Making the car "shiny" .. how?

[SystemParanoia]

Hi guys..

The Current car is a bit poo really, so great to practice on.

how to i go about making it shiny?

im not willing to spend hundreds of pounds doing so.

but i will happily spend a long time putting in the elbow grease.


i currently have tried autoglym resin polish.. but it hasn't actually made any difference.. so binned it some time ago.. the glass polish was good though.


my current stock is a few sponges, and a roll of some random cloth that i can cut to strips.

what is suggested?


thanks

[nadger]

Clean as per usual, then use a claying kit (Im new to this myself, but the Meguairs beginners one was excellent and really made a difference!). I then polish and then wax over that. My car comes up nice!
Hope that helps?

[SystemParanoia]

so wash, clay, polish, then wax

and this will give me that really strong glossy shine that ill be able to apply to decent cars in the future?

[nadger]

As I say, I'm new to this myself but it has put a nice shine on mine and the missus' cars!

[Rick101]

Wash, clay, wash again, polish then wax.

[93Jay]

This stuff should do it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bilt-Hamber-Auto-Clay-20...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bilt-Hamber-Auto-Balm-25...

Bilt hamber Clay and Wax, the wax is a tough one to use, but it covers swirls/marring on paint, adds depth and protects.

Worked brilliant for me.

[SystemParanoia]

thanks

do i clay the car wet or dry?

... i guess its time to watch some youtube vids for technique..

[93Jay]

SystemParanoia said:

thanks

do i clay the car wet or dry?

... i guess its time to watch some youtube vids for technique..

clay is simple, get a spray bottle filled with water, spray the panel and the clay, and just rub it, then once it's covered in crap, fold the clay to get a clean side and continue, and dry off when your done. Once you've done the whole car, give it another quick wash.

Make sure you never rub it dry though, always keep it wet.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php has all the info you'll ever need.

If you don't want to use that Wax, as it is pretty tough to use, another good product is Auto Finesse Tripple, it's an All in one product, which should help give the cars it's shine back and protect it.


ETA- I'm no expert, so I would wait for a detailer's word, or just research like I did, browsing Detailing world.

Edited by 93Jay on Saturday 1st September 15:22

[TROOPER88]

I would imagine none of the above will bring about the shine you are looking for.

I would put money on the paint needed 'cutting' with something like 3m fine cut. You would do this after claying.

Applying the 3m with hand will be a very big job, if you could borrow a polishing machine it will make the job a lot easier.

You can then seal the nice new shine in with a wax of your choice.

[SystemParanoia]

so wash, clay, wash, cut, wax ?

you're right, the paint on this shed is truly awful, covered in scratches, and dinks and dents.

this is why im happy to get all my practice done on this, so in future, i know what process im doing.


i do have access to a cheap halfords buffer/polisher thing in the cellar round my folks house.. i could use that?

but ive read that ill probably end up "burning" through the paint with it?

[JulesB]

SystemParanoia said:

so wash, clay, wash, cut, wax ?

you're right, the paint on this shed is truly awful, covered in scratches, and dinks and dents.

this is why im happy to get all my practice done on this, so in future, i know what process im doing.


i do have access to a cheap halfords buffer/polisher thing in the cellar round my folks house.. i could use that?

but ive read that ill probably end up "burning" through the paint with it?

To ensure you dont burn through the paint keep the mop speed low, dont apply too much product monitor panel heat, be cautions when at panel edges and keep a trigger spray bottle hand to mist the panel with water as and when. Polishing is simple for those who know what they are doing but you can veyr quickly make your car worse if you do not know what you are doing! Lots and lots of factors apply which will affect the quality of the finish!