Washing advice?

M

MAF260

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A full detail from a professional will cost upwards of £200, more if you need paint correction (removal of deeper scratches and swirls). More again if you're having the interior thoroughly cleaned. With this done you could then stay on top of things with careful washing (2 bucket method etc) and polishing/waxing by hand and just have annual follow-ups with the professional.

If you want to do the whole thing yoursel you will find that your collection of lotions, potions, gadgets and cleaning tools grows over time as OCD kicks in. Your family will wonder if you have a mistress (you do, she's called Maserati) and you will carry glass cleaner, spray detailer and a bundle of microfibre cloths around with you. You will wonder at the marvels of snow foam, grit collectors for your (2) buckets, tar remover and Iron-X. Detailing World will become a regular haunt, saved in your favourite website folder.......
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

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jerkmoans said:
Hmmm. I'm more a fermented grape juice man, meself.

So. Work in progress. Meguiars gold wash and a slow dry with my new microfibre towel APPEAR to have solved the nasty watermark problem. Assistance with homework then intervened to prevent stage 2: quik detail spray...

Am I right in thinking the latter is an alternative to a full wax job - to be used on an interim basis??

So much to learn, so little time!
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detailing spray is not a wax alternative or a sealant, its purpose is as is, a quick cleanup to remove dust and finger prints. i would suggest a sealant and/or wax to be applied. some do add a little protect but would not rely on this to protect the paintwork. once you get to know products and meathods that work for you, you can go further with clays, bug and tar removers, da polishing and wipe down before even getting to the sealant and wax stage.

not sure where you are but if close to me but if you washed the car, i would be glad to do the other parts before you apply you wax. i use a rotaty machine and some times a da.

I sure others and i can talk about machine polishing, da are save, rotarty are not as bad as people think but the one part that needs to be check with rotaty is paint thickness otherwise you could go through the top coat and thats a panal respray

da is a dual-action orbital polished, spins in a sort of figure of eight, where a rotary more power and just spins, the da produces less heat on the paint making a save starting tool

again gone off on one

oh just to confirm no charge - glad to help
 
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Almichie

Almichie

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jerkmoans said:
Fascinating stuff: from my initiation using a bucket of fairy liquid to sluice off my stepdad's old Austin, I find a whole new world of potential obsession opening up before me...

Quite an amusing write-up of the whole process on that link, too! Just out of *ahem* casual interest, how much would it cost:

(a) to acquire a decent detailing 'kit' (if that's the correct expression), or

(b) to have some fellows who know what they're doing 'detail' a motor to full shiny splendour??
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How much do you want to spend is the real question here...

Thinking about my lowly kit I would guess I have spent £2-300

That's really just on;

Shampoos, paint prep/fillers, clay, quick detailers, sealants, waxes, buckets, type dressing, wheel cleaner, sheepskin mit, microfiber cloths, leather cleaner, leather cream, leather touch up, glass cleaner, glass polish, interior brushes... I cant believe that; maybe I should rethink the "just" part. But really I haven't spent a huge amount; some wax's cost more than my whole collection.... And the best part is you won't need it all at once, your collection will build over time as you find a product you like and another part of the car to clean.

Next on my wish list is a DA/rotary polisher and paint thickness gauge. And then the snow foam.
 
rossyl

rossyl

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3,312
Enzo...though you've offered the advice to someone else...I would massively appreciate a lesson on how to machine polish should you ever have the time. No worries if not.


The stages of washing as I understand are...(with my products in brackets)
- Wash (Autoglym)
- Dry-ish (Microfibre)
- Clay bar (only to be done once a year or less frequently) (Bilt Hamber Auto Clay)
[A further washing is required post clay bar]
- Polish/Swirl Fill (Autoglym Super Resin Polish)
- Wax (Collinite 476s)

Then you can keep that maintained with Quick Detailer (Megs Ultimate Quik Detailer) and regular washes.

One thing to make note of. Use proper car washing soap, and don't mix it too strongly. If you use washing up liquid or too strong a car washing soap mix, you will strip the wax off.
 
jerkmoans

jerkmoans

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366
Another incredibly generous offer from an FM, Enzo! Would love to have an induction into the dark arts, geography and whatnot permitting!

I'm in Barnet, N London. Seem to spend my entire life when not working for a meagre crust conveying offspring from one Hertfordshire based sporting fixture to another, so such louche places as Watford, Hemel and St Albans are my regular turf. If you see a black 4200 with a plate ending 'RUM', it's me...
 
Almichie

Almichie

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Messages
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Is it all worth this much effort I hear you say...

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Silver is a very difficult colour to get shine on (so they say), darker colour are far easier to get that "wet look" shine on.
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

Member
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1,999
hi guys

regards lessons - think I remember seeing an idea about a detailing day but can not find the thread, which ideally I would highly suggest we would need the Wax expert mr Newton who I think sadly has a lot going on at the moment. I think the site is supported by D2Detailing which we have had lots of great reviews - maybe if he is free to have an open day at his unit for the various processes - which I would gladly help with (if needed)

do you think we would have enough interest ?


I missed this entry (dame could of save me writing all these) - http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/show...cleaning+guide this is a good detailed write up which has the various processes

just some feedback -
rossyl - process looks good, just one little thing - Polish/Swirl Fill (Autoglym Super Resin Polish) - just as you said this is a filler, personally I would suggest skipping this totally and just apply your wax very thin, leave to cure for the time the wax takes and the repeat the process 3-4 times, this way you will do a little filling (not as much as SRP) but will provide more protection than hiding the swils. I suspect the wax will also bond better to the panel with the process you have than on SRP.


jerkmoans - I'm NW of MK - I haven't spotted you yet and don't see hardly any others - only time I'm down towards london is taking the car to the garage which seems to be a lot at the moment :( need to get it sorted for Bruntingthorpe. not sure if anyone else is closer for you who maybe able to help, if not and you don't mind a trip - lets also see what happens on the open day
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,999
no its not all worth it, too much time cleaning and not enjoying the driving - you will get a bigger smile driving that looking at your clean car (or is that just me)

great depth of reflection, almost see the detail in the roof tiles, what top coat did you use
 
jerkmoans

jerkmoans

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366
Wow. Shiny! ¡La gusta!

From installing Parrots with Catman to Detailing Day with Enzo and the boys, buy a Maserati and you have an instant social life! :)
 
jerkmoans

jerkmoans

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Just a pity fast cars and vino make such poor bedfellows...

Unless anyone's got any private land...
 
Parisien

Parisien

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Bennyd has a 2 mile avenue at front of house were he winds it up to 150 before going out on the main road....purely to ensure the banshee exhaust is pitch perfect........... though

:)


P
 
B

BRR

Junior Member
Messages
222
When I can be bothered this is my routine:
Rinse car with pressure washer
Shampoo (two bucket method) using either Zymol Clean or Autoglym Shampoo
Rinse With pressure washer
clay - bilt hamber
Rinse
Dry - take the bulk of the water off with a chamoix then go over with a microfibre drying cloth
Not sure what this step is called - use a maguires equivalent of Greased lightning to remove any minor marks or water marks
polish/cleanse - either Zymol Treat or Autoglym DRP
Wax - Zymol Carbon
seal - FK1000p

for the wheels i use Bilt Hamber cleaner and then either cover in the FK1000p or some Autoglym alloy wheel sealent

i've used loads of different products over the years and often see autoglym products get slated on forums but i think it's decent stuff, not the best but as good as anything else similarly priced

I'm getting my wheels refurbished next week so will spend the following weekend getting the car properly cleaned, this is what it looks like when it's done
Clean Mas.jpg
 
EnzoMC

EnzoMC

Member
Messages
1,999
Almichie said:
It's dodo juice supernatural hybrid
Click to expand...

had a sample of this and seemed great and easy to put on and polish off, but didn't do any protection tests, who long dose it seem to last



BRR said:
....
polish/cleanse - either Zymol Treat
Wax - Zymol Carbon
seal - FK1000p

i've used loads of different products over the years and often see autoglym products get slated on forums but i think it's decent stuff, not the best but as good as anything else similarly priced
Click to expand...

BBR - Zymol Treat is for Leather ? are you using this to clean the paintwork ?
just a suggestion always apply sealant 1st, let this cure and then apply your wax

Autoglym are OK, as I said before all products are good if they work for you and give the results you want, the down side it can take time and money to find products that work for you.



Just noticed that D2D no longer sponser the site ?

if were up for a detailing day, I can talk to a few colleges and see if any of them would be willing to offer time / unit

if not - jerkmoans we'll arrange a day - if I'm not too far, to pop up to MK and we can do a one-2-one :)
 
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B

BRR

Junior Member
Messages
222
Lol sorry got Treat & Cleanse mixed up, yeah Treat on the leather, Cleanse on the paint
 
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