How do you polish your car?

DREAMER NO2

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Your all throwing cash down the drain . A good bucket of warm water and a good car shampoo .Hose the car off first to remove the dust, and dirt . Dry off with a drying cloth of your choice, notice i said that . I wont tell you what i use ,,but some might even know. There are lots to choose from . Then use the polish of your choice. If you want a quick cover all that will clean the glass and rubber trim then try Williams Water Less Wash and Wax .You can use it right on to a cars paint work .But if i use it on the wifes car thats sat in the garage and is not to dirty i am ok with that and she is happy .Me .i am old school, and wash the car first if it sits outside gathering dust . This WWWW will take you a 1/4 of the time it will take with any other car wax including your tires and wheels ,..You might think i am talking out of my hat .But after years of working in the caravan trade and cleaning them for customers to pick up their new purchase,then they have to be spotless.
 

Richard Moakes

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Here is my routine:

Pressure wash off dust
Wash using Zymol car shampoo and lambs wool mitt
Rinse with pressure washer
Dry using synthetic chamois
Clay using fine clay bar and Poorboys lube
Remove any contamination using Collinite 840 pre wax cleaner
Wipe panels using Bilt Hamber cleanser fluid
Apply Collinite 476s
Buff to a shine which can last up to 12 months :)


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Capra

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I agree guys. The detailing world seems to be at a point in it's evolution where there are seasoned pros chasing marginal gains for "the best possible finish".

For me, I am enjoying learning all about this (because there are only so many mechanical repairs I can do).

Hear me out for a second, I have been mildly entertaining the idea of spraying parts of my bumper that have some mild damage, which would be solved my some light filling and sanding. I think that for the spray to match up well against the other panels the, those panels would probably want some level of correction. I am wayyyy off this for this simple reason that I don't have a structure to house the car while I do this level of work.


My car is very much a project car, which I paid a relatively small amount of money for, so I am enjoying this process and even more so, the fact that I know I can take the odd chance to learn something new on it. If I had splashed out significant cash, that wouldn't be the case.

It's all for fun really, and if the paint starts to look bad i'll just get it really dirty and never clean again :p:D
Have you ever done car paint work before? I tried this years ago just for a laugh on one of my car door panels and bonnet. Over the counter forget paint matches. Unless your prepping the areas correctly it doesn't work out that well. It's all about prepping the areas as best you can, and then using the correct tools and pain and environment. There is a reason paint shops spend thousands on paint booth, and the ability to set the paint in a clean environment. By the time you have (correct) paint, air gun, compressor you may as well spend the money and get the shop to do it.
 

Capra

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Here is my routine:

Pressure wash off dust
Wash using Zymol car shampoo and lambs wool mitt
Rinse with pressure washer
Dry using synthetic chamois
Clay using fine clay bar and Poorboys lube
Remove any contamination using Collinite 840 pre wax cleaner
Wipe panels using Bilt Hamber cleanser fluid
Apply Collinite 476s
Buff to a shine which can last up to 12 months :)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I bet the would be detailers that was freak out knowing you've clayed without polishing :D
 

DREAMER NO2

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I think i am getting mixed up on this post . My car is 30 years old . Now pressure washing puts water where water should not be .And i would never ever use this method to clean any car , never mind my own . Its just idleness . Chap over the way to me gets his kit out every Sunday -pressure washer half the size of his car, and its petrol driven .He works on the car body, and then under the wheel arches finishing off with the alloy wheels .
The aftermath of this is the car is only 3 years old Subaru and to date he as had to replaced 1 sets of brake discs front and rears due to corrosion . His father told me it was booked in to have the protective under body coating re done on the next service ,it was coming away in a few places under the wheel arches .
 

Capra

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I think i am getting mixed up on this post . My car is 30 years old . Now pressure washing puts water where water should not be .And i would never ever use this method to clean any car , never mind my own . Its just idleness . Chap over the way to me gets his kit out every Sunday -pressure washer half the size of his car, and its petrol driven .He works on the car body, and then under the wheel arches finishing off with the alloy wheels .
The aftermath of this is the car is only 3 years old Subaru and to date he as had to replaced 1 sets of brake discs front and rears due to corrosion . His father told me it was booked in to have the protective under body coating re done on the next service ,it was coming away in a few places under the wheel arches .
Maybe it's how you jet wash and what pressure you use. Even if I pressure wash the doors I still have to wash the panel, the jet washer does not seem to move all grime!
 
OP
Conor

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Have you ever done car paint work before? I tried this years ago just for a laugh on one of my car door panels and bonnet. Over the counter forget paint matches. Unless your prepping the areas correctly it doesn't work out that well. It's all about prepping the areas as best you can, and then using the correct tools and pain and environment. There is a reason paint shops spend thousands on paint booth, and the ability to set the paint in a clean environment. By the time you have (correct) paint, air gun, compressor you may as well spend the money and get the shop to do it.

Nah, done nothing before. I'm only toying around with the idea of painting a few bits. Having done some research, it appears that rattle cans are pretty decent these days. I aware that painting equates to only about 10% of overall effort.

It's all a bit of fun researching now etc. I will start off with touchup and polish + wax etc.

There are a couple of deepish marks on the rear bumper that I would be happy to risk painting. I think I would have a stab at it at some point. I would rather do myself than pay somebody as I like learning new stuff etc.

The other thing is that labour is so expensive in London, it really takes the sting out of buying your own bits etc.
 

51315

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Nah, done nothing before. I'm only toying around with the idea of painting a few bits. Having done some research, it appears that rattle cans are pretty decent these days. I aware that painting equates to only about 10% of overall effort.

It's all a bit of fun researching now etc. I will start off with touchup and polish + wax etc.

There are a couple of deepish marks on the rear bumper that I would be happy to risk painting. I think I would have a stab at it at some point. I would rather do myself than pay somebody as I like learning new stuff etc.

The other thing is that labour is so expensive in London, it really takes the sting out of buying your own bits etc.
These ideas are all very interesting. But what do you do if you have no space to work in, no driveway, and the car has to sit out on the road? Any ideas other than a carwash?
 

Blobcat

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These ideas are all very interesting. But what do you do if you have no space to work in, no driveway, and the car has to sit out on the road? Any ideas other than a carwash?
Put it through the car wash then go to a car meet and spend the day polishing your car using whatever products you like. Only issue is that everyone will no doubt give you helpful advice on what you’re doing wrong...:rolleyes:
 

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Mine after not being washed for over a week...

95B1265A-2DE8-42F2-9B8F-962776904B30.jpeg
 

A.J.

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Ordered another tin of Bilt Hamber Speed Wax this evening. Despite the hot weather forecast for this week I want to get the car completely re-polished. Been doing it in bits, just got boot lid, doors and roof to do but have virtually run out of polish :(
 

Blobcat

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Ordered another tin of Bilt Hamber Speed Wax this evening. Despite the hot weather forecast for this week I want to get the car completely re-polished. Been doing it in bits, just got boot lid, doors and roof to do but have virtually run out of polish :(
Do you have any “spit” left to go with it? :p
 
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Conor

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These ideas are all very interesting. But what do you do if you have no space to work in, no driveway, and the car has to sit out on the road? Any ideas other than a carwash?

I'd figure that out before I set out on this..

If cover and decent space is needed for tasks that can't be completed outside my flat I have been considering visiting one of these places. They look kinda cool.

Anybody been before?

http://www.pitstartgarage.com/
https://thisisyourgarage.com

Second one looks particularly cool.
 

rorywquin

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I think i am getting mixed up on this post . My car is 30 years old . Now pressure washing puts water where water should not be .And i would never ever use this method to clean any car , never mind my own . Its just idleness . Chap over the way to me gets his kit out every Sunday -pressure washer half the size of his car, and its petrol driven .He works on the car body, and then under the wheel arches finishing off with the alloy wheels .
The aftermath of this is the car is only 3 years old Subaru and to date he as had to replaced 1 sets of brake discs front and rears due to corrosion . His father told me it was booked in to have the protective under body coating re done on the next service ,it was coming away in a few places under the wheel arches .

Where does all the water go when you are doing (insert your normal speed here) mph on the motorway in the rain?
 

rorywquin

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I'm beginning to get the feeling I will probably get satisfactory results with just elbow grease and no power tool.

1) Probably better off spending money on a power washer before polisher..

I had an idea in my mind that I wanted to build up to a nice finish then put some ceramic protectant on there to keep it in good shape.

I also have to content with some pretty deep stone chips on the bonnet.

Ceramic and sealants must go straight onto the paint - not onto a wax or anything else......the better the condition of the paint surface, the better the ceramic / sealant will look. Given teh age of your car the paint probably could do with

1) Good wash
2) Decontamination
3) Clay (mitt or bar)
4) Polish (by polish I mean something like https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-G...91&hvtargid=pla-472610210811&psc=1&th=1&psc=1
5) Creamic / sealant / wax - your choice there are 100s available - IMO any reputable manufacturer will be fine

Loads of information on YouTube but you will get bored with all the "beading" and "sheeting" videos
 

A.J.

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Ordered another tin of Bilt Hamber Speed Wax this evening. Despite the hot weather forecast for this week I want to get the car completely re-polished. Been doing it in bits, just got boot lid, doors and roof to do but have virtually run out of polish :(

Well I was going to do a few more panels this afternoon but it is 27° here and we are just 500 yards from the sea wall You guys in-land must be almost in liquid form :shock:
 

Blobcat

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Well I was going to do a few more panels this afternoon but it is 27° here and we are just 500 yards from the sea wall You guys in-land must be almost in liquid form :shock:
Top down and AC on (along with factor 50) :D:p:cool:
 

MEMERC

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I'm beginning to get the feeling I will probably get satisfactory results with just elbow grease and no power tool.

Probably better off spending money on a power washer before polisher..

I had an idea in my mind that I wanted to build up to a nice finish then put some ceramic protectant on there to keep it in good shape.

I also have to content with some pretty deep stone chips on the bonnet.


Keep grounded because 'paint correction' & 'detailing' has become a national job creation scheme.
Lots of sudden experts, endless waxes, polishes, preparations & magical potions.
In the last 8 years I've owned 3 black cars used daily & obtained a deep wet look finish simply by clay-baring & applying Xymol a very very slight cutting polish/wax once a year. Then Turtle Spraywax colour enhancer & good old Simoniz from time to time. For a detail spray which I admit are of use I use Mer bought in bulk from markets & diluted with distilled water. Halfords car shampoo works fine. Nothing else. No over-priced 'latest product' & no detailers on my drive all day doing what I can do.
Autoglym & Meguirs have never made any discernible difference to lesser priced products, they are just brands with massive marketing budgets creating pseudo up-market images & craftily accordingly. I'm not so thick as to fall for their flannel.
BUT if I had purchased a deeply scratched car that could not be brought back to a new finish other than re-spraying then yes I would call in an expert with the necessary non-DIY version of machine polisher. Another BUT - I would expect to be able to inspect a 'before & after' example of his work.
 

rorywquin

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^^^ what the says - "detailing" is a massive "smoke and mirrors" exercise (look at all the new "detailing product" company and detailers springing up everywhere) ......even if he (MEMERC) is doing a fair bit more than average Joe would.

My son has a new AMG E53 which was ceramic coated when new. Mine had Carlack when new and is a year older (but less miles) - when parked side by side, I cannot see anything better in the look between the two - his is done 1x per month by a detailer & mine is done about the same frequency by me ......
 

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