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What is the best method of "restoring" the paint on these old trucks? Mine is rangoon red, but it's so dirty and faded that it looks orange. I did rub down a spot on the cowl and was able to get the red to shine, but I ended up taking too much off and the white started to come through. You can see the spot in the photo below.
I have watched lots of videos on buffing compounds, steel wool, sanding, etc but what is the best method to clean it up and restore the paint without taking too much off?
I don't know what you used but everything you listen will take paint off and leave scratches.
Only think I have used that I think you could use is Color Back think made by turtle wax.
I have even used it on primer and it made it shine.
Dave - - - -
Cut with 2000 wet/dry. Buff with the least abrasive pad and compound. It's gonna be iffy though with how bad that paint is.
The 2000 grit will probably cut through the paint best to try with a 5000 grit to get a feel for the thickness. You need good paint to start with and what the OP has isn't good paint. The best bet would be to micro fiber cut the top layer with a 3m micro glaze and spray the truck in 2k clear if he wants to maintain the look. Nothing short or a proper 2 stage paint job will make it look new.
This is the original paint, but it’s seen years of weather abuse. I’m not expecting a new paint job, just want the colour back and get rid of the dullness.
after posted this, I took the finest steel wool and some lube and lightly worked a spot. It got rid of the roughness and the colour came back without going through the paint. I’m not sure this is a proper technique though.
You can buff and/or wax with some success but once single stage paint fades out it is pretty well done. If you get it shinny you be lucky to get 3 months before it fades if it sees much sun.
A lot of people have bought shinny used cars from a car dealer only to find they the shine goes away very quickly.
I like the faded look myself. It looks years of weather and a life only that truck had to make it look that way.
I am telling you anything that removes color, 2000 / 5000 / fine steel wool is going to get closer to the "white" primer.
You may have tried the wool in a spot that had more paint left on than the first spot you tried.
BTW what did you use on that first spot?
Use the color back it does not take the color off. It is like a wax, does not remove color and makes it shine.
As someone said you will have to keep re-doing it as it wears off just like wax does. May get 6 months to a year depending where you are and if out side all the time. color back turtle wax - Google Search
Do note if you plan on doing body work to it dont use any wax type stuff as it all has to come off with wax and grease stripper before ANY body work is done .
And yes I have worked in body and paint shops and do all my own body & paint work.
Dave ----
I think if that was my truck (after I looked it over in person) I would wash it with comet or ajax powder soap and lots of water.
This will remove some paint (why I would need to look at it in person) and give you a good base then use the color back over everything.
Again you will have to redo the color back as it wears off but it will look great when first done.
Dave ----
I decided to give the comet wash a try. It worked very well taking the roughness off the door and bringing back the original red colour. I then gave it some maguire’s ultimate compound by hand. It shines up very well in my opinion. The picture makes it look orange, but it’s red in person.
As far as the spot I sanded down too deep, I looked at the block and it was a 400 which was obviously a bad move.
This truck will only be driven from April to October, so a once a year polish should do.
Im going to comet wash the rest of the truck and give it a polish with an electric polisher and the maguires’s compound and see how it goes.
That door is looking good. Thats what I need to do to my truck. I took mine to a self car wash a couple years ago to do a quick wash. As soon as I sprayed the bump on one of the doors and seen paint start to come off, I stopped. Ive been wanting to do something. I think I might just lightly sponge wash it with nothing abrasive and then try to protect it. What do you use for your pictures? I used to use photobucket but havent posted pics in long while.
That door is looking good. Thats what I need to do to my truck. I took mine to a self car wash a couple years ago to do a quick wash. As soon as I sprayed the bump on one of the doors and seen paint start to come off, I stopped. Ive been wanting to do something. I think I might just lightly sponge wash it with nothing abrasive and then try to protect it. What do you use for your pictures? I used to use photobucket but havent posted pics in long while.
I used to use photo bucket as well, but this forum seems to have an upload feature which is nice!
I like the upload feature. There might be an easier way but I sent from phone to email then to folder on desktop and uploaded from there.
I ended up washing my 70 yesterday and waxed with some turtle wax this morning.
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