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Interesting you say you "don't introduce running water into places that rust can form" on those cars. So waterless or rinseless primarily for washing those cars?
Yes.
One of the most expensive aspects of restoring any type of car, (classic, exotic, etc.), is removing rusted body panels and then welding in new sheet metal. As a professional courtesy to the current owner and future owners, I'm not going to be the guy that causes rust in places you cannot see.
Thee are exceptions to the rule, like the 1935 Ford Pickup Streetrod I shared a picture of above. Last night I washed it but only after FIRST asking the current owner if he washes it the traditional way and he confirmed "yes". So if he washes it this way then I'm clear to do the same. Good thing too, the pickup had a film of dirt over everything and the wheels really needed a water wash.
I know you used waterless for the '67 Ferrari 275GTB, but I assume it came to you pretty clean already, or is that all you use for these collector cars?
The Ferrari had a layer of dust on it and who knows what? By the time it was delivered to our shop, it had already been to 2-3 other shops and there's always some form of airborne contamination or pollution floating around inside and around car repair shops.
For the waterless wash for the Ferrari I used the ceramic coating prep spray also called a panel wipe. I prefer these types of products most of the time because the solvent portion of the formula cuts through any oil film better than a water-based waterless wash. But that' just me and keep in mind - when I use a panel wipe for a waterless wash its in the context that next I'm probably going to clay the paint and then machine polish the paint. I don't use panel wipes for maintenance prep washes.
And that Mustang already looks done![]()
Yeah, I hear that a lot about all the cars I work on. But the paint has,
- Orange peel
- Die Back
- DIP - or Dirt in Paint
I did the baggie test last night and the surface of the paint feel like #40 grit sandpaper. Before I start sanding I'll use a clay mitt to mechanically decontaminate the paint so I don't simply chew-up sanding discs doing what a clay mitt will do.
Stay tuned...