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#1
08-03-2006, 01:52 AM
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Buffing silver paint...
Hey all,
Had a customer drop off an old W123 that's Astral Silver and in need of a good buffing/compounding/wax. Seeing as how we do mechanical restoration and very little detail work, I'm wondering what's the best system anyone here has discovered to remove oxidation from Silver paint. It looks as if the car was parked underneath a tree that had berries on it and what's happened is that there are these faint, hazy whitish splotches in the paint. Almost like if a bird pooped on your car and you didn't get it off in time and there remains a hazy "film" or splotch where the poop was. I'm not sure if it can be buffed out, but we're willing to give it a try for him. I did mention that he'd be better off just taking it to a specialized detail shop but he said he doesn't want to run the car all over town and asked that we attempt to clean it up. Obviously, we are going to start with a thorough washing, but I'm wondering if we should try clay or go straight to a rubbing or buffing compound with an orbital? I'd post a picture of the "damage" here but I don't think it will reflect in my camera. Any ideas?
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Regards, Aaron 
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#2
08-03-2006, 11:07 AM
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Aaron, I would wash, clay, polish with a ROB (start with least abrasive polish and go progressivley more abrasive as needed to remove the splotches ... then finish with the least abrasive polish) then apply a coat of carnauba wax. Avoid buffing/rubbing compound, if possible.
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Fred Hoelzle
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#3
08-18-2006, 10:32 AM
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Clay is less abrassive than rubbing compund?
Quote:
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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century  OBK #55 1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles 2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles 2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles
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#4
09-01-2006, 03:17 AM
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Clay really isnt abrasive at all as far as I know. Of course you need to keep everything lubricated with a quick detailer or carwash soap mixed with water. Clay won't help get big nasty stains out but it will thoroughly clean the paint surface so that the polishes and such will be able to work their magic more effectively.
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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi
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#5
09-01-2006, 10:03 AM
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I got some Maguires 83 this week...it's a medium cut abrasive that breaks down into a polish... i am going to try it on the hood of my 300CE this weekend....
i'll report back... i tried step 1 of the Maquires 1-2-3 process..and it wasn't strong enough for the hood... it has splotches in the hood...which is probably water etched...it's only on the hood.. everything else is in good shape. this will be applied with a porter cable.
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1989 300ce 129k ( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone) 1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus 1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k  1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it [/SIGPIC]
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#6
09-02-2006, 11:31 AM
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My Astral Silver gets a bath, miguiers crystal polish, and Meguires gold class wax. Every other cleaning it gets a clay bar between wash and polish. I do this about once every two weeks, and it keeps the big with spot on my hood nearly invisible.
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1989 300E 144K
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#7
09-02-2006, 01:44 PM
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i used the maguires 83 today... it took two hours to do the hood and re-polish it and re-wax it...
i pretty much nailed the problem...now let's see if it will hold up.. i think i really needed something one step stronger than 83. but at that stage i might be into a more abrasive rubbing compound... i am going to re-do my roof and trunk lid.... it will have to be one week at a time.. i just can't devote that much time to the car... i have too many other projects it takes awhile to get the hang of the 83... you really can't do more than a 2x2 spot.
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1989 300ce 129k ( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone) 1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus 1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k 1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it [/SIGPIC]
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#8
09-27-2006, 01:03 AM
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Get the paint clean!!!!!
Do NOT do anything to this car until you get the dirt and the stains out of the finish.
Wash the car with Dawn diswashing detergent. (Removes everything previous) I like 3M cleaners, swirl and scratch removers etc. Clay is always the first step. It is not a hard job if you use a liquid detailer and spray as you clay! When the paint is clean Use a Porter Cable, Buffer, not a body shop sander or buffer too harsh especially on silver. Use the recommended pads. Be careful only to the extent of the age of the paint. (How much clear coat is still there?) After clay, apply 3M product and buff out. Do it again! Use Zaino Z5 with the NEW flash additive! Buff. Do two coats of Zaino Z2! After your arms fall off and you recover from this task write and tell me how it turned out! Try the Web site: Roadfly. They have detailers on there that will help you!
__________________
1988 560SL Black Pearl/Palamino
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#9
10-08-2006, 11:14 AM
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If you do not know how to do a proper detail please dont!! So many people make things worse even quicky detailers, some body shops, delearships, etc can seriously F&^% up a car finish. Your best bet is to go to http://autopia.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=110 and find someone that knows what they are doing. I have PC and a Rotary and you can do some SERIOUS PERMANENT NON-REVERSABLE damage with a rotary if you do not know what you're doing!!
Zack
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