Detailing ruined my Cybertruck

[jameslook]

Here is the scratch they polished out previously. They did a perfect job and I thought they knew what they were doing. I don’t know if they decided to give the job to a new kid or something but someone different did it who didn’t know what they were doing.

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[HaulingAss]

what are the Tesla specified blendex pads? I read the PDF for the refinishing process but it was awhile ago.

Tesla specifies two different brands of abrasive pads, but only because those are the only two brands their engineers have tried and verified, any quality pad with similar specs will work. I used Festool Vlies polishing discs and Festool Platin metal polishing discs in grits between 320 and 800 with great results. The Vlies are a non-woven abrasive disc pad (like a Scotch Brite) and the Platin are just a sandpaper disc. You need to use a soft-medium density pad, especially under sandpaper.

I believe using a dust extractor (shop vac) on the random orbit sander helps prevent dark spots (which are probably caused by too much pressure on the abrasive pads anyway). Use a light pressure and let the sharpness of the abrasive bits do the cutting. With alcohol wipes between passes to keep it all clean, you will end up with a beautiful sheen that is consistent and satiny in appearance. If you go a bit finer than the approx. 300-400 grit the factory uses, you will get a more satin appearance that is smoother and easier to keep clean. Around 1000 grit it starts to look like a lightly frosted mirror. I think I like to stop around 500 grit but a couple of light passes with 1000 grit can add a nice effect (slightly more satin). The Platin discs are great for the final stages as I think they have more density to the abrasives (more cutting edges per square inch) which just means the individual scratches will be closer together and you can keep the tool moving at a faster pace.

Don't "look" at the results as you do the pattern, just operate like a robot designed to complete a sanding pattern while focusing on keeping the pressure and speed consistent, and the pad flat to the surface. The results will stun!

 

[HaulingAss]

I had something similar and then told the owner this is a 120k truck. Would you accept this issue if it were your truck? Long story short, they replaced my tailgate completely. I also had the truck for 3 months.

Why did they replace the tailgate? Seems kind of silly when all they had to do a do-over following the sanding procedure properly. You can fix any mistakes by re-sanding. Yes, the metal is super hard and somewhat resistant to sanding, but it doesn't take that long to refinish a mistake!

 

[CyberGus]

I think this is a great thread. Usually you learn through mistakes.

Good judgement is the result of experience.

Unfortunately, experience is the result of bad judgement

 

[jameslook]

Good judgement is the result of experience.

Unfortunately, experience is the result of bad judgement

Well said!

 

[REM]

From my Grainger Order, like I said the MoQ is 20 so it's expensive...but damn it seems cheap compared to the quoted PPF cost

Note, the Medium grit is the most expensive. I thought it wasn't needed, but it did most of the heavy lifting so don't skip it.

how many discs did you end up going through?

 

[REM]

I believe using a dust extractor (shop vac) on the random orbit sander helps prevent dark spots (which are probably caused by too much pressure on the abrasive pads anyway).

you know ... now that you say that I don't think this is a passivation issue. this is probably exactly what happened. he wasn't extracting the metal dust and it acted as a polishing compound.

I bet that dark spot is polished, not oily.

 

[Tallgeese179]

how many discs did you end up going through?

Looks like 3 of the mediums, 2 fine, 2 very fine. Could probably do 3-2-1 ratio, but I started least aggressive and kind of wasted the first very fine pad. I wanted my last pass across the panels to be light and with a fresh very fine pad.

Note, I was removing rather deep gouges and a decent amount of fine scratches from a side swipe. For just cleaning up I feel you could get away with fine/very fine. Maybe even just fine.

 

[HunterMt8]

Why did they replace the tailgate? Seems kind of silly when all they had to do a do-over following the sanding procedure properly. You can fix any mistakes by re-sanding. Yes, the metal is super hard and somewhat resistant to sanding, but it doesn't take that long to refinish a mistake!

I was heading on a trip, and the time frame to do it was not feasible because I needed the truck for the trip. So since my truck was still very new, it was quicker to get me on my way.

 

[HaulingAss]

I was heading on a trip, and the time frame to do it was not feasible because I needed the truck for the trip. So since my truck was still very new, it was quicker to get me on my way.

I would have polished that tailgate back to better than new in under an hour. It would be quicker to fix it than to order a new tailgate! Crazy!

 

[HaulingAss]

you know ... now that you say that I don't think this is a passivation issue. this is probably exactly what happened. he wasn't extracting the metal dust and it acted as a polishing compound.

I bet that dark spot is polished, not oily.

Agree. It could also be that some of the binder used to adhere the abrasives got melted/burnished into the metal. That can happen with too much pressure and/or too firm of a pad. Cleaning between passes helps prevent this.

I can't believe these guys called themselves professionals!

 

[jameslook]

Agree. It could also be that some of the binder used to adhere the abrasives got melted/burnished into the metal. That can happen with too much pressure and/or too firm of a pad. Cleaning between passes helps prevent this.

I can't believe these guys called themselves professionals!

I know. I’m pretty shocked at this result. As I mentioned I have used them for all my cars for quite some time. I sent an email yesterday and they haven’t even replied. I’ll just head down there tomorrow and see what they are going to do. I hope he doesn’t try to tell me again that it won’t come out.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

They talked me into it. Honestly I didn’t want to do it since I like the raw stainless. But I didn’t want to protect against scratches since I didn’t want to get them polishing out scratches all the time or having to do an Iron-X treatment every three months. They suggested colored PPF but I wasn’t ready to change the color. If I only did ceramic coating and I did decide to do a vinyl wrap down the road you have to take it off etc.
So I looked at a sample of clear PPF and thought I could still have the stainless steel protection with less maintenance.

I do the Bar Keepers Friend thing 2 times a year and I am satisfied but 3 times a year might be better. The rest of the time I take it through the local car wash. You may be more picky than me, of course. To me it is a truck and I expect some scratches and grime but I do notice them. You vehicle has to look the way you want/expect so I hope you get made whole from this.

 

[jameslook]

Just got a reply from the body shop so we shall see how it looks.

So 100% certain the smudges will come out? I think so, again, I’m just baffled at this quality of work and why he would tell me they don’t come out.

Thanks to everyone for all the experience and input.


“I’ll work with Tesla and our technician to find a resolution and rectify the issue. I’ll make sure you won’t have to pay again for the PPF.
I completely understand your frustration regarding this matter, and we’ll do our best to get everything resolved as quickly as possible.”

 

[Polocyberbeast]

I don’t know how this stuff happens to me. I’m reaching out to the community before I try to talk to Out Of Spec detailing.
I took my Cybertruck to my detailing shop for iron removal and then clear PPF installed. Should be simple right?
My Autobody guys down the street polished out a scratch in the front using the certified Tesla method and it was perfect. So I told the detail crew, if you see any areas that need a polish do it as I’m confident in the abilities of my autobody guys. Long story short, the front and the rear tailgate had some weird marks.
o thought, okay we just need to polish it out. So I’m going to focus on the tailgate because the front is done and it looks good.
So the first photo is how I got it back from the detailers. It looked not to bad and honestly the front looked worse so I said can you fix it. They said sure.
so today I picked it up and it’s worse.
the autobody guy said he couldn’t get the marks out and it’s in the metal. But it looks completely different now.
I’m going to email him tomorrow and say I am really not satisfied. He’s already said there is nothing he can do so I’m wondering about a second opinion. I am thinking this might need barkeepers friend? I wanted to stay away from that but now I don’t know what this is so if you don’t know what it is, how can you fix?
In my mind you sand the panel down using the Tesla method, how can it come out looking like this?!
This is a weird one. I’m just taking a shot in the dark asking if anyone has any ideas how this happened or what to do.
He also said under their light when they were sanding you don’t see these marks.

I have a detailing Co, in Southern California. We deal a lot with CT. Your problem is that the crew does not match the whole area; they do it locally only, and they leave spots like that. Ask them to polish the whole area and buffer with compound.

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