Restore Paint Color

[freeriders98]

I have an 87 Samurai that the hood and roof had oxidation really bad. It looked like someone had sanded them, you know the ugly chalky white look. So I bought some Turtle Rubbing Compound, it said it is for medium to heavy oxidation. There is also a polishing compound for light to medium oxidation.

I started on the hood and did a little 1'x1' square to see how it was going to work. The picture doesn't show it really well. But in the bottom right of the picture (front right of the hood) is my test area.

Turned out pretty good. So I finished the rest of the hood. I did it all by hand, and it wasn't to bad. I went over everything 2 times. Looks near new with exception of some scratches and rock chips. I was very impressed only took me about 30 mins total for the hood. After using the rubbing compound I put on a coat of regular car wax. And this is the result.

Here is the roof, the hood looked just like this.

[freeriders98]

Thought I would update this. It looks the same as it did before I did this. I am sure it could have been done better. But it looked good for a couple weeks and now I am back to they way it was.

[ZukiPimp]

You need a high speed polisher from harbor freight. Its about $30 and it will take all that chalky stuff off for a very long time but keep it moving or you might burn through your paint! I own a small detail company. I have only done this a couple of times but it works great! You can do it in 3 steps if you really want a showroom shine, and for under $50 you could do your whole car; make it look brand new. All you need is the polisher, that compound, that polish you were talking about, and a glaze which is like a really light polish; oh, and 3 separate foam polishing pads. Trust me though, its worth it, and youll do the whole car in the time it took you to do the hood by hand! Promise!

[freeriders98]

Good to know. Any specific products you recommend?

[ZukiPimp]

Yes, you can use 3m products if you want to go the expensive way but turtle wax as you said will do the same thing. Im not sure if they make a glaze though; just try the rubbing compound and the polish and see what happens, you might not even want to take it that extra step it will look so good.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMB8BxsUi6E&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gETgFLfP2SM&feature=related

Watch these two links and you will be amazed and you will learn everything you need to know to make your paint like new! Good luck! Let me know if you do it! Oh and this guy goes the expensive route but the results aren't much better then the turtle wax you just have to do the steps. It works, but this guy puts on a greeeat tutorial. Best I've seen. Don't burn through your paint!