What steps should I follow - or not?
Discussion
Some advice needed from you professionals out there please.
I have a new TVR, but the paintwork is not the best that I have seen on a car; I don't think that this is surprising, following some of the threads. I've made it look better, but it still has some light swirls and not the depth of colour that I'd like.
I haven't had the time to consistently detail every panel yet, but that's the project over the next couple of weeks. That's where I need the advice.
I've started with the clay bar, and I never fail to be impressed by these things. Gave the car a thorough wash yesterday, and left it in the rain after hosing down to fully rinse off (comments from the neighbours about the bl@@dy madman washing his car in the rain again as usual!); and the clay bar STILL gets sh!t off!
I'm now going over the whole car with a mildly abrasive scratch remover - carefully. I'm using Meguiars as I've been told that this is pretty mild. For the more prominent swirls I'll use either Mer or Mothers, both of which I believe to be a bit harsher.
I will then use Meguiars Polish (I think that it's the Number 2 in the 3 part set) as I believe that this conditions the paint. I will then finish with a couple of coats of Mothers wax (not the liquid but the paste form).
I know that this will give a good finish, as the bits that I've done before have looked nice and my wife (who is my Quality Control operative, Guru and Nag!!) has complimented the work.
HOWEVER...any general advice is gratefully received, and I have a couple of specific question;
Firstly, should I use Sealer Glaze instead of or aswell as the Polish? I have some Mothers and I'm not sure of the relationship/difference between this and the polish.
Second, when sorting out my late Dad's stuff a while ago I found an unused electric polisher - the domestic type, but other than that I know nothing as I haven't taken it from it's box. Should I use this, or is it inadvisable? And is it good only for polishing off or for application of scratch remover/polish/wax etc?
I know that the sensible thing would be to use one of the Detailing companies, but there are so many things that I know that I CAN'T do (DIY, mechanics, plumbing the list is endless!) that I like to have a go when I reckon that I CAN do something.
So any good advice is very, very welcome.
I have a new TVR, but the paintwork is not the best that I have seen on a car; I don't think that this is surprising, following some of the threads. I've made it look better, but it still has some light swirls and not the depth of colour that I'd like.
I haven't had the time to consistently detail every panel yet, but that's the project over the next couple of weeks. That's where I need the advice.
I've started with the clay bar, and I never fail to be impressed by these things. Gave the car a thorough wash yesterday, and left it in the rain after hosing down to fully rinse off (comments from the neighbours about the bl@@dy madman washing his car in the rain again as usual!); and the clay bar STILL gets sh!t off!
I'm now going over the whole car with a mildly abrasive scratch remover - carefully. I'm using Meguiars as I've been told that this is pretty mild. For the more prominent swirls I'll use either Mer or Mothers, both of which I believe to be a bit harsher.
I will then use Meguiars Polish (I think that it's the Number 2 in the 3 part set) as I believe that this conditions the paint. I will then finish with a couple of coats of Mothers wax (not the liquid but the paste form).
I know that this will give a good finish, as the bits that I've done before have looked nice and my wife (who is my Quality Control operative, Guru and Nag!!) has complimented the work.
HOWEVER...any general advice is gratefully received, and I have a couple of specific question;
Firstly, should I use Sealer Glaze instead of or aswell as the Polish? I have some Mothers and I'm not sure of the relationship/difference between this and the polish.
Second, when sorting out my late Dad's stuff a while ago I found an unused electric polisher - the domestic type, but other than that I know nothing as I haven't taken it from it's box. Should I use this, or is it inadvisable? And is it good only for polishing off or for application of scratch remover/polish/wax etc?
I know that the sensible thing would be to use one of the Detailing companies, but there are so many things that I know that I CAN'T do (DIY, mechanics, plumbing the list is endless!) that I like to have a go when I reckon that I CAN do something.
So any good advice is very, very welcome.
Drive 'n' Shine said:
Polish, seal, and for that bit extra and carnauba wax on top
Cheers Bryan!
That's just what I've been doing, and the bits I've finished are looking good.
The problem is that I'm a perfectionist, and keep wanting to go back to square one and start again to make it look even better.... Still want to get more depth.
I will pop in to see you when I'm passing. Thenks.
Concentrate on the 'polishing' stages as this will give the best results... there is absolutely no point applying glazes, sealants and waxes to poorly prep'd surfaces...
Get the initial polishing stages done properly and it will be so easy to use / wipe off LSP's you will be shocked
For hand I swear by:
Poorboys SSR2
Autoglym Super resin (acrylic based so fills swirls)
Clearkote Red moose glaze / vanilla moose glaze (heavy fillers)
I hope this helps.
Scott
Obsessive Car Detailing
Get the initial polishing stages done properly and it will be so easy to use / wipe off LSP's you will be shocked
For hand I swear by:
Poorboys SSR2
Autoglym Super resin (acrylic based so fills swirls)
Clearkote Red moose glaze / vanilla moose glaze (heavy fillers)
I hope this helps.
Scott
Obsessive Car Detailing
Mr OCD said:
Concentrate on the 'polishing' stages as this will give the best results... there is absolutely no point applying glazes, sealants and waxes to poorly prep'd surfaces...
Get the initial polishing stages done properly and it will be so easy to use / wipe off LSP's you will be shocked
For hand I swear by:
Poorboys SSR2
Autoglym Super resin (acrylic based so fills swirls)
Clearkote Red moose glaze / vanilla moose glaze (heavy fillers)
I hope this helps.
Scott
Obsessive Car Detailing
Get the initial polishing stages done properly and it will be so easy to use / wipe off LSP's you will be shocked
For hand I swear by:
Poorboys SSR2
Autoglym Super resin (acrylic based so fills swirls)
Clearkote Red moose glaze / vanilla moose glaze (heavy fillers)
I hope this helps.
Scott
Obsessive Car Detailing
Thanks Scott. I guessed that the polishing stages were more important. I'm waxing, but that is because I want some protection when I go out. But each time I clean it, I can polish the panels again.
Is the SSR2 a polish? And in terms of repeating the polish, is it OK to use the more abrasive scratch removers or just stick with the usual polish? I would think that the scratch removers are OK as they aren't THAT abrasive and the Meguiars stage 2 stuff would take ages to actually remove any swirls.
Oh, and what's LSP?
Lee
Edited by t40ora on Monday 4th December 12:29
Hi mate,
You mentioned you're using the polish from the Meguiars 3 step system and a scratch remover from Meguiars. Presuming this is the Step 1 paint cleaner, i'd consider a stronger product for removing scratches. Step 1 does the job of removing oxidation and so on but it's very mild (a good thing in many cases, of course), so it's not really what I'd use for tackling scratches and swirls. If you feel up to it move up to the Meguiars Scratch-X, this is still a relatively mild product but will give you a better chance against those scratches and swirls. Most use it by hand but it's usable with a polisher too (though meguiars say the current product can 'clump' a bit when used like this, something they're fixing with their 2007 revision of the product). If the polisher you have is a low end orbital personally i'd just do it the harder way (by hand) for the sake of the consistency and care. For the abrasives, if you're going in several stages you're better taking the worst off with the strongest product you're planning on using, then going to gentler product/s to finish up and perfect it (you seem to be going from milder to stronger). You also mentioned "the Meguiars stage 2 stuff would take ages to actually remove any swirls" - The step 2 of the 3 step system is a pure polish completely non-abraisive So you'd be wasting effort trying to remove scratches, though the polishing action will reduce their appearance by deepening the colour. Good luck and don't forget the pictures of the finished article 
You mentioned you're using the polish from the Meguiars 3 step system and a scratch remover from Meguiars. Presuming this is the Step 1 paint cleaner, i'd consider a stronger product for removing scratches. Step 1 does the job of removing oxidation and so on but it's very mild (a good thing in many cases, of course), so it's not really what I'd use for tackling scratches and swirls. If you feel up to it move up to the Meguiars Scratch-X, this is still a relatively mild product but will give you a better chance against those scratches and swirls. Most use it by hand but it's usable with a polisher too (though meguiars say the current product can 'clump' a bit when used like this, something they're fixing with their 2007 revision of the product). If the polisher you have is a low end orbital personally i'd just do it the harder way (by hand) for the sake of the consistency and care. For the abrasives, if you're going in several stages you're better taking the worst off with the strongest product you're planning on using, then going to gentler product/s to finish up and perfect it (you seem to be going from milder to stronger). You also mentioned "the Meguiars stage 2 stuff would take ages to actually remove any swirls" - The step 2 of the 3 step system is a pure polish completely non-abraisive
So you'd be wasting effort trying to remove scratches, though the polishing action will reduce their appearance by deepening the colour. Good luck and don't forget the pictures of the finished article Edited by Graeme H on Monday 4th December 22:32
Graeme H said:
Hi mate,
You mentioned you're using the polish from the Meguiars 3 step system and a scratch remover from Meguiars. Presuming this is the Step 1 paint cleaner, i'd consider a stronger product for removing scratches. Step 1 does the job of removing oxidation and so on but it's very mild (a good thing in many cases, of course), so it's not really what I'd use for tackling scratches and swirls. If you feel up to it move up to the Meguiars Scratch-X, this is still a relatively mild product but will give you a better chance against those scratches and swirls. Most use it by hand but it's usable with a polisher too (though meguiars say the current product can 'clump' a bit when used like this, something they're fixing with their 2007 revision of the product). If the polisher you have is a low end orbital personally i'd just do it the harder way (by hand) for the sake of the consistency and care. For the abrasives, if you're going in several stages you're better taking the worst off with the strongest product you're planning on using, then going to gentler product/s to finish up and perfect it (you seem to be going from milder to stronger). You also mentioned "the Meguiars stage 2 stuff would take ages to actually remove any swirls" - The step 2 of the 3 step system is a pure polish completely non-abraisive So you'd be wasting effort trying to remove scratches, though the polishing action will reduce their appearance by deepening the colour. Good luck and don't forget the pictures of the finished article
You mentioned you're using the polish from the Meguiars 3 step system and a scratch remover from Meguiars. Presuming this is the Step 1 paint cleaner, i'd consider a stronger product for removing scratches. Step 1 does the job of removing oxidation and so on but it's very mild (a good thing in many cases, of course), so it's not really what I'd use for tackling scratches and swirls. If you feel up to it move up to the Meguiars Scratch-X, this is still a relatively mild product but will give you a better chance against those scratches and swirls. Most use it by hand but it's usable with a polisher too (though meguiars say the current product can 'clump' a bit when used like this, something they're fixing with their 2007 revision of the product). If the polisher you have is a low end orbital personally i'd just do it the harder way (by hand) for the sake of the consistency and care. For the abrasives, if you're going in several stages you're better taking the worst off with the strongest product you're planning on using, then going to gentler product/s to finish up and perfect it (you seem to be going from milder to stronger). You also mentioned "the Meguiars stage 2 stuff would take ages to actually remove any swirls" - The step 2 of the 3 step system is a pure polish completely non-abraisive
So you'd be wasting effort trying to remove scratches, though the polishing action will reduce their appearance by deepening the colour. Good luck and don't forget the pictures of the finished article Edited by Graeme H on Monday 4th December 22:32
Hi Graeme,
Actually I'm using the Scratch X first, then the polish. SO I guess that I should persevere with the Scratch X a bit more before moving on to the polish as I didn't realise that it was completely non-abrasive. Or maybe using Autoglym stuff as an intermediate before the final polishing with the Meguiars, as I seem to remember that it is slightly abrasive.
It's starting to get there but it will be a while before I'm happy enough with it to post some pictures. But I will eventually.
Cheers
Lee
Drive 'n' Shine said:
johnnywishbone said:
hi lee !
you need to try some zymol (there really is no sustitute)if you would like our free info pack please call tracy @ 07000 997 997 for all your detailing needs !
AUTHORISED RESELLER AND DETAILER !
JWB
you need to try some zymol (there really is no sustitute)if you would like our free info pack please call tracy @ 07000 997 997 for all your detailing needs !
AUTHORISED RESELLER AND DETAILER !
JWB
Subtle lol!
Nah, he's just being helpful....
Well, results so far good - thanks for the advice folks.
Clay bar'd it all over, followed by two polishes all over with Mothers Scratch remover. Two more with Meguiars Scratch remover, followed by Mothers Sealer Glaze.
Finished off with two coats of the Mothers Carnuba Wax Paste and it's getting there. More depth and fewer swirls.
Clay bar'd it all over, followed by two polishes all over with Mothers Scratch remover. Two more with Meguiars Scratch remover, followed by Mothers Sealer Glaze.
Finished off with two coats of the Mothers Carnuba Wax Paste and it's getting there. More depth and fewer swirls.
Gassing Station | Bodywork & Detailing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff