Today I did some detailing...

Are any of you guys planning on going to the Motor Meet on the 9th?


Thread here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057149738&page=6


Wouldn't mind going if there were things to be seen and learned in relation to the ould detailing. General motoring doesn't really interest me.

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

What do you expect to learn and see about detailing in the middle of a carpark? :pac:

Anything and everything. Some interior cleaning perhaps? Anything that doesn't involve lots of water? Wheel cleaning?

Today I snowfoamed and 2BM'ed the Rav.

As I was filling the buckets with water I was reading the directions for Mr Pink, out of boredom.

They stress not to let the suds sit on the car or dry on the paint, and that regular rinsing is strongly encouraged.

So I figured whats the worst that can happen if I bring out the power washer while I'm 2BM'ing it and rinse as I go (with no attachment on the power washer, so there's no power.. it's just letting the water run over the car like the end of a hose and 'sheeting off' as per the instructions).

Ultimately, it made no real difference and just slowed things down. It did make drying quicker though, as most of the car had been cleared of the excess water by the time you finished circling it with your 2BM routine.

So a waste of time, really. But sure you live and learn.


Have ye guys been using Mr Pink yet, by the way? Any opinions? Maybe it's just me but Glossworkz seems a better shampoo overall? Seems to give a slightly better finish and lathers up with less being used than Mr Pink? Could be all in my head though.


I also did the interior today (though I'll give it another quick going over again tomorrow, I'd say).

Big thumbs up to Meguiar's Quick Interior Detailer Cleaner. A pretty solid product that leaves an excellent finish and uses absolutely feck all. I'd say you'd do your car 50 times with a bottle of it. Will absolutely be sticking with this product.

Also tried out my Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather today, too, on the leather seets in the Rav. Well.. I say seats (plural), but I only actually did one.

This could be placebo, but, whilst I did use an enormous amount of product on a single chair, the chair does seem noticeably softer and newer looking (compared to the passenger seat, which I didn't touch, out of laziness and procrastination - "Ah I'll do it tomorrow!").

When I first started putting it on, it left an extremely glossy look to the seat (and I know it's all down to personal preference, but overly glossy interiors look very cheap in my opinion, I love a nice matte finish), so I instantly became very disheartened.

However, when I used a completely clean Microfibre cloth to wipe it down, it got rid of the glossiness and left a nicer matte-ish look to it (obviously the seats will always be glossy, but it looks a lot better than it did with the product on it. It also looks better than the 'before' (passenger seat). Although in saying that, it's only marginally better looking.

I'm not sure if I'm using it right or not. I used a load of it (it's like a gel or hand soap product) - I beat it into the chair with very aggressive rubbing and circular massaging motions (for lack of a better description). It did good, but I'd be open to trying a different leather cleaner when it runs out.



I also scrubbed the tyres today using Chemical Guys 'Green Clean' APC (neat, not diluted). Sprayed it on, let it sit, and then went at it with a brush and some warm water. Tyres looked like they'd been shined up before any shine ever went near them (And none did, I'll do that part tomorrow, after another quick scrubbing).

Top Tip: Don't spray Green Clean near your face on a windy day!


I've decided that, though i've been putting it off as I can't really stand another 4-day detailathon, I'm going to wash, clay, polish, wax the Rav in stages, panel by panel (if i can bring myself to do that. Might end up doing it all in one go, but would rather avoid it).


The water just ran off the car today, so it's in need of a bit of waxing. Not really a bead to be seen.

Curran wrote: »

When the majority of products not to let it sit or dry on the paint, it means not to leave it in direct sunlight, with hot panels, where there is a risk of the product drying and marking the paintwork....unfortunately we only see those types of days here, maybe 4 or 5 days in a year!
It is OK to wash the whole car and then rinse it down...in fact most times its OK to wash the car and take 15 minutes before washing it down. IF you see the panels drying out, and if that happens just wet the panel again, until you get around to rinsing the whole car down.

Im not really a fan of products that do two jobs in one, and if Im correct the Meg's Gold Class Rich Leather is a Cleaner and Conditioner in one? To be honest, I'd much prefer a cleaner and a conditioner. Use the cleaner to spray on / rub in, and agitate lightly / work into, the seat; and then using clean MF cloths to buff off the cleaner and dirt with it. When the seats are cleaned and dried, they will have a nice matt appearance, and then the conditioner will give them a slightly softer feel and a nice leather smell (if the scent is in it).

Doing the car, panel by panel, will be more of a pain than doing the whole car. But obviously its hard to commit to 4 days on the trot. Seeing as you have a bit more experience now, than when you were doing the Megane, you might be surprised how much you have sped up each step in the process. Also, your 4 day "detailathon" included things like the interior...if there are jobs that can be put of for another time, then leave them. Concentrate on getting the critical things done together. Two days on the paintwork - wash, de-tar, de-iron, clay, polish and protect. Then maybe next week take a day to look at the wheels, tyres, and trim. A week later, spend a day on the interior........anyways, you get the idea!

Would you by any chance happen to know of any detailing shops or sheds or the likes :P that would sell a decent product/s for the leather seats then?

I bought the Meguiar's leather product on price really. I had a €40 (I think) One4All voucher and wanted to use it up, so I got 4 different products that all together came to €39.97 or something silly like that.


But in saying that, it did do a relatively decent job, but I would like to get something a bit more dramatic in it's 'nourishing' powers.


I think you're right, too, though. I'm probably better off getting it all done at once (well, all the exterior, that is). Everytime I look at the Rav, i get annoyed by the smaller defects, even though I know a machine polish will get rid of them.

That said, Im in financially dire straits at the moment, with several bills (late February/early March kill me every year), and I need to replace, i think, the two pads that I lost when I did the Megane.

I think I have the green, red, black and white pads (and I think I destroyed the orange and yellow?). I can't really remember, but if I'm right, the green one is the only worthwhile one where polishing is concerned.

Ah, it might be worth giving it a shot. I'll give it two days and go from there. If nothing else it'll knock me out of this 'late nights, late mornings' pattern I've fallen into.

vectra wrote: »

Used Mr.Pink the other day and found it brilliant.
Washed roof / Bonnet /Tailgate and doors down to body line as [er norm and rinsed it off. Continued with the rst of that car after that.
All I can say is I can see myself sticking with this shampoo for a while.
No complaints from me.

Have you used Glossworkz shampoo at all, out of curiousity?

Just to see if you have a comparison of both? Could be just me of course, but I felt Glossworkz was a bit of a stronger performer all in all.

I'll try Mr. Pink again in the coming days (gonna do a few rounds with the Rav and see if I can get it up to scratch).

dylbert wrote: »

Very little water went near the engine, I used a bucket of water with some APC and an old microfiber, the dirt was mostly dry and dusty not oily gunk so a damp cloth done the job.

Yeah mine is the same, with regards to type of dirt. Will give it a blast. Just not sure, when Im looking at the engine, what parts can lift off and how, etc. so will be a bit of an experiment I suppose.