Detailing chat

ronnie3585

Filling up in Texaco last week, I saw an old buck pull up in a brand spanking new 162 E Class. He then grabs the filthiest looking squegy from a bucked of black water beside the pump and 'cleans' the windscreen. Once done, he spots something he doesn't like on the bonnet, flips the squegy over to the sponge part on the back and digs at the bonnet for a few minutes! It was painful to watch.

Black_Knight

Black_Knight wrote: »

Center park road, tis much closer for me. I'll take a few snaps of their work when I get out to the car. Fingers cross for no bird sh1t.

Shiney shiney, and off to the wedding


My formerly manky armrest:




Unfortunately it was pissing out of the heavens all Saturday, and the bride lives up a country road (complete with 'cows crossing' poo paths), so the exterior work was all in vain.

vectra

Can't see any pics.

Black_Knight

vectra wrote: »

Can't see any pics.

Thought that might happen. Google's photo backup used to be so nice and 'public'.

Edit: You sure? Photos are showing ok for me in my incognito window
Edit2: Confirmed. I'm on it

Edit3: Better now?

vectra

Sorted.
Looking good.

shietpilot

Looks like Saturday and Sunday is going to be fairly dry most of the country! Finally I can crack on with it and hopefully get all the cars in the household done during the weekend

Noccy_Mondy

Decided to take out the Argos da that I got last April and see what it was like. Put a small bit of polish on the rear quarter panel, used that sponge buffing head to take it off, and even with that the difference! I don't know what it did, hid them or what, but took away loads of the nasty briar marks, ones that hand polishing did nothing to.

I know it's far from the ideal job, but baby steps. I've been too afraid to go near it until I bit the bullet. I'll give it the full detar, clay etc, and try doing it with the head I have. Build up the courage. Then, once I'm confident, I'll buy some hex pads and do it proper.

ianobrien

Noccy_Mondy wrote: »

Decided to take out the Argos da that I got last April and see what it was like. Put a small bit of polish on the rear quarter panel, used that sponge buffing head to take it off, and even with that the difference! I don't know what it did, hid them or what, but took away loads of the nasty briar marks, ones that hand polishing did nothing to.

I know it's far from the ideal job, but baby steps. I've been too afraid to go near it until I bit the bullet. I'll give it the full detar, clay etc, and try doing it with the head I have. Build up the courage. Then, once I'm confident, I'll buy some hex pads and do it proper.

I got same thing but I experimented on an old door I had in the back of the garage. I posted the trials here and you know, I'm converted. When I get the time needed to to the cars properly.

Surely there's a scrappy you can get a panel or two off to learn from. It doesn't even have to be a straight one.

traco

Didn't want to start a new thread so said I would lash it in here. Had this dent taken out on the nearside wheelarch today. It was a decent size, looked like a golf ball hit but was a wheelie bin that fell on it.

I am over the moon with it, superb job and very reasonable. Sorted several others also while he was at it, even one I hadn't seen. Not sure if I am allowed post name so won't but if anyone wants his contact info drop me a PM

vintagevrs

Placed a wee order with detailing shed and the stuff arrived today, fantastic service. Went for Korrosol this time instead of Iron X. I can't tell the difference in the two and considering you get 1L instead of 500ml would recommend the Korrosol as much better value.

Anyway, made a start on a slight smaller older wheel this evening. Here is the before. The wheel is 28 years old I believe and looks every bit of it. Underneath all that muck and grime though is a solid little wheel. It's that small it gets protected by huge profile tyres.




Here's the after




That's not really the after , rain put the game off for another night so will have to wait. I got one wheel half done but needs more work. Hopefully they come up well though

Cheers

MetzgerMeister

Just spent €245.00 on Gtechniq swag......I need help :pac:

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Was down in Detailing Shed shop yesterday, dangerious place, got a bunch of things but what can I saw wheel wollies are the business, so fast and handy. No more arse ache cleaning the wheels. Also the drill ball polishers is a whiz at the exhaust, 10 seconds and its gleaming.

Got some carpro essence, only tested it so far, no bad. Will report once the car is properly done. Dave can I / should I wax on top of the essence

vintagevrs

So I bought an BMW E30 last week. Today, I pulled the almost perfect interior apart to see what horrors, if any lay underneath the carpet. Thankfully, there was a metal floor there, and not just carpet and filler stopping my backside hitting the tarmac. Removing the carpet was relatively straightforward, but a decent bit of work to get it out.

I cleaned the mat/base of the boot earlier in the week. I power hosed it, then put some detergent on it, and power hosed it again. It came up ok, but not like new.

Any better suggestions for cleaning the interior mat now that I have it out?

Some snaps of today's progress:



Seat and pedal back in to put her back in the garage:

Curran

Leona Wide Word wrote: »

Got some carpro essence, only tested it so far, no bad. Will report once the car is properly done. Dave can I / should I wax on top of the essence

You can if you want, but it has protection built in. It's also the prefect based for their CQUK or Reload. There wouldn't be any issue applyin anything on it, other than the possibility of not achievin maximum bonding and as a result loss of durability of the wax.

Was actually using CarPro Essence myself this evening. Brother -in-Law's tired looking VW Golf MkIV. Just looking for a bit of life in the paint. Looked terrible, faded, appeared grey. Quick pass with Essence, buffed, and it's protected.

Not bad on hard BMW paint. Not a correction polish, but a light abraaive and semi durable resin filler, gloss enhancer. Very easy to use.



The rain arrived and a perfect opportunity to demonstrate it's protection....roof obviously not done.

MetzgerMeister

Curran wrote: »

Looked terrible, faded, appeared grey.

Have you tried it in your hair yet? :pac:

Curran

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Have you tried it in your hair yet? :pac:

Didn't work....but would work wonders on your face! :pac:

Curran

Leona Wide Word wrote: »

Dave can I / should I wax on top of the essence

Just to show you what Reload is like Maurice.
Washed, no de-tar, no de-iron, no claying, no polish. Car was very dirty prior to the wash. Spray on, buff in....15 mins for the whole car!! Obviously far from perfect approach, and the paintwork is in average condition, but it looked pretty well!

YbFocus

Can I have your wheels

crasy dash

Not strictly detailing related but I'm sure I'll get the right advice in here.

What's the best thing to use on the handles of pliers screwdrivers etc that are dirty after using them.

I'm usually very precise when it comes to this but the odd time I forget to wear a glove for a min or two or drop it into the old oil I have just changed haha

MetzgerMeister

Alcohol wipes, IPA (rubbing alcohol) breaks down wax/grease/polish.

crasy dash

Thanks for the quick reply is the rubbing alcohol easy to get hold off?

MetzgerMeister

It's available from pharmacies. Just be sure to ask for rubbing alcohol

5500

By rubbing alcohol are we talking surgical spirits in the pharmacy?

vectra

5500 wrote: »

By rubbing alcohol are we talking surgical spirits in the pharmacy?

This >>> http://www.itcentral.ie/isopropyl-alcohol/isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-100-1-litre-labpharma-grade.html

vintagevrs

So I had a crack at the e30's carpet today. Soaked it first then rubbed in washing powder. Left it to soak for 20min and then took the power hose to it. Really satisfying job watching all the brown water and grit run away. The carpet isn't like new, still a few marks etc but it's a huge improvement and hopefully will smell better too. No before or during snaps but here it is drying on the dogs house.

Story Bud?

First time detailing. I'm four hours in and I'm feckin exhausted.

I'd say I've an hour left. I'm afraid to look at the before pics in case it looks exactly the same.

Would the lads mind posting some topless pics please because you must have some serious feckin guns.

shietpilot

Story Bud? wrote: »

First time detailing. I'm four hours in and I'm feckin exhausted.

I'd say I've an hour left. I'm afraid to look at the before pics in case it looks exactly the same.

Would the lads mind posting some topless pics please because you must have some serious feckin guns.

Just finished my Focus. I started at 11 in the morning. It was also my first time detailing properly.

Wash
De-tar
Rinse
De-iron (the wheels looks amazing now by the way. I sprayed them on and push the car forward by the wheel and cleaned the insides of the wheels because it gave better access)
Rinse
Claybar
Wash
Dry

At this point I was ready for polishing but the paint work on the Focus is very very good scratch wise. I couldn't not see any swirls but still did some testing on the bonnet with a medium cut pad. In the end I decided I won't polish the whole lot so I took out a big scuff I created on the driver's door some months ago that was always annoying me when I went to get in/out of the car. It came out very good and the rest of the car looked good enough.

Then I used some CarPro Eraser and Collinite 845'ed the whole thing. Car looks very good now. I will go get some pics now

Story Bud?

Yeh underestimated the time even at my last post. Spent around five and a half hours in total.

No idea what I'm at if I'm honest.

Washed & dried - autoglym shampoo
Wheels washed (need a bigger alloy brush) and rinsed - autoglym tyre cleaner
De tar - autoglym intensive tar treatment
Rinsed & dried
Clay - megs
Rinsed & dried
TCut applied and buffed
Autoglym polish and buff
Applied autoglym high gloss sealant
Windows autoglym glass cleaner
Buffed off sealant.

Wrecked!

I'll post pics in the pic thread now

Hal1

Story Bud? wrote:

Applied autoglym high gloss sealant

Was that the extra gloss protection or the hd wax? If it was the extra gloss protection it's only a sealant and will fade off with washes and rain etc over time.
It's good stuff and will last a while but it's not as durable as a wax.

Story Bud?

Hal1 wrote: »

Was that the extra gloss protection or the hd wax? If it was the extra gloss protection it's only a sealant and will fade off with washes and rain etc over time.
It's good stuff and will last a while but it's not as durable as a wax.

It's the extra gloss protection. I'll definitely get a wax, I was given a gift set of autoglym products and tbh I thought there'd be a wax in it!