Original black paint help

[Mark B.]

Hi Guys
I have a '66 Convertible with about 70% of it's original black paint on it. Before I purchased them 6 years ago the estate had a local detailer go over the very well cared for cars. I'm second owner and want to preserve while driving. The detailer did an incredible job and didn't over due it on 50 year old paint but the 66 is starting to show. Unfortunately the detailer has disappeared and nobody can locate him, I haven't found anyone of equal caliber. One guy thought it had been left out in the sun a lot, I told him it was 57 year old lacquer but he didn't know what I meant. I'll include a couple of pics with the right amount of dust on it. Does anybody have an idea of how to help the paint or is it as good as it gets? I'm not looking for a miracle but hope there is some help. I tried the Chemical Brothers yellow "butter" wax but it didn't do much. I can take more pics if you want to see something else.
thanks
Mark

[Alan D.]

Re: Original black paint help

Turtle Wax makes some black wax, one professional & one regular.
Could fill in some scratches for you, try and know it gets all over the cloths.

[Ed S.]

Re: Original black paint help

Can't tell from the pics what those "specs" all over the paint are - is it foreign material "on" the paint or is the paint deteriorating? First, "wax", as in real wax, does not clean painted surfaces, it just makes them a bit shiny. Lacquer is a challenge, you need to use a "cleaner" like McGuire's Clear Cut Cleaner - GENTLY. Cleaners contain both chemicals that dissolve the paint a bit and abrasives that scrub off the rough surfaces. The problem with lacquer is every time to "polish" it with a cleaner you are removing some paint - that is why your applicator rag takes on the color of the car, in your case black, and it does not do that with clear coat painted surfaces. Rub a bit too hard or long in one spot and you will remove all the paint and be looking at grey primer. I would try a polish cleaner on the car - perhaps on a vertical surface, do some testing. After you get the paint clean and smooth apply a wax - wax will increase the shine and retard the oxidation of the paint - that is what lacquer does, it oxidizes and gets dull and faded looking. Good luck.

[Joe R.]

Re: Original black paint help

Seek out a local professional and take their advise!

[Thomas H.]

Re: Original black paint help

For the lacquer paint on my cars I use only Maguires #7. I've been using it for more then 30 years - back when you could only get it from paint supply houses.

It is a glaze, not a wax and if you want a protective coating you'll need to follow up with a carnauba based wax with no "cleaning" abrasives in it. It can be put on by hand or with a DA polisher and a fine foam pad. I usually do it by hand.

Grab a bottle and test it on a spot or two and I think you'll like what you see. It's not some "miracle" polish but will "feed" the paint and improve the shine.

Tom

[Mark B.]

Re: Original black paint help

Joe, You moving north? Ha ha
Ed. It's the paint deteriorating. I looked at it with a 10x loupe last night and it looks like tiny diamond plate. From what I saw the peaks hadn't broken thru, i'm guessing any kind of abrasive work would open them. You can just feel it when running your fingernail over it. It looks like random ripples when you get shrinkage on things.
Tom. I think i'm going to try your suggestions first, I think the glaze might help "level" it out followed by wax. I see what Ed is saying but i'll wait to find somebody local that knows what they're looking at before mild abrasives. I know Pete kept it inside and covered for it's entire life so to me it's natural paint deterioration. I'll ask around some more and see if there's somebody in SE CT, there must be. I'll let you know how it looks after a dosing of old #7.

[Jon H.]

Re: Original black paint help

On original paint cars I would only use Meguiars #7 glaze. The key is to buy a few bottles and put a layer on thick and let it soak into the paint for 3-5 days. Wipe off with a microfiber and the do it again. The oils in the #7 glaze will rehydrate the paint. Once you are done I would use Pinnacle Sovereign wax. The Pinnacle wax is a wipe on wipe off wax that is amazing: https://www.amazon.com/Pinnacle-Natu...83871014&psc=1

[James W.]

Re: Original black paint help

Not trying to hijack or change the direction of this thread, but what type of buffer/polisher are people using? I'm in the market for a buffer/polisher and pad kit to buff and polish a 45 year old Glen Green lacquer paint job. The information on using the Macguers No. 7 is a big help.

Thanks,

James

[Jon H.]

Re: Original black paint help

I use a griots orbital polisher. They have a small one as well for getting into tight areas:https://www.griotsgarage.com/g9-rand...8aApV3EALw_wcB On an original paint car I always do any paint correction/polishing by hand if possible because the paint is thin and with lacquer you can get great results by hand. Here is my barn find 69 L71 I did with the Meguiars #7 process and Pinnacle wax and also my benchmark/bowtie 69 L89 that I used the same process. https://ibb.co/8bM2xYh https://ibb.co/gjzDg6G https://ibb.co/jGhkMkk

[Mark B.]

Re: Original black paint help

James. That's actually a real good addition. As I was typing this Jon offered his advice and I agree with the hand/lacquer process.
Jon. What is your experience with the different types and sizes of pads? Do you keep them for a while or use new ones after a few hours? I think my '61 would be ok with the machine if needed.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Original black paint help

I have two of these purchased through Meguiars years ago:

https://www.amazon.com/PORTER-CABLE-7424XP-6-Inch-Variable-Speed-Polisher/dp/B002654I46/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2K81BHL4B4PRM&keywords=PORTER+CABLE+7424XP&qid=1690920546&sprefix=porter+cable+7424xp+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-2

They work great, and I use the Meguiars pads on them. It's impossible to burn your paint using one.

The Pinnacle wax was recently recommended to me by a Corvette detailer that many of us know. I haven't tried it yet, but may in the future.

[James G.]

Re: Original black paint help

Meguires makes a black wax which I use on my original paint Brandshatch Green LT1, my brothers original paint Tuxedo Black 1973 L82 survivor, and my father's 1940 FORD Woodie Wagon which was painted with dark blue lacquer 35 years ago.

It hides small fine scratching AND doesn't deposit light colored wax residue in the lacquer checking or around the emblems.

[Tom M.]

Re: Original black paint help

Detailing your original lacquer paint is something you are best to do yourself rather than trust it to a “detailer”. Most if not all detailers are equipped to work on new cars with their clearcoat paints. As mentioned by others, Mcguires #7 applied by hand does a great job. Two applications worked well on my lacquer with the first doing the cleaning and the second coat was left on heavy for a couple of days. Then seal it with your favorite wax. Mcguires tech wax goes on my DD so that worked fine on the lacquer - and smells good. Some people will suggest wet sanding lacquer but removing 60 year old paint isn’t a good idea. Enjoy that you have a finish on a car that you can enjoy and drive without worrying.