Car Detailing.

[quiet_riot]

Auto Glym Aqua Wax is the answer

 

[crublue1]

Thanks for the heads-up mate, I may just end up utilizing the services of a good detailer.

That's an option, you have to decide if the car is worth spending that amount of money on.
Don't forget these guys are correcting and detailing high end motors, and are highly skilled, and quite rightly charge accordingly.
I'm confident any half competent person could polish a car to an acceptable standard. Not show quality or concours, but that's not what you're trying to achieve.
People on here who know much more about this stuff than me are quite right to point out things could go wrong, you could end up messing it up, all I'm saying is it's never gone bad for me, maybe I've been lucky.
I'd be surprised if you managed to go through the clearcoat, but stranger things have happened so don't blame me if all the paint falls off as soon as you show it the da!
It's like learning anything new really, the only way to learn is to do it. Confidence and technique. When you've done it you'll be chuffed as.
Good luck

 

[Kazzydeyna]

A few other things I think are important to mention.

I am not a detailer but I do work very closely with one and am always asking him why he is doing things and what he is using to do it.

Scratches or marks that can be removed are in the lacquer not in the paint. Once you get to the paint you can't do anything.

The skill of a detailer in removing these marks is in their ability to remove the mark only to the point in the lacquer that the imperfections are effecting. Anyone doing this without experience will run the risk of getting rid of all the marks but only leaving a nano thin layer of lacquer on the paint. If at this point you have the car paint protected by either film (what I do) or ceramic (what detailers do) then you will have no issues. However if you don't you could end up in the situation that any new marks that are put on the car through general use/washing now go direct to the paint and a respray is your only option to make good.

Just wanting to put out the worst case scenario. I am confident that this wont happen but wanted you to be aware that it could/does.

This is excellent advice. If in doubt go to a professional. Itll cost but younger what you pay for.

 

[Kazzydeyna]

Auto Glym Aqua Wax is the answer

I use this. Its brilliant and simple to use. If you use it every time you wash you soon build up a nice level of protection.

I've recently started using their polar seal, spray on sealant. I do this every 4th wash and use aqua wax the other 3. After using it I pray for rain as I love the beading

 

[quiet_riot]

I use this. Its brilliant and simple to use. If you use it every time you wash you soon build up a nice level of protection.

I've recently started using their polar seal, spray on sealant. I do this every 4th wash and use aqua wax the other 3. After using it I pray for rain as I love the beading

Cheers I'll look.

I've only washed my car myself since lockdown, used to go to a Romanian carwash near me, £6 for a rinse, snowfoam, rinse, handwash then hand dry.

Trouble is, however nice and shiny you get your car, it only lasts a few hours and then driving/dust in the air etc gets on it

 

[Two Gun Bob]

That's an option, you have to decide if the car is worth spending that amount of money on.
Don't forget these guys are correcting and detailing high end motors, and are highly skilled, and quite rightly charge accordingly.
I'm confident any half competent person could polish a car to an acceptable standard. Not show quality or concours, but that's not what you're trying to achieve.People on here who know much more about this stuff than me are quite right to point out things could go wrong, you could end up messing it up, all I'm saying is it's never gone bad for me, maybe I've been lucky.
I'd be surprised if you managed to go through the clearcoat, but stranger things have happened so don't blame me if all the paint falls off as soon as you show it the da! It's like learning anything new really, the only way to learn is to do it. Confidence and technique. When you've done it you'll be chuffed as.
Good luck

A brilliant motivational speech and after careful deliberation I am now back in. From the Crane, we learn grace and self-control, the Snake teaches us suppleness and rhythmic endurance, the Praying Mantis teaches us speed and patience and from the Tiger we learn tenacity and power, whilst from the Dragon, we learn to ride the wind. All creatures, the low and the high, are one with nature. If we have the wisdom to learn all may teach us their virtues.

 

[mindmyp's_n_q's]

A brilliant motivational speech and after careful deliberation I am now back in. From the Crane, we learn grace and self-control, the Snake teaches us suppleness and rhythmic endurance, the Praying Mantis teaches us speed and patience and from the Tiger we learn tenacity and power, whilst from the Dragon, we learn to ride the wind. All creatures, the low and the high, are one with nature. If we have the wisdom to learn all may teach us their virtues.

With that attitude I'm in!

 

[crublue1]

A ceramic coating should last for 2-5 years before wearing out, if applied correctly.

The post directly below yours is also correct. If not done properly they are the devil's own job to rectify, hence why I've been holding off on it.
Sounds like yours is good though so nothing to worry about.
The big thing is that you don't ever really have to worry about waxing for a while at least as your ceramic gives you all the protection you need.

Just a prewash, rinse, wash, rinse, dry and quick detailing spray. About an hour or so and tour car will come up like new every time.
Jobs a good in

Hi mate can you recommend some products to do what you mention in the last paragraph please?
I'd be interested in your methods too.
Cheers bud

 

[Kazzydeyna]

Hi mate can you recommend some products to do what you mention in the last paragraph please?
I'd be interested in your methods too.
Cheers bud

I generally use autoglym stuff as it's a bit cheaper than meguiars.

You don't have to ore wash but I always do as I like doing it so I either use the polar range (great of you have a pressure washer and a snow foam Lance): polar blast (pre wash), polar wash (shampoo) and polar seal (seals paintwork and process protection) .

If you don't have a pressure washer, or just fancy the traditional methods, I've used a citrus pre clean spray (can't remember the brand, not used or for a while) , autoglym shampoo and conditioner or meguiars shampoo, and any spray wax you like. Autoglym aqua wax is great and long lasting.

Even some of the cheaper stuff (simoniz, turtle Wax) is decent enough if you wash regularly but for really dirty cars I'd use a recognised semi premium brand (autoglym, meguiars, auto finesse etc).
Not used it myself but plenty of People swear by Halfords own label car shampoo

I use the classic "2 bucket method (2bm)". Ie, a bucket of clean water for rinsing, a bucket with your shampoo in. Wash a panel at a time, rinse your mitt in the rinse bucket, on to the next panel etc. The theory is you don't transfer dirt and grime from the mitt into the wash bucket and reduces the chance of swirling your paint. Important to use grit guards in your buckets as they keep the dirt trapped at the bottom of the bucket and stop it transferring on to your mitt.

 

[Sir peace frog]

Yes I will take a few pics of it when the sun is out. The swirl marks she has could possibly be machine polished but the other anomaly is the circular like ghosting effect that when you move your head in direct sunlight the ghosting moves with you so maybe just light refraction, polish residue or something else. I wasn't anticipating £250 sobs for a machine polish though. When the sun is not shining directly on it it's A1 perfect.

I have a solution for dilemma ,that wont cost the earth.

go to tescos keeping the 2m rule as you go,buy the largest box of cornflakes you can buy(don't get tescos own they don't taste as nice as keloggs) also purchase
For the Pastry

• 180g Plain White Flour
• 80g Unsalted Butter
• 30ml Water (Cold)

For the Filling

• 135g Golden Syrup
• 65g Butter (Unsalted)
• 30g Billingtons Dark Muscovado Sugar
• 1 Pinch Salt
• 100g Cornflakes
• 100g Strawberry Jam

1. Begin by making the pastry. Place the flour and butter in a food processor and blitz until the mixture becomes like breadcrumbs. Then add water and blitz until you have a soft dough.
   
   
   
2. Turn out onto a floured surface and bring together with your hands. Wrap in cling film and chill for about an hour.
   
   
   
3. When you are ready to roll out your pastry, we recommend rolling out between two large pieces of baking parchment as your pastry will be easier to move about. You can lift the paper and add a little flour to ease its progress.
   
   
   
4. When your pastry has a diameter of about 28cm, gently remove the paper and roll up over your rolling pin and drape it over the tin, pressing gently to form the shape. Don't trim the pastry completely yet.
   
   
   
5. Place the lined tin in the fridge and chill again for at least 30 minutes.
   
   
   
6. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan)
   
   
   
7. When you are ready, bake the pastry blind. Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake blind for 15 minutes then remove the paper and the beans.
   
   
   
8. Quickly and carefully trim the edges if you need to then return the pastry case to the oven to dry out for 5-10 more minutes. If it looks like it will brown too much, protect the edges with foil.
   
   
   
9. When cooked, remove from the oven and allow to rest while you make the filling.
   
   
   
10. For the filling, melt the butter, syrup, sugar and salt in a large pan. Once it is completely melted, stir in the cornflakes and mix gently to ensure that each one is coated.
    
    
    
11. Spread the jam over the base of the pastry case and then top with the cornflake mixture and gently spread out evenly.
    
    
    
12. Put the tart back in the oven for another 5 minutes, then leave to one side to harden slightly before serving.
    serve with custard, delicious
13. ah yes,back to the point in hand,the cornflake box,cut it into strips , stick the strips to the car to shade it from the sun, hey presto no swirls