DIY Paint Correction/Coating

[pierceography]

Thanks, guys. I ordered the Porter Cable DA polisher, and I'll pick up some Chemical Guys pads. The Flex looks great, but is out of my price range.

Advice is much appreciated!

 

[raisins]

Ceramic coating yourself is not difficult. Just need patience and willingness to learn. Practice correcting on an older car and don't forget to try and look at the paint in different angles with different lights (if possible) after correcting. Sometimes holograms in the paint won't show unless the vehicle is under sunlight or an LED light. Although you shouldn't have any issues with a DA polisher in terms of holograms, I like to be safe rather than sorry and re-check anyway. After correcting, wipe down the truck with a solution to remove the oils in the polish and get it ready for ceramic coating. During ceramic coating, use H patterns to evenly distribute the coating across your paint. There are tons of videos on YouTube. Post pics during and after!

 

[AdamsPolishes]

Here's a post with advice and tips for polishing and coating:

https://www.fordraptorforum.com/posts/1225425/

Like Crash mentioned, do the iron decon before the claying.

I would always recommend a minimum two-step paint correction before applying a ceramic coating. Use Correcting Polish, and then follow with Finishing Polish. The Correcting Polish will remove any swirls or other imperfections, and the Finishing Polish will really bring out the gloss and depth.

If you were to use only Correcting Polish (or similar) in a one-step correction, then you will not have the same level of gloss and depth. If you were to use just Finishing Polish (or similar), you would be polishing much, much longer to remove swirls and imperfections, as it has very little cut.

Do not use a One Step Polish, or another brand of "All in one" type products. These typically have some sort of protectant in them, which you would not want on your paint prior to applying a coating, and cannot typically be removed with a quick wipe-down.

Also, our pads are color-coded to the correct polish type, so you don't have to remember which pad to use.

 

[pierceography]

Thanks, guys! I received my DA polisher yesterday, and will be stopping by the auto parts store later today to pick up some supplies. I plan on starting the first steps today on my current (leased) F150. The tailgate has quite a bit of light scratching and swirls. I'll clay bar it, iron X, then corrective and finish polishing. If all goes well, I'll do the same to my wife's <1 year old Explorer. Then when I receive it in two months, Raptor!

Appreciate all the advice!

 

[AdamsPolishes]

Thanks, guys! I received my DA polisher yesterday, and will be stopping by the auto parts store later today to pick up some supplies. I plan on starting the first steps today on my current (leased) F150. The tailgate has quite a bit of light scratching and swirls. I'll clay bar it, iron X, then corrective and finish polishing. If all goes well, I'll do the same to my wife's <1 year old Explorer. Then when I receive it in two months, Raptor!

Appreciate all the advice!

Iron decon should be done before claying. You want to dissolve the iron contaminates first so you are not picking all that up in the clay and rubbing it on the paint, potentially making more scratches/marring that will need to be polished out.

 

[SnowDawg]

Having just done this to my 3 month old Raptor I'd suggest going to AdamsPolishes site and getting your stuff through there instead of a local store. The quality is uncomparable. Since you're new to this staying within 1 product line of a good company is a safe way to go. I did Adams Ceramic coat and I like how it comes with most everything you need and ease of application. Great videos and tips prior to starting as well.
Everybody's advice on prepwork is spot on, I'd just add doing the least aggressive approach is probably best. It's a new truck, it shouldn't need crazy correction. After I cleaned and clayed mine I did a light polish and determined that was sufficient, but my paint was in great shape as I'd think yours should be.

 

[pierceography]

Having just done this to my 3 month old Raptor I'd suggest going to AdamsPolishes site and getting your stuff through there instead of a local store. The quality is uncomparable. Since you're new to this staying within 1 product line of a good company is a safe way to go. I did Adams Ceramic coat and I like how it comes with most everything you need and ease of application. Great videos and tips prior to starting as well.
Everybody's advice on prepwork is spot on, I'd just add doing the least aggressive approach is probably best. It's a new truck, it shouldn't need crazy correction. After I cleaned and clayed mine I did a light polish and determined that was sufficient, but my paint was in great shape as I'd think yours should be.

That's kind of my plan, related to the paint correction. I picked up a variety of products based on feedback and forum research:

- Porter Cable DA Polisher
- Adams Car Shampoo
- IronX
- Chemical Guys Clay Bar & Spray
- Meguiar's 105, 83, and 205
- Chemical Guys Hex Logic Pads
- Chemical Guys and Rag Company Microfiber Towels

I haven't picked a ceramic coating yet, but am heavily leaning towards the Adams offering. It looks like it takes a little longer to flash, and since I'm new to this the extra time will be advantageous.

I'll likely start with the 205 polish, and hope the paint looks good after that. To your point, since it's a new truck, I'm going to cross my fingers on the clear coat being in good condition. I also plan to tell the dealer not to touch the truck once it's delivered; I'll wash it myself when I get it home.

Everything I ordered should arrive by Wednesday, so I plan on practicing on my leased F150 this weekend.

And yeah, I don't plan on picking up any products at my local autozone. TurtleWax worked fine on my used Taurus when I was 23... Not on a brand new performance vehicle.

Thanks!

 

[mikelivingstrong]

I like that you are starting with other vehicles first. I first started doing paint correction and polishing about a year ago. I watched every chemical guys you tube video ordered a bunch of just chemical guys stuff. I started on my wife's 2013 ford edge that had never had a proper wash. When I finished the car had never looked better. I learned alot starting out on that car. As I got more comfortable I branched out to other products and companies. I highly recommend watching so dallas paint correction videos on YouTube. He shows you some great ways to save some money and get great results. I just received my 18 lead foot and the whole truck is covered in fine scratches and will need a polish. I seriously considered doing a ceramic coat but decided against it in the end. I have found that i love detailing and enjoy trying new stuff. Have fun and enjoy it. Like other have said it is going to take alot of man hours so dont rush it take you time and just enjoy the process.

 

[pierceography]

I like that you are starting with other vehicles first. I first started doing paint correction and polishing about a year ago. I watched every chemical guys you tube video ordered a bunch of just chemical guys stuff. I started on my wife's 2013 ford edge that had never had a proper wash. When I finished the car had never looked better. I learned alot starting out on that car. As I got more comfortable I branched out to other products and companies. I highly recommend watching so dallas paint correction videos on YouTube. He shows you some great ways to save some money and get great results. I just received my 18 lead foot and the whole truck is covered in fine scratches and will need a polish. I seriously considered doing a ceramic coat but decided against it in the end. I have found that i love detailing and enjoy trying new stuff. Have fun and enjoy it. Like other have said it is going to take alot of man hours so dont rush it take you time and just enjoy the process.

How many stages of paint correction did you do or plan on doing to your '18? I'm hoping to be able to get away with just polish and no cutting. I'm going to make sure the dealership doesn't wash the truck at all before I take it home.

Thanks for the tips. I was going to start correcting my F150 this weekend, but have a bunch of fall yard work to take care of, so it'll have to wait for another couple weeks. Though the Raptor arrives in mid/late-December, so practicing in colder weather is probably for the best anyway.

 

[SnowDawg]

Stages of paint correction is going to be vehicle dependent. Mine came right off the truck, parked inside overnight, no-one touched it at the dealership and I took it home. I didn't need much. I've seen some on the lots though that I thought looked terrible though. So base your decision on what you see.