sha4000

iTrader: (1)

i went out of town and left my car with my moms,it seems that they parked the car under a tree for the 10 days that i was gone. so you guys know whats coming, the birds had their way and if thats not bad enough the droppings dried for a couple of days to make matters even worse it looks like someone tried to clean dry bird **** off the hood. if anyone has tried this you know never to do it again. my whole left side of the hood is scratched up not anything deep but it looks terrible i dont know what to do. i was thinking of taking it to get compounded and polished( the whole car) since i have mad swirl marks all over the car and oxidation on the hood anyway. by the way my car is black if you havent already noticed

picus

Sounds like the perfect chance to get it cleaned up and protected before winter either by yourself or by a pro. Sorry to hear someone had their way with it, though.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

just what i was thinking do you guys think a wetsand would be going too far

cantsleepnk

Wetsanding is definitely too much.If you decide to detail your car yourself start with a clay bar.You can pick one up at your local autopart store.It will leave your car's surface clean and smooth and ready for polishing and waxing.Please use plenty of the lubricant that comes with the claybar kit as not to scratch your car some more.

good luck.

picus

Absolutely. Even if the bird poop etched the paint it will only require a compounding polish via PC or rotary. Wetsanding is definitely a valid detailing option, but it should only be used when necassary. It's impossible to evaluate your cars paint without seeing it, but in most cases marring can be corrected without sanding. The only time I personally wetsand is to blend a touchups. It can be used on deep marring, but for the most part you can correct almost any flaw that isn't through the clear coat without sanding.

If you do decide to do this yourself check out www.autopia-carcare.com or autopia.org. You'll find a lot of good info over there, and if you decide to get a pro to do it you can post in the regoinal sections of autopia.org to find a reputable detailer.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

ive done the claybar and polish and wax by hand with ok results, but the swirls were still there though hidden. i need to find a good detailer to hit my car with a machine but all i ever see is the car washes offering compounding and simonizing. i dont trust them, but i was thinking if i let them compound then i can polish and seal it myself by hand. what do you guys think

picus

Compounding is the most important step (imo), that's the one that you can really screw up. If you don't know any local detailers head to www.autopia.org and ask in the regional forums, odds are you'll find someone reputable who will do a better job than some random car wash compounder.

FWIW, compounding is just polishing with abrasives. Honestly it sounds like your car isn't in bad shape, so it shouldn't take more than 2 passes, maybe one medium abrasive then one light to clean it up, then move right to the sealant/wax. I'm not sure where in NY you are but even in NYC it shouldn't run more than $35-$50/hour and shouldn't take more than 3 hours unless the paint is in really bad shape.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

im in brooklyn and ive been doing searches on the net but i cant really find anything, just the carwash guys, the rest of the car just has alot of swirls but the hood might need a repaint, but i want to get a good detailer to work on it b4 i take that step. ive even posted in the northeast forum but havent got any good leads.do you think i should wait until i get my bodykit sprayed and attached b4 i get a detail?

picus

I would - that way the detailer can do the body kit too. If you don't have any luck in the NE forums maybe post in "Professional Detailers", that's where most of the pros hang out. I think a lot of them skip the regional forums.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

where is that forum?

picus

http://autopia.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=37

that's the pro detailer forum at autopia.

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

thanks ill try that

sha4000

iTrader: (1)

really good site, that should work

picus

Ya, autopia is like the mecca of online detailing. Tons of info over there and the membership is really laid back. Post pics when you get your bodykit on and have the car detailed!