billybunters - from a bmw z4 to a mx5 se

[billybunter]

video of roughly how it looks but about 2 or 3 days behind. but still close

https://youtu.be/zwAbRDLaUag

[billybunter]

cut polish on the boot lid

the boot lid was the first and probably the worst part of the car I actually sprayed the red liquid on so I thought it would be the perfect example to do the cut back on.

prior to starting the job I gave the boot lid a wash and dry then ran masking tape around the edges. reason for that is simply to avoid the sandpaper hit the next panel and removing the paint. rather than remove and rep[lace the rear spoiler for the demo I just masked it off too.

when you look close into the paint you can see the orange peel in the clear. these were all painted at different times and days so what happened one day didn't occur the next

[billybunter]

so the usual a bit of warm water with a few drops of detergent added. no reason for the warm water - well there is it feels nice after that a sheet of 1500 wet and dry divided into 4 and one sheet wrapped around the foam rubbing pad/block and the other 3 in the water to soften out a bit. only other thing a 2 litre milk container filled with clean water to pour over the rubbed work area.

using the 1500 wet and dry sandpaper wrapped around the block and using the water/detergent as the lubricant I ran the block flat on the panel from top to the bottom - staying a couple of centimetres away from the leading edges.

first off you could feel the roughness of the work and the sandpaper taking control of the cutting. but with just a few up and down passes - you could feel it starting to glide over the work area. just remember keep it moving and the sandpaper is doing the cutting - not you!

[billybunter]

so looking into the work area you can see the first pass with the 1500 wet/dry sandpaper. you can actually see the high and low areas. the straight matter area is the rubbing in the right direction and that what your chasing. the better you get this - the better the shine and the easier it is to shine/polish

[billybunter]

pour some detergent water over the work area and swing around to the other side of the car. this time same again except you are working east west. remember to I mentioned nothing about going in circles either....east west back and for several cuts. keep the foam block moving - flat on the work area and again no circular cutting - that's for polishing. after that you can wash it down with clean water then dry it.

now its looking flat and that how you want it -well compared to the shiny rear end panel

[billybunter]

you can either use the edge of the block with the 1500 sandpaper wrapped around to gently go around the edges or use your fingers with very light pressure. I just use fingers to run around BUT if your not very careful you can ruin and cut through the edges very quick.

to better your chances of success don't use new sandpaper just the stuff that you have been using and you have more time to avoid errors - the paper will be much slower on the cut.

normally I would not do this boot lid like this anyway. just release the boot and throw some paper under it or just sand it out while its open - same too with the doors.

but you can easily smooth it out using very light pressure or I can so it doesn't concern me at all

[billybunter]

by now all the prep work has been done and you are looking at a completely matte or dull smooth finish. so if you have done a reasonable job and it doesn't have to be perfect just presentable its time to do the cut polish.

mean while I was at the paint and panel shop and the guy who knows all about cut polishing the cars told me about jUice cutting compound and how good it was to use. plus he said it will rub out 1500 grit scratches and no need to go 2000 or 2500 paper. plus it was quicker to use and could be machined or applied by hand.

I thought I might as well try it and I am glad I did. even on a hand polish it cut quick and gave a shine on the work area almost in seconds

looking at the photos - right side of boot untouched -rubbed area - cut area - rubbed area very easy to see the results

[billybunter]

after that I completed the right side of the car via the hand rub. after that I thought stuff it I will try my buffer withy this new polish. so out with the buffer and put a few dabs on.

didn't even bother to do the wet sanding either. just set it up on speed 3 and away. well to be totally honest it cut straight into the work area and surprisingly came up pretty good and all in just a couple of minutes too.

I was that impressed I decided to hit the complete bonnet as I saw a couple of light scratches and I wiped them out too and increased the shine even more.

well that this rubbing episode out of the way. not saying its correct but its good enough for me and I am happy with the end result. I wont be buffing the doors etc by machine as it's a bit hard to do and get the angle right. it's much easier to work the flat area and less chance of paint damage too

I am in no big hurry for a re-paint

[billybunter]

decided today to re-paint the disc calipers -one at the time pretty straight forward. grease and wax remover to clean them up - rub over with 400 wet and dry sandpaper - clean again - spray the paint on light and in 10 minute intervals till the desired effect is achived

[billybunter]

now for the wheels. I had clean it up a few days back and completely primed it. gave it a 400 wet rub and dry. painted the outside titanium and the inside gloss black,

after that waited probably an hour then gave the complete wheel 3 coats of clear, only 3 wheels and calipers to go

[billybunter]

grille primed and sprayed in titanium grey. just requires the clear coat now

[billybunter]

I painted the right side rear disc caliper today then completed the wheel spray- thankfully just two more wheels to go. didn't like the look of the titanium grey grille either so I removed it and it's re- painted and back in position in a gloss black

[billybunter]

a bit better look at the car. I think most would agree - it's way ahead of the white job

[Danny]

Beautiful.

[StanTheMan]

That's a bucket load of work.

Well done