Cosmetics and facials

[ChilliWhizz]

So, I've just given beastie a damn good wash, leathered her off, and was about to get the old Farecla G3 super resin wax polishy stuff out when I suddenly thought 'clay bar'. But does she really need it? Had a front end respray 18 months ago, and the paintwork feels smooth enough... but it seems to look grubby, that is until the sun hits it and then it's all sparkly

Will clay bar do more harm than good if it's not necessary?.. Will I feck it up?.... Should I just give her a damn good polish?...

Is clay bar like a once a year thing, or more regularly? Is it a waste of time? Am I using the best polish? Why are dead flies so difficult to remove? Why am I writing this drivel?...

Wotcha think guys.. to clay bar or not to clay bar... this is the question....

[OleVix]

Use the clay with soapwater if you have black spots that prove difficult to remove... Works on the flies as well!

[QBee]

OleVix said:

Use the clay with soapwater if you have black spots that prove difficult to remove... Works on the flies as well!

Chiili, don't get confused here - I think he means you to use it on your face and errr....body, not the car.

[mk1fan]

Unless the bar is contaminated or you let the 'lube', claying is not going to damage the paintwork.

[ChimpOnGas]

With respect Chilli, you need to get out more dude

Forget the facials, run a rag over it then give it a good spanking





Then take the TVR out for a drive

[mattrosersv]

• I am not recommending this but *

Interestingly I was polishing the metalwork this morning with the old autosol when I thought I would see if it would take off some unwanted sikaflex that had attached itself to the side of the bonnet. It worked a treat.

I then tried it on the paintwork at the back where the water drains out of the boot (along with spilt petrol) which has discoloured the paint - it has been like it for years despite using polish etc. Tried the Autotosol and almost removed.

Now I know I am just using a very aggressive polish and risk taking the lacquer off but if like me your paintwork has seen better days anyway and you have a few hard to remove spots might be worth a go.

Disclaimer - I am not recommending this as a solution to polishing cars!

Matt

[macdeb]

Bloke, use '3M' compound to take of old wax and remove swirls. Then use 3 stage Meguirs [clean/polish/wax] When using 3M/clean/polish do small areas and take off straight away. The wax is easiest covering car and leave for few hours and polish off. If you spend a good weekend at it the paint will look wet, it's hard work mind.

[keith2.2]

I clay bar probably 4 times per year.

In between that there is 3 coats of Poorboys, 2 coats of Dodo Juice "orange" (has orangey pigment to make reds, oranges and yellows brighter), 2 coats of Megs Carnuba Wax and a g-technique seal.

It keeps it super easy to clean (once a week or before I want to pose a bit I'll go over it with a Megs QD spray and then a spray-on NXT Wax) - if it gets "dirty" I'll take it to a jetwash - I don't mind doing that as the only thing it'll damage is the top couple of wax layers.

The waxes and sealants stop things like bird guam (HATE that term) and black spots from attacking the actual paintwork - so it's always easy to bring back to gleaming. The evidence is in the use of NXT Spray - it beads and starts to run off the moment it hits the paintwork (have to be pretty handy with the microfibre!).

Quarterly, I'll use a wax-stripping citrus shampoo from Poorboys to take back to the lacquer and start again.

Ultimately, the paint is 17 years old now - and the front end is peppered with white spots - but it still looks lovely and shiny when it's freshly done.

When I first collected the car, I went over it with a 4-stage DA polisher to get the paintwork as swirl-free as I could.

For removing dead flies - AutoGlym Insect remover is fantastic.

[keith2.2]

Oh and also - a waffle-weave microfibre is a thousand times better than a chamois!

[ChilliWhizz]

ChimpOnGas said:

With respect Chilli, you need to get out more dude

That's strange, my mental health practitioner has told me the same thing

Thanks for all the tips guys, it's too bloody hot outside at the moment to do any polishing or stuff, think I'll make do with giving the hood a good scrub...

Now, should I use fairy liquid or natural soap..........

[V8 GRF]

ChilliWhizz said:

Now, should I use fairy liquid or natural soap..........

I'm hoping the fairy liquid suggestion was a joke? Another overly aggressive concoction for paintwork.......

[ChilliWhizz]

Not the paintwork David, for scrubbing the roof

And it'll get a proper rinse before the Renovo goes on....