Want to get started with detailing

[Otispunkmeyer]

Hi All

Would like to get started with detailing my car. It's nothing fancy, An 06 Honda Civic, but it is looking a bit tired and I want to bring back some of that showroom condition. I also quite enjoy cleaning

Before I start I guess I should ask if there are any good web resources or even books to read up on this subject? Also I am very wary of almost "black art" things like this. Like gym routines, protein powder mixtures etc I find things like this are often over complicated by people trying to look good/smart. Producing complicated processes/procedures based on nothing more than an opinion and a whetted index finger in the wind. Its the same with cooking... I am an engineer, I hate cook books because the instructions and measures are so wishy washy. There are no hard and fast rules, no scientific reason why things are done.

Anyway, I don't wish to become a detailing champion of the world just yet. I just want to get a handle on the basics first. Doing the simple stuff well is important.

So far I know that I should probably start washing the car with a Rinse (top to bottom).

Then, using two buckets (one for soap, one to rinse the wash mitt) I should wash the car from top to bottom. I also need a microfibre mitt and not a sponge and I need to use north-south, east-west or diagonal motions to clean. Not circular motions.

Then I should use a microfibre towel to dry my car off using the same motions. Then I should use a clay bar with some appropriate lubricant and work a panel at a time. (then do i rinse and dry again???)


After this, I am a bit lost. Also a bit lost on products. This is one of those times when you really hate the fact that there is a very wide choice of products. I simply cant chose between them.

There are some problem areas I would like to address on my car:

• Door dings, these are mostly very shallow scratches with the other cars paint still visible. I think a polish will be able to sort these.
• There is (was) a dark grey plastic surrounding the wheel arches and leading into the bumpers. This is no longer dark grey. I think a back to black type product might be needed
• Glass - The windscreen seems to have some pretty bad spider webbing. Worse than the paint!
• Paint is ok, though there are lots of very fine scratches akin to spider webbing, but in straight lines. Most likely from previous owner trips to a car wash.
• I need a good wheel cleaner to remove that stubborn stuff that collects where the spokes meet the rim.
• Headlamps are actually ok, but there are a few stains that are very stubborn.
• Interior - If you have ever seen inside this vintage of civic you will know that it is crevices galore. I need a good brush to get in there. But also the plastics are very soft, especially on the instrument cluster.
• Interior - The fake alcantara material they used for the seats and arm rests is very soft wearing, some parts have gone white. I need to restore this.
• Interior - The leather on the steering wheel is starting to fade and look "cracked". Will something like cobblers cream sort this out?

So any hints and tips on the process and any suggestions for decent products that are good value will be much appreciated!

[Craikeybaby]

With regards to your process, that starts about right, I don't usually dry the car between rinsing and claying, then rinse and dry after.

With regards to products it is really down to experimentation, personal preference and budget!

Polished Bliss have some good guides on their site, which focus on the products they sell and KDS Keltec (on PH) has some good guides on his site too.

[Pommygranite]

Read from half way down http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/car-care-produ...


And

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[kds keltec]

Craikeybaby said:

With regards to your process, that starts about right, I don't usually dry the car between rinsing and claying, then rinse and dry after.

With regards to products it is really down to experimentation, personal preference and budget!

Polished Bliss have some good guides on their site, which focus on the products they sell and KDS Keltec (on PH) has some good guides on his site too.

why thank you

my site changed over onto the new KDS site last night (been in the making for a while now, and stopped updating old site 2 years ago) , the new site covers wet sanding and the gtechniq range too , a long with painting .

There will be for the future "how to videos" in the very near future a downloadable guide to after care , downloadable catalogue , and complete Video and photo graphic "story" of full enzo strip / repaint / wet sand / and detail

and then slowly adding all the car we have done over the years .


kelly

[Westy Pre-Lit]

kds keltec said:

my site changed over onto the new KDS site last night

Just took a peek....Oooooooo very swish

[kds keltec]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Just took a peek....Oooooooo very swish

you stalker

oh forgot to say there will be a resource area which is hundreds of pages long it will cover most aspects of paint / detailing / valeting / products , still got to prove read and compile but going in the right direction .

the new site is "work in progress" for years to come

are you going to be the first to sign up to newsletters?

kelly

[Otispunkmeyer]

Thanks for the information guys

I wish my headlights were all misty.... That wet sanding/polishing process to restore them looks highly enjoyable! Alas mine are pretty much perfect bar some stubborn bug splats.

I do have a particular question though and that is how to deal with the fine scratches to the windshield imparted from the wiper blades? They are similar to very fine spider webbing. Would a normal glass polish sort this?

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Sunday 7th October 11:09