Radical Paint Restoration! How to Buff and Polish an Old Truck

In this episode we buff the old oxidized original paint. There's plenty of patina and rust that really gives this truck character. The result is fantastic! After replacing the old dilapidated box with a repainted, clean one, the rest of the paint definitely needed to be brought up to par. I think it looks fabulous...but maybe in the future we'll need to repair some of the other rusted out components.

[@user-hc6zi5db7d]

After watching so many videos over complicate the process with 6 separate steps, 10 products and numerous types of pads it was nice to see a video with a dude just going to town with a polisher and compound. I think this is more my style 👍

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for the encouraging comment! I over complicate way too many things, but this one I took the easy road. There are times for some of those other steps and pads and processes but sometimes you can get away with a good wool pad and a decent compound. Thanks for watching!

[@johnnypolex]

Yep, most people don’t need perfection, especially on their driven cars. Striving for perfection can also mean overcompensation for other things. I know from experience and slowly working out my other kinks

[@beastchris0908]

These kinds of videos are what youtube should be about. Just a man teaching us all a useful process while also being an example of how to treat your wife and children. Respect and blessings to you and your family, sir.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you for the kind words, and thanks for enjoying the video. Blessings to you and yours also!

[@anneschambre8033]

God bless you, you have a nice family. 😊

[@backtolife208]

@@anneschambre8033 thank you! God bless you too!

[@hoxton7946]

Gorgeous truck! I was looking for how to do this with my squarebody truck so seeing such a pretty ford get so much attenton almost felt like a dirty video... I hear animals in the background and you have a wonderful family and relationship with your wife. More kids now should strive to be like you.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you for that! I’m definitely a blessed man. I hope it goes as well with your project.

[@ColbraBull]

I'm a little late but beautiful truck and family. You guys look very happy and blessed. Great video, thanks for the tips!

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for the compliments! We’re blessed for sure!

[@andreirotaru1383]

You seem like a man who succeeded in life in my opinion. I loved every moment of the video. Hello from Romania 🇷🇴

[@backtolife208]

Thank you Andrei! Hello from the USA 🇺🇸!

[@matexf4c]

Looks amazing doing this on the faded paint on my 94 Toyota pickup. Fun content btw getting the whole family involved that’s dope!!!

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching! Good luck on your project!

[@user-cy9lm5wf1e]

Now this is what owning an old truck is all about ! I clicked on to watch the difference after buffing. GREAT JOB letting the kids get involved. I’m going to get a bottle of that wizard turbo cut on my 69 f100. Thanks for the video.

[@backtolife208]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! Good luck with your truck!

[@derekthompson5552]

Thank you for posting this looking forward to doing this with my grandpas 95 toyota pickup truck his paint has lasted a long 340,000 miles its time for it to shine again✨

[@backtolife208]

@@derekthompson5552 you’re welcome. I’m glad it inspired you. I hope your project goes well. Thanks for watching.

[@mikemahlen3713]

I had to pause when I saw the Two Harbors and then I saw it was from Benna Ford! I grew up about 50 miles from Superior and went to college in UWS. I'm working on a 1977 F1-50 and I did a little rust repair on the bottom level of the truck (its two tone) and so now I'm going to try and polish the top so the colors match a bit better. This is all the inspiration I need! Good video and sweet truck!

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching! Good luck on your project. Sounds like it will be fantastic when you’re done!

[@thomasspillner6086]

Many years buffing out cars you're doing a great job

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@sethouk1453]

Awesome truck, looks great. Beautiful family. Thanks for sharing.

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching!

[@CDot7897234]

Very cool truck! Its awesome seeing your family involved. I've been debating polishing my 72 GMC and think I've decided to pull the trigger. Plus it'll give me something to do while sourcing the last few parts to get her running.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! Keeping these old trucks on the road is a lot of fun. Good luck with your GMC!

[@lumberjack2146]

Man you are the calmest big guy I ever seen, loved your truck, pretty cool your family getting involved. I just got my 78 f150 and im gonna do the same, keep posting! ✌🏻

[@backtolife208]

Thank you sir! I’m glad you enjoyed watching it. I had a 78 F150 before I bought this 72 F250. Enjoy your truck!

[@dgreen3135]

I love that green! Looks great

[@backtolife208]

1972 Mallard Green.

[@kctv9618]

Went out and bought this product today after watching this vid. Plan to use it on my red oxidized 85 Chevy Van. Hope my results turn out half as good as this. Great video 👍

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching! It just takes a little time and patience. If it’s too heavily oxidized you might need to try the Turbo Cut level. Good luck!

[@rustyshackleford96]

You seem like you’d be pretty awesome company to drink a beer with, I really enjoyed watching this video. Can’t wait to get started on my 84 f-150. I was always afraid to do this for fear of digging into the paint but watching how you did this gave me a lot of confidence. Amazing results!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you sir. I appreciate the compliment. A few words of advice, be cautious of getting the paint to hot. It’ll melt and smear. Just don’t sit on one spot; keep it moving. Also, if using a pad with a hard backer, be careful of the edges of the pad. It could scratch the paint pretty easily. Otherwise, play around with it. It’s not super difficult. You got this.

[@bradbarton8087]

@@backtolife208 Very cute family.Thanks for the video. I have an 88 caprice that has been repainted and never waxed so it is about 3 years old now. Time to buff and wax. Brad

[@backtolife208]

@@bradbarton8087 thank you! Enjoy your project!

[@gunslinga7077]

just bought an 88 ranger shes a gem. but was sitting for a bit so the hood and top of the truck has some faded paint and this is the vid i was looking for man, appreciate you for sharing the tricks of the trade with the wizards products. good music , good trucks and good family time nothing better cheers

[@backtolife208]

Thanks! I hope your truck shines up really well!

[@gunslinga7077]

@@backtolife208 👊

[@TorahThumper]

entertaining, and educational. Thank you.

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching!

[@RevEvPeterson]

Your investment into your family outshines your restoration of your truck! (See what I did there? Lol!). Blessings to you and your beautiful family! Those girls are precious! (I’ve got a “Daddy’s Girl myself)

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! I see what you did there. Ha! The family is fantastic to do projects with!

[@drakekennedy2353]

That looks soo good. Love the character in that truck

[@backtolife208]

She’s a gem. Thanks for watching!

[@ThisOldYota]

Dude that came out looking awesome 😎 I seriously need to do mine now

[@backtolife208]

Thanks man! I’d love to see a before and after of yours!

[@jordancropper9513]

Absolutely incredible finish man love the truck, I’ll be doing the 76 high boy this weekend!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! Have fun with your truck!

[@dougknight1720]

I’m importing an old Rover soon and the paint looks just like yours. I’ll be trying the cutting polish you used when it arrives. You got a great family too by the way..

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! I’m sure it’ll look great when you’re done!

[@heathereide2480]

That truck is looking good! 👍

[@backtolife208]

Thanks!

[@Toneychaplin]

Quality content right here and some good laughs 👍 loved the video

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching!

[@mikevg101]

Wow, It went from a good looking truck to a Gorgeous Truck!!

[@backtolife208]

Thanks! She’s a beaut!

[@jkline398]

Wow so glad i found this I'm going to do my 94 OBS dually... one cloudy day... Thanks for showing us you don't need 10 products you sell and a paint bay in a 50ft shop to get this done on old paint with some rust spots. Subscribed, be a lot less problems in this world if more people watch your videos alone 😂 keep them coming!

[@backtolife208]

Take your time. You’ll do fine. Thanks for the compliment!

[@timmyneeley3913]

You got some hard workin' girls there! Hey, that Wizard stuff works real good.

[@backtolife208]

I’m blessed, that’s for sure!

[@PaBs1982]

You killed it brother.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@joannalodermeier8668]

Love this so much!!!! You have such a beautiful family. Your third daughter…”I can do it!!! I don’t need your help!!!” I’m the third girl out of three girls and then a boy. That TOTALLY would have been me. 😂 Then your wife!!!! Love her, with important questions that we don’t ever get a straight answer to and laughs and chuckles behind the camera. ❤️👏🏼

[@backtolife208]

Thanks JoAnna! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@squarebodybuilder]

Loved this video. I need to do this to my truck.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! Go for it!

[@donscheetz5032]

This dude is gold! No bullshit. Good music.

[@backtolife208]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MJElling2]

I wax my cars twice per year. Spring and fall. I’ll wash them more frequently and once the water stops beading up - time for a wax, works out to about twice a year.

[@backtolife208]

That’s good advice! What kind of wax do you use?

[@richarddowns1946]

Ditto

[@nazarethperez9760]

A spray wax sealant applied as a drying aid helps out immensely during maintenance washes

[@andrew4403]

That's one beautiful older looking truck. I love my Ford trucks

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! They’re a lot of fun!

[@ethanrosnow2047]

This was really enjoyable

[@backtolife208]

Thank you Ethan! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@geraldpond168]

Put some fluid film on the rust holes on the truck, it will stop the rust from getting any worse until you can get the time to repair it!

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for the tip! I’ve never heard of Fluid Film before but it sounds like good stuff!

[@Timgrantham66]

Great video!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@rudyfrick4999]

quite the family. you the man!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you sir!

[@user-in9yw1jp8o]

You are a good man!!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you for your kindness and consideration.

[@josearriola3087]

Good job on polishing the paint

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@josearriola3087]

@@backtolife208 love the truck too

[@backtolife208]

@@josearriola3087 you have good taste, my friend. Ha!

[@stever.747]

That ole girl looks pretty damn good after the buff out! Nice!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! It sure is fun seeing the paint come back to life!

[@williamjones9099]

That’s a nice high boy my friend

[@backtolife208]

Thank you! She’s a gem. I sure am grateful for it.

[@rodneybowling5828]

What a great family

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@dancarlsen87]

Nice work

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@dancarlsen87]

Currently looking to do this on my 85 c20. Wizard products look like they’ll do the job

[@backtolife208]

@@dancarlsen87 definitely one of my go to products. I wish I was sponsored by them. They make good stuff.

[@jeffreykurth2703]

Nice Bumpside!

[@backtolife208]

Thank you sir!

[@johnnypolex]

fook’n mint ❤ I’ve been applying wax about 2x a year and our black car sitting outside for the past 10yrs still hasn’t had any significant fading. Often that wax is just from the automatic wash

[@backtolife208]

Sounds like your routine is working! Thanks for watching!

[@DeadSeaProductions]

“I don’t need your help” 😂😂😂 very cute kids

[@backtolife208]

These kids make life so much fun!

[@beludo06]

My 1990 Bronco about to find a whole new shine!!!

[@backtolife208]

Awesome! Git r done!

[@bottom30bumpsides26]

Nice Highboy!

[@backtolife208]

She’s a beaut! Thanks!

[@bottom30bumpsides26]

@@backtolife208 I have a 68 flareside 4x4. Lots of fun!

[@user-vq3dc2se5d]

On a quiet night you can here the old Ford rust, But you will never wear them out. Fords are away the right choice

[@backtolife208]

Haha! I might have to listen sometime. 😉

[@nateeide8408]

Love old Ford trucks!

[@backtolife208]

Right on!

[@Russellmonroe314]

Good content.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you!

[@ronniewalters4084]

Insane! That's some magical stuff

[@backtolife208]

It works great!

[@tjscott1204]

Thanks buddy

[@backtolife208]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MalcolmGillis]

Lucky bastard Nice truck Nice wife Nice kids

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching! I’m blessed and grateful.

[@davidcandao1]

Brother did you sand it first? By the way u got 2 little warriors there you can start your own business already. Beautiful family and thank for your videos good bless you all.

[@backtolife208]

I didn’t sand it. The compound did all the work. Thank you for the kind words! I’m blessed for sure!

[@egghead992]

I say it’s a 1972 F 150 .. what say you? If so I am so jealous, I bought one brand new in 72 but like all fords of that era and the fact I live in the salt capital of the world the great North East it has long since rotted away. And this is the first one I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks for posting! Bill

[@backtolife208]

Bill, I live in the upper Midwest, the west end of the salt states. Mine has plenty of cancer but it’s still in fine shape mechanically. My truck is a 1972 F250 4x4. She has a 360 V8 with a 4 speed manual transmission and a divorced transfer case. It’s a great truck. I’m glad to own it. Thanks for watching!

[@egghead992]

@@backtolife208 seems I had the same running gear as yours, but mine had coil springs instead of leaf springs, back in the day the expression would have been (who does that!!) lots of great memories.

[@backtolife208]

@@egghead992 on a F150 you would have had 5 bolt rims where the F250 had 8 bolt rims. The front might have had coils and the back leafs on yours. Cool truck for sure!

[@timg926]

I have an 83 jeep cj with original paint that was heavily oxidized then buff and I feel like to keep the shine, I need to wax every other month. I've been wondering about the new ceramic coatings but not sure if it's a good idea on old paint. Great video thanks for sharing!

[@backtolife208]

Sounds like a cool Jeep! I don’t have any experience with ceramic coatings. Wish I had advice for you. Sorry.

[@marOcean13]

That’s a happy man

[@backtolife208]

Right on!

[@btrade12003]

Good Guy Daddy Kids burn through paint Dad Gives hugs and suger anyway

[@backtolife208]

@@btrade12003 Burnt paint adds character. Ha! Thanks for watching.

[@brianlopez8196]

That's insane

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching!

[@philcaccavale7550]

Man your funny! Great video

[@backtolife208]

Thanks Phil! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidcandao1]

I love the FOREVER!?!😂

[@backtolife208]

Ha! Thanks for watching!

[@2tonfun402]

I like the alcoa wheels

[@backtolife208]

Thanks! I think they look good on the truck.

[@tomarthur676]

Cool music

[@backtolife208]

Thanks! My brother in law is talented.

[@gman100]

Lookin' good, wow, she bounced right back. Did you ever get the rust spots tended? I had the cab corners ( as usual) go on mine, used a little stainless screen and bondo and they've held great for three years now. 1993 f-350 4x4, 7.3 ih, what a brute, sold her and picked up an '84 Chevy C20. Labor of love/hate. Also, same deal with the paint, it was red, completely oxidized and I brought it right back just like yours and as far as maintenance, once maybe twice a year wax and that's held up as well.

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for watching! I haven’t fixed the rust yet. Someday in the future I’d like to continue improving it. For now I’m just enjoying it. Keep on keeping the old rigs on the road!

[@cristiantrucking8764]

Wow

[@backtolife208]

Thanks!

[@capncharlie7894]

7:27 ... kids hair is about to get wrapped around the spindle

[@papajohn6497]

Please come back to KZbin we need you

[@backtolife208]

Thank you for this. We actually have a video ready to load about the topper for this truck. I just have to take the time to load it.

[@julieberg6242]

Thanks for sharing this. I have an old Ford van just wondering if you have tried Vaseline or mineral oil on door/window seals?

[@backtolife208]

Julie, I haven’t tried that. Sort of sounds like it could be a mess on glass. The windows in my old truck still move really well so I haven’t had to lube the slides or actuators yet. If you try it, let me know how it goes if you wouldn’t mind.

[@scottdarowski625]

Did you polish over the surface rust on the hood?

[@backtolife208]

I may have, just to get the edges of the paint.

[@selmataylor743]

watched this video for educational purposes. this is also a comedy 😂

[@backtolife208]

Haha! Double bonus! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@matteberstein2059]

Enjoyed the video and family banter. Question: does it matter what RPM you rip the buffer? What type of wax do you end up using? Thanks in advance.

[@backtolife208]

Thank you for that, I’m glad you enjoyed it. The rpm only matters because of how much heat you can produce with too high of a speed. You’ll want to be careful not to overheat and burn the paint. You’ll have to also make sure you’re using a polisher, which I believe is slower than a grinder. Go slow initially to spread out the polishing compound. Speed up a bit when it’s not going to throw polish everywhere. Go a little faster to finish the polish. I had a pretty old bottle of Race Glaze that I used. I’m not sure if that brand is even out there anymore. I would try any brand as long as it’s a finishing wax/final step.

[@matteberstein2059]

@@backtolife208 thank you for your response and info!! Have a great weekend.

[@LittleRayOfSnshine69]

I was thinking that must've been one hell of a buff job to take that primer patch on the hood all the way back to fresh paint, then I realized the image was flipped and I was seeing the passenger side.

[@backtolife208]

If only I was good enough to buff paint back on. That would be awesome! There’s plenty of paint missing. Thanks for watching!

[@heathereide2480]

Oh!! Of course she doesn't need help! Lol!!

[@backtolife208]

Very independent

[@BonnieSpragle-ph7og]

I want to put a lift big tiers black flat bumper grill front heavy trim.

[@backtolife208]

Sounds like a good plan! Thanks for watching!

[@davemurray1988]

Like the ole ford

[@backtolife208]

Thanks! She’s a beaut!

[@garyallen5297]

Hey gotta a question I have a 1998 silverado z71 I bought it new May 1998 well the top of the cab and the hood has heavy oxidation. I watched you video and already had a big 8 inch polisher I bought several years go to do the same kinda project and threw in on a shelf because I don t know anything about polishing a vehicle in this condition. I ordered the same wizard finishing cut your using and the same wool pad. I could not even get hardly any shine to come thru at all no yes I washed the truck first. So any suggestions on what could be my problem. I tried different speeds and more and less finishing cut. So I am at a loss at what to do and my paint is nowhere near as bad looking as the paint on your green Ford.

[@backtolife208]

Sounds like you have a stubborn one. If it’s heavily oxidized you need to remove the oxidation. Your truck has a clear coat. Mine does not. You could wet sand the oxidation off before you polish it. Just know that if you sand through the clear coat, you’ll have to repaint it. The base coat under the clear doesn’t have any protective properties against the elements. Do more research before going this route. I can’t give you a good recommendation about this without seeing it in person. OR You might be able to remove the oxidation with wizard turbo cut. It’s much more abrasive. No guarantee though. I can only guess without seeing it in person. Do more research. Maybe even ask a body shop what they would do or recommend. I’m just giving you ideas to learn about before trying them. Good luck. I hope you can bring your paint back to life.

[@garyallen5297]

@@backtolife208 Hey my wife is pretty sharp she said your over-doing it on the finish cut I had to much of it on the vehicle. So I have done 1/4 of the hood just now after I gave it another good scrubbing and rinse. So I m getting so better results with the oxidation. I have one more silly question when does that dang polishing pad stop throwing loose fibers they are all over the hood,windshield, front of my shirt and face it’s just crazy how it’s still throwing them to that amount. Also thank you very much for answering and willing to give helpful replies you are the only person on KZbin I have ever gotten a reply from. So thank you from Gary from Texas!

[@backtolife208]

@@garyallen5297 it doesn’t stop throwing wool. Sorry to say. The worst ones are the ones that get up your nose. Ha! It makes me think I aughta invest in sheep… Actually it might be a poorly made buffing pad. I’m not sure. It sounds like yours is throwing a lot more wool than mine does.

[@donscheetz5032]

Truck has issues? Surely not!

[@backtolife208]

Ha! She’s a good old truck for sure!

[@nelsonwatkins5169]

🔥🎯💯

[@backtolife208]

👍✌️🤙 thanks for watching!

[@DaleOct23]

Thanks for letting the kids do what they wanted instead of silencing them & pushing them out of the way, just about nobody allows their kids into normal everyday life with them let alone when filming videos. Kids should not be kept in a room out of our way or off AR some school getting taught and treated terrible worthless life damaging experiences &shit they should be with their mothers and fathers alternating between both to actually learn what they need to know, right.

[@backtolife208]

Agreed. That’s how kids learn to be adults. I’ll admit though, there are times when I don’t take the time to teach because I’ve got a deadline. Your comment is a good reminder. Thanks!

[@willdamian1066]

What kind of pad are you using?

[@backtolife208]

It’s just a cheap wool buffing pad. Pretty sure I got it at a local auto parts store.

[@mickeymallette2663]

@@backtolife208 I thought a wool pad with all that speed would heat up and be a bad thing

[@backtolife208]

@@mickeymallette2663 you’re partly correct, it will heat up and it can burn the paint if you’re not careful. You need to keep moving so you don’t get it too hot. But a little heat doesn’t hurt anything.

[@mickeymallette2663]

@@backtolife208 thanks. Just bought a 1970 F-250 that had been yellow on top and is white on the bottom. The yellow is really faded of course. I want to do something that will bring any of the pop back to that yellow.

[@backtolife208]

@@mickeymallette2663 get after it. Take your time and learn. Be careful on edges and corners.

[@trillmexicanz]

Does this come off when you pressure wash it?

[@backtolife208]

Nope. It polishes the paint, it doesn’t glaze it.

[@trillmexicanz]

@@backtolife208 what’s the difference?? Just bought a 77 ford f150 xlt ranger no dents no rust but the paint is faded, i have thought about adding lac but I’m not trying to ruin anything

[@backtolife208]

@@trillmexicanz in my opinion putting a coat of lacquer on it wouldn’t produce the results you want. Buffing the existing paint will bring it back to the shine you want. After that all you have to do is maintain the shine. Lacquer may eventually peel off. Also, adding lacquer over unpolished paint won’t restore the paint to it’s original unfaded color. I’d buff your truck if I was you and then maintain it’s shine with wax.

[@trillmexicanz]

@@backtolife208 it’s just like your truck, old paint and I was rubbing the hood with my fingers to see id ther was any shine on ther but instead the paint seems to come off.

[@trillmexicanz]

@@backtolife208 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH-ye2WVoJujq5o what do you think about this guy using boiled linseed oil? I’m just not trying to ruin anything because then it will cost more money if I do some damage. Thanks for your help man .

[@jvinsnes]

4:52 Dog is like WTF

[@backtolife208]

Haha! Grizzly loves the attention and he’s so good with those kids. Did you see what he does at the end of the video?

[@jvinsnes]

@@backtolife208 Haha yeah :)

[@5simjim6]

have you seen the carnage of facial hair or a young girls hair wrapped around a buffer wheel? so sad to see you work like this....

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for the reminder about safety. It never hurts to keep that in mind.

[@gerlandkent6377]

I, use a product called new finish get it at auto parts store

[@backtolife208]

I believe I’ve used that product before but it was years ago. If I remember right it’s a product used for the final step, like a wax coat. If it’s been good for you, no need to change it.

[@smokiethebear4045]

How can I message you, just got it all today

[@backtolife208]

We can have a conversation here. If there’s any questions, perhaps others will benefit from my attempt at answering them also.

[@JesusOrtiz-qp1so]

I wouldn’t bother doing the polish with all that rust

[@backtolife208]

I totally understand. But it does look better when it’s shiny, doesn’t it?

[@npc_retired]

Be careful when letting kids use rotating things with their hair down! It could get caught in the rotary and pull their hair out (at best), or worse, kill them.

[@backtolife208]

Thanks for the warning and a good reminder!

[@russriley3005]

couldn't finish the video, I refuse to watch your advertisements in the middle of your video.

[@backtolife208]

I’m sorry it turned out like that for you. I didn’t even know there were advertisements. I have no control over that. Was there a way to skip the advertisement?

[@clinteast7476]

Wizard products, are way over priced.

[@backtolife208]

Isn’t everything overpriced these days?

[@clinteast7476]

@@backtolife208Yeah Thanks to This current Admin, There staight crooks