how long do you spend

[moxy89]

right this is annoying me... i seem to spend around 8-10 hours cleaning my car so it mint that including the engine bay number plates removed that sort of stuff... however i can do a 3 hour clean and it still looks the same..

however i would have sealed the wheels a body work.. is it just silver car dont come up well.... mine has a pretty decent finish but just looks boring if you can understand

i need something that is going to make my car really shine or something that can make the bumper black for ages rather than autogylm bumper care

[P90PTS]

Ideally i'd look at PM'g Predator_vtr or Wayne as they offer a polishing service that will get your car super clean and shiney, then all you have to do is use the right products and techniques and you'll be good. Wayne is not that far away from you and will travel within reason.

For your bumpers you could look at having them re-sprayed gloss black if you want them super shiney. Have a look at DREW's euro saxo, he's had his glossed.

[moxy89]

i dont want the bills of getting them sprayed as it will be a track toy and weekend fun but i still like having it clean and tidy.. at the moment i am using..

megs gold wash
Auto glym porducts are :
tyre shine
bumper care
fast wheels
super resin polish

then i apply the polish then use megs tech wax but it just doesnt shine i use a two bucket method and lambswool mitt just annoys me i put alot of effort in and it doesnt come out how i want it to...

[moxy89]

ASW but it just doesnt look like some of the detailed cars on here::

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/saxoll/IMG_0187.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm76/saxoll/IMG_0065.jpg

[P90PTS]

Thats not that bad a shine from a car that hasn't been polished.

Have a look at some clay mate, worked wonders on my sax.

Run me through what you do on a normal full wash.

[moxy89]

i have just brought some clay mate only a cheap one megs one around £25..

hose the car down
then use two bucket method about 3 times to make sure i have not missed anything
rinse
dry with megs drying towel
then apply wax with application pad and microbfibre cloth to remove
then start on the bump strip and that and that all i do..

how many should i polish it.. i have dont it 3 times since march is that to much.. i really want some shit hot product.. im not fussed on the cost just want my car looking mint

[James106]

I would polish and seal as well mate. but not a bad shine, pretty much how i get mine.

[P90PTS]

You should only polish and clay your car twice a year max.

When i'm giving my car the full works, which i will be in march this is what i do:

2* Snow Foam
Rinse
Bilberry the alloys (leave to dwell for 5 mins)
rinse
Wash with 2 bucket method, one mitt for paintwork and one mitt for alloys and tyres
rinse
Clay
rinse
Dry with 2 mega plush towels
glaze
buff
wax 2-3 coats
buff
seal
buff


Ideally you just wanna keep on top of your car. Of corse the more expensive products work much better than the 3quid wax from halfords. Thats why i've easily got about 4-500 quid worth of kit in the garage

[moxy89]

you stated you rinse after claying... is this normal as i have been told to start washing again ie with shampoo

[J222JRA]

Moxy...imo thats a good shine for a silver car especially seeing as you do it all by hand and do not use a machine polisher......good work mate.


If you want to take it to the next level though i would have the likes of Pred or Wayne do a detail for you.....they dont charge alot and that way the hard work is done for you.....all you have to do is use good cleaning techniques and keep topping up the protection.

For black trims imo use either,

Black wow
carlack 68 plastic care
or
Chemical guys new look trim gel.

If you want anymore advice Pm me buddy as i often forget to come back to threads lol

(Its my age)

[moxy89]

lol thanks i am thinking about getting a rotary yeah it alot of money but yes i have a citreon most people think there shit but the thing is i love cleaning my car... so i want something that can bring the paint work up.. also is there any course avaiable ie for detailing or something not like college but training or something as i really dont want to burn my paint work

[P90PTS]

I'd have a look at a DA rather than a rotary.

For practise, go to a scrappy and see if you can pick up a few old body panels to work on.

Here's an image of a DA over a Rotary:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/PadMotion.jpg

[J222JRA]

Please moxy do not buy a rotary as you are very likely to do damage......Orbital is far better for a beginning with as you cannot do damage to the paintwork...it just takes longer to do paintwork correction (swirls removal)

As for a course on how to do it....the best way is to have a read on detailling world....there are a few guides on there buddy....once your ready to have ago ideally have a play on some scrap panels or something like that. When i first started i just took things really carefully.....didnt use agressive compound pads or agressive polish until id got a feel for what i was doing.

James

[moxy89]

ok ill settle for one of those. i have been spending a fair bit of time on detailing world and my parent are cleaning out the garage for me.. winner

1) do i give the car a full wash after claying and i also read people work the clay so the dirt removed goes to the middle?? but read on another article to break it up into smaller sections for parts of the car.. is one bar enough to do a whole car and wheels thanks guys

cheers to james and P90PTS really grateful

[P90PTS]

This is a previous post i made regarding clay for a new user:

Since your new to claying, this is the process i undertake:

1) Make sure you give the car a very good wash first, to remove as much "normal" dirt as possible - you don't have to dry the car to clay it.

2) There are different strengths of clay - from mild to agressive, if this is the first time using one, I would use a mild version to start with

3) Cut the clay bar up into smaller pieces, I usually get 4/5 bits from 1 bit of clay.

4) Heat the clay up in a jar of hot water - makes it easier to use.

5) Use lots and lots of lube (I usually take the lube and water it down 50/50 - and use lots!!)

6) I find it better to work in straight lines across then up and down...you will hear the clay picking up dirt and it will be resistance when you start to use it, but after a few passes it will 'glide' across the paint with no effort and no noise.

7) After claying each section, dry the paint off with a good microfibre (MF) cloth, then your paint should be smooth and shiney!!!

8) I would always follow a claying up with a good wax/sealant afterwards - gives the newly clayed paint some protection.

[rushy_23]

When i used to be keen, doing a full clean inc polish, glaze, sealent, full vac, under arches etc etc. Id say 5 hours.

And I was taking my time.

Do you stop for tea breaks?

[moxy89]

that great is the megs clay kit a good one to use?? not to aggresive for newbie

[moxy89]

eat while i go... for the french car show i phoned in sick so i could spend the weekend on it.... and all it did was get covered in dust there.. but i enjoyed doing it so im not bothered

[P90PTS]

The megs clay is a good starter pack imo.

I use sonus as it is extra fine but i just got some bilt hamber autoclay to try out from a supplier i know so will need to see how that is

[moxy89]

thanks mate.. been a great help both you and james.. is it worth masking up the bump strips when polishing and waxing or justg leave them

[P90PTS]

Well i'd recommend some 3m masking tape for the bump strips as if your get wax/polish on them then they are a twat to remove the polish/wax

[moxy89]

clean your car the best bet for that mate?

[P90PTS]

Yeah mate. Under accesories iirc

I only use CYC,PB and my supplier.

[moxy89]

awesome mate... thanks again

[JamesR]

I spend about 2 hours when giving it a good clean including engine bay and interior :)

[scotthep]

I spend about 2 hours when giving it a good clean including engine bay and interior :)

Same here :P

[wadoryu]

if iv got all the time in the world i spend a good 4-6 hours on my car i love it but yeh iv just bought some demon shine and its really good stuff makes my car shiney, wax after as it dosent seem to last long i really recommend it mate, as iv bought the big bottle instead of the spray stuff and i diulte the bottle to the same strenght as the spray which is 1:10 and use it a a detailer spray as well:)

[0908]

if iv got all the time in the world i spend a good 4-6 hours on my car i love it but yeh iv just bought some demon shine and its really good stuff makes my car shiney, wax after as it dosent seem to last long i really recommend it mate, as iv bought the big bottle instead of the spray stuff and i diulte the bottle to the same strenght as the spray which is 1:10 and use it a a detailer spray as well:)

You like that demon shine. I got some of that, don't know how much is left, the bottle it was in leaked all over my bag:homme: I never really got on well with it, I much prefered a good wax. Think I'll give that demon shine another go see if it fairs up any better.

[Ashleyp]

moxy, thats fine without a machine polish.

it's silver so always hard to get a proper shine from

takes me around 3 hours i'd say for a "full detail" without machine polish, any other clean takes 1.5 hours

remember once youve done a full on session lasting half a day or more, then when you clean normally it wont take long, just wash, trim detail and fresh coat of wax imo

This is mine over the summer:

products used:

CG bodywash & wax shampoo
sonus mild clay kit
washed again
AG SRP (all i had at the time lol)
sealed with some of the expensive AG shizzle
waxed with chem guys harcore XXX paste wax
trims with megs
tyres with megs

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s47/ashleyprigmore/DSC00559.jpg

[moxy89]

yours looks stunning where did you get that wax mate ???

[sam2kk8]

40mins if im doing a quick shell wash, about 4 hours if im doing ful

[Ashleyp]

CYC mate, £11

shame it dont look like that now :P

[Claireeyy]

Giving the car a full clean takes me between 5-6 hours..
but a quicky is probably 2 hours

[wadoryu]

You like that demon shine. I got some of that, don't know how much is left, the bottle it was in leaked all over my bag:homme: I never really got on well with it, I much prefered a good wax. Think I'll give that demon shine another go see if it fairs up any better.

yeah that deamon shine does a good job on my posi blue car beads like mad when a good amount is applied you should have seen my car this morning. considering you can get 5liters for a 5er from halfords last time i check bargain. lol mine spilt in the boot of my car all over my coursework oh well lol altough with deamon shine supposidly is supposed to get rid of the water on your car after washing to stop the streaking and give it a good shine anyway. but a nice wax ontop gives great results

[vtSmith]

i heard that demon shine was awful they were giving it away on one website i wont let that stuff near my car has bad feedback

[wadoryu]

i still havent got that freebie but i found its quite good and like it