Detailing Equipment

TRS30

Ok so want to start to wash/ polish/ sealing my car properly after getting some expensive paint work done.

So am going to use the two bucket method, Autoglym shampoo, polish and sealants so just want to make i use the right things to put them all on and take them off.

What is best to put the shampoo on with, dry the car with, put on the polish, buff it, put on the sealant and buff that?

Do I need 6 different things??

Am a novice at this so be gentle with me

HJL

For washing a lambswool mitt or a noodle mircofibre mitt.

I use a synthetic chamois leather for drying mostly.

For applying polish/wax I use a foam pad applicator.

And finally for removal of polish/wax I use microfibre cloths.


You can get nearly all of the above pretty cheap too, I got two microfibre mitts in Aldi for €1.99 I think, and a 5 pack of microfibre cloths for cheap money too in Tesco. As for the foam applicators I only ever got them on ebay, never seen them anywhere else and they are small and light so cheap to post.

Not too up on sealants, I've only used wax so far. Im sure some one will be along to advise on how best to apply it and remove.

MetzgerMeister

Shampoo - Meguiar's Hyperwash or Shampoo Plus

Washing - Meguiar's Lambswool wash mitt + 2BM

Drying - microfibre cloths are a lot easier to use compared to chamois'

Polish - Meguiar's crystal polish

Use a Meguiar's foam applicator with this

Waxes are a type of sealant so if you want to stick with Meguiar's, go for NXT 2.0 Wax or Gold Class Liquid Wax. Again, use microfibres to buff off.

As for an actual sealant, Chemical Guys Jetseal is the best out there.

If you want to top up your wax/sealant after washing next time, try Turtle Wax "Wax it Wet" or Lucas Slick Mist (this can also be used as a quick detailer and clay lubricant).

TRS30

Thanks guys for the replies. Looks like I need;

-lambswool mitt

-couple of foam pad applicator

-couple of microfibre cloths

To clean these do you put them in the washing machine? If so all together or seperate?

Am starting to sound a bit anal about this

MetzgerMeister

You can put everything into the washing machine together but don't put the microfibres into the dryer along with clothes as they will come out with lint all over them.

Not a major thing at all but it helps!

TRS30

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

You can put everything into the washing machine together but don't put the microfibres into the dryer along with clothes as they will come out with lint all over them.

Not a major thing at all but it helps!

Thanks- every little helps.

Just spent a fortune on Carclean.ie

MetzgerMeister

TRS30 wrote: »

Thanks- every little helps.

Just spent a fortune on Carclean.ie

Do you mean cleancar.ie?? Detailing Shed have a lot of great products too, they sell the best tar remover I've ever used - Tar Cleanse.

HJL

MetzgerMeister: Have you tried Iron X? Been reading a lot about it recently and think it could be my next purchase.

MetzgerMeister

Haven't tried Iron X but I often use OAC Iron Cleanse. It's the same thing, just different manufacturer. All I can do is highly recommend it.

I used it on my alloys a good few times. I just sprayed it on, left it for a few minutes and power washed it off. I didn't agitate with a brush or anything and it left the alloys, calliper and disc as bloody shiny!!

It's a brilliant product but be warned, it absolutely stinks!

Curran

Iron X is definitely one of the better fallout removers. Iron Cleanse, by Orchard Auto Care tops it in my opinion, because it actually softens tar spots too. I use it before the de-tarring stage and the de-tarring is so much easier when Iron Cleanse it's used before it.

I've yet to try Wolfs Decon Gel V3, but the first two versions weren't a patch on Iron Cleanse and Iron X. Also reviews of another product called Purple Rain have reported it as quite poor...can't remember the manufacturer off the top of my head.

HJL

I must put it on my shopping list.

Is it available anywhere apart from online? You can get a very good selection online but the postage costs are quite expensive i find. Most of the items i have ive got off ebay.

MetzgerMeister

HJL wrote: »

I must put it on my shopping list.

Is it available anywhere apart from online? You can get a very good selection online but the postage costs are quite expensive i find. Most of the items i have ive got off ebay.

www.detailingshed.com have reasonable postage rates and they stock Iron Cleanse. They're based in Dublin.

Stainless_Steel

Note that it is hard work to get good correction from polishing with the hand!

I've just ordererd a DAS6 dual action polishing machine.

Re the cloths and wash mitt - don't get lazy by not cleaning them after each use! I used to spend a small fortune each time i wanted to do a proper clean. Have my current cloths for months now since I started looking after them and they are like new still!

HJL

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

www.detailingshed.com have reasonable postage rates and they stock Iron Cleanse. They're based in Dublin.

€7.95 postage for a €13.95 item is pretty steep i think, although i know its done by weight so if you were getting a few things the €7.95 postage would be the same.

HJL

Stainless_Steel wrote: »

Note that it is hard work to get good correction from polishing with the hand!

I've just ordererd a DAS6 dual action polishing machine.

This is true, I dont have a machine polisher although i was very tempted to getting one about a year ago, but i didnt then as i figured i wouldnt get the use out of it to justify the cost. But i was reading the group buy tread and it got me thinking about it again, and the MR2 correction thread has really got me thinking about one again after seeing the results.

Although i got decent swirl mark removal from hand polishing by using http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/polishing/p1-nanocomposite-polish/ along with http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/polishing/fp1-tri-foam-polish-pad/ looking back on it now i should have maybe done it twice for improved results, but it was a lot of work and it took the whole weekend to do it when you factor in all the prep work of de-tarring [tardis] and claying [meguires clay kit] and of course washing the entire car after every stage.

Here is a before photo [i used the flash to show the swirls]:


[IMG][/img]


And after photo [flash used again to show correction results]:


[IMG][/img]

MetzgerMeister

You got those results by hand?? :eek: Fair play to ya!

If you do buy one, you probably won't just use it the once. If you give the car a full correction (100% correction is almost impossible), you may get swirls or scratches on it again down the line. It's then you'll be glad to have it.

Also, you don't have to use it for just correction. Using it at speed 4 takes a lot of work out of applying gloss polishes, sealants and waxes. You can also get a better finish on your head/tail lights.

If you ever glide it off a hedge due to some muppet forcing you into it, you'll be happy in the knowledge that whatever scrape is there, if any, won't be there for long after!

eringobragh

HJL wrote: »

This is true, I dont have a machine polisher although i was very tempted to getting one about a year ago, but i didnt then as i figured i wouldnt get the use out of it to justify the cost. But i was reading the group buy tread and it got me thinking about it again, and the MR2 correction thread has really got me thinking about one again after seeing the results.

Although i got decent swirl mark removal from hand polishing by using http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/polishing/p1-nanocomposite-polish/ along with http://gtechniq.com/shop/3s-for-cars/polishing/fp1-tri-foam-polish-pad/ looking back on it now i should have maybe done it twice for improved results, but it was a lot of work and it took the whole weekend to do it when you factor in all the prep work of de-tarring [tardis] and claying [meguires clay kit] and of course washing the entire car after every stage.

Good job, I can appreciate the amount of effort it took to get that out by hand..but I was in the same boat and I just went for it and as you've seen from my MR2 the gamble paid off..Its a cracking kit.

HJL

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

You got those results by hand?? :eek: Fair play to ya!

If you do buy one, you probably won't just use it the once.

Cheers, I was very happy with the results. A machine would have taken a lot of the work out of it though. And yeah I probably would use it more than once if i had one as it is pretty much a hobby/passion to detail the car as im sure it is with you, im not your typical 'bucket of soapy water to clean the muck off it' kinda person!

eringobragh wrote: »

Good job, I can appreciate the amount of effort it took to get that out by hand..but I was in the same boat and I just went for it and as you've seen from my MR2 the gamble paid off..Its a cracking kit.

Ive been keeping a close eye on your progress, fantastic job. Although I was happy with my results by hand polishing, it is nothing to a machine polish as it really brings up the finish so much better.

I think if i had a shed/garage to work in i would have a machine polisher in a shot, the weather is a big factor in detailing.

Maybe someday soon i will take the plunge and treat myself to a machine polisher and step up a notch or two on the polishing scale!

TRS30

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Do you mean cleancar.ie?? Detailing Shed have a lot of great products too, they sell the best tar remover I've ever used - Tar Cleanse.

Thats the one- got so excited with all my purchases