Rick

Rhys - u shouldn't get any residue.

Don't use a sparay wax, use a QD. If you spray some QD onto the wet car, it will dry without streaks. But, u shouldn't get any if u rinse properly. What drying towel do you use? And what shampoo?

silverfox999

this is a good point i hadnt thought of.

I get no streaks at all from Megs shampoo, squidegy and then a rub down with an aqua drying towel.

frog

Good read... what's a "Porter cable" ? Anyone got a picture ?

Thanks

andyt

iTrader: (1)

keep them comin lads n lasses, i never knew any of this stuff till now

whittyscossy

What about

http://www.meguiars.co.uk/

CraigoScott

iTrader: (1)

the thing on the left is a porter cable, its a random orbit polisher.

the thing on the right is a Metabo rotary, it just spins around its axis and is not random orbit so creates a lot more heat than the porter cable so it is easier to create damage with this!

you use pads like these:



to polish the car. the different colours means different thickness of foam which give more/or less cut depending on thickness!

Rhys

Not sure on SHampoo as use my bros, but its good stuff. What do you mean by QD Rick?

The drying towl i used i got for B'day so also cant remember this one , but is proper big on of a detailing site. Maybe im not using it properly as seems to take ages to dry a car properly with it.

So onced you wash and hosed the car of, you just use a drying towl yes, or you spray something onto the car?

Rippers

I just remembered I have a Rupes polishing mop machine I bought years ago! still new in the box. What pad would you recommend I use for lightly removing light scratches and swirls. Paint is mallard green metalic

Rick

Rhys


QD - Quickdetailer. Go and buy some meguairs stuff from Halfords now - it is amazing stuff. Spray on in a fine mist and wipe off and it leaves glass/paint/plastic spotless. Some of the drying towels aren't all that. The Megs water magnet for instance.... There was a batch that was swirling. I use the Sonus towel, which is superb. I don't spray anything on, but you may have an issue with your water quality. AG bodywork shampoo conditioner IS the bollocks - it's the only AG product i use on my car. It Suds very little but is very well lubed. If you want the same thing with more suds - Meguars Gold class shampoo is good.

Rick.

silverfox999

QD would be quickdetail/ing

Try using a decent shampoo, i use megs and it is great.

Make sure your drying cloth is a drying one and not just a microfibre towel. I got mine from Alex on here (seriouspower) and it is nice and soft and doesnt scratch.

Maybe try washing your cloth through?

(also just to state the obvious? you are not washing in the sunshine are you)

1. new shampoo
2. good rinse
3. wash towel (or buy a new un
4. keep out of sun

= no streaks at all

cozzfather

iTrader: (1)

lads i know who own body shops and car valeters
call electric car polishers Buffers
its all i hear sometimes Buff this then Buff that
if you buy one just don't do it in the sun as the spray and residue
that can hit your plastics is very hard to shift.
if you ever go to a proper car auction such as British Car Auctions
the lads there that do prep,mask off allsorts before they start
Buffing,i like to do it by hand even though i have a buffer
but i like looking at my cozzie so i don't mind

Rippers

Ok so whats the order of process

Wash car, dry, clay, machine buff, wax, polish?

AlexF

I've spent all day detailing an M3...

pics soon!!!

Alex

AlexF

right this is what it looked like before we started:





It was washed using the jet wash only for the wheels and underside (it was filthy) and then handed washed using the two bucket method. Megs NXT gen is the best washing stuff - it hardly streaks even in direct hot sun!

After that it was Clayed all over including the windows - this is very time consuming but leaves the paint feeling like clean glass!

I always wash it again after claying to make sure any of the particles you have just pulled out the paint are gone for good!

Then to protect it over night Meg NXT gen wax was applied.

Then the serious polishing started - polish, glaze, seal, wax!

The results ain't perfect as this car really needs de-swirling but its not bad.





Here's a few more pics and (bigger versions can be found at: http://www.afracing.com/images/mycars/m3 )











and one for comedy effect



Alex

frog

Bought a random orbital thingy from halfords last year and it seems to do a fine job of getting wax off the car (from a numpty's point of view )

Kev.H

alex you ever used peanut butter to clean the black trim it removes any polish

couple of pics of mine after a wash and top up with ex and clearcote wax

Ripley put the buffer down and pay someone

AlexF

No Kev - I use duragloss

Can you see over polish in those pics?

I couldn't agree more with paying someone

Kev.H

the who

andyt

iTrader: (1)

i would like to know this aswell, but every one will have different ways

AlexF

read up there Andy....

Thats one way = and you can see the results too!

aLex

andyt

iTrader: (1)

ok mate can you tell me what stuff you used, and nice car by the way my mate has one same color aswell

CraigoScott

iTrader: (1)

when you 'machine buff' you need to use a polish so that is the polish step, wax is always the last step as it seals the polished paintwork!

the process i use is:

pre wash foam
rinse
two bucket method wash
clay (which drys the car as well)
polish
glaze
sealent
wax

AlexF

for that car this lot would be good (according to Gaz7 from here )

ClearKote Quik Shine
ClearKote Vanilla Moose Glaze
ClearKote Red Moose Machine Glaze
Poorboy’s EX-P
Collinite #476s


But currently the final wax is Natty's Blue as thats all I had

2wdsaph ben

ive got a few swirl marks in my saph.if i payed someone to machine the car and wax it up. how long is the surface going to look its best for? i use my car everyday and wash once a week/fortnight.didnt know if once theyve been machined they need to be wrapped up in cotton wool or they will look the same pretty quickly
cheers ben

AlexF

It depends how you look after it Ben... Most swirl marks are damage from actually cleaning the car rather than using it.

For example my MINI is 6 months old and used everyday on country roads and has covered 7500 miles. The paint work is still swirl free BUT I have been VERY careful with the paint since day 1.

Having said that I only wash it once a week - but it is always polished after washing even if its just the top wax coat (carnuba). Most of the coats of different products are about enhancing the colour and the way the metalic works rather than protecting the paint.

Alex

andyt

iTrader: (1)

cheers Alex whats this clay stuff all about though

AlexF

Clay is a putty like substance thats used to pull lumps of dirt out the paint.

Washing the car mainly gets rid of the dust and loose dirty - stuff that is stuck on (like brake dust) needs more to shift it.

Claying leaves your paint like clean glass, totally smooth. To test this out put a plastic bag over your hand and rub it over clean paint and then over glass - the difference is loads.

alex

silverfox999

You dont have to wrap it up out of sight.

Simply ditch the sponges, buy some decent mitts, get another bucket (ie have two) and be really carefully to rinse of all the shite from your mitt.

You can even go to the lengths of washing your car in straight lines and avoid circular motions.

Matt_B

thank fuck for this post, may i just thank you all for posting and reminding me to take my buffer out of the boot of my RS before my mate borrows it tomorrow.

CraigoScott

iTrader: (1)

if you follow a correct wash technique and the work has been done properly then it may stay protected for a year or more! it depends greatly on the durability and quality of the wax that you use!