Today I did some detailing...

So I've been watching the forecast this week and with a week off work, today was the day. Two things I've never used before - Meguiars water magnet microfibre and Farecla G3 clay mitt. I took advantage of the 2 for 3 offer in Halfords and got an Autoglym Tech car wheel brush but I'm not sure of the bristles on it.

Started off with the usual snow foam and two bucket wash using Meguiars NXT Generation shampoo. Dried it off and started the de-tarring. Nothing too harsh was present so it didn't take more than 20 minutes. The tar on the wheels didn't all come off but I have plans to get them refurbished down the road just so they match the condition of the paintwork. The exhaust tips really came up well from the stuff. Another snow foam and quick wash/rinse.

On to the clay mitt - I've used a bar many times and without doubt, the mitt is far far quicker. The paint was lovely and smooth so from that aspect, there's nothing to say the clay bar is better BUT it just felt wrong. Rubbing the same piece of clay over and over the car and not being able to knead it was strange. I kept dipping the mitt in soapy water to keep it wet but for the extra time involved, I think I'll go back to the old fashioned bar. Where does the tree sap etc go?!!!

Another quick wash and a final dry before the 50Cal went all over. All panels, glass and wheels were done. Left it to cure and off it came with a microfibre cloth. Very easy wax to buff off and in general, space grey is a great colour to work with as you can see the black tar spots, you can spot an area of wax you've missed etc

I'm not convinced that a microfibre is any quicker than an old fashioned chamois but nothing wrong with them either.

Quick splash of tyre dressing and 5 hours later she was done. Slightly sunburnt and I've sore arms but I enjoyed it too. Sadly it's going to whizz rain until Sunday.

Curran wrote: »

..... was never a fan of that generation 6er.....

What! heracy Dave....that's heracy!

Curran wrote: »

Looks superb Mark - was never a fan of that generation 6er, but yours looks immense!

The 50Cal Penta wax is a nice soft paste wax, so is really easy to work with...looks like its done a lovely job, but as you say Space Grey is a cracking colour to start with.

Just on the microfiber -vs- old fashioned chamois; the move to the microfiber is certainly a better step, as the chamois will mark the paintwork, especially when it starts to get a little harder after a few uses. The Megs Microfiber isnt the most absorbent, if its the one Im thinking of, short pile with slightly longer pile to make the squared design on the surface? You probably found that you had to wring it out maybe 2 or 3 times. A good drying towel should dry the 6er without having to wring it out.

Yep, a good few times. I had a look at the one on your site but sadly it was out of stock!

Curran wrote: »

The Dry Me Crazy?
Unfortunately we were a bit low in stock of them, so wanted the keep a few for in store - actually sold the last one yesterday evening, online, but it was part of a kit with other cloths.

CarPro Boa Drying Towel is getting rave reviews also; due in the coming days!

I will keep an eye out...

I'd recommend the dry me crazy over anything I've ever used,never have to wring it out one side for 1 half,flip over and get the other half of the car done,use an open hose first to sheet over the paintwork,well worth the money.

The Dry Me Crazy is incredible but the only thing is it's almost impossible to wring it out. I would pay for a small contraption with 2 rollers and a handle that you put the towel through to squeeze out the majority of the water.

If you search your sales history you'll see I bought 3 of them from ya!

Jaysus I'm hot! Look at that handle-turning work......effortless

What I normally do is use the DMC to remove excess and then give a spray of C2v3 and buff that which also buffs any small streaks. I do the whole drying step in one go and then hang up the DMC for the week (indoors) and it's dry in a few days.

I got into the habit of not sheeting excess water off due to the last bit of the car having dried and left water marks on the windows and paint when I did it a panel at a time. This was worse on warm days.

cena wrote: »

I brought this snowfaom today. Nice thick foam and good dwell time. Much thicker than the 50Cal

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Where did you buy it?

Number plate is starting to fade boss! Noticed a good few with the same font as yours fade.

*Kol* wrote: »

Where did you buy it?

http://www.autopia.ie/product/avalanche-snowfoam/ They are based in Roscommon and deliver

Anyone try this, does it work.

http://www.autopia.ie/product/avalanche-snowfoam/

cena wrote: »

I used around 2'' foam and got a nice thick foam

Did it clean well though?

How did your lsp hold up?

I mentioned that to 'cena' previously, but the came back to him and claimed its pH neutral.

Know of a foam that comes in 5ltr, use less in the bottle and cheaper! :P

myshirt wrote: »

Did it clean well though?

How did your lsp hold up?

The car hadn't been cleaned since January. I did the two bucket method after washing it all off.

WAS easy to remove the rest of the dirt after that