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-   -   Detailing beginner needs critique (https://www.revscene.net/forums/588009-detailing-beginner-needs-critique.html)

illicitstylz 09-03-2009 10:29 AM

Detailing beginner needs critique
 
I have an 1998 Acura in black and it needs to be detailed just to get rid of some of the minor imperfections and restore the shine since it's parked outside, not planning on using a large budget for this as i don't need a " click and brag " type of detailed shine.

I've looked at icanpolish and some of their products are too confusing for me since there's so many types and autowerkes is too far from me as much as i'd like to help RS sponsors but CT has the convenience factor.

This is the condition of my paint (not washed), these are not through the paint (doesn't catch my fingernail when I run across it)
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/7...9031114.th.jpg
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5...9031113.th.jpg
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/5...9031113.th.jpg
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/1...9031114.th.jpg

I've been doing my reading and I just want some final insight on my steps/products but step 4 is where i could really use some help.
I don't have a buffer, so i'll be doing it all by hand. I don't plan on waxing often (2-3 times a year). Anyways this is what i've gathered and any insight is appreciated.

1- wash - meguiar's crystal car wash, 2 bucket method +gritguards + MF washmits
2- dry - MF towel
3- clay - meguiar's clay and Quik Detailer
4- polish
5- wax

OPTION 1 -
Meguiar's Step 2 Polish http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...2%2BPolish.jsp

then follow with Meguiar's Step 3 Wax http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...%2B3%2BWax.jsp

However i've read that polishing by hand will require PLENTY of elbow grease so the alternative i've looked up is the meguiar's NXT wax which helps hide imperfections and swirlds.

OPTION 2 -
Meguiar's NXT Wax
Liquid
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...Tech%2BWax.jsp

Any insight is appreciated!

BrendanS 09-03-2009 11:02 AM

You're not going to get very far with hand polishing. If Ken's to far for you why not pay the $15 flat rate shipping?

BrendanS 09-03-2009 11:03 AM

forgot to mention, for the price you're paying for over the counter canadian tire products you can get better professional products for a couple bucks more.

!Yaminashi 09-03-2009 11:58 AM

Yeah you'll be quite disappointed if you were to hand polish the entire car hoping to remove scratches only to find theyre still there.

Best pick up a pc if you're starting

illicitstylz 09-03-2009 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrendanS (Post 6576105)
You're not going to get very far with hand polishing. If Ken's to far for you why not pay the $15 flat rate shipping?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrendanS (Post 6576107)
forgot to mention, for the price you're paying for over the counter canadian tire products you can get better professional products for a couple bucks more.

well the combination of these two will make it a lot more expensive, at that point i might as well pay someone to do it for me since it'll be a few bucks more but so much more efficient.
how much would you charge to do a car like mine, just the exterior, polish + wax?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft (Post 6576197)
Yeah you'll be quite disappointed if you were to hand polish the entire car hoping to remove scratches only to find theyre still there.


that's why i was hoping that the meguiar's nxt wax would be able to hide some of the imperfections, i'm not looking for the perfected brand new paint look especially with this budget i've set out.
Best pick up a pc if you're starting


!Yaminashi 09-03-2009 12:20 PM

^However the only difference is you'll learn a few things, and you'll have the necessary equipment to DIY.

I didnt do a great job on my car when I first detailed it, but at least now Ive started to accumulate an arsenal of good products and knowledge from talking with Ken.

Now the next time I go to detail, I can jump right in and not have to stop to call Ken and ask questions lol

syee 09-03-2009 12:32 PM

I'm gonna agree with everyone else here. You'll need a PC or UDM to clean that up. You could try do it by hand, but I can guarantee your arm will be tired before you even get one panel done. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, have a professional do it.

Using a wax to "hide" it is really only a temporary solution. It'll look alright for maybe 2 to 3 washes and then basically at that point any fillers that were present will most likely be washed away. I'm not a huge fan of Meguiars products as a lot of them contain fillers which basically mask the problem, and you really don't have a good indicator of whether you've buffed away the swirls or if it's just hidden.

I personally use Optimum products but I know a lot of the guys here use Menzerna line of products. Either one would be recommended as long as you're using a PC/buffer.

BrendanS 09-03-2009 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft (Post 6576233)
^However the only difference is you'll learn a few things, and you'll have the necessary equipment to DIY.

I didnt do a great job on my car when I first detailed it, but at least now Ive started to accumulate an arsenal of good products and knowledge from talking with Ken.

Now the next time I go to detail, I can jump right in and not have to stop to call Ken and ask questions lol

+1 DIY is the best way to go

illicitstylz 09-03-2009 05:53 PM

I know there's a proper way to do it, and that's using an orbital buffer with specific pads as well as determining how strong the cut you want on your polish etc but as a fulltime student, part time work and paying for all my own bills, forking out too much dough and time isn't affordable for me right now.

To be honest if it hides the swirls for a few washes I'd be more than satisfied but obviously a full cut and polish detail would be nothing less than stellar.

I'll probably go through with this tomorrow and get pictures up.

Thanks for the insight

911fanatic 09-03-2009 07:14 PM

What? I'm too far? Wheres the love man? If you come out the #1 and take the 200th St exit in Langley and cross the new Golden Ears Bridge you're at my shop from Vancouver in less than 30 minutes. That way you can try a few products to see what they'll do and make an educated decision. Come by and get some AutoBalm. I'll show you how to apply it and you're golden. :)

ilvtofu 09-03-2009 07:19 PM

Today I learnt that hand polishing is useless...
I'm a n00b at detailing too LOLOL

604_Snooze 09-04-2009 06:23 PM

yeah, don't polish by hand, waxing your car by hand is tired enough

!Yaminashi 09-05-2009 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 604_Snooze (Post 6578097)
yeah, don't polish by hand, waxing your car by hand is tired enough

First time I waxed my car by hand I was fuckin beat.
Although claying/polishing/LSP really took alot out of me. After a full night's rest i was still tired as shit

BrendanS 09-05-2009 11:30 AM

I really don't see how waxing gets tiring, polishing gets tiring. Waxing doesn't take very long as polishing takes hours and hours. It drains you imo.

syee 09-05-2009 11:37 AM

haha...even with a machine, polishing is tiring...it's a full 8 hour job to wash, clay, polish and wax my car. It's tiring enough that I don't eve want to do it for another 6 months.

!Yaminashi 09-05-2009 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrendanS (Post 6578801)
I really don't see how waxing gets tiring, polishing gets tiring. Waxing doesn't take very long as polishing takes hours and hours. It drains you imo.

Buffing wax out by hand on an entire car can get pretty tiring man

BrendanS 09-05-2009 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft (Post 6578811)
Buffing wax out by hand on an entire car can get pretty tiring man

lol can you imagine doing an A8 then:p or a Cayenne Turbo
Quote:

Originally Posted by syee (Post 6578810)
haha...even with a machine, polishing is tiring...it's a full 8 hour job to wash, clay, polish and wax my car. It's tiring enough that I don't eve want to do it for another 6 months.

yeah polishing with a machine drains you the most imo.

604_Snooze 09-05-2009 12:06 PM

after washing, claybaring, re-washing, drying, waxing and buffing off, then wax and buff off again, wipe interior, your hand that is doing all this work will get pretty tired. Do you guys wax in circular motion though?

thumper 09-06-2009 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syee (Post 6578810)
haha...even with a machine, polishing is tiring...it's a full 8 hour job to wash, clay, polish and wax my car. It's tiring enough that I don't eve want to do it for another 6 months.

egh i'm in total agreement. my situation is compounded further with the fact i don't have covered parking so i have to borrow space from someone who does (and must have electrical power as well).

i even went as far as to get a quote to just matte black vinyl my entire car, but the quote was over $4k... oh well. i guess i'll be putting ken's kids through college for awhile yet :D

911fanatic 09-06-2009 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thumper (Post 6580168)
oh well. i guess i'll be putting ken's kids through college for awhile yet :D

You're awesome!


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