Buffing older paint

[metalho]

My coupe is a 20 year old restoration. Basically the paint was never rubbed out properly and has been sitting since the restore. Started out light with a worthless non aggressive compound on the black fenders and soon realized I should just wet sand the damn thing with 2000 grit. After wet sanding I made my own rubbing compound out of #4 lapidary rock polish and a bit of water, fallowed by a glazing compound and then wax.

Not sure what this paint is, but its not lacquer thats for sure. Damn stuffs hard as glass, lol................. Thinking it might be enamel. The brown body paint acts exactly like older lacquer, soft and easy to polish. Anywho, never have had to start out with 2000 grit before, kinda surprised me. The pic is prior to putting the wax on.

 

[bogdonj]

looks clean without the wax. The paint on our Tudor is getting to the point were you can't buff it or the paint will come right off... I guess it's getting brittle after 30 years outside. New paint hopefully in the spring/summer! anyways keep it up.. looks like your having fun and getting the model a bug pretty hard

 

[Ken Ehrenhofer]

2000 is pretty fine I might try 1200 to get the job done.
Actually back in the 60's we used to use 600 on lacquer
Lots of water, A little dish soap in it also to keep the paper from clogging. One clog and you have a big chunk digging into the paint.
I would then use rubbing compound and a wool pad. followed by 3M Finese It II with a foam pad. Then 3M hand Galze compound.
With old lacquer I have been successful with just the Finesse It II and the foam pad skipping the buffing compound unless you sand it then you must use the bufffing compound.
Try a small area to make sure it is going to work before jumping in with both feet,
Good Luck,
Ken