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Best method for cleaning old paintwork
What is the best method/products to use on older paintwork vehicles? Will T-Cut hinder the adhesion of vinyl?
Thanks
Andrew -
9 Replies
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The best way is to machine polish but I’m guessing your not experience with that.
T-Cut can only do so much and isn’t always the best.
What exactly are you trying to restore? Any pictures?
Are you trying to make the vehicle more presentable before applying signage?
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Hi Andrew,
T-Cut will not hinder the vinal if you wash all the T-Cut off.
T-Cut is good as it has no "aditives" like PTFE that some polishes have. After you T-Cut just wash it off with warm soapy water, dry and then application fluid the side to further clean if needed before you stick on the vinyl.
Neill -
I use compound to restore old paint and then T Cut. Wask off with soapy water then use Isoprop to finish off before applying vinyl
http://www.valeterspride.co.uk/1-litre- … -151-p.asp -
Andrew, is this for your own vehicle or for customers? If it’s for customers then make sure you get paid for this sort of work as it’s not the sort of thing a signmaker would normally do.
You could always suggest that the customer get the vehicle buffed by a vehicle valeter before you apply anything to it, or you could offer it as part of the service yourself but make sure you get paid the going rate. -
This is for a customer. They are getting charged for it but I’m still unsure of the best method? Would ‘claying’ make any difference?
Used T-Cut on the front of the vehicle and it helped but it is a lot of prep work.
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If you don’t have the gear to do it then yes it can be very time consuming & a lot of hard work, normally best to leave jobs like that to a valeter.
Sounds like it needs a machine polish.
Don’t use T cut myself so can’t comment on it but if I remember rightly it is a very fine compound & if the vehicle is really bad then you might be better off starting with something else.
I use Farecla G10 for polishing or if I need to G3 which is more abrasive followed by G10. You can do it by hand but it’s a lot of hard work. -
I’m VERY much of the opinion that customers should prepare their own vehicles. We are signmakers / vehicle wrappers etc. not valet & body repair shops!
The most I’ll do as part of a lease vehicle STRIPPING job is a very quick COURTESY buff with T-cut to flat out the worst of any fading with instructions that they should do it properly if they care.
If you are having to T-cut a surface before applying vinyl – it’s knackered.
Vinyl (good stuff) will stick to even dull / oxidised paintwork for years. Claying is an extreme measure – if the finished job requires a glass like surface with zero imperfections then the customer should A) do it himself or B) let his butler / skivvy spend hours claying a car…for example – to clean, clay & prepare just a bonnet I took 3 hours…and I was rushing it.
Stick to making signs & stickers…no customers car / van etc is worth the time investment…if they ain’t happy with the blemishes under the vinyl – too bad.
Hey – i’m in it to make money & provide a signage service…not polish somebody’s car for them!!
Dave
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quote DavidRogers:I’m VERY much of the opinion that customers should prepare their own vehicles. We are signmakers / vehicle wrappers etc. not valet & body repair shops!
The most I’ll do as part of a lease vehicle STRIPPING job is a very quick COURTESY buff with T-cut to flat out the worst of any fading with instructions that they should do it properly if they care.
If you are having to T-cut a surface before applying vinyl – it’s knackered.
Vinyl (good stuff) will stick to even dull / oxidised paintwork for years. Claying is an extreme measure – if the finished job requires a glass like surface with zero imperfections then the customer should A) do it himself or B) let his butler / skivvy spend hours claying a car…for example – to clean, clay & prepare just a bonnet I took 3 hours…and I was rushing it.
Stick to making signs & stickers…no customers car / van etc is worth the time investment…if they ain’t happy with the blemishes under the vinyl – too bad.
Hey – i’m in it to make money & provide a signage service…not polish somebody’s car for them!!
Dave
Is it wrong that I enjoy spending hours cleaning the outside of vehicles (Well, my own car anyway)
The company I work for is new to this line of work so we’re still learning what degree of surfaces are do able. It’s a full wrap so end result should be okay. But yeah, pre-clean vehicles are now on the list! Still have so much to learn!
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im lucky enough to be in a position to offer a paint correction service prior to any wrap…one part of my business is valeting…
some paintwork will need tar removed..fallout remover and some extreme cases buffed with a compound…
tack rags and a general degreaser is always a good start also
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