Detailed: Brilliant Black Clearcoat Mazda RX-8
05-29-2009, 02:09 AM
#1
Detailed: Brilliant Black Clearcoat Mazda RX-8
Car: 2008 Mazda RX-8 in Brilliant Black Clearcoat
Time: about 11 hours
A few before pics before the battery died
The wheels were very dirty. The insides were black from the nice coat of brake dust and dirt. I don't think they were (properly?) cleaned since the car was purchased 1.25 years ago.
The caked-on brake dust
::
Hood shot. Overall, the paint was in pretty good condition, just some light swirls/marring. You can see some light swirls at the lower right corner.
Last pic before the battery decided to die on me ::
I started with the wheels. As mentioned before, they were caked with brake dust. I sprayed them with a 1:5 mix of Chemical Guys Extreme Orange degreaser and agitated with a brush. That removed a good amount of the crud but because there was still quite a bit left I had to use something a little stronger. To finish the job, I sprayed them with Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner and again agitated with a brush. I then spot clayed certain areas with a yellow clay. The areas around the lugs were cleaned using Q-tips.
Once the wheels were done, the car was hosed down to loosen the dirt. Surf City Road Trip Grime Destroyer was sprayed on the lower panels, the front bumper area and part of the hood and left to dwell. The front was covered in dead bugs and guts from the owners trip to Fresno about 2 months ago.
After letting SC Grime Destroyer dwell for about 45 sec., the car was hosed down again and then washed.... two buckets, grit guards, microfiber wash mitt, Meguiars Gold Class soap.
Once the car was dried, it was clayed with a mild gray clay and Optimum No Rise as lube. The paint didn't have too many contaminants in it.
After claying, I went to work on polishing it. Started with an orange pad and menzerna PO106 and finished with a white pad and Menzerna PO85RD.
The car was washed one more time to remove the dust from the polishing.
Applied some Chemical Guys M-Seal for protection since the car's not garaged.
After pics:
Here are a few pics I took before moving on to the interior.
The wheel... much better now. Tires were dressed with Meguiars Endurance wheel gel ::
Hood shot. I'd say the paint was 90-95% corrected.
Yeah, I know... I need to invest in some halogen lights to get better pics.
Looks wet to me.
No interior shots since it was dark by the time I finished.... and I was crazy tired too.
Time: about 11 hours
A few before pics before the battery died
The wheels were very dirty. The insides were black from the nice coat of brake dust and dirt. I don't think they were (properly?) cleaned since the car was purchased 1.25 years ago.
The caked-on brake dust
::Hood shot. Overall, the paint was in pretty good condition, just some light swirls/marring. You can see some light swirls at the lower right corner.
Last pic before the battery decided to die on me ::
I started with the wheels. As mentioned before, they were caked with brake dust. I sprayed them with a 1:5 mix of Chemical Guys Extreme Orange degreaser and agitated with a brush. That removed a good amount of the crud but because there was still quite a bit left I had to use something a little stronger. To finish the job, I sprayed them with Meguiars Hot Rims All Wheel Cleaner and again agitated with a brush. I then spot clayed certain areas with a yellow clay. The areas around the lugs were cleaned using Q-tips.
Once the wheels were done, the car was hosed down to loosen the dirt. Surf City Road Trip Grime Destroyer was sprayed on the lower panels, the front bumper area and part of the hood and left to dwell. The front was covered in dead bugs and guts from the owners trip to Fresno about 2 months ago.
After letting SC Grime Destroyer dwell for about 45 sec., the car was hosed down again and then washed.... two buckets, grit guards, microfiber wash mitt, Meguiars Gold Class soap.
Once the car was dried, it was clayed with a mild gray clay and Optimum No Rise as lube. The paint didn't have too many contaminants in it.
After claying, I went to work on polishing it. Started with an orange pad and menzerna PO106 and finished with a white pad and Menzerna PO85RD.
The car was washed one more time to remove the dust from the polishing.
Applied some Chemical Guys M-Seal for protection since the car's not garaged.
After pics:
Here are a few pics I took before moving on to the interior.
The wheel... much better now. Tires were dressed with Meguiars Endurance wheel gel ::
Hood shot. I'd say the paint was 90-95% corrected.
Yeah, I know... I need to invest in some halogen lights to get better pics.
Looks wet to me.
No interior shots since it was dark by the time I finished.... and I was crazy tired too.
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05-29-2009, 05:58 PM
#10
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Ray, nice job!
05-30-2009, 03:54 AM
#12
2012 SH-AWD / Advanced
Looks much better for sure...nice job.
I do agree to a previous post about the photos. A low ISO setting with a tripod will make a huge difference in the PQ for the indoor shots in particular.
I do agree to a previous post about the photos. A low ISO setting with a tripod will make a huge difference in the PQ for the indoor shots in particular.
05-30-2009, 08:37 AM
#13
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Great work man, wheels look great now.
Todd, I think you just need to have an all out detailing weekend at your house, with training on picture taking also.. or just a good book to read would help me out, but I just have a Point n Shoot camera..
Sorry for the diversion for a sec..back to the thread...
Todd, I think you just need to have an all out detailing weekend at your house, with training on picture taking also.. or just a good book to read would help me out, but I just have a Point n Shoot camera..
Sorry for the diversion for a sec..back to the thread...
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