Ford Focus Front Bumper

[Guy]

we have a daily hack at home... we picked this up for a song and its been a great car to us, it carts small people about and copes with sticky fingers, chocolate, country lanes and school runs...

as such its a perfect base for me to 'practice' my valeting and detailing skills... if I have a new technique or product to try out this is the slag that gets it! 

i had an hour or so spare over the weekend so decided that the front bumper was gonna get it!   

now, before we start the car was purchased off a friend, who in turn had bought it from a friend who was 'an excellent mechanic' and who maintained the car themselves.. turns out they weren't so good at painting and the front bumper and wings are a home brew rattle can special... in truth the front bumper is shot and there are lots of white stone chip marks on it.. so this was a sh1t or bust correction... didn't really matter if it all went tits up 

before


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr

during


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr

after


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr

well that looked alright... so i did the rest 

during


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr

after


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr


Ford Focus Correction by Guy Frankland, on Flickr

products used:

AutoSmart Tango Waterless Wash
2000 grade wet and dry
3M Pads and polishes on a Festool rotary
AutoSmart WAX

From this I learnt that I need to refine my sanding technique and not put as much pressure through my fingers... or use some kind of sanding backing pad to even out the sanding and control the correction. I also learnt that less is more, you can always sand more but you can't undo if you sand too much, fortunately I didn't do this... but I have seen it done and it is all too easy to do!

[scarr89]

Nice nice nice mate. I assume you will be looking to add this to your arsenal of detailing services? 

You seen that thread with the guy who did his ED30...I wouldn't trust my self!

Was it just the one grade of paper used right, and what sort of 'liquid' did you use for the wet process? 

[Guy]

Nice nice nice mate. I assume you will be looking to add this to your arsenal of detailing services? 

You seen that thread with the guy who did his ED30...I wouldn't trust my self!

Was it just the one grade of paper used right, and what sort of 'liquid' did you use for the wet process? 

just the one grade, for the moment, when this is offered on a professional basis I would carry a full range of grades

I did see the ED30 orange peel thread.. stunning work and large cahoonas! 

Liquid used for the wet and dry was just water... is there something else that people use then?

[scarr89]

Sweet!

That ED30 was something else!!

I have used fairy liquid and warm water before...Just wondering what an amateur , sorry, pro like your self would use  .

So you wet n dry sanded it first then used a rotary with a variety of pads to get rid of most of the destruction left from the wet n dry right? I'd love to give this a go!!

[Guy]

Sweet!

That ED30 was something else!!

I have used fairy liquid and warm water before...Just wondering what an amateur , sorry, pro like your self would use  .

So you wet n dry sanded it first then used a rotary with a variety of pads to get rid of most of the destruction left from the wet n dry right? I'd love to give this a go!!

yes, wet and dry and then worked with 3M fast cut plus on a green pad and then 3M ultrafina on blue pad which got rid of ALL of the sanding marks.. i think the trick is to keep the sanding light.

just to note, i'm teaching myself this... i've not been on any training days etc

[Mr GTD]

  WOW, proper nice job you've done there Guy but I wouldn't expect any less from a pro like yourself...

[murraymint]

Awesome work!!! I'm gunna try this on my Jetta soon!

[dom]

It's interesting seeing you do this Guy, I currently have a Mk2 wing sat in the garden which I intend to use as a practice for wet sanding before I tackle my car.

I've got a range of 2000, 2500 and 3000 wet & dry paper, do you think 3000 is overkill? I've also read that a little bit of washing up liquid helps to lubricate the paper nicely, although I was thinking of using a little Born Slippy. Do you think it is necessary or will water suffice?

Finally which polish did you begin with & on which pad?

Sorry for all the question, like you I'm teaching it to myself but you have considerably more experience than me when it comes to paint care so any advice would be appreciated

[murraymint]

I had a quick go at this on the Jetta today only done a little bit to tes it but loving the result

Here a pic of how bad the paint is compared to a replacement door that's bin fitted.




And after a little test area


Came up the same colour as the door! Result.

I used 1500 and 200 wet and try, 1500 due to some deep marks in the laqur. Then used mags compound and then mags polish.


Edit: sorry for the poor pics

[JC]

Mr Tona did some 23 year old paint recently, sure a noddy guide will be forthcoming