6 long, but worth while steps to make your car/truck shine.
Dead_Bunny
Wagonist
Hi all, I just wanted to post a six step way to make your car shine.
I detail cars on the side for a few extra bucks.
So, here we go!
Products I suggest!
(I go with the NXT series over the Gold class because I have found over a few hundred car washes, it works better. same with the wax)
Car Wash-"meguiars NXT"
Polish, or past-"your choice"
Wax-"meguiars NXT"
Clay bar-"your choice" (I usually use the Mothers clay bar, but not the whole kit)
Brush-"your choice again" I have two brushes, one is a soft but slightly stiff bristled brush to get dirt and deb re off.
the other is a much softer brush, almost hair like. That brush almost acts as a "buffer"
Now that you've sold your first born and bought the products it's on to the first step!
1. Wash, use room temp. water and make sure the car wash soap comes up well. Now start from the top and work your way down, this way you do not grab dirt and bring it down to the clean area. Wash off the surface well with water!
2. Clay bar (the perpus of a clay bar is to remove oxidization, and impurities from the paint. as well as filling in "rough" areas in your paint). usually the box (with what ever clay bar you bought) will have instructions. But if not, here is how you go about doing so.
(it may help to have a 2nd person. if not, just be careful)
after you have made sure the area is clean, wet it- slowly take the clay bar and flatten it out (to a pan cake) and slowly rub the area of that car (while keeping it wet) in circular motions until area is smooth. be sure to take your time! make sure the area is constantly damp while clay baring.
be careful not to drop the clay bar! If you drop it, you lose it (if you do reuse it after it is dirty or has sand or that type of stuff in it. the clay bar will damage the paint). continue to do this over the entire car (where paint is at least)
3. Wash again- you may wonder why you want to was hit again, but after you clay bar (especially for the first time) there may be white residue left over. repeat the first step (a softer brush possible)
4. dry- after you have completely washed off the car with water, start to dry. use a soft towels or cloths.
PAUSE! before you get too ahead of yourself!
here is my number ONE rule. DON'T use a buffer!
Buffers can be dangerous to the paint if you do not know how to use one correctly! IMO stay away from them, better off taking an extra 30 mins on your car versus screwing up your paint and putting marks into it.
The small round applying pads are the best way to go in any case.
be sure to have at least 4 of them
-also-
a shaded area may be best to do the next two steps.
5.Polish (I usually stick to meguiars deep crystal polish)-
take one of the pads and apply a small amount of polish to it. slowly rub in a circular motions letting a thin coat gather on that area. Repeat over entire car (with paint that is). WARNING-try not to get any on plastic such as trim.
----let dry (the polish, is much like wax it will get very thin and dust like after drying allowing for easy buff off), and buff off polish with soft clean towel or cloth----
at this point your car will really shine, but here is for that extra "Umpfff" that really makes people stop and look....or at least turn their heads.
5.5
After completely buffing off all of the polish, stand back and take a break! you've been at it for a while. come back with a coke (or beer).
6. Wax (Trust me the NXT is worth the $16 dollars)
Now that you are refreshed, grab another small pad. much like how you applied the polish, do the same with the was, but a bit thicker.
(as you wax your pad that you are using could possibly get dirty or too soggy to apply anymore wax. toss that one in the wash and grab another.)
Once you have applied wax to entire car, wait.
----FINAL mini step----
Buff, with clean soft towels or cloths. Clean micro fiber cloths do the best.
Stand back, take a breath and a look!
I detail cars on the side for a few extra bucks.
So, here we go!
Products I suggest!
(I go with the NXT series over the Gold class because I have found over a few hundred car washes, it works better. same with the wax)
Car Wash-"meguiars NXT"
Polish, or past-"your choice"
Wax-"meguiars NXT"
Clay bar-"your choice" (I usually use the Mothers clay bar, but not the whole kit)
Brush-"your choice again" I have two brushes, one is a soft but slightly stiff bristled brush to get dirt and deb re off.
the other is a much softer brush, almost hair like. That brush almost acts as a "buffer"
Now that you've sold your first born and bought the products it's on to the first step!
1. Wash, use room temp. water and make sure the car wash soap comes up well. Now start from the top and work your way down, this way you do not grab dirt and bring it down to the clean area. Wash off the surface well with water!
2. Clay bar (the perpus of a clay bar is to remove oxidization, and impurities from the paint. as well as filling in "rough" areas in your paint). usually the box (with what ever clay bar you bought) will have instructions. But if not, here is how you go about doing so.
(it may help to have a 2nd person. if not, just be careful)
after you have made sure the area is clean, wet it- slowly take the clay bar and flatten it out (to a pan cake) and slowly rub the area of that car (while keeping it wet) in circular motions until area is smooth. be sure to take your time! make sure the area is constantly damp while clay baring.
be careful not to drop the clay bar! If you drop it, you lose it (if you do reuse it after it is dirty or has sand or that type of stuff in it. the clay bar will damage the paint). continue to do this over the entire car (where paint is at least)
3. Wash again- you may wonder why you want to was hit again, but after you clay bar (especially for the first time) there may be white residue left over. repeat the first step (a softer brush possible)
4. dry- after you have completely washed off the car with water, start to dry. use a soft towels or cloths.
PAUSE! before you get too ahead of yourself!
here is my number ONE rule. DON'T use a buffer!
Buffers can be dangerous to the paint if you do not know how to use one correctly! IMO stay away from them, better off taking an extra 30 mins on your car versus screwing up your paint and putting marks into it.
The small round applying pads are the best way to go in any case.
be sure to have at least 4 of them
-also-
a shaded area may be best to do the next two steps.
5.Polish (I usually stick to meguiars deep crystal polish)-
take one of the pads and apply a small amount of polish to it. slowly rub in a circular motions letting a thin coat gather on that area. Repeat over entire car (with paint that is). WARNING-try not to get any on plastic such as trim.
----let dry (the polish, is much like wax it will get very thin and dust like after drying allowing for easy buff off), and buff off polish with soft clean towel or cloth----
at this point your car will really shine, but here is for that extra "Umpfff" that really makes people stop and look....or at least turn their heads.
5.5
After completely buffing off all of the polish, stand back and take a break! you've been at it for a while. come back with a coke (or beer).
6. Wax (Trust me the NXT is worth the $16 dollars)
Now that you are refreshed, grab another small pad. much like how you applied the polish, do the same with the was, but a bit thicker.
(as you wax your pad that you are using could possibly get dirty or too soggy to apply anymore wax. toss that one in the wash and grab another.)
Once you have applied wax to entire car, wait.
----FINAL mini step----
Buff, with clean soft towels or cloths. Clean micro fiber cloths do the best.
Stand back, take a breath and a look!
Comments
it would suck if it rained the next day :P
haha, that's the great thing, if you wash it like this. it will be really easy to get any type of rain off.
i suggest doing this once every 6 months. and waxing in between
yeah i notice that when i wax i can just wipe off dirt easily with a clean cloth.
Also, I always dried off the car while claying it. I would do an area of the car (bigger if it wasn't bad, small if it was terrible) and when done with the area I will take a towel and dry it. It will remove the need for you to rewash your car most of the time.
I would suggest buffing it every 1-2 years if you know what you're doing, it will take the light scratches out and keep it looking killer. If you don't know, then ask someone who does know how or just let them do it.
Also, never take your car through a car wash that touches the car physically with a brush, IT WILL SCRATCH. I buffed a 06 crossfire with 2300 miles that was well above average scratched if you compare to another 06, and extremely above normal when considering it only had 2300 miles on it. 90% of these scratches came from a carwash.
If you own a dark colored car, try to always brush/scrub the same direction when washing and to dry using that same direction across the whole car. It will still scratch very minorly, but at least you won't gradually get swirls from washing your car if you always use the same direction of movement. Also, never wipe your car with your hand while its dirty, it will leave minor scratches in the clear coat that are much more visible on darker colors.
Also, take any excess wax/compound off your moldings and likewise things as soon as you get it on. If you leave it sit it will soak in. If you can't get it off try pressure washing or soaking a cloth with general purpose cleaner or window cleaner and scrubbing like a mad person.
That's about all I can think of for now. These are some of the things I recommend coming from working in detailing/recon.
Btw ive never used that product before but i will deff have to try it.
also use black shoe polish on all your mouldings and trim ... great for photoshoots
Krylon gloss black engine paint looks as good and lasts much longer.
Interesting! I'll have to check them out.
The main reason I said meguiars, is because it is available everywhere.
If anyone elss has any interesting, tips or other good products. Please, you're more than welcome to add in! I'll edit the post (and hey who knows, maybe even get some step by step pics up)
Thanks for the add!
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8226
a lil tip on doing the clay bar
if your car has never been done before
if your doing it right you will actually hear a difference as you work your way across the panels
when it has been done it will be silent, where as when you start working the panel you will hear it as you glide the clay across your wetting substance
I plan to update this with pictures...2 years isn't too late is it? LOL