Washing/Detailing routine for newbie...

[barrybritcher]

clay barring - you need to use **** loads of lube to get a good result, also the weather is too cold to be claying - the clay will be hard. you need the clay soft so its squishable and wont marr the paint

[I-S]

So how did you weekend go? At least you got some good weather.

[junior 7178]

Originally Posted by I-S

So how did you weekend go? At least you got some good weather.

Very well and followed your routine, but swapped a couple of products.

Sadly i cant work out how to add photos on here.

Only downside is now i don't want to drive the car in case it gets dirty.

[I-S]

Yup. But then you'll park it, walk away, look back and think... "Yes."

[I-S]

Definitely need pics. Host the pictures somewhere and use the img tag.

[GusGecko]

Aaah some fellow detailing addicts :-)

Be careful, it can become highly addictive!

The Argos DA polisher is a half decent weekend/beginner tool, advised to changed the backing plate which opens up for pad choice and is more manageable.

You can get really good results from retail products - there's so many out there and is a little down to preference.

Have fun (you'll soon be talking about beading, citrus pre Washes, the famous Fusso sealent, different microfibre gsm's, iron decontamination and taking pictures in no time!!)

[I-S]

Indeed. I've spent this Easter weekend unleashing my new DA on my Nissan Leaf. Not amazing results, but I've started off very gentle on pads and compounds while getting used to it. Managed to improve a dreadful bit of touch-in respray on the bonnet, and coated with Essence and Collinite 476. It's gone from horribly sticky and contaminated paintwork (since getting it second hand in November) to smooth and beading nicely.

A few shout outs for my favourite detailing products:

Collinite 476: awesome long lasting, hard wearing wax.
Carpro PERL: excellent trim-dressing without the oiliness
Magic clay mitt: clay over the whole car in the time it takes to do 1 panel with regular clay

[1monkey600]

GusGecko
Just a note on Photobucket - For the last several months they have been closing down access to 3rd party websites unless you pay a fee.
They have now ruined many excellent forum resources, how-tos, etc by effectively holding the original uploader to ransom and these resources have been totally lost if, for instance, the original uploader no longer subscribes to that forum, or indeed is sadly no longer with us. I would suggest you look for another means of uploading photos to forums from now on.

[Petey80]

Gave the fiddy a little clean yesterday

Easterclean_1 by Pete, on Flickr

And of course it is lashing it down today. However, on the up side, got some great beading shots

Easterclean_14 by Pete, on Flickr

Easterclean_15 by Pete, on Flickr

Easterclean_16 by Pete, on Flickr

That was after snow foam, bucket wash, dried, then a layer of AF Tripple.

Plan on detailing it once the weather gets better. I say detail, but not sure you can call it that without using a DA.

I'll say thorough clean, clay, decontamination, polish, sealant and waxed.

[junior 7178]

Question...

I've followed I-S's routing to the tee, and have a top layer now of Meguiars 2.0 wax, 2 layers in fact.

If i wanted to try and get a bit more 'shine' on the car, what's the best method? I understand wax should always be the top layer? Can i just keep adding more layers of wax, or will that not make any difference?

Or do i need to add more layers of polish? If so, can i just polish over the wax or do i need to remove the wax first?