Two up, 12 hours work, ~85 microns to play with = hard work!

[PolishedBliss]

A trip north to Cullen for Clark and I yesterday, to do an 02 plate Impreza STI. The car was only recently purchased, and the owner had subsequently noticed a few scratches and scuffs he wanted sorting out. A full detail was agreed, with winter protection also high on the agenda. As if often the case, “a few scratches and scuffs” turned out to be a complete nightmare when we flicked the halogens on! Here’s the process and pics…

Wash

Foamed with mix of CG Maxi Suds II and PW Slick & Suds via the Gilmour
Arches blasted with the Karcher and treated with Megs Safe Degreaser cut 4:1
Alloys treated with Megs Wheel Brightener cut 4:1
Lower panels treated with Autobrite Tar & Glue Remover
Whole car washed by hand using two buckets/Megs Lambswool Mitts
Whole car dried with PW Waffle Weave Towels

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti1.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti2.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti3.jpg

Clean

The fingertip test revealed no bonded surface contaminants, so no claying was done (the tar and glue remover did a good job!)

Polish

Bonnet – we didn’t need the paint gauge readings of 240 microns plus to tell us the bonnet had been resprayed at some point in the past, due to the massive amount of orange peel (see centre right of image below) and unpopped air bubbles on it. However, it turned out it was only done two weeks ago, and the body shop had given it back to the owner like this…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti4.jpg

Yikes! However, with plenty of paint to play with Clark set to with the rotary and CG Diamond Cut 1000/2000 using Megs Polishing Pads. Multiple attempts later, 95%+ correction was achieved, and the orange peel was thoroughly knocked back. However, this made the unpopped air bubbles and few remaining, deeper bodyshop inflicted swirls much more noticeable, so the owner is going to pay a return visit to the bodyshop to complain – he hadn’t realised just how poor the work was until he saw it under the halogens. The air bubbles are the main problem, as if they rise any further in the future (remember how hot Impreza bonnets get after a good run) they may burst and cause peeling.

While Clark tackled the bonnet, I tackled the roof, which comprised a mosaic of wash/brush marks and deeper random scratches. I went with Blackfire SRC Compound by PC using a 7.5” Lake Country Orange Light Cut Pad, followed up with Blackfire SRC Finishing Polish via PC using a 7.5”Lake Country Green Polishing Pad. This enabled around 95% correction, with some of the deeper random scratches remaining, but with an average of 84 microns left (86 to begin with) I wasn’t prepared to cut any harder. For the last roof section I swapped the Blackfire SRC Compound for CG Diamond Cut 2000, and found it performed almost equally as well, and buffed off a bit easier too. Here’s some before and afters…

Before…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti5.jpg

After…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti6.jpg

With the bonnet and the roof done, we then tag-teamed the rest of the car, with one of us leading with the compound, and one of us following up with the finishing Polish. We started out with me compounding, but after a couple of panels we found that neither Blackfire SRC Compound, CG Diamond Cut 2000 or CG Diamond Cut 1000 were shifting the defects (even after switching to a 7.5” Lake Country Yellow Cutting Pad), so we switched, with Clark then using the rotary to compound and me following up with the PC (using same pads as before). For the next few panels Clark struggled with the CG Diamond Cut 2000, as no matter what he did the polish would not spread properly – weirdest thing either of us has ever seen, it was like the pad had a hold of the polish and the paint just would not take it. Nothing had changed in the method since the bonnet, which perplexed us even more. A switch to Optimum Polish (using up old used stock!) solved the problem in one fell swoop, and soon we were motoring on. The reason for the issue with the CG polish remains a mystery! Here’s a few before and afters as we moved around the car…

Before…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti7.jpg

After…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti8.jpg

Before…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti9.jpg

After…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti10.jpg

Some panels were sitting below 85 microns, and only got Blackfire SRC Finishing Polish by PC – this did not remove all of the defects, but again, we weren’t prepared to cut any harder, as preserving the long-term integrity of the clear coat was in our minds. Here’s Clark tackling one of the doors…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti11.jpg

We finished up the polish stage with a coat of Jeffs Werkstatt Prime Acrylic by PC using a 7.5” Lake Country Black Glazing Pad – this removed any remaining traces of the slightly greasy residue left by the Blackfire SRC Finishing Polish, and left the surface ready for the application of final protective layer. Prime is definitely better applied using softer foam pads.

Protect

Jeffs Werkstatt Acrylic Jett Trigger, applied with the wipe on, wipe off method using PW Deluxe Mega Towels

Finishing Touches

All panel gaps dusted down with Megs Slide Lock Brushes
Alloys were protected with Poorboys Wheel Sealant
Tyres were dressed with Blackfire Long Lasting Tyre Gel
Windows inside and out were cleaned with Megs NXT Glass Cleaner

And here’s the afters…

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti14.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti12.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti13.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti15.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti16.jpg

All in all, it was a 12 hour detail, and a 16 hour day for Clark, as he also had to drive to my place at the start and end of the day! Roll on next spring when such jobs can be done in much easier conditions over two days at the new unit. I have to say this was a tough car to do, and the level of correction per panel varied from 99% to just 50% (the rear bumper was a disaster even after Menzerna Power Gloss by PC, due to being scratched through to the pigment layer in many places). I have seen a trend lately for bragging about short work times – this one took 12 hours between two of us, and if either of us had been on our own we would have been coming back the next day. Make of that what you will!

---

Just been sent some daytime pictures taken this morning by the owner. Here they are...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti17.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti18.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti19.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti20.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f293/polishedbliss/polishedbliss/sti1106/azuresti21.jpg

:)

[kateandjohn]

Looks stunning mate, 12 hours hey? but you were goosed! bet the owner was well made up? another great job.

[grantsmith1985]

As ever, you do a amazing job.

[saxyVTRsaxo]

Stunnig job as per usuall, give yourselves a pat on the back!! Money well spent in my eyes

[thadogg]

Awesome job as usual. Looks brill, really smart impreza, I love 'em:thumbup:

[VTSKris]

Love the last pic of the boot and spoiler when its still indoors.

Superb !

[stiffler69]

How much did this job set him back great job by the way

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

Awesome job as usual. Looks brill, really smart impreza, I love 'em:thumbup:

you do? i think the bug eyed scoobs are horrible! :fcuk:

How much did this job set him back great job by the way

240 squid for this job as it was 12 hours work :afro:

[hesslevtr]

cracking job as always

agree with clark about it been horible really spoilt them with them lights

[Dan]

Great work as usual guys. Impreza looks lovely!

[ChrisJ]

Wow, thats awesome again guys, the last 2 pics have to be the best reflections i've ever seen. Like glass. Top job.

[Amiee]

looks stunning!

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

Thanks for the comments folks :)

[Scott]

said it before and ill say it again, you are ridiculously cheap for the work you do!!

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

said it before and ill say it again, you are ridiculously cheap for the work you do!!

yeah we'll hike the prices up eventually :afro:

[Predator_R32]

stunning, youve even polished the orange off the side repeaters lol :D:

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

Was wondering when someone was going to notice that, the owner changed them half way through the detail ;)

[Barry123]

wow guys. the shine of the spoiler is electric :)

do you ever get bored doing this or do you find it rewarding?

[PolishedBliss]

Bored?! Mate, we're living the dream... and the dream is set to get even bigger and better next year. :thumbup:

[Global_discovery]

The cars looks so much better, but I dont think I could spend that amount on cleaning a car and make it look any where near that good.

[Barry123]

Bored?! Mate, we're living the dream... and the dream is set to get even bigger and better next year. :thumbup:


Cool stuff :) I just read back my above post and that may have sounded blunt or even rude (which i was not intended to be). Glad you get a similar satisfaction out of it as the owners probably do when they see the transformation :)

[Tupps]

Looks awesome!

Very good job

[PolishedBliss]

Cool stuff :) I just read back my above post and that may have sounded blunt or even rude (which i was not intended to be). Glad you get a similar satisfaction out of it as the owners probably do when they see the transformation :)

No worries, didn't see it as blunt or rude! Just an honest question! :)

[mark16v]

That paintwork looked shocking before you worked your 12hour magic. :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: Amazing job yet again. Not a lover of new Scoobies, prefer Evos myself :cool:

[sy_VTR]

fookin gorgeous!!

[Connor_scotland]

thats awesome

[srcnix]

Brilliant work as per usual guys!

[davew]

i always feel like a bastard for not spending hours of my sunday cleaning my car after i read these thereads...................ah well.

good work lads :P

[m20pub]

wow guys. the shine of the spoiler is electric :)

do you ever get bored doing this or do you find it rewarding?

i would love it as a job no boss yelling down at ya no stressful busy periods i enjoy cleaning my car wouldnt mind getting paid for it lol


btw whats that thing hes got connected to the hose that sprays it onto the car and also where can i get and how much is there wheel brigthner

mint job

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

i would love it as a job no boss yelling down at ya no stressful busy periods i enjoy cleaning my car wouldnt mind getting paid for it lol


btw whats that thing hes got connected to the hose that sprays it onto the car and also where can i get and how much is there wheel brigthner

mint job


Thats a Gilmour Foam Gun i'm using, its around £50, i got mine in a group buy so i'm not too sure where you can get one, try googling it.

Wheel Brightner's about £20 i think, unless your doing alot of cars like we do with bad wheels i wouldnt bother with it as you should only use it on your wheels a couple of times as its pretty potent stuff, just keep them clean by regularly washing them :afro:

either that or buy a non-acidic wheel cleaner :)

[m20pub]

found there site just going to ring them 2moz as theres not prices can you put any car shampoo in to get the foam

[Polished_Bliss_Detailing]

yeah, any shampoo but others work much better than some, the best one is probably the Poorboys Super Slick & Sudz :)