Detailing chat

cena wrote: »

I was at the local body shop yesterday, had to drop some paper work for the brother. I asked him about removing the swirls {compound} on the astra he gave me a price of 80 euro for the whole job.

sound good???

There is a difference in Compounding swirls out and doing a 2 or 3 stage machine polish.

You will most likely get some swirls out but be left with horrible holograms.

tommer wrote: »

Previous owner probably had dogs?? Maybe

Or was it dags? Like who the hell does that to a new car (in their ownership).

If they know how to use them then should be fine. One main issue with rotary polishers is that if pressure isn't evenly applied across the pad surface, this could result in holograms which will appear just like swirl marks.

Sean Quagmire wrote: »

Was looking at the Mequirs DA power system. The one that fits onto a mains power drill. this looks ideal for me, anyone use them?

http://www.halfords.ie/motoring-travel/cleaning-body-repair/polishers-steam-cleaners/meguiars-da-power-system

Would I be right in saying that hand-polishing is not the way to go? IMO SRP does not have enough cutting in it, by hand anyway.

Wouldn't have any mass in that to be honest.
And at that price you would get a used DA for not much more.

Anyone looking to sell on a DA polisher or do they come up second hand that often?

Also what will polishing with a compound and DA do to a front bumper with stonechips? will they look better/worse or the same?



cheers

Danger781 wrote: »

Think I might pick up the Karcher K2 next time I'm near Halfords..
http://www.halfords.ie/motoring-travel/cleaning-body-repair/pressure-washers-hoses/karcher-k2-compact-pressure-washer

€20 cashback too so it would bring the cost down to €70. I noticed there is an attachment for a shampoo / cleaning agent bottle - Would you still recommend getting a snowfoam lance with this?

My k2 gave up the ghost the weekend after 18 months.

Granted it was used nearly every weekend to wash the car! Have picked up a Nilfisk c120 on recommendations over the karcher again.

Deffo get a snowfoam lance as the cleaning agent bottle is no comparison.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

Do you still have the mini?

You have some memory on you! :pac: I do indeed.. Planning on sticking with it for another while yet!

I was looking into buying something new over the past couple of months but decided against it for now. I had my eye on a Seat Ibiza Cupra for quite a while and everything looked to be going in my favour. The dealership has a partnership with my place of work so I was getting a discount. To top it all off my GFs uncle is a salesman there so he could probably have worked a little extra into the deal. You can imagine my disappointment when I learned it only comes in automatic..!

So my plan for now is to hold onto the car until early next year at least and I might look into something else. In the meantime, one thing I've always hated about the car is the chrome parts around the body. I bought some plasti dip so I'm planning on blacking out all the chrome.. Headlights, door handles, belt line, and probably the mirror caps too. Depending how this turns out I'll look into doing the roof in black plasti dip as well.

The joy of plasti dip is that I can take it off if I don't like it.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

There was a lad on here years ago with a very cool R53.
His opinion was that the chrome was a very femine feature and didn't suit a modifed Mini. IIRC he used black tape for the strip around the bottom of the windows. I don't know how durable that was, or which particular type of tape. I'd say he plastidipped the headlights black.
That was on a black car with red accents.

Doesn't help that my MINI is electric blue either - hardly the most masculine colour going! :pac: Yeah I've heard of people using black electrical tape on the belt line, but I reckon I'll try with the plasti dip and if all else fails I can attempt taping it.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

I wouldn't be a great person for colours or modifications but that colour strikes me as awkward if you have a white roof and/or white stripes. Or a blue roof.

White roof here which I eventually intend to make black if the plasti dip is a success on the chrome!

Danger781 wrote: »

We've a water butt out the side of the house! It's 105 euro more though.. Is there really that much of a difference?

I am tempted to find out as I currently have a K2. I use it mostly for the foam lance. Looking at the specs there would have to be a difference given the higher pressure and flow rate. I wonder would it have any effect on how the foam lance performs??

BTW the K2 is a fine little machine. I would have no issues buying another. It's cleaned all sorts including the cars at our house for the last 10 years.

Just noticed detailing shed doesn't have the snowfoam lance for the karcher power washer in stock Had planned on doing some shopping tonight but that is a no-go now. Guess I'll have to use the ol' bucket and mit method instead with my cheap cleaning products!

On that note how do I decide what products to buy!? I've been trying to decide on what snow foam to get for about 20 minutes, and haven't even had a chance to look at what else I might need.. Clay, wax, glass cleaner, whatever!

Danger781 wrote: »

On that note how do I decide what products to buy!? I've been trying to decide on what snow foam to get for about 20 minutes, and haven't even had a chance to look at what else I might need.. Clay, wax, glass cleaner, whatever!

They will all do the job, pick one you fancy and go from there.

Maybe get all one make as there designed to work with each other but it's not the end of world if you don't.

*Kol* wrote: »

I see that LIDL have some paint brushes on sale. The three larger round ones would make good detailing brushes.

http://www.lidl.ie/en/Offers.htm?action=showDetail&id=29172

I got a couple sets of these the last time the were on special for this exact reason. Doing the job well ever since.

edburg wrote: »

Use the flat brushes for tyres and flat face wheels.

I wouldn't use the flat brushes at all due to the metal band holding in the bristles.

*Kol* wrote: »

I wouldn't use the flat brushes at all due to the metal band holding in the bristles.

I wrap mine in insulating tape so this is negated!

edburg wrote: »

You be holding the brush very strange if metal band hits anything while cleaning tyres and face of wheel.

I just wouldn't chance it. I prefer to use wheel woollies.

So I went to halfords today to buy myself a Karcher K4 power washer. To my dismay I could only find one on the shelf and the box looked a bit tattered. I figured it was normal to be in that kind of condition considering it was a large hardware store so didn't pay much notice. Picked up the box and started walking towards the till until I felt the leg of my pants getting wet. The box was leaking on me. The reason the box was falling apart was because the bloody thing was used. Can't believe they were selling that at full price. I didn't complain or make a fuss, but instead put the box back on the shelf and then just happened to spot an a clean K4 mixed in with a load of K2 washers.

There is a foam lance comes in the box but I assume it's not great. Either way I'll chance it tomorrow depending on the weather. Also picked up some demon wash snow foam which seems to have mixed reviews but it's the best I could get on short notice. Grabbed some meguirs Clay, Polish and Wax, along with halfords bug and tar remover. At home I already have some simoniz shampoo and other bits lying around.

What process should I follow tomorrow?

So I went to get some microfibers..... :pac:

Deleted User wrote: »

Where'd you pick up the rotary if you don't mind me asking?

It's a DAS-6 Pro, I picked it up from one of the local retailers down here, D&D Detailing. Sound lads, spent 2 hours just talking to them before I even got to start on the car!

Alfie1 wrote: »

My car was de-tarred, clayed, de-ironed, glazed & waxed back in May, it now needs another coat of wax as the beading is fading.

If I decide it doesn't need de-tarring & claying again then what should I do to prepare the car for another wax ? I've read everything from using panel wipe to IPA & APC, fairly liquid has also been mentioned but I've also read that that doesn't actually remove old wax.

Maybe it's easier to just de-tarr & clay the car again before applying a new layer of wax, all advice welcome.

Personally, after 3 months I'd definitely clay and de-tar it again, the clay should take off a decent bit of the wax too and then a quick polish should take off the rest and leave it good for another waxing.

Also if I decide the car doesn't need a de-tar or clay already what's the best way to get rid of the remaining wax ?