How to Polish a Griff and get the Best Results !!

[Pasco]

So what is the best way to do this ?

I am using the P21S stuff so is it best to do one panel at a time with the cleanser then wax or what ?

What i am trying to say is do you cleanse the whole car then polish with the wax or do a panel at a time

What do you guys do to get the best results ?

[lazyitus]

Panel at a time for me Pasco.

If you do the whole car in one hit, by the time you get to buff the last bit off, it's gone hard and difficult to get it off.

Concentration is the key.

[HRG]

Cleanse/clay > polish > wax. Always one panel at a time and preferably in the shade. Not that I put three coats of polish and three coats of wax on that way you understand

Always polish in straight lines and some decent micro-fibre towels will certainly help when it comes to buffing the polish/wax off

[Pasco]

So to clarify you do the whole lot on one panel then start from the beginning on the next ?

I realise this seems like a stupid topic but i need to know

Do you guys use these rotary buffers / polishers ?

[clive f]

Pasco said:

So to clarify you do the whole lot on one panel then start from the beginning on the next ?

I realise this seems like a stupid topic but i need to know

Do you guys use these rotary buffers / polishers ?

no mate, remember you are asking proffessionals who generally use something called elbow grease!

maybe you already have a rotary buffer, but its still wrapped in its box under your shiny unused spanner collection.

[HRG]

Pasco said:

So to clarify you do the whole lot on one panel then start from the beginning on the next ?

I realise this seems like a stupid topic but i need to know

Do you guys use these rotary buffers / polishers ?

Nope, do one treatment on each panel until you have completed the whole car and than start on the next.

I used a rotary buffer once on an old snotter and managed to scar the paintwork irreparably. In fairness that was probably down to my technique at the time but it put me right off.

Besides, if you do it right, you can burn off pie abuse at a hell of a rate meaning you can eat more pies

[lazyitus]

I wouldn't use a rotary buffer. The amount of surface paint they can bring off is immense, particularly on old cars.

Don't know if this would apply to brown though.

[thegman]

why polish in straight lines?

[HRG]

thegman said:

why polish in straight lines?

Fills in the swirls.

[clive f]

lazyitus said:

I wouldn't use a rotary buffer. The amount of surface paint they can bring off is immense, particularly on old cars.

Don't know if this would apply to brown though.

[ESDavey]

Zymol Carbon is THE best. Wash, wax cleaner the whole car then polish panel at a time. I did the whole car in 90mins last wet bank holiday - perfect !!

Straight line movements, clean clothes & dont let it dry too much.

Edited by ESDavey on Thursday 29th May 11:28

[JonathanT]

thegman said:

why polish in straight lines?

I found that if you polish in circles, then the resulting swirl marks are very obvious when you catch the light. Polishing in a straight line (I do front to back) means that any polishing imperfections are less noticable.

[Johno]

P12 ?

Be careful, you only need to use it occasionally as it is taking of the waxes etc you're using, so if you use it each time then you'll have to polish/wax each time . .

If I'm really treating the car, say once every 6 months then I go through this . .

1 - Wash with decent shampoo and a lambswool washmit (2 buckets)
2 - Wash with diluted P12 to remove previous wax and build ups
3 - Clay bar to get really smooth
4 - Whatever combination of polishes you like, I work through 2 goes with a coarser grade, then 2 with a milder grade. I use the Meguire orbital random as it's not the full blown rotary but for some defect rectification and the overall finish makes hand polishing simply uneconomical in terms of tim taken versus result gained. It doesn't stack up for me with a black car that does a fair few mile.
5 - I would then add a glaze, maybe twice allowing it time to really haze, maybe even a couple of hours.
6 - Then wax, pick whatever you like, thi is applied by hand or applicator depeninding on type etc . . Leave overnight between coats to get the haze really well developed before removal.

I have 20+ microfibre clothes and use most of them going through this process changing regularly. I use mainly Mothers or Meguires products.

Gave up hand polishing, with a dark colour car you can't get the swirls outs.

This isn't a full on detail as a random/orbital will not give you the results, but you won't burn the paint using either unless you really are a heathen.

Many people don't understand the differenc between polishes and waxes and therefore think they are polishing when actually it's only a wax and think they are wxing with a polish, make sure you know what you have in your hand.

In between that regime I will wash using the 2 bucket method and would apply further coats of wax only as the protection has been laid down already as above.

Sometimes I can get away with a wash, clay bar, one go over with polish and then wax if it's in need of a little more tlc.

Simply though, if it's a dark car true swirl removal is a very hard thing to do, practically impossible by hand and still very difficult to do. The results i get are not detail standard, but are good enough for me and save me having it deatiled once a year at £400+.

PS - Yes it takes a couple of days, but so does a good detail . . .

[V8 Animal]

Pasco said:

So what is the best way to do this ?

I am using the P21S stuff so is it best to do one panel at a time with the cleanser then wax or what ?

What i am trying to say is do you cleanse the whole car then polish with the wax or do a panel at a time

What do you guys do to get the best results ?
Still be brown underneath

[Pasco]

V8 Animal said:

Pasco said:

So what is the best way to do this ?

I am using the P21S stuff so is it best to do one panel at a time with the cleanser then wax or what ?

What i am trying to say is do you cleanse the whole car then polish with the wax or do a panel at a time

What do you guys do to get the best results ?
Still be brown underneath

You Knob Head Paul


And thanks to all who contributed many thanks

One thing i must add.... I have never used this Klay stuff what does that do and how do you apply it

[dnb]

I'm sure Paul was looking for instructions more along the lines of:

1. Take to Mike of Polishing Company fame
2. Say "Make my car clean please."
3. Give Mike a credit card
4. Retire to pie shop
5. Collect car

Sorry - couldn't resist. (Sproglet sitting has it's dull moments when they're asleep...)

[V8 GRF]

Pasco said:

One thing i must add.... I have never used this Klay stuff what does that do and how do you apply it

Clay is like a piece of stiff Plasticine that you rub across the bodywork using a detailing spray as lubricant, (Bilt Hamber clay uses water) What it does is pick up all the micro particles of dirt and other rubbish embedded in your paint and you can actually hear faint 'clicking' noises if your paint is contaiminated and feel it 'grabbing' slightly.

What it does is make your paint feel so smooth you won't believe it, it just feels like glass.

Then you do the other treatments mentioned above.

[Hoover.]

dnb said:

I'm sure Paul was looking for instructions more along the lines of:

1. Take to Mike of Polishing Company fame
2. Say "Make my car clean please."
3. Give Mike a credit card
4. Retire to pie shop
5. Collect car

Sorry - couldn't resist. (Sproglet sitting has it's dull moments when they're asleep...)

sounds the best option to me

all the other instructions sound too much like hard work IMHO

Edited by Hoover. on Saturday 31st May 09:46

[thegman]

who is this Mike and where does he work?

[LordGrover]

Mike Milbourne - see him at the Growl.