86 paint prob

[jay86]

hi my red 86 has scratches/cracks in the paint like spiderwebs that you cant see until your about 5 ft from the car on the front of the hood other then that my paint is glossy and looks good is their anything i can do to get them out or do i have to repaint the hood

 

[DetailingDude]

I need to know a little more about your paint, the products you use, techniquest employed to apply them, and how often you apply the products.

Question 1: Are those scratches topical or have can you feel them with your finger nail?
Question 2: What do you wax your car with?
Question 3: How often do you wax your car?
Question 4: Have you ever used a buffer?
Question 5: Have you ever had your 'Vette professionally detailed.
Question 6: Have you ever taken your 'Vette through a drive-thru car wash?
Question 7: Do you regularly use a California Duster?
Question 8: Do you regularly apply a quick detailer type product?

So I can have a little bit of background info on your car would be most helpful since I can't actually see your paint.

 

[jay86]

ok some you can feel with your nail, some are very fine white lines that havent come threw yet i wax 4 or 5 times a year, i have used meguires liquid wax and the turtle wax paste, no drive thru car washes ,no pro detail in the 4yrs i have owned the car , no buffer, and i have used the spray quick detail spray from meguires thanks jay

 

[DetailingDude]

First I am going to comment on your regime. Then, in a separate post in this string I am going to guide you through the process.

[ Your Regime:]
no drive thru car washes
Good News.

FYI on Drive Through Car Washes
Do not go through a car wash! Those things are the worst case scenerio.

Reason 1: If it is a "Soft Cloth Wash" the cloths drag the dirt across your car before removing it. You will probably be left with many tiny surface scratches.

Reason 2: If it is a "Touchless Wash" those types of places often use Alkaline based systems to free up the dirt. But they also remove your wax and strip the oils out of your black plastic trim. Then you spend the rest of your time "Back-to-Blacking" your trim and the rest of the time your car has no wax on it so it gets dirty quicker.

i wax 4 or 5 times a year
Good! It is best to stay ahead of the game.

i have used meguires liquid wax and the turtle wax paste
3 Step? If you do the 3 step you may not need to do the whole process each time you do your waxing. I would also suggest that for the wax that for the 3rd step that you apply a couple of coats. You'll notice some increase in the reflectivity of the paint and the clarity of the color.

no buffer
Depending on the intent and the application and, of course, the equipment, they are generally safe. If you ever decide to use one make sure that you: Wash, Clay, De-Wax and give it a thorough paint analysis first.

i have used the spray quick detail spray from meguires
I suggest that you use a California Duster very lightly first.

no pro detail in the 4yrs i have owned the car
There are some very good detailers out there. But there are many whose concept is to get a car in and out rather quickly and what is best for the paint is not exactly done. Some very good body shops can offer exterior surface preparation.

[ Your Paint Condition:]
some are very fine white lines that havent come threw yet
hmmm... I am not sure what you mean that they haven't come through yet. I am guessing that these are the "SpiderWebbing" you're talking about.

some you can feel with your nail
Hmmm.... I moved this to the bottom because they are the most severe of the problems you have and should be delt with on a case-by-case basis.

Does all this sound about right?

 

[jay86]

thanks for the good info i guess the best thing is for me to do is find a good local detail shop and see what they can do

 

[WhalePirot]

Clear coat cracking

...is my guess. My Vette has been repainted, but my silver BMW has a similar issue to your Vette. The primo body shop I use does a procedure for trade-ins that re-clearcoats the car. It costs about $2000.

The clear coat is dried and tired. Waxing and such will restore luster and delay further problems, but cannot fix the cracking.

Mike

 

[DetailingDude]

thanks for the good info i guess the best thing is for me to do is find a good local detail shop and see what they can do

Wait Wait Wait!!!

I was only saying that stuff for the analysis..... I think I can probably talk you through some of the process so that you can atleast get a better idea of what you need.