n0c7
15+ Year Contributor
- 568
- 5
- Jul 2, 2004
-
Edmonton,
Like most fiberglass bodykits, my front kit was all scratched up underneath and had some other nasty scratches throughout after the summer season. I was sick of getting a shop to redo it for $500 all the time so I decided I would give it a try on my own. I have done some bodywork before so I went to it. The procedure I preformed was:
1) Sanded down old paint and removed imperfections, damages and scratches in certain areas
2) Primed it followed with glazing spot putty to fill in pin holes and other minor imperfections
3) Sanded the primer smooth to blend
4) Painted the areas with professionally mixed paint, mixed to match
5) Wet sanded the areas down starting with 800grit to remove nasty orange peel and dust nibs and moved up to 1000grit where I was quite happy with the smoothness
6) Buffed the areas with a 8" orbital buffer with meguiars compound
On flat surfaces, it turned out MINT and like glass. I was very impressed, even more so than when I got the car back from local paint shops. The problem I'm having is that my kit has 4 rounded circles where foglights can be mounted and other difficult angles and curves that I can't get my 8" buffer in. The sides also have some cheezy fins which I can't get the buffer into. I decided to try to buff it by hand, using a waxing pad. It turned out semi-glossy but not anywhere near as nice as where I got the buffer in. Without direct light on the bumper it looks excellent, but with a spotlight right up to it the areas I couldnt buff "look" like they are faded and water stained. What should I do? Should I buy myself a real right-angle buffer or whatever? Any suggestions appreciated.
1) Sanded down old paint and removed imperfections, damages and scratches in certain areas
2) Primed it followed with glazing spot putty to fill in pin holes and other minor imperfections
3) Sanded the primer smooth to blend
4) Painted the areas with professionally mixed paint, mixed to match
5) Wet sanded the areas down starting with 800grit to remove nasty orange peel and dust nibs and moved up to 1000grit where I was quite happy with the smoothness
6) Buffed the areas with a 8" orbital buffer with meguiars compound
On flat surfaces, it turned out MINT and like glass. I was very impressed, even more so than when I got the car back from local paint shops. The problem I'm having is that my kit has 4 rounded circles where foglights can be mounted and other difficult angles and curves that I can't get my 8" buffer in. The sides also have some cheezy fins which I can't get the buffer into. I decided to try to buff it by hand, using a waxing pad. It turned out semi-glossy but not anywhere near as nice as where I got the buffer in. Without direct light on the bumper it looks excellent, but with a spotlight right up to it the areas I couldnt buff "look" like they are faded and water stained. What should I do? Should I buy myself a real right-angle buffer or whatever? Any suggestions appreciated.
