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Anti-Patina? If You Prefer the Showroom Look, There’s Help Available
(Not long ago, we devoted an issue of the Hagerty Drivers Club magazine to the joys of patina, but not everyone appreciates that look. Here’s a perspective from one of our contributors who prefers a good shine.—Ed.)
Many in our hobby consider patina—evidence of a car’s aging—an attractive touch, though I don’t personally subscribe to that theory. In the 1990s, I spent a king’s ransom eradicating rust, dents, and scratches from my ‘60 Cadillac convertible. I then moved to fiberglass, investing mega-dollars in returning my rough-and-tumble ’67 Corvette 427 roadster to factory spec. Then I restored three motorcycles.
But even after you finish a restoration, the job’s never truly over. Time and the elements—even simple changes in humidity and temperature—can start to take a toll on a vehicle and its finishes. Keeping patina at bay requires some vigilance, and it’s not always easy or something you want to undertake yourself.
Recently, I hired an expert to avoid the drudgery of polishing my beloved ‘97 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Admittedly, I had other motivation, too—I wanted to impress a dealer who was about to install fresh rubber and conduct routine maintenance on my bike—hey, presentation matters! But on the way to earning the anticipated praise for the excellent condition of my 28-year-old machine, I gained a deeper appreciation for detailing and the professional discipline it has become.
Searching for a local specialist, I found Ezel Jacksi, 28, who’s been washing and detailing cars and motorcycles for five years, located just a few miles from my home. For $350, he spit-shined my Sportster in half a day. He also shared a few secrets to his detailing success.
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“I’m totally self-taught,” Jacksi acknowledged. “I began by purchasing chemicals online and learning how to use them on my Nissan GT-R, Range Rover Velar, and Ford Fusion Sport. Today I’ve got a 2800 square-foot shop with a bay for pressure washing, a second stall for detailing, four employees, and two caged cockatiels. My wife Tonya also helps out.”
Step one, he said, is a visit to the touchless wash bay where high-pressure water and soap are combined in a MJJC-brand foam cannon to strip away dirt and grime.
Inside the detailing bay, one wall displays Jacksi’s chemistry set. “My preferred brand is Car Brite, a company that’s served its customers since 1947,” he said. The array of spray bottles includes glass and tire cleaners, interior dressing, all-purpose cleaners, and Green All, a water-based fluid that’s easier than other chemicals on sensitive human lungs. Additional cleaning products come from Blackfire and Superior.
He uses polishing compound as a mild abrasive to strip oxidized paint, remove surface flaws, and to restore shine. Jacksi’s preferred brand is Italian-made Menzerna; his second choice is U.S.-made 3D compound.
Three electric polishers hang over the chemicals on the detail bay wall: one that’s purely rotary, one that’s orbital (moving the pad on a curved path), and a third “dual-action” machine that combines spin and orbital motion. It takes a trained hand to avoid burning through the paint and leaving swirl marks with this powerful machinery. The final step is the hand application of ceramic coating, today’s high-tech version of car wax.
Prices vary from shop to shop, but basic detailing starts at $125 for a small car’s interior, ranging up to $625 for a three-row SUV interior and exterior. Add-ons, like engine bay cleaning and headlamp cover restoration, and especially challenging jobs like time-intensive paint correction will naturally add to the cost. Jaksi’s top job to date was a $12,000 insurance company project following a car interior’s invasion by three destructive mice.
Back to my bike: Detailing two-wheelers presents unique challenges because most of the mechanical bits are on display. And electric polishers don’t always work because the shiny bits are too intricate.
Fortunately, my Harley was clean enough to bypass Ezel’s wash bay, and its 28-year-old factory paint was in excellent shape so no rubbing compound or clay bar application was necessary. An application of paste wax followed by hand polishing restored my black fuel tank and fender glow.
My Sportster is equipped with lots of polished aluminum, comprising engine and transmission castings. Ezel’s crew used Mother’s Mag and Aluminum polish to renew their shine. Despite having less surface area than a car, motorcycle detailing can take time because of the myriad small mechanical details and brightwork.
Their greatest challenge was my dull cast aluminum wheels. First, they were cleaned with CarBrite wheel and tire cleaner followed by hand brushing with a small bristle brush able to penetrate the inner reaches. The final step was applying White Diamond metal polish and sealant by hand.
The result was visually spectacular, and I have the peace of mind that my Sportster’s surfaces are protected.
Over the past two years, Jacksi has detailed vehicles for more than 2000 customers. In addition to cars and motorcycles, Jacksi doesn’t hesitate when asked to detail large RVs. That’s a lot of elbow grease to help ensure that people’s vehicles stay as tip-top as possible.
Ultimately, keeping a restored vehicle in top shape—or a newer one looking better than when it left the showroom—takes active stewardship, and professional care is often the best route. Do your homework, find a detailing shop you can trust, and take the right steps toward eradicating patina’s evil influence—before it takes permanent root.
I show a black car and have perfected my craft on this car and applied it to all my vehicles including my tractor. I love detailing. Some people drink gir stress relief but I polish.
I even built my shop with a focus on detailing with lots of light, water, heat and plenty of outlets.
I have tried to share what I have learned and helped others to step up their game.
We all have our preferred detailing products from the trial and error process, though I’m certainly more than willing to get the recommendations of others. Seems to me the most important ingredient is patience. As you mentioned a motorcycle may be smaller but there are all those english muffin nooks and crannies. A healthy supply of tooth brushes from the get go to do it right especially on a on/ off road or dirt bike. The upside is it’s not a bad winter project. The gratification factor for that bit of labor makes it well worth the effort.
“…english muffin nooks and crannies…” is my new favorite phrase-of-the-day! Anyone who’s detailed (or even moderately cleaned) a shiny motorcycle understands how accurate those words are! 👍👍
” With lots of nooks and crannies to hold the melted butter ” Courtesy of Thomas’ English Muffins Used without permission.