This will be a first for me so anyone has any tips please chime in. Just bought a porter cable DA, all kinds of colored pads, clay bars, and maguires 105 and 205 polish. Have an 06 TL that has always been washed and waxed, figure after 10 years it probably needs done. I have watched YouTube, read all kinds of things on the net, so any advise will be appreciated. One thing I have figured out, this could take awhile. Not a one day job. Thanks

 

Best advise, Take your time, and do it in good light. Biggest mistakes made are trying to rush things because one gets excited as they want to see the improvements, and not having adequate lighting. I love the Meguiar's polishes. I use them regularly, and have both the bottles you listed.

 

+1 to being patient


Remember to use the least aggressive pad and compound to get the job done. You may have to change techniques as you work your way around your car depending on the correction that is needed. I also have a little brush to clean off the pad before I start a new section. Stock up on Q-tips to clean cracks and crevices after you are done with any residue that my have gotten jammed in.

 

thanks for the advise, I can see your point on getting in a hurry. I have been stocking up on supplies for a couple weeks and ready to go. Maybe the grand old age of 50 will keep me at bay, cant hang like i used to. Paint is really not that bad to be an 06. I have always keep in garage and waxed. Going to do the iron x thing then hit it with some meg. 105 first to see waht happens. Ill holler back when i make a move. Thanks again

 

I would agree take your time and make sure to switch out pads often, pads will get caked up and lose their ability to cut and polish, best bet to clean them as you go or better yet have a clean ones handy.

Post up photos of your results.

 

Two bucket wash first. The porter cable is forgiving. There are many great products out there. I have used Meguiar's. I like the Chemical Guys' product. Good luck and take your time.

 

Optimum polishes are really user friendly and a long working time .. if you IronX make sure you clay bar too ..

 

Well I finally did the job Saturday an Sunday. Man I was ready to go back to work Monday after that. Learned a lot being it was my first go around. Once I got the hang of what I was doing, right pad and product combo, and slowing down. Wow, what a new finish did I produce. I really started questioning what I was doing an why after I was half way into it, this is a daily driver vehicle, why do all this an what not. But when a new shade of white came out an the car looked wet when it was complete, I was very happy I did it. Thanks for all you guys tips. Going to try my truck next, will be later this summer though. Whew....

 

Yep. It definitely takes a lot of time (ask my wife, I can spend up to 10 hrs on my black car for a "decent" job) .. and I usually get burnt out right at the midway point and start losing hope. It's all worth it in the end tho. Now you just gotta watch how you wash and dry the paint moving forward since you just spent all that time making it look pretty.

 

I know it is a long process; but very rewarding. Good luck on the truck.

 

It's something to do once a year or every other year on a white daily driver. The improvement versus the time and cost put in is well worth it.