First time detailer

[Prunicycles]

Hey there folks.
Me and a friend are going to set about attempting to detail my saxo (i won't post pictures as every time i do, i get slaughtered as my car is not to everyone's liking)

Me and said friend are actually fibreglass kayak builders so have a tonne of experience with rotary machine polishes, but probably won't be going down this route on the vehicle.

What do you guys think of these 2 products to get me started?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_82 1139_langId_-1_categoryId_165671

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_76 4457_langId_-1_categoryId_255233


Would you recommend anything else on top of these? or an alternative to these?

Many thanks in advance!

[Bedford126]

Clay bar kit is ok but the full kit is far from the best. But all depends on how far you want to go. Do you want a kit to progress with. Or do you just want a kit to make your car look nice with a couple of hours at the weekend?

[Prunicycles]

Clay bar kit is ok but the full kit is far from the best. But all depends on how far you want to go. Do you want a kit to progress with. Or do you just want a kit to make your car look nice with a couple of hours at the weekend?

i'd like to progress, but i'm not afraid to spend a bit of money to start at a decent level.

[Ashleyp]

You don't need to spend £25 on a clay kit

www.cleanyourcar.com

you'll need, as basics:

shampoo - checmical guys / meguiars gold are decent and cheap from my experience
wash mitt - lambswool, sonus is my prefered choice
drying towel - microfibre, the big one thats about £9.99 is spot on for a saxo.

No point claying a car, unless you're going to polish seal and wax it.

Clay - buy a bar of CYC's own, about £6
Polish - depends how bad the scratches are... I'm a menzerna man personally.
Sealant - finishkare 1000p (probs the best alround, as it can be used on car, wheels engine bay etc)

youll need accessories too...

Foam german applicator pad - the red and white one is good for polish
Ultrafine buffing towels - good for removing polish etc

wheel cleaning stuff...
then, trims and tires etc
windows, just make a spray bottle of screen wash and use that...

As you can see, it starts to add up in cost quick, even for a decent 'basic' kit. so all depends on how far you're willing to go. I reckon you could get most of the above in my list though for about the same as you're willing to spend on that autoglym stuff, and most importantly - it's better than the autoglym stuff.

[Prunicycles]

Cheers mate! that helped loads.
I have made a list on CYC as it stands it's like this;

Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo

Valet Pro - Citrus Pre Wash

Super Spray - Hose end sprayer

CYC Super Value Sheepskin Mitt

CleanYourCar - Fine PolyClay (200g)

Auto Finesse Glide Clay Lube 500ml

Menzerna Final Finish (PO 85RD)

FinishKare #2180 - Ultra Polymer Sealant

Ultimate German Applicator

Ultra Fine Buffing Towels Pkg/2

Autoglym - Instant Tyre Dressing

Huge 38" x 28" Microfibre Drying Towel

What do you reckon?

[m4tt274]

ive got a lot of the kit to detail the car, on a rainy weekend i sometimes go the whole 9 yards and get some good results.
however, i will admit, it takes me like 5 or 6 hours and just giving the car a quick wash, drying them applying Autoglym super resin with the machine polisher and buffing it off by hand then cleaning the windows and applying bumper black. gives me 90% of the result less than half the time.
the autoglym window cleaners and fabric cleaners i dont think are worth the money, especially the window cleaner. They are great, but cheaper things will do the same job.
the polish and sealants are good though!

[Ashleyp]

Gold class shampoo - Good

Prewash, on a budget - I honestly don't think it's a 'must'. I've survived without it and seen no real negatives by not having it in comparison to having it.

Super sprayer - Same as above, if you don't need pre-wash, you don't really need this

CYC mitt - Looks good! I've never used it but looks much like the sonus. the sonus design has practically doubled in price since I got mine (wtf?!)

CYC clay - Good, I've used it and Sonus, and there's no real difference other than you get more clay for less money with CYC's brand

Clay lube - Waste of money, mix up half a bucket full of one cap full of shampoo and warm water.

Polish - I'd reccomend Menzerna Superfinish, PO106FA (i think that's the right code?) - reason being, it's more versatile than 85RD, so can cover medium scratches, as well as fine ones. 85RD is only designed for fine scratches.
If you have some relatively deeper swirls, Menzerna power finish (PO85RD 3.02 i think it's called) is perfect for use before Superfinish
Note: people get confused when using menzerna - you NEED to keep working it into the paint until you can no longer see it, then leave it 10 mins before buffing off

Sealant - Finishkare 1000p is the stuff you want. I've not used it, but heard nothing but good reviews about it. It's versatility and durability is what people seem to love about it.

Ultimate german applicator - great for applying polish by hand from my experience. white side for the rougher siwrls, red for finishing.

Ultrafine buffing towels - I've been using these for years. they're great for removing polish, sealant, wax and even doing the windows, interior etc.

tyre dressing - Meguiars endurance gel is by far the best on the market.

Huge drying towel - again, I've been using one of these for a few years, it's great



If you can afford to, I'd reccomend buying another german applicator or even the two pack of blue perl microfibre applicators, and another 2pk of buffing towels. from my experience, it's these kind of things that are most needed. I've got tonnes of cloths / applicators etc. they're cheap, last long and as I say, they'll always come in handy.

[stevie_m]

I take it you already have two buckets ?

[Ashleyp]

I take it you already have two buckets ?

Oh yeah, forgot to say lol.

2 buckets is quite essential, although I prefer to use one and then rinse the mitt off with the hose instead of using the second bucket. for some unknown reason though some people like to buy expensive buckets at like £20 a pop :panic:

[Prunicycles]

Cheers lads! yeah, Cannot thank you enough, you've really helped, ideally i'd like to go the full 9 yards maybe every few months/when i have a spare afternoon but then cut it down to a basic wash whenever needed.
I can readily get buckets from work (working with fibreglass means we have them, by the bucketload (excuse the pun)
we also get Mutton cloth (i think that's what its called anyway)
What about grit guards?

[Prunicycles]

Oh yeah, forgot to say lol.

2 buckets is quite essential, although I prefer to use one and then rinse the mitt off with the hose instead of using the second bucket. for some unknown reason though some people like to buy expensive buckets at like £20 a pop :panic:

dumb question; but is that referring to the lambswool mitt?

List currently stands at:

Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo

Valet Pro - Citrus Pre Wash

Super Spray - Hose end sprayer

CYC Super Value Sheepskin Mitt

CleanYourCar - Fine PolyClay (200g)

Ultra Fine Buffing Towels Pkg/2

Huge 38" x 28" Microfibre Drying Towel

600ml Plastic Bottle with Sprayer

Menzerna Super Finish (PO 106 FA)

FinishKare 1000P Hi-Temp Sealant

Meguiars Endurance Tire Spray

Blue Perl Microfibre Applicator Pads Pkg/2

[Prickle]

Meguirs tyre gel is "ok" i put 2 layers on and it didnt last the rain we had the other day.

I thought at least it would still be abit darker but its literally all washed off.

[Ashleyp]

dumb question; but is that referring to the lambswool mitt?

List currently stands at:

Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo

Valet Pro - Citrus Pre Wash

Super Spray - Hose end sprayer

CYC Super Value Sheepskin Mitt

CleanYourCar - Fine PolyClay (200g)

Ultra Fine Buffing Towels Pkg/2

Huge 38" x 28" Microfibre Drying Towel

600ml Plastic Bottle with Sprayer

Menzerna Super Finish (PO 106 FA)

FinishKare 1000P Hi-Temp Sealant

Meguiars Endurance Tire Spray

Blue Perl Microfibre Applicator Pads Pkg/2

I'm still not sold on the need for pre-wash, but it's your money dude. :P I know people will say it's a must, but i've noticed no real difference in that and spraying the car down with water first, if you use a good technique.

instead of pre-wash, i'd rather some wheel cleaner, and a cheapo microfibre sponge / washmitt / brush to clean the wheels. Or some wax, or save it and keep the money lol.

oh and buy those blue perl applicators in addition to a red and white german one. blue perl for sealant / wax, and german for polish

and yeah, rinsing the wash mitt lol. it's just because when you use the two bucket method [google it if you don't know what it is] you're essentially rinising your mitt in dirty water, i'd rather just clean it with the hose and go again

Meguirs tyre gel is "ok" i put 2 layers on and it didnt last the rain we had the other day.

I thought at least it would still be abit darker but its literally all washed off.

A bad workman blames his tools...

don't apply it right, and it won't work.

[Prickle]

What do you mean dont apply it right? i put the first layer on. waited 10 mins then put a second on for a shine?

as per instructions

[tichy]

I would rather use wolfs white satin shampoo or britemax cleanmax than megs gold class. Forget the pre wash if your on a budget mate, spend the money on a drying towel instead.

When you've built up abit of kit invest in some wheel woolies, makes cleaning your wheel so much easier.

Edit: your already getting a drying towel sory I missed that, spend the money on what you've saved not buying pre wash on some wheel cleaner and a few detailing brushes.

[stevie_m]

How much are you planning to spend ? As buying detailing stuff can be a money pit..

[devilsadvocate]

How much are you planning to spend ? As buying detailing stuff can be a money pit..

I would also add that if you are going to be doing your car regularly then buy in bulk for as much as you car get.

Check out Autosmart stuff, they have good prices and your local rep will demo the products etc.

Half my stuff is Autosmart and the results are brilliant, best APC (G101) and Wheel Cleaner (Smart Wheels) I have found and have tried plenty.

[Prunicycles]

I intend to spend less than £100 on my start up job-lot order

[Prunicycles]

I would rather use wolfs white satin shampoo or britemax cleanmax than megs gold class. Forget the pre wash if your on a budget mate, spend the money on a drying towel instead.

When you've built up abit of kit invest in some wheel woolies, makes cleaning your wheel so much easier.

Edit: your already getting a drying towel sory I missed that, spend the money on what you've saved not buying pre wash on some wheel cleaner and a few detailing brushes.

Sorry, what are wheel woolies? sorry for being a noob.

and what about wax?

[moxy89]

people need to stop using the word detailing when your are just going to valet the car. Detailing is fucking anal and it is in the name really. is your car going to be attacked with a machine polish, are the calipers going to be as clean as the rest of the car.. it wont be a detail just a valet

[Prunicycles]

people need to stop using the word detailing when your are just going to valet the car. Detailing is fucking anal and it is in the name really. is your car going to be attacked with a machine polish, are the calipers going to be as clean as the rest of the car.. it wont be a detail just a valet

...I apologise for not knowing the technical terms in a subject i am clearly stating i am not familiar with.

[0rang3peel]

...I apologise for not knowing the technical terms in a subject i am clearly stating i am not familiar with.

Don't worry he's obviously on the blob.

to be honest, everything ashleyp has said is decent advice, have you got a pressure washer?

[Prunicycles]

Don't worry he's obviously on the blob.

to be honest, everything ashleyp has said is decent advice, have you got a pressure washer?

I do indeed have a pressure washer but we have always been pretty tentative about using it on any of our cars since the Land rover, Never was sure why, probably just my OCD dad, why do you ask?

[Prunicycles]

So...whats the order?

[Chris_O]

wash,
rinse,
clay,
wash,
dry,
polish,
seal,
wax,

[Prunicycles]

wash,
rinse,
clay,
wash,
dry,
polish,
seal,
wax,

Cheers!