How do you guys protect the front of your car from stonechips and flys/insects when driving to shows or just using the car in general?

Everytime I go out at the moment there's new flys on the front and it's really noticable as it's white!

Thanks

 

on long journeys to shows using motorways etc, its best to use masking tape on the front of the bonnet, bumper, skirts etc......start at the top and work down so the wind doesnt blow it off then when you get to a show, peel it off and hey presto, no flies and hopefully no chips.

Scott.

 

Cheers Scott, hopefully it won't rain on the way otherwise the tape will all be caked on!

Wasn't there a film you could buy or a spray that supposedly protected the paintwork?

Also, does the glue off the masking tape need polishing off or won't it leave any on the paint when it's taken off?

Thanks

 

as long as it doesn't rain, the tape comes off as it went on depending on what you polish/ wax your car with. I've also heard of people using a few layers of cling film taped on around the edges

 

Right, i've heard of people using cling film too! Don't really fancy that too much!

What do you personally use when going to shows etc?

 

masking tape mate, cover the whole front bumper, front side skirts, rear of the door mirrors and the leading edge of the bonnet....it takes a while but stops any flys or stone chip damage.

 

Just except the fact that every couple of years the front bumper and bonnet will need some paint. You cant drive around everywhere with masking tape all over the car

 

get some good quality wax on the front end and dont tailgate

Oh and you can remove bugs if you clay the car without damaging the paint

 

BUFTY!

 

Ooh yeah



I've never had a problem, wouldn't fancy it much if it got wet though. I'd also use the 3M bodyshop tape now, rather than normal masking tape (#2090, the blue stuff)

Gareth

 

That's not true, you just get a lot of people staring at you, that's all

Gareth

 

I get that without the masking tape!

Might just have to do it then!

Chop, I've soon got out of tailgateing mate dont worry! and what you mean 'clay' the car?

 

Hehe you better ask Gareth about the clay Dan he got me started on it. Its a method of cleaning the paint, removing bug marks tar spots etc, it really cleans the paint bit like Tcutting does but without removing any paint finish.

Once its been clayed then you polish and then wax.

Have a look at the guides on this site they are very good:

http://www.polishedbliss.com/

Oh and still say you cant drive around everywhere with masking tape all over the car

 

Dan - claying removes contaminants from the clearcoat that cannot be removed with polishing. Without claying, they'd be there permanently. Claying gently removes them, for when you clay the paint, it pulls them from the clearcoat, as they'd rather stick to the clay than the paint.

This gives a perfectly smooth, glass like finish to work on - it's easy to identify a car that's been clayed just by touch; they're noticably smoother than a non clayed car, even if it's been polished and waxed. In turn, this means all the products you use after the clay, starting with a polish, work to the maximum of their abilities, as they're not pulled about by the surface contaminants.

Gareth

 

What he said

Did mine the other day for the first time Gareth and your right the paint is like glass, I was suprised how much crap came off the paint too!!

 

Nice one, glad you're pleased Will hopefully see your car in the flesh at one of the summer shows to inspect your work

Gareth

 

hehe, Im going to be at Stanford this Sunday.. I better put another coat of wax on then

 

I won't be there on Sunday i'm afraid, as - you guessed it - i have a car to detail Weather permitting of course!

Gareth

 

OK mate next time then, you should come along and work at the show. You would make a fortune

 

I wouldn't be popular with this one though; it's a 911 GT3 RS

Would be interesting do someone's nice Cossie or something like that at a show - but it seems to cost loads to have a traders space, so i doubt i'd make much. I'd struggle to get a full detail done in the time limits of a show as well... It's a good thought though - it would be a nice show piece

Gareth

 

Will have a look at that link when i'm in tonight then, car shoudlnt really need 'claying' as there's no tar or bits stuck in the paint at all!

 

I bet it does I've never come across a car that didn't need claying, apart from one that has just been done.

To check whether you need it, wash and dry the car. Then put your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and run it over the paint - unless it feels perfectly flawless like glass everywhere, it needs claying - you won't be able to see these contaminants, only feel them Trust me on the clay - people are often sceptical when they've not tried it before, and then amazed by what it pulls off, and how much better the finish is once it's been re polished after (as the polish works much better after a clay)

Gareth

 

Well I trust what your saying for some reason...

Can you recommend any or get me some?

 

Meg's Quik Clay is a great one for beginners mate, and an excellent all round clay i use a lot. Comes with a bottle of detailer to use as a lubricant too, so saves you buying one. Most places that sell Meg's should stock it

Gareth

 

Cheers mate, i'll check the local halfords or something! lol