Precious Paint – Must-Have Kit

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Chris Pollitt

Looking after the paintwork on your beloved classic can take up a lot of time. Given that we’re in virus-induced lockdown, time is something we all have an abundance of. We might not be able to go for a drive but we sure can lavish our classics with love and attention. So why not use this lockdown as a motivator to tackle the paintwork on your car. You might remember that last year we did a pretty comprehensive guide on what can be done at home, but only if you have the right kit in stock. 

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up five bits of must-have paint-saving and protecting kit. We’ll assume you have a bucket, sponge, shampoo and chamois. This little collection of stuff, however, you may not have. So add it to your digital shopping basket and get it bought. Lavish your classic with love, and when the lockdown finally lifts, you’ll be out cruising in a car that leaves everyone looking in wonder. And who doesn’t want a bit of that as a mojo booster!

1) Sealey Cordless Polisher Kit

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Polishing is hard, hard work. It’s not too bad if you have a Mini, but if you have a big old Mercedes-Benz, that’s a lot of metal to buff. Save yourself the pain of doing it all by hand and instead get this battery-powered polisher from trusted tool people, Sealey. You get a polisher, which can run from 2,500 to 7,500rpm, you get two batteries, a charger and even a little bag to keep it all in. The only thing you’ll need to get are the polishing pads, and then you’re all set. Polishing your car will be the work of but a moment. Or at least it will be in comparison to doing it by hand!

2) Meguiars Clay Bar Kit

paint, paint repair, paint restoration, paintwork, classic car, polishing, retro car, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive, restoration project

Once the car is washed and dried, the next step is to clay bar the car. Embedded in your paint are myriad microscopic imperfections and bits of dirt, and these add up to making the paint rough to the touch and dull to look at. You can remove these by claying the car. Simply work the clay in your hands to warm it up and make it pliable, spray on the supplied lubricant, then work the clay up and down the bodywork, small sections at a time. You’ll feel the movement of the clay free up as you remove the tiny bits of dirt. 

3) Turtle Wax Cutting Compound

paint, paint repair, paint restoration, paintwork, classic car, polishing, retro car, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive, restoration project

If your paint is looking tired, if it has swirl marks in it, and if it has lost its shine, you’re going to need to cut it back before you polish it. Cutting the paint, or more accurately, the lacquer back, will smooth it out and remove surface imperfections. Then, when you put polish on, the finish will be a lot smoother and the shine deeper. To cut back, you need a cutting compound. This is a paste with a fine grit in it that roughs up the surface of the car, scrubbing away imperfections as it does. This red cutting compound from Turtle Wax is a bargain at less than a tenner, and it’s a household brand. 

4) LED Light

Now then, an LED light might seem like an odd thing to mention when talking about paint protection, but trust us, there’s a reason. Go to any good detailing shop and you’ll see strip lights. This is so that the detailers can look at the paintwork from all angles, in all lights and spot all the imperfections. The handheld LED light will help you to see if you’ve done the job right, or you can use it to assess the paintwork closeup before you start. The reflection of the long, thin light will also serve as an indicator, picking up any bumps or ripples in the paint/bodywork. For twelve quid, it’s well worth having. 

5) Frog Tape

paint, paint repair, paint restoration, paintwork, classic car, polishing, retro car, car and classic, carandclassic.co.uk, motoring, automotive, restoration project

A polished, pristine car looks rubbish if all the trim, like the mirrors, door mouldings and side mouldings, are covered in dry wax or polish. That’s why you need to mask these areas up, that way you won’t make a mess and give yourself more work in the process. This Frog Tape is exceptional, as it gets a really good edge, meaning no bleed through of wax or polish. It leaves no residue behind, and it peels off without any risk of damage. This is what the professionals use, and if it’s good enough for them…

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