im detailing a friends car and he wants me to bring back the dead paint...i havent seen the car yet but if its not too bad i was thinking rubbing compound...this will take a really long time if the paint is worse than i think...does anybody have any better suggestions?
thanks

 

Wash
Claybar
Wash again
Meguiar's Paint Cleaner
Meguiar's Polish
NXT Tech Wax
1 or 2 coats of carnuba or mirror glaze

 

Here is another option:

Wash the car. I like to claybar while the car is still wet, saves some time. Just use a quick detailer or put some soapy water in a spray bottle.
Next Poorboy's Pro Polish. Can be put on in the direct sunlight. Will clean the paint and remove the oxidation.
Now you can either put on a sealant (EX-P) or go with a paste wax with carnuba(Natty's blue).
Sealants last 3-6 months and waxes last 6-8 weeks.
I like to put on a sealant,let it cure, then layer with a coat of wax. The shine,reflection, and paint depth will look amazing.
Then you can just use a quick detailer or a spray wax to keep the car looking good.

 

Whatever you do, don`t use compound. As said above, claybar the car first. Then get a buffer and a foam polishing pad. Use a good polishing glaze with the foam pad. Then hand wax the car.

 

Dead, eh?

Several questions should be answered once you see it...

Does it have a clearcoat?

Is it factory paint?

How old's the paint/car?

Just how much paint is there?

Is it a metallic?

If you try the approaches suggested and it looks good, but only for a week or so, you've probably got pretty dead paint, and either another approach could be taken (depending on the answers above), or save the money for a new paint job.

 

those are some good questions that ill have to consider
i know the cars about 20 years old and it sits in the sun so weather or not its savable...i dont know until i see it