Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: Sandyman on Wednesday,March 27, 2019, 07:10:01 AM
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The snow has finally gone off the Europa. Time to start thinking about bringing the original Carnival Red paint back to a shine after 40 years of storage. What is the best way to do this? I am not planning to sand and repaint yet.
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I don't have a lot of experience with this but I'll start the conversation by saying that I used a clay bar on my Lotus and was amazed with the result.
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George, I am not familiar with a clay bar. Could you please expand? This is the first time I have ever tried to polish anything.
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I had good experience with a dual orbital polisher and Meguires Ultimate Compound. Cleaned up light scratches quickly. Says it works on oxidation, but I didn't have that problem. Not too abrasive like the old rubbing compounds and leaves little residue.
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This is what I used. The video can explain it better than I can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neSL9Eeft0Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neSL9Eeft0Q)
I should add that my paint was not badly oxidized but when I ran my finger nails over the paint before using the clay bar I could feel a gritty roughness. Afterward it was smooth as glass.
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My car had been stored in a barn since 1980 and the paint was very oxidized. I used Griots Garage products and was very happy with the results. www.griotsgarage.com I started with their clay bar, then their complete compound, then wax. I used their random orbital buffer to apply the compound and wax. There are lots of companies that make car care products. Griots is on the high side price wise, but I think they make a good product.
One suggestion, if you decide to use a buffer I would suggest a random orbital buffer unless you know what you are doing. A regular buffer can burn through the paint if you are not careful. While I guess a random orbital could burn through it would be more difficult. If you decide to use a clay bar you must use it with a lubricant such as Griots speed shine or Meguiars quick detailer.
Good luck
Sherman
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Sandyman ,
First what if any tools do you have available for buffing ? Do you just plan to compound,polish and wax by hand?
the clay bar method does clean down to the paint but i don't use it. Pictures would help here to see the conditions of the paint. Does the paint look cloudy , scratches or crazed.
Sanding the surface lightly with 3000 grit wet, by hand in a small area 4 inch square.
compound the same area , then polish using a separate rag for each process. Repeat these steps until you see satisfactory results. you can forgo the sanding and just compound, polish and then wax. read up and watch some videos on you tube . Different color foam pads. Which i highly recommend if going with a polisher. I LOVE MY 3 inch HARBOR FRIEGHT POLISHER . The 3 inchpads from China 30 pack for 20 bucks on ebay is fantastic.
Dakazman
I posted my arsenal of tools and products under 0453 reassembly. I also add a glaze after polish and before wax and added a caution of adding a glaze and then trying to re-sand an area. No glaze on top of wax.
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Thanks for all the advice. Hope this picture comes through. I have no polishing/buffing tools. (alas no Harbour Freight north of the 49th.) I will take a closeup picture of the door that I have inside and post it soon.
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Another angle
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(alas no Harbour Freight north of the 49th.)
Harbor Freight does online orders (https://www.harborfreight.com)
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The gold stripe and the white were added by the original owner (not well done).
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And fiberglass cloth... Bummer!
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Wait until you see this. Original owner must have had an off road experience. Lower right side front suspension bent by chain when it was pulled out.
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The front right side can be fixed easily . First cut along the damage crack line to let the fiberglass return to an originsl
pose. Place tape on the outer side of the panel an fiberglass from underside after beveling into a half v.
Do not use weave , use stranded fiberglass with polyester resin. After dry remove tape from the outer side . It should be pretty straight, now bevel out the other side of the v sections and lay in stranded glass again. Place duct tape,or heavy mil clear plastic sheathing on the repair and smooth out leave on. after dry remove tape or plastic , it should be close enough to sand out without using much body putty. Place resin and glass on plastic and press in place for overhead repairs or low, bottom,areas. Much cleaner this way. ;)
Always spray the area to be repaired if unpainted with a primer before sanding out damage . It will become the exact level of the glass repair . Sanding slightly lower thru the primer contrast is better and latter primer coats will fill to a complete panel level.
The mat glass leave in place but remove rivets from lower panel and repair cracks from inside the same as above.
After dry remove the mat glass completely but only to the underlying original paint Do not loose that level. Then, bevel out cracks and repair the v. The bevel edge distance is in the repair manual.
Red Paint should buff up and white is sectioned nicely so you can paint just that color.
I would send pics but my phone and I went for. A swim :FUNNY: waiting for it to dry out.
Dakazman
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This weekends Europa work. Heading out to get polishing materials and acetone. Door repair and test polish on door.
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Great start sandyman, take your time , test compounds , buffer speeds , pads , polish .
Try some glaze also on the red. Dont get it on the white or gold till your done with touch ups.
Dave
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Just when I thought the snow had gone. Looking out at my Europa this morning! Sale on polisher starts Tuesday. Did a quick rubbing compound test on door on left. I can see a difference.
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What, Snow is no excuse . Get out there and get to work !😡.
Just kidding! I would stay inside till temps reach 75 .
Just take it slow and repeat steps that you see are working and giving you the results you are happy with. Remember how far you have gone in an area. This will help you to shift to a more or less aggressive procedure
Dakazman
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If I waited for the temperature to hit 75 I would sit untill June.
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Lol,