Car paintwork lacquer coat worn off - how to get it shiny again?

anewman

I have recently acquired a 1994 Skoda Favorit (no jokes please lol) in apollo red and the paintwork does not shine. I think the lacquer coat has worn off. I recently washed it with Asda smartprice car shampoo (which claims to have added waxes and claims to leave paintwork with a superior shine). However the paintwork still has a matt effect and does not shine. I have seen that many polishing/colour reviving liquids suggest not to use where the lacquer coat has worn off, so I think I should avoid using any abrasive products.

Does anyone have any suggestions on the cheapest (being MSE) way likely to get it shiny again? Are any particular products likely to work? (I don't mind using my muscles a bit, but if there is an easy to use product available that might be good.)

Granted the body work is not perfect, and the car might well be going to the scrap yard at one of its next few MOT's but I think it would be a little more pleasant to look at if it shined

Thanks in advance.

MarkyMarkD

If it's not metallic, it probably doesn't have a lacquer coat in any case.

I would use any of the many cutting type compounds available which should revive the original colour and bring the shine back.

You can experiment on somewhere like inside the door surround if you are worried about the effect the stuff might have.

BANANABUS

t cut and elbow grease!
if you want to TRY before you buy some T CUT try some BRASSO! if you have some. it has ammonia in it .
RED is one of the worst colours for fading.
If you do get some T CUT then do 1 panel at a time.

steveo3002

i would suggest autoglym super resing polish and lots of elbow grease

do a small area at a time

saintjanet

I really cant see how the lacquer has come off and as already stated ,if it is a solid colour it wont have any.

If it is really badly faded it would need T -cut or any cutting compound,followed by a good quality wax like autoglym.It is much easier to T -cut using a buffing machine,if you have a friend who could lend you one,or even buy a cheap one for future polishing ,which they are also useful for.

northern_munky

Lots of cars with solid colours have a base colour coat followed by a clear lacquer finish. I'm not sure if yours does or not, if it hasn't then you can use a cutting compound. T-Cut will take forever and you'll end up with arms like Popeye and the finish won't be that great either.

You need a product called Farecla G3 liquid, you'll get stunning results and it won't take half the time T-cut does.

http://www.paints4u.com/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=2321

You can get it off ebay (about £14) or try a local paint factors

BANANABUS

It is easy to see if it has a lacquer on it.

when you some brasso/ t cut, if the cloth turns red then it HAS NOT got a lacquer on it.

like NORTHERN MONKEY says you'll have arms like Popeye!
It might be worth getting a local valeting compay do buff it.
If you have not used a buffer before it is quite easy to burn through the paint.

steveo3002

if the laquer has failed it will be flaking of in places...the whole lot wont have peeled off

sounds like its oxidised and or car wash swirls

buglawton

Use T-cut and it will shine up again. Use Turtle Wax to protect it afterwards and it might last 2 years.

saintjanet

I have never come across many solid colour cars,very modern ones,or custom vehicles apart that have had a lacquer finish.As this sounds like an older car i dont think it will be laquered.

As far as T CUT is concerned it is more than capable of removing all but the worst type of oxidisation,of course you can get more abrasive and effective products,if you want to pay out more money.however if it is an old car and you have access to a buffer it will be really quite easy to do.If money is no problem a pro.would be the best bet anyway.

The really powerful buffers are used by pros. and yes they can burn the paint if not used properly,i was advising the type you can buy quite cheaply for DIY use.I have used both types and achieved great results with a cheap buffer ,T CUT and polish on loads of cars including a twenty year old metro that had not been cleaned, let alone waxed,for years it was also red,the worst colour for fading.

anewman

Just to confirm, by t-cut do you mean T-cut original? I.e. this stuff?



Woolworths have a polisher for £17.49 http://www.woolworths.co.uk/ww_p2/product/index.jhtml?pid=50617123

Many thanks for the help and pointers everyone.