by dapinky » Wed 29.06.2011, 17:41
If it was given a coat (or 2) of clearcoat laquer when it was resprayed, you may have a problem, as any milky appearance is usually to do with laquer coming away from the basecoat (caused by leaving the base coat too long before applying clearcoat).....
....however, if they just went for the good old-fashioned way of a solid colour and no clearcoat, then you wont beat an afternoon with the T-cut. (again, as it was only a couple of years ago, I'm making a basic assumption that they sprayed it with 2-pack paint, so it is 'hard' not 'soft' like cellulose.)
I have to do the red one once a year (as Angie doesn't polish it inbetween times!!!), it doesn't take that much effort, and the whole lot can be done in a couple of hours.
Wash it first, but don't use a shampoo with wax in it - i know the purists will scream in agony (due to the salt/chemicals in it) but a drop of washing-up liquid in warm water is good (a drop, mind - not a squirt or a splash - if you get it foaming, then it's too much - just something to break the surface tension of the droplets).
Dont need to leave it to dry/chamois it or anything posh - do the T-cut thing - one cloth to apply it, one to rub it off, and a soft one to polish it up.
Once done, apply a good quality (beeswax!) polish - paste/solid is usually better than liquid.
I know that there are lots of other opinions out there, some will no doubt tell you that you get a better shine with a different product etc etc etc, and i fully accept that this method will NOT give you a glass-like concouse finish, but it will do the job in half a day, not cost much, and is more than good enough for a car used regularly, not kept under cover in a garage.
Dave
Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it
...oh, and a 2006 Freelander destined for the jungles of The Gambia - 4500 miles across roads, desert and tracks - what could possibly go wrong?