A few questions...

[NiceCupOfTea]

OK, I am a fairly keen car washer, but it takes me forever to do the "works" and I have three cars to take care of!

The catalyst was finding that my neighbour has sprayed their fence with my car parked on the drive and there is dried on overspray all over my car

Usual (full on) routine is:

Pressure washer rinse off (arches/wheels/underneath)
Wash (AG shampoo) - heard a lot about this "2 bucket" thing but not sure exactly what it is!
Dry (Squeejee/waffle weave thing)
Clay bar
Megs Paint cleaner
Megs Polish
Megs Wax (x2?)
Then all the bumper/trim/glass stuff

Trouble is that my arm is ready to drop off from all the polishing... Spent about 3 hours last night and got to the end of the paint cleaner stage and stuck it in the garage.

I've been looking at those polishers and wondering if that would help me out. Something like this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-POLISHER-BUFFER-SANDER-P...

Would I just use the Megs stuff on it, or is there better stuff?

Is there something better than the Megs 3-stage stuff that I could use when I have less time? I used to use AG SRP but surely that needs a wax over the top of it?

Also, it's 20 year old paint with a lot of scratches/crazing/stone chips - is there anything I can do to it to improve it? (Other than a respray! )

[pmanson]

I would go for a DAS6 from somewhere like Cleanyourcar...

To be honest your arms are still going to hurt after doing a full detail but the improvement you get will be much higher than you will get by hand.

I brought the DAS-6 and Menzerna polish combo from CYC last year and Tim was very helpful in advising me what products to buy to suit the paint types on my cars.

Worth giving him a call for a chat.

Edited by pmanson on Tuesday 16th March 13:01

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks for that - but to be honest that is a lot more money than I want to spend! Is there inherently anything wrong with a 40 quid one? It's only going to get occasional use.

[pmanson]

Where are you based mate? Happy to loan you mine if you want?

[NiceCupOfTea]

South East London/Kent borders

Thanks for the offer. Just not convinced I'm doing a very good job by hand at the moment so wondering if a cheap polisher would help...

[pmanson]

Have a look on the cleanyourcar forum (there is a guy on there with a lovely black 900 IIRC so he may be able to advise you on specific products for you car).

Process as follows:

• Snow foam or rinse car arches etc
• Wash with the two bucket method (one with shampoo the other clean water). Wash mit (not sponge) into shampoo bucket, wash part of car, then rinse it out in the clean water to remove any dirt/grit etc, then back into the shampoo then onto the car again.
• Dry car if required

Or:

As above then:

• Clay (I like the Bilt Hamber Autoclay or Sonus Green)
• Paint prep (either by machine or hand), start with the least abrasive combo then work up if you are not getting the results you need or want.

I got this result by using this bundle

• You should then wash the car to get rid of any polish residue before applying a couple of coats of your wax/sealent of choice (I use Megs #16).

• I then wipe the car down with a clean microfibre using Megs last Touch.

You should only need to do the above every 6-12 months.

Typical process for me now is to:

• Snow foam the car
• Clean the wheels
• Wash using two budget method
• Dry using drying towel and Megs Last Touch

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks - very useful info!

What is the benefit of snow foam before washing - does it lift dirt off?

I assume you missed the rinsing bit in your description of the 2 bucket method (ie you rinse off before drying)?

[pmanson]

NiceCupOfTea said:

Thanks - very useful info!

What is the benefit of snow foam before washing - does it lift dirt off?

I assume you missed the rinsing bit in your description of the 2 bucket method (ie you rinse off before drying)?

Yeah it lifts some dirt off but I like it because it looks cool! It tends to loosen the dirt and saves using anything stronger on the paintwork that can take the protection off.

Yep quick rinse with either the pressure washer or open end of the hose before drying.

[sospan]

Neighbour caused overspry?
Have you confronted the neighbour?
Why didnt the neighbour tell you he was going to spray the fence first?
The cost of a Pro job of removal should be down to him.
It's damage caused by his negligence so you would have a case - possibly small clams court if neighbour refused to be a "good" neighbour.
Mind you, be prepared for possible aggravation from neighbour after that!

[NiceCupOfTea]

sospan said:

Neighbour caused overspry?
Have you confronted the neighbour?
Why didnt the neighbour tell you he was going to spray the fence first?
The cost of a Pro job of removal should be down to him.
It's damage caused by his negligence so you would have a case - possibly small clams court if neighbour refused to be a "good" neighbour.
Mind you, be prepared for possible aggravation from neighbour after that!

I did speak to her about it and she was mortified - it was her gardeners who did it. She said she'd speak to them about it.

I got the worst of it off and the car's a long way from perfect anyway. I could have gone nuclear and got details of her gardeners' insurance (which no doubt they have...) but life's too short and I'd rather have a decent relationship with my neighbour.

I just would have hoped they'd have thought about it before they sprayed the stuff everywhere. It had even pooled on the roof...

[sospan]

Sometimes keeping a good relationship with a good neighbour is the best route!
I work for police and its amazing how some "neighbour disputes" get out of hand.
It's hard to believe sometimes how some people behave.
I hope you get the poverspray off though. Its not the neighbours fault by what you describe but those "gardeners" deserve some bad publicity if nothing else!
I wonder how "reputable" they actually are. There are a number of people adverstising themselves as gerden maintenance services but i think its an easy option for unskilled or unprofessional people.
Lets hope you get thinks ok.
Sospan

[sospan]

Bloody hell!
Just seen the typos in the above!
Not my day!