Polishing for Noobs?

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:10 pm

Hi folks,

Has anyone got any advice for polishing up my cars? In short, my car washing skills currently equate to using a hot bucket of water & car shampoo with a sponge followed by a hose down, maybe twice a year

I've seen some amazing results on other car's paintwork from a good wash and polish though, so I'm hoping someone could recommend a regime that would suit my skill set

Cheers,
Josh

BrettGee · Post by **BrettGee** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:21 pm

Not advice as such... But things like this (for me) are always best YouTube'd

. Detailed video instruction, can't get clearer than that!
But maybe some others here have their own personal techniques they'd like to share.

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:37 pm

- Two bucket wash method. One with Shampoo and one with fresh water. The fresh water is for rinsing the wash mitt.
- Lamb wool mitt. NEVER sponge. Ill kill you.
- Clay bar car
- Wash again.
- Microfibre towel car dry.
- Onto polishing.
---Depends on how much paint correction is needed.
---I use the 3m perfect it Green, yellow and blue. Pretty much fool proof
---But it all comes down theyour technique. Look up the Zenith polishing technique and learn from that.
- Then onto your LSP (last stage process)
---Ie a sealing wax, carnuba, liquid wax or what not. Your choice and build up X amount of layers.
- Stand back and admire your sealed wax rusty 4th gen.

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:40 pm

BrettGee wrote:Not advice as such... But things like this (for me) are always best YouTube'd . Detailed video instruction, can't get clearer than that!
But maybe some others here have their own personal techniques they'd like to share.

I'm having a look but it's all a bit confusing

Like what polishing machine do I need? What compound? How should I wash my car before it's polished?

It seems like there's a million different ways, and I'm jobby washing car's and know nothing

I just need educating

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:47 pm

RattyMcClelland wrote:- Two bucket wash method. One with Shampoo and one with fresh water. The fresh water is for rinsing the wash mitt.
- Lamb wool mitt. NEVER sponge. Ill kill you.
- Clay bar car
- Wash again.
- Microfibre towel car dry.
- Onto polishing.
---Depends on how much paint correction is needed.
---I use the 3m perfect it Green, yellow and blue. Pretty much fool proof
---But it all comes down theyour technique. Look up the Zenith polishing technique and learn from that.
- Then onto your LSP (last stage process)
---Ie a sealing wax, carnuba, liquid wax or what not. Your choice and build up X amount of layers.
- Stand back and admire your sealed wax rusty 4th gen.

Thanks Ratty, I'm going to need a little while to digest that and research the products

And I love my car sponges, they're great! Bits of dirt and grit get caught in the pores, and then it scratches the car up as you wash

can I not just use one of Laura's merino sweaters or something, a mitt sounds pricey

Sounds like mega effort, but I want to give my Scirocco a good going over. I really want to see what difference you can make to old paint through a decent wash and polish, some of the photos I've seen online are epic

The "S" express · Post by **honda-hardy** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 11:27 pm

never wash the car when hot, first thing in the morning or early evening. ALSO never use a sponge on your paint. where do you think the swirl marks in the paint come from. get a decent lambs wool wash mitt.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/megu ... -mitt.aspx

get 2 buckets one for the washing of the car and one for washing the dirty mitt, keeps the wash mitt and wash water clean, get good buckets with grids in the bottom to prevent grit on the mitt.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/uf/u ... t-set.aspx

a good shampoo is also a must. you want a shampoo that has NO harsh detergents, because when you have completed the next stages you do not want to undo all of your hard work by stripping all of the protection and waxes off

no need to dry at this point.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/zain ... -wash.aspx

go over the whole car with clay, one panel at a time and rinse with fresh water. for the clay, you will need a lubricant. but why buy expensive stuff, i use a spray bottle of warm water with a few drips of fairy liquid, not to much though, the fairy adds a small amount of lube and stops the water from evaporating as quickly. do not put to much fairy in the water.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/bilt ... -soft.aspx

then wash the car again and dry. chamois leathers are bum droppings and put in swirl marks, get some decent drying towels. you will need at least 2 because you need to let them dry.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/megu ... towel.aspx

then mask all of the rubbers and plastic parts.

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/3m/h ... -19mm.aspx

then use M105 Ultra-Cut Compound

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/megu ... 236ml.aspx

then use 205 Ultra Finishing Polish

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/megu ... 236ml.aspx

then use ultimate polish

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/megu ... olish.aspx

after all of that lot, its wax time.

2-3 coats of this stuff. Collinite 476 Super Double Coat Wax

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/coll ... t-wax.aspx

then a finish top coat wax enhancer for extra gloss mirror reflection

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/moth ... -coat.aspx.

you will not need to do it again for a year.

looks like, in the time it took to hunt down what i use, ratty beat me to it.

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 11:53 pm

Cheers Sam, that's great with the links!

looks like I may have to put a few pennies aside for the bits and bobs - weather here is bum droppings at any rate so can't clean currently.

Looks like I need to get an orbital buffer then. I've had a look on the bay, and I'm wondering if the cheap ones are any good? Provided it's variable speed should any buffer do the job?

Btw, is it the wax that results in you not needing to wash the car, as it seals the paint? I like the sound of not having to wash the car for ages

BrettGee · Post by **BrettGee** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:42 am

Holy shhhh that paint looks new!! Once a year?... Worth it to me!

Shiny · Post by **Shiny** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:08 am

I use a B&Q grout sponge.

Tested and proven to be as good as wash mitt and a fraction of the price of a zymol sponge.

Post by **lewd lude lover** » Sun Jun 23, 2013 9:15 am

watch lots of youtube video's. that simple. if you have any kind of brain you will work out good practice from that.

Clay baring is like slowly caressing all the curves of a woman and making every part smooth and sexy. Soft and gentle strokes

Get a Random orbiter from B&Q and a set of the three meguires polishing pads. thats you set up for a couple years for £45.

Buy blue masking tape.

buy products from halfords when they have the two for one offer on

autoglym paint renovator then ARP will give you results in the DIY home setting that will make you smile.