I'd do the whole car by hand; it's easier to control how much paint you're removing. A bug is one of the smallest cars around. All those small fenders, quarters, doors decklid, hood, cowl, window surrounds, etc. Only the roof is big, but even that isn't so large that you can't deal with doing it by hand. If you do decide to use a buffer with polishing compound, tape off the high spots first, so the buffer won't burn through to the primer too quickly. Then, just go back later and do those areas by hand.
Mike B. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chuck Kuecker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Air-Cooled Volkswagen Discussion List" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 3:56 PM Subject: Re: [vintagvw] paint code question > If the paint is just dull, try a buffer and some fine polishing > compound. Don't press too hard - let the buffer do the work. Make sure > you get 'polishing' compound and not 'buffing" compound - the buffing > compound is way too aggressive to do this job. All you want to do is > remove the top millionth of an inch or so. > > Try some compound by hand on a small area first - if it looks good, go > for the whole works. Just be careful around the roof gutters and door > edges - sharp corners and tight radius curves can get buffed right down > to bare metal in a flash if you get on 'em too hard. Better to do those > areas by hand than to mess up a restorable OEM paint job... > > Give it a good waxing after polishing. Park it out of the sun as much as > possible. > > If you decide to repaint, and good body shop supply will have paint code > data on microfiche or on computer to mix up your color. I matched my '69 > Karmann Ghia Cypress Green with Du Pont Centari acrylic enamel a few > years ago with no problem. You will need to strip off all the removable > fittings like bumpers, door handles and chrome. Wetsand the whole car > with 400 wet or dry sandpaper and water, until the car is evenly dull. > Prime any bare spots, and a good body shop can spray the topcoat for > you. Count on spending about $1000 more for the job if you let them do > the disassembly and first sanding. > > Chuck Kuecker > > Thomas Adams wrote: >> Hi everyone, >> I mostly just read the messages on this list...but now it's my turn to >> ask a question!! >> >> I have a 68 VW Beetle that has a badly oxidized paint finish. >> As I'm a novice at car paint and finishes...what are my best options for >> either being able to restore the shine or in having the car repainted if >> needed. The paint code is L30A (ruby red) for that year, I believe. I >> searched the Glasurit website...to no avail with that code. Any ideas as >> to where the "correct" paint colour can be obtained? >> >> Of course I would much rather have the finish restored without painting >> if possible. >> >> Thanks for your replies in advance, >> Tom Adams, >> Kerrville, TX >> _______________________________________________ >> > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.7/1628 - Release Date: 8/22/2008 > 6:32 PM > > _______________________________________________ > vintagvw site list > [email protected] > http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw _______________________________________________ vintagvw site list [email protected] http://lists.sjsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/vintagvw
