Beware: amateur at work

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DerickE

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2022
Posts
39
Reaction score
56
Location
Indianapolis Suburbs
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4L Gasser
When I bought my truck, they did not yet have their paint people come out. This was a landscaping truck and needed some love, mostly on the passenger side. They gave me about a 500 dollar discount to atone for the paint and I was good with that. I tried to find some places locally to do paint correction, and they wanted 750-1250 bucks to do it. Which, is not an unreasonable amount - let me be clear on that. It's a massive amount of work.

I've been working on polishing and such since I was in high school, but black stuff scares me. So easy to see swirl marks, and it's a new-to-me $40k investment. So, I wanted to ensure I was going to have it done right. When the 'right' way was out of my price range, I did it 'my' way. lol

This is all from harbor freight, and I spent about 200 bucks on necessities. 2 each of compound pads, polishing pads, and finishing pads for my buffer. A bottle of meguires 110, 210, and their ceramic hybrid wax. A box of meguires claybar system, and a pack of microfiber towels. I probably could have cut it a bit more with the compound, but I was aiming for no discoloration of my pads - ie no paint remove, just smoothing the clearcoat out. I think it turned out pretty well. I didnt think my paint had the metal flake in it, but indeed it does. It's been crap weather so I havent had an opportunity to get a nice handwash done, and removal of excess compound with a toothbrush but its an 8/10 right now I think. And in saving that money at the paint correction shops...I'm good with 8/10.

Before
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After
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jawzs2

Senior Member
Military
Joined
Mar 24, 2014
Posts
1,849
Reaction score
2,265
Location
South Jersey
Ram Year
2010, 2014
Engine
1500, 3500
Nice work - want to do mine? After 12 years my 2010 is showing age lines
 
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DerickE

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2022
Posts
39
Reaction score
56
Location
Indianapolis Suburbs
Ram Year
2019
Engine
6.4L Gasser
Honestly, I'd love to do some more 'testing.' It's been awhile since I poked around with polish and compound...but the thing is cars, and trucks, nowadays dont have a flat panel on them. Looking at my 2019 it looks like a typical pickup truck but there are so many curves and body lines that you dont see unless youre working on it. Makes the job a bit harder.
 

Treburkulosis

Your High End Detailer
TOTM Winner
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Posts
6,110
Reaction score
8,473
Location
Haslet, TX
Ram Year
2012 Lonestar Edition converted over to a Sport
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Looks great! Also Koch Chemie is a great option as well. I used H9 and F6 on my truck. My Meguiars go to products are 105 and 205.
 
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