GibMax

I've been doing some touch up repainting. I can't duplicate the glossy finish. The color match is good - with the 1966 Silver Blue Metallic. How do I get the finish to gloss (reflective like a mirror)? The paint mixer guy said it's a one stage paint so no clear coat is needed. The paint on the car that I'm trying to match to has a really reflective clear like finish to it.

robert912004

try sanding the touch up and buff it to get it to shine... It might not have any clear in it eventhough the guy said it was single stage.

Gun Jam

If it looks dull I would go over it with 1200 grit wet sand paper. use a constant stream of water and sand with light pressure using a long foam block.

until the water sheets off of it in a nice and smooth.

Dry it and look to make sure it is all exactly the same dull color and there are no shiny spots.

Then use a medium cut compound at 1000 RPM with wool pad with medium pressure

Go over it once or twice until it shines nice

Switch to a glaze and foam pad and go over that maybe twice.

It should really shine now.

-Gun

GibMax

There is three items in your answer that I don't understand:
1. medium cut compound
2. glaze
3. foam pad
So, what are these. The medium cut compound is, guess some type of cleaning stuff. Is glaze some type of wax? A foam pad seems to be a simple idea but is that something I buy in a paint shop?

robert912004

1. Medium cut compound is rubbing compound for buffing paint. 3M has a good medium cut compound. You can get it a walmart or any parts store.
2.Glaze is a polish. Polish will make the paint shine.
You really dont need a foam pad you can do it by hand just dont press hard. Another thing if you want to do less buffing to bring back the shine you can use 2000 grit then 3000 over the top of that. When you use the rubbing compound you can use a towel or rag instead of whool. Hope this helps.

JMD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DyXplehnhw

Here is an example of buffing.

Stay away from the SANDING if at all possible as metalic paint does not like to be color sanded or even buffed too aggressivly.

If you are using a spray can touch up paint a little buffing will go a long, long way.

Fordication

JMD. Fantastic article. I will save that one from my oops. Thanks

Fordication

JMD I downloaded 20 videos on this, thanks to you. As I said, fantastic.