Detailing Workshop Before Marques In The Park

[Bullet32]

Ok, this should settle all enquiries.

This is how I do a detail on my own car - step by step.

1. Wash the car top to bottom - this is important as the dirt will flow from the top of the car down and if you go from roof down then you will get the best result.

2. You will need to visit car lovers as washing on your lawn is now illegal - DO NOT use the brush, even though it says that it wont harm the paint, it WILL, also - DO NOT use the "hot wax" or anything like it as this will just stain the paint and you will have to have it machine buffed to get it off.

Rinse the car with the "pre wash concentrate" leave it on while you rinse the wheels (this is a good time to use cleaner clay while the car is soapy - cleaner clay removes tar spots, bugs etc without scratching the paint - just remember to keep it very wet).

3. Then once the wheels are coated nicely with "tyre and engine cleaner", high pressure spray the entire car top to bottom, concentrating on the front bumper (bugs) and wheels (brake dust).

DONT GET TO CLOSE WITH THE NOZZLE or you risk blowing the paint off the plastics (such as bumper bars / grilles).

4. Once completely rinsed, move the car away to a dry spot and chamois from top to bottom making sure you dont miss any spots - blow air into the cracks around your mirrors, windows etc to get the water out - DO NOT use the chamois on your wheels or inside the door channels unless they are spotless, brake dust and dirt in your chamois will ruin it.

5. Drive the car home as to shake most of the water off your wheels - then re chamois when you get there (not the wheels).

6. Clean your wheels inside and out (as much as possible) with a clean / semi-clean rag (I use 2 rags, one to soak up the water the other to clean the dust and grime off). While youre doing this it is a good time to clean inside the door / boot channels.

7. Once the paint is totally dry and free of dust and grime, its time to polish - I use Meguires Tech wax (brilliant stuff but not cheap).

NOTE: You DONT need to use a cutting compound unless your paint is oxidized (powdery and dull) or scratched, if your paint is fairly shiny you only need a polish not a cut, metallic paint wont usually require a cut.

8. Apply polish with an applicator pad (you get one of these in the box with most good polishes) in small circles all over the car (top to bottom) - you dont need to apply then buff each panel seperately as the polish needs time to dry on.

You DONT have to use heaps of polish, sometimes less is more as to much polish will leave swirls and will clump up in your rag.

9. Hand buff the polish once it has dried with a soft rag (cotton t-shirts work well) or a Microfibre polish cloth (these are the best) turn the rag as often as possible and make sure that each time you turn it the side touching the car is as flat as possible (this avoids swirling), make sure that you rub the polish in thouroughly because you arent trying to remove the polish, youre trying to rub it in.

10. Put the car in direct sunlight and look at it from every angle to check that you havent missed any polish or if you have made any swirls.

Go over the paint again with a clean rag or polish cloth to make sure that all residue is gone.

11. Windows - Just use your average Windex spray and a clean thin cotton rag (bed sheets are perfect) - DONT use news paper or kitchen paper as these leave residue and streak the windows.

Clean inside and out in straight smooth motions using as LITTLE spray as possible (same principal as polish, if you use to much it will streak) make sure you keep turning the rag over.

You can also use window cleaner on anything chrome or stainless (exhaust tips etc.) as it will shine these up nicely.

12. Interior - Vaccum first as this kicks up a lot of dust, remove all floor mats, move all seats and anything you can pull out... Pull out.

After vaccuming wipe down all plastics / leather, synthetics with a clean damp rag or chamois as the dust will stick to a damp surface and not fly around and settle on the surface you just wiped later on.

13. You can treat your interior panels / dash etc. with leather or synthetic spray, but I prefer not to as most will leave a slimy shiny look that I think is tacky, so I just make sure I dust everything thouroughly.

If I have missed anything please just ask...

Edited November 19, 2007 by Bullet32

[CeJay]

Cool thanks for the info, have learnt how hard it is to get the dirt out of those narrow panel channels, fuel flap was a pain, still not finished lol. May have a go at polishing it late in the week, or if I'm not game enough on Saturday Is there a good time of the day to polish? Ie 20 ish degrees, low humidty etc? Or all much of a muchness?

[Frink]

me and bluprint have friday off, so we'll be detailing our cars then. you guys are welcome to join us if you like...

[Bullet32]

Yep youre spot on about the polishing - if you can, try to do it on a fairly warm sunny day as the polish will set quicker and the paint will be hotter which will allow the polish to sink in better.

[Bluprint]

Yep, Friday = bring it on anyone who wants to join us.

Thanks for that run down Mick - I doubt there will be any questions

[Frink]

its all in the forging process...

[Bullet32]

its all in the forging process...

No no, its the "anti shoe horn shoes" that do it...

[Bluprint]

Perhaps it's in the way the anti shoe horn shoes are forged?

[Frink]

you might be onto something there....

[JD-33]

good write up, though gonna have to object on 2 points

1) polish your car before waxing it, not the otherway round

2) DO NOT use windex on your windows (Especially on the inside) and ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AFTERMARKET TINT, it will corrode it and make round disolvable spots. What to use instead? Meguiars Nxt Gen window cleaner is safe as.. and remember light (very very light) pressure on the inside, to even more reduce the chance of smearing tints.

Also, I recommend cleaning the windows before polishing and waxing .. Why ? this is because when you spray the window cleaner on the outside of the car (on the windows) some spray can hit your freshly polished paint; (im just pedantic I suppose )

Other than that, good work nice write..

see ya's all there..

ps who is gonna do the friday night museum thing?

cheers

JD

Edited November 19, 2007 by JD-33

[Bullet32]

good write up, though gonna have to object on 2 points

1) polish your car before waxing it, not the otherway round

Polish your car before waxing it??? What are you talking about?

I never said anything about waxing... I dont use wax based polish anyway, its to thick and messy, synthetic is the best.

2) DO NOT use windex on your windows (Especially on the inside) and ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AFTERMARKET TINT, it will corrode it and make round disolvable spots. What to use instead? Meguiars Nxt Gen window cleaner is safe as.. and remember light (very very light) pressure on the inside, to even more reduce the chance of smearing tints.

Also, I recommend cleaning the windows before polishing and waxing .. Why ? this is because when you spray the window cleaner on the outside of the car (on the windows) some spray can hit your freshly polished paint; (im just pedantic I suppose )

Windex has never failed for me, I have used it on almost every car I have ever cleaned and it has never once left corrosion or marks of any kind.

If you read my previous post I said "Use as little as possible" - this will prevent streaking especially if you use a clean cotton rag.

Also, if you get window cleaner on the body of the car when cleaning the windows it makes four fifths of f*ck all difference if its polished or not, because window cleaner dries without leaving residue and a clean soft rag will wipe it off with out leaving a mark, but if you want to clean before polishing go for it, it really makes no difference.

Edited November 20, 2007 by Bullet32

[Guest]

Some YouTube video about car detailing....

Are we expect to see this kind of detailing?

[a20089]

So can we have a final date, location and time please.

[rbee25]

Polish your car before waxing it??? What are you talking about?

I never said anything about waxing... I dont use wax based polish anyway, its to thick and messy, synthetic is the best.

Windex has never failed for me, I have used it on almost every car I have ever cleaned and it has never once left corrosion or marks of any kind.

If you read my previous post I said "Use as little as possible" - this will prevent streaking especially if you use a clean cotton rag.

Also, if you get window cleaner on the body of the car when cleaning the windows it makes four fifths of f*ck all difference if its polished or not, because window cleaner dries without leaving residue and a clean soft rag will wipe it off with out leaving a mark, but if you want to clean before polishing go for it, it really makes no difference.

Ok, I dont want to get into a great debate about "how to detail a car", however I agree with JD-33 Meguiars Tech wax is a wax and not a polish i.e. it is used to apply a protective wax film on your paint, and not cut hence polish your car. I think JD is saying that by using the words "polish" you are contradicting the product name "wax" and hence its purpose.

I first polish my car which removes light scratches and brings up the paint work and then use wax to seal the job of the polish.

I dont know about the windex stuff, but I have heard that certain products can actually corode your tint. I have also read on the back of the Meguiars window spray that it says "Safe to apply to tint"; windex doesnt seem to say this.

just my 2c

Edited November 20, 2007 by rbee25

[JD-33]

Polish your car before waxing it??? What are you talking about?

I never said anything about waxing... I dont use wax based polish anyway, its to thick and messy, synthetic is the best.

I think you need to research the difference between polish and wax. By saying a line like this it seems you are not too sure: "its time to polish - I use Meguiares Tech wax". The in the next few steps you say you polish your car, hence why it seems like you WAX then POLISH. But now that I understand that you use the terms interchangeably, I understand that all you do is really wax your car (which myself and obviously Rbee disagree with, but hey they are just our thoughts).

Windex has never failed for me, I have used it on almost every car I have ever cleaned and it has never once left corrosion or marks of any kind.

I have experienced this problem first hand with my last car. I'm not forcing people to use a product which is designed for car windows over a product which is made for around your house, but it kinda makes sense.

All in all, I provide this info for people to consider or not consider, its up to them.

Edited November 20, 2007 by JD-33

[datto260Z]

But cuting and polishing everytime, arnt you just taking a layer of paint off? I know someone who has been doing it for 15 years including owning her won business and she only ever waxes for this reason. I have seen some of her work and its freakin awsome.

But anyways, back on topic, as was said, can we get a date and time please?

[Bullet32]

I think you need to research the difference between polish and wax. By saying a line like this it seems you are not too sure: "its time to polish - I use Meguiares Tech wax". The in the next few steps you say you polish your car, hence why it seems like you WAX then POLISH. But now that I understand that you use the terms interchangeably, I understand that all you do is really wax your car (which myself and obviously Rbee disagree with, but hey they are just our thoughts).

Geezus some people are so picky.

Not every car "polish" contains a cutting compound... And Meguires "Tech Wax" is a synthetic polish that contains only man made ingredients, it may be called a wax but it doesnt actually contain Carnouba Wax (which is incidentally the main ingredient in car WAX)... Polish is a term used pretty losely when youre talking about cars, you can say I "Polished" my car when in fact you waxed it...

You dont have to cut and polish every time you polish or wax your car, I personally dont use hand cutting compounds because Ive found that most of them dont work - especially on decent paint.

If your paint needs a cut back then do it properly and get it machine buffed.

I just gave advice on the best way to clean and polish or wax your car, you dont have to pay any attention if you dont want to...

By the way... How long did you spend as a proffesional detailer?

Edited November 21, 2007 by Bullet32

[Donnan]

Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Hahahaha...

Anyways, unless anyone has a better suggestion, we could meet at the Canberra ave carwash at 12pm on sat 24, then go to my work for the detailing as i stated elsewhere.

Please add your name to the list so i can give my boss some idea as to how many cars will be turning up.

Donnan (no really, i will be there hahahaha)

[race_snooze]

ape not sure about you lol..... Donnan I am kidding

Sorry private joke

[a20089]

we could meet at the Canberra ave carwash at 12pm on sat 24, then go to my work for the detailing as i stated elsewhere.

Done, I'm there.