Detailing my own car, how to guide needed!

[Evil.soup]

I have been thinking about getting the mops and cutting compound and just going to work with an angle grinder on my brothers old Mondeo for a start just to practice, but i dont know where the best place is to source the equipment and materials needed.

I have a general understanding of the process, wash, cut/mop, wash and polish but is there something vital i am overlooking?

Thanks,
Ian

[PJ S]

Skill?

Seriously, there's a bit more than a buffer and polishing compound to getting the mirrored look on paint - but a good starting point is Elite Car Care, Clean Your Car, Polished Bliss, and Ultimate Finish for all the various bits and bobs.
If you're going straight to rotary rather than random orbital, then one with soft start, variable speed trigger, and no load max of 2500 rpm is what you'll want - a new popular one due to its light weight is the Chicago Pneumatic or Milwaukee - essentially the same machine.
On the RO side, Meguiar's G220 is the one most plum for.
If you're looking for a long term investment, then the Flex XC3401 is considered the standard for RO's, but with forced rotation, it'll knock on a rotary's door - so similar car needs to be exercised.

Edited by PJ S on Tuesday 29th July 18:41

[Isoproturon1]

www.detailingworld.com forums.

[smckeown]

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides.htm...

good guides

[titchster]

Dont forget to wax/seal the paint after. As said, take a look on the DW forums.

[Evil.soup]

Thanks for the replies lads;)

[Goughie]

A couple of good US detailing forums are

http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detailing/

http://www.detailuniversity.com/

Hope these help!