those scratches out quickly. I've only used it with cutting pads and polish a couple of times but it isn't hard to get the hang of.
 
First trick with black is never do any hand washing until ALL grit has been hosed off. I go to the pressure wash place before I wash it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 now Free
 
What DA did you get?

I've got a PC 7424... that with a pink pad and light swirl remover will take those scratches out quickly. I've only used it with cutting pads and polish a couple of times but it isn't hard to get the hang of.

That's exactly what I bought.

Here: http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-porter-cable-swirl-remover.html

I purchased some extra pads from Amazon also. The video series on YouTube helps a ton. I can't wait to see how the truck reacts to the first pass. Hopefully the product is aggressive enough.
 
First trick with black is never do any hand washing until ALL grit has been hosed off. I go to the pressure wash place before I wash it.

Sent from my SCH-I535 now Free

I always pressure wash also Mike.. I just bought a Foam Cannon to help after pressure washing to get the grime off..
 
What soap are you going to use in the foam cannon? Are you going to use a pressure washer or hose? I like the idea of the foam cannon and curious if it works well. I recently bought a cheapie soap injector hand sprayer at Walmart. The tank is too small but the nozzle is one of the best plastic nozzles I have gotten in years.

I wash my tractor with a boat non skid deck cleaner. The soap foams well and lifts dirt good with a chelating action. It leaves a polymer residue behind so not a good auto pre wax wash soap. Chelating action is what I look for in a pre wash soap. So I am curious if the foam cannon has a good soap recommendation or the cannon just foams the soap to help it clean and lift the dirt.
 
What soap are you going to use in the foam cannon? Are you going to use a pressure washer or hose? I like the idea of the foam cannon and curious if it works well. I recently bought a cheapie soap injector hand sprayer at Walmart. The tank is too small but the nozzle is one of the best plastic nozzles I have gotten in years.

I wash my tractor with a boat non skid deck cleaner. The soap foams well and lifts dirt good with a chelating action. It leaves a polymer residue behind so not a good auto pre wax wash soap. Chelating action is what I look for in a pre wash soap. So I am curious if the foam cannon has a good soap recommendation or the cannon just foams the soap to help it clean and lift the dirt.


I bought this soap: (LINK)

I'm going to use a pressure washer first. It's a Honda powered 4000PSI. Then I'll try with a water hose just to see how it reacts.

I'll know this evening how well it works, by that video I posted it looks to be pretty good!
 
Last edited:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
After you've got it the way you want then try some Eagle One wax as you dry as detail spray after every wash. I posted about it awhile back. Best I've ever seen.

Sent from my SCH-I535 now Free
 
My 89' mustang is black. Wont own any other black vehicle unless i don't plan to wash it. Mine also has a lot of swirls, i wax it a few times a year with "The Black Box" stuff and it seems to help with them some.
 
Black Box waxes have more fillers in them to help hide swirls, etc. Not bad, just a trick to make black look better!

I did a full detail on my new G8 this past weekend, did a one-step polish with my PC Orbital, Lake Country Pads and Mezerna polish. It got a lot of the light hazing and swirls out, but didn't get everything off, especially on the decklid, which is where swirls happen on most cars for some reason (dirt must sit on the horizontal surface more?). It did a great job, but to get a perfect black (likely impossible on OEM GM paint), you do really need to wet sand and buff with a rotary buffer. The polisher will do a lot, though. The paint is also perfectly smooth, especially under 2 coats of wax. ;)

Which other pads did you buy? I have 2- Yellow CCS pads (most aggressive cut), 2 orange and 1 white, IIRC. I used the Yellow and Mezerna Super Intensive Polish (more aggressive) this weekend. If i'd have had more time, I'd have done another round with the orange pads and my less aggressive Mezerna polish as well, to bring some more shine out. The most amazing was my mirrors, the painted parts were all gray and nasty, one round of polishing brought them back to as good as new!
 
That guy in the video is a clown. I would not let him wash my exhaust tip. I think the only thing I see that is right is he is using a microfiber mitt and water.
 
That guy in the video is a clown. I would not let him wash my exhaust tip. I think the only thing I see that is right is he is using a microfiber mitt and water.

That might be true, but the foam gun is badass...
 
Black Box waxes have more fillers in them to help hide swirls, etc. Not bad, just a trick to make black look better!

I did a full detail on my new G8 this past weekend, did a one-step polish with my PC Orbital, Lake Country Pads and Mezerna polish. It got a lot of the light hazing and swirls out, but didn't get everything off, especially on the decklid, which is where swirls happen on most cars for some reason (dirt must sit on the horizontal surface more?). It did a great job, but to get a perfect black (likely impossible on OEM GM paint), you do really need to wet sand and buff with a rotary buffer. The polisher will do a lot, though. The paint is also perfectly smooth, especially under 2 coats of wax. ;)

Which other pads did you buy? I have 2- Yellow CCS pads (most aggressive cut), 2 orange and 1 white, IIRC. I used the Yellow and Mezerna Super Intensive Polish (more aggressive) this weekend. If i'd have had more time, I'd have done another round with the orange pads and my less aggressive Mezerna polish as well, to bring some more shine out. The most amazing was my mirrors, the painted parts were all gray and nasty, one round of polishing brought them back to as good as new!

Just got in. My foam gun was lost in KY, so it won't be here until Monday.. that was a bad start to my evening.

I got the orange lake country pad and used the Wolfgang Swirl remover and the polisher with the white pad. So step 1 and two is done, going to do the paint sealant in the morning after another wash.

So far so good, I'd say the paint is back into the 95% area. A few places I couldn't get out. I could of used some more aggressive compound or pad? But, I'll know more in the direct sunlight in the morning.
 
That might be true, but the foam gun is badass...

They are a good tool no denying that. This is the one I use Foamaster Foam Wash Gun. You do not need nearly the amount of soap he goes through. Marketing reasons I'm sure.

My only suggestion is once you are done getting the paint back to where you want it DO NOT use his methods to maintain it.
 
Pics please.

Nothing like a clean black truck!

On a related note, how's the paint on your VW? Mine was like glass and nothing made marks on that paint.... best paint job I've ever seen on a car. The Chevy I had scratched easily also, the type of fine swirls you get from washing over dirty areas without rinsing enough first.
 
VW paint is silver, but it's great. Scratch free.

IMAG0024-r.jpgIMAG0022-r.jpgIMAG0020-r.jpgIMAG0019-r.jpgIMAG0018-r.jpgIMAG0016-r.jpg
 
Back
Top