Well I decided it was finally time to take care of a few paint blemishes on my car, B2, today.(Nickname is B2 for B2 bomber and it is the second bonne in the family. Other is a black '98 SLE with about 50k) When I got it a couple months ago it had overspray on the bumper cover near the front headlight and grille area. The rear had scuffs from the taillight down to the exhaust tip as well as some circular scratches. A new taillight is on its way as the current one has the same scuffing as well as a hairline crack. The scuffs were pretty bad, the overspray was just severely dull and unattractive. Granted most people never even noticed these flaws but I knew they were there so they had to be fixed. Also note in the pictures there is a blemish in the paint on the front bumper cover. It was repainted at one time which is why there was overspray. Overall I am pleased considering I used no real special products and this was my first time using a machine polisher of any kind but more specifically a rotary(Makita 9227). Well, here are the pics. The rear still needs a little work to remove the light haze. Also note that every picture actually looks better in person, even the befores.
Before:
Rear Bumper under taillight.




After:


Products Used:
Makita 9227c, Sure Finish, Presta 1500, orange pad, black finishing pad, white compounding pad
The Presta 1500 and white compounding pad never needed to be used.



Front Bumper Cover
Before:

After:



Obviously there are still flaws such as rock chips but that can't be helped now. I hope to pick up some 2000 grit and start wetsanding that orange peel out of the front bumper cover tomorrow.
Grant

Daaayaaamn!
Very Sharp, I'm gonna need my shades for this one

Thanks alot. I just edited it so the correct before picture is in for the headlight.
Grant

Looks nice. Really put some depth into the shine.

Wow, first time with a machine going with the rotary! You've got guts! I'm thinking hard about it myself. I have the Porter Cable DA and it didn't cut it on the Bonneville, and now I'm finding it'* not doing it on the convertible either. Taking way too long to correct the paint. I'm just nervous. Too bad I don't have the old DD to practice on.

Well, I really didn't have any other choice. After some reading on Autopia I could tell the PC wasn't going to be able to perform the correction I needed. The scuffs on the rear and the OS on the front weren't acceptable. I am very comfortable with most all tools as my hobby has been in restoration for the past 5 or so years. I am currently restoring a '66 Mustang to go with my dad'* '68 so I have an appreciation for the classics like you. I will eventually need the 9227c in my arsenal for the buff on the '66 when I finish painting it(it is in the metalwork stages right now) but for now I am just borrowing it from a fellow restorer. I am very familiar with painting and therefore was less scared if I made a mistake. I was already planning on a front bumper cover repaint due to the OP and a bodywork blemish. I ran the buffer at 1500 rpm right from the start and just feathered the trigger when needed. If you keep the rotary moving and the rpms at or under 1500 rpm you'll be fine. When I get some of my tests and papers finished I plan to wetsand the front down with 2000 and follow up with the rotary. The flat area that meets with the hood just has way too much OP. I considered sanding the whole car down with 2000 to remove the factory OP but I think it is just too laborious. Thanks for the kind words and encouragement guys. I'll have to post pictures of the whole car once I get my intake done and start driving it again. BTW, I need some GXP'* to finish this thing off(and set my GXP gauge cluster right) so if you have some, throw me a PM.
Grant