Today I did some detailing...

challengemaster wrote: »

Gave the OAC citrus pre-clean a run, was well impressed. Did 10:1 dilution because it was fairly heavily soiled and destroyed with flies. Followed up with powerwash, 2BM and then waxed with HD wax.

Ehhh, did you not clean your wheels?

Another Orchard Autocare product impressing - good to see!

Nice motor MC - very best of luck with it!

As you say - keeping on top of it will be the key....that and a good de-ironiser/fall out remover.....essential piece of kit when owning white or silver cars!! On lighter colours, it makes a noticeable difference; not so much so on darker colours!

MuppetCheck wrote: »

even to touch a panel had black smudges showing up that otherwise weren't visible.

Sure your hands were clean!

Was all set to give the car a polish with a DA yesterday and it was just too damn hot.

Prob take a day off next week (when it's cooler again) and go at it.

Both cars snow foamed, Washed. Dried and treated to some Britemax Spray and Shine.

Got my first car this week, mam's old Toyota Yaris!

Decided I'd clean every last bit of the car over the next while. It's mechanically perfect, but the paint is in a bad way (lacquer peeling on roof and spreading).

Only had enough time to wash it and detar it (first time using the stuff). Can't believe how easy the stuff comes off with it!

Before:


After:

Scortho wrote: »

It looks great!
What did you use to clean it up?
Hoover and apc?

Autosmart G101 (strong mixture)

Curran wrote: »

For anyone looking to know the difference between a valet and a detail, I think the above is a goo example.

Its a great turn around for sure!! But some of those plastics are still dirty IMO....I couldnt leave it like that. I understand the carpet is beyond saving really, but 2 mins extra and a few different brushes, on each section of plastic would have them spotless. The pedal box could have been given a wipe too!

Ita a work van so the turn around is very good, but its the finer details that define the gap between valet and detailing.

TBH i wasnt 100% yesterday, the HEAT! :eek:

You're dead right currun
90% = valet
100% = detail

I got paid for a valet though

Well if i was on form it would have been a top notch valet LOL

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

Well if i was on form it would have been a top notch valet LOL

You mentioned you worked/ did some training with Brian.
Did he train you to turn our unfinished work when in ad form??

I think not..

As Curran said.
Your credibility pends your last job.

vectra wrote: »

You mentioned you worked/ did some training with Brian.
Did he train you to turn out unfinished work when in bad form??

HE made one or two typo's, which Ive fixed...should make sense now

Ah right - very correct

Chimaera wrote: »

Would love them wheels under my caddy, sucks not being a bit richer

Looks well what wax

Get rid of the Turtle Wax and get yourself Collinite 476S or 845. It works very very well with Jetseal

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

easy use that 476s

Never used 476 but I love the 845.
It is a breeze to use and has an excellent gloss from it. Last well.

Well done Chimaera and BillJ - both cars looking very well!

Started doing the outside of my car today in prep for the big TOC meet this Sunday. Mostly using products seen as mediocre in here to be honest :P

started this morning washed the car (AG bodywork conditioner), de-tared (AG tar remover), rinsed, washed again, clayed with turtle wax clay bar, rinsed, washed again, rinsed and dried.

not sure if that process was entirely correct but i'm happy this far. having a little siesta now and will go back out in a few to keep going

a quick pic this far -

tried going out again there but you're at nothing with the polish, its too warm.

here's a few photos of the clay. i've owned the car 14 months now. although it'd always be kept clean i've never clayed before. here are some of my results i used water as lube and not the clay lube provided for some reason :P i stuck to the recommended keeping passing the clay until you feel no friction. i don't know if the results represent a poor quality clay or a car that wasn't actually that dirty.

roof :



driver side complete :



passenger side complete :

it was ok, i was wetting the panels as i went so they were always wet and it was still early in the morning so they weren't hot to touch.

it was the turtle wax "refine and shine" clay bar kit. i had never used it before, i was dubious enough of the clay concept, but would happily pay a bit more the next time to get a better product having seen the results.

i didn't realise there was a risk attached to using just water :P but it looks fine, certainly no worse than before in terms of swirls or damage.

you know it's been a good 8 hour detailing session enjoying the music when :pac:



ok, so in the following order

AG paint renovator
AG SRP
AG UDS
Jeffs prime

wash and dry to get rid of epic dust

jeffs prime
jeffs addicted to glos

and endurance gel on the tyres

happy happy! and bring on the TOC big meet on Sunday!

TFB, at least your not afraid of a bit of work but you must love making your life difficult:D

I'm not here to knock you, just to point out a few things which will help you out in future.

Firstly, I would only use AG paint renovator to remove scratches, but not to worry. It is a little too abrasive to use as an all round general polish.

As for using AG SRP, AG UDS and Jeffs prime in that order, well each of those products are essentially doing the same job. They clean, polish and protect. Except one might suit better than the other depending on whether you are working on a dark colour (UDS) or a light/metallic or white (Prime) or just have SRP to hand and intend topping it with EGS or a wax afterwards. So whatever benefit UDS brought in terms of enhancing black, you removed it with the two shots of Prime.

So either use UDS on its own (for black), or SRP & EGP together for a better overall finish and more protection. If you prefer the Jeffs acrylic system, go with them. Prime first and top up with Glos after each wash. Better again if you go Prime, next Jett (sealant) and maintain with Glos. The problem with acrylic products on dark colours (especially non-metallic blacks) is they can look a little sterile or plasticy, so an acrylic and carnauba mix or cleaner wax and carnauba wax combo would look better.

TomMc wrote: »

TFB, at least your not afraid of a bit of work but you must love making your life difficult:D

I'm not here to knock you, just to point out a few things which will help you out in future.

Firstly, I would only use AG paint renovator to remove scratches, but not to worry. It is a little too abrasive to use as an all round general polish.

As for using AG SRP, AG UDS and Jeffs prime in that order, well each of those products are essentially doing the same job. They clean, polish and protect. Except one might suit better than the other depending on whether you are working on a dark colour (UDS) or a light/metallic or white (Prime) or just have SRP to hand and intend topping it with EGS or a wax afterwards. So whatever benefit UDS brought in terms of enhancing black, you removed it with the two shots of Prime.

So either use UDS on its own (for black), or SRP & EGP together for a better overall finish and more protection. If you prefer the Jeffs acrylic system, go with them. Prime first and top up with Glos after each wash. Better again if you go Prime, next Jett (sealant) and maintain with Glos. The problem with acrylic products on dark colours (especially non-metallic blacks) is they can look a little sterile or plasticy, so an acrylic and carnauba mix or cleaner wax and carnauba wax combo would look better.

not knocking at all, i appreciate the sound advice, as i do sometimes feel like i am probably taking two steps forwards and one step back with the jumble of products i use so i really appreciate being set straight.

the car is a metallic black for what it's worth.

i ended up with all the jeffs kit as it it was a recommended purchase for me back when i had my white vitz and i bought a good few bottles at the time :P.

the jeffs is so easy on and easy off compared to most nearly anything else i tried, like most AG stuff feels like a chore to work compared to it. i did appreciate that it was for a lighter colour of car but enjoyed knowing in my head that a good coat of it kept the car beading for what (imo) is a very long time, that combined with the easy of application made it worthwhile for me even if there is a slight finish compromise.

could you recommend a good equivalent to the jeffs but for that colour? one other thing i really like about it is it doesn't have that "chalkyness" to it when you buff it off and it doesn't leave a dusty mess.

edit : and a mk1 corsa under the cover