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Car Polishing 101

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 3rd, 2011, 6:36 am

^^Which "wax polish" did you use?

Please review the last two pages if you can - I made some comments about the difference between a wax and a polish.

If the clear is damaged/stained to a point where it penetrates the entire clear, it may not be completely removed.

Can you feel the mark with your finger? Also, is it just a "stain", or is the clear sorta rough to the touch?

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Dunman » January 3rd, 2011, 6:55 pm

So any different advice for a black vehicle.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 3rd, 2011, 8:51 pm

^^My comments were based on a black vehicle :?

The problem most folks have is that they have a bad washing regimen.

You can polish and wax all you want, but improper wash technique will just add more swirls.

Simple things like using a 100% cotton cloth, or an MF rag/mitt......and washing the cloth regularly between panels to ensure you don't spread dirt and grit around.....things like that.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby ~Vēġó~ » January 3rd, 2011, 11:52 pm

Alpha_2nr wrote:^^Which "wax polish" did you use?

Please review the last two pages if you can - I made some comments about the difference between a wax and a polish.

If the clear is damaged/stained to a point where it penetrates the entire clear, it may not be completely removed.

Can you feel the mark with your finger? Also, is it just a "stain", or is the clear sorta rough to the touch?



no I can't feel the mark with my finger.....and I used turtle wax car wax....which I think isn't really the correct thing to use....will go back a couple pages and read again...

thanks

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 4th, 2011, 6:48 am

^^Ok. Well first off, a wax isn't going to help you there.

You need a polish....some with a mild dimishing abrasive and paint cleaners.

I'd look at getting Meguiars Scratch X 2.0...and using it on that isolated spot. Not sure where sells it locally (try William H Scott)...I bring all my stuff in via skybox.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby ~Vēġó~ » January 4th, 2011, 11:09 pm

^^^I believe I've seen the Meguiars Scratch X at bel air store, marabella.....

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 5th, 2011, 7:22 am

^^WTH......Bel Air? I hadda make a spin there today then. I'm pretty sure William H Scott sells Megs stuff too.....confirmed this last week. NOt sure they have Scratch X though.

I should add one more thing.

With ANY new product (to you and your car) - ALWAYS experiment on a TEST area first.

SOmewhere inconspicuous, e.g. I normally chose a low point on the car (e.g. near the wheels). Apply the product in a fashion as directed, in a small area, and be sure it's working on your paint, to your satisfaction.

Why I say this, is because Scratch X 2.0 (yes....2.0) is a little more aggressive than the "1.0". SO it needs to be worked in properly....some folks don't do that, and end up getting some micro scratches in the area where it's applied.

If you're worried, you could also use something less abrasive - Megs Deep Crystal polish, AG SRP, etc.

My last suggestion, and I think it's something you should do first IMHO - take maybe 1 or two pics, and email the folks at Mothers/Meguairs/Autoglym/ZYmol/Whomeever.

They often have experts handy who can better advise (than any of us) what to do.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Chemical » January 6th, 2011, 11:47 am

For bout the 10th time.......AUTOMOTIVE ART IN EL SECORRO ARE THE LOCAL AGENTS FOR MEGUAIRS :?

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 6th, 2011, 12:48 pm

^No one takes you seriously. :lol:



Seriously. :|




That said, as per the last two times I called, they have no scratch X, no Megs MF's, etc etc. So like I said Chemical, I'm not sure where ACTUALLY sells Meguiars stuff.

Thus far, WHScott had the largest selection (relatively speaking :? )

:roll:
Last edited by Alpha_2nr on January 6th, 2011, 3:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby oxidation » January 6th, 2011, 1:51 pm

i went to auto art and there stock are very limited, they didnt even have the clay bar.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 6th, 2011, 3:57 pm

^Exactamundo.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 6th, 2011, 9:37 pm

Just being in your products ,, that is what i do

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 6th, 2011, 9:42 pm

^^Bring in? Yes definitely. Most stuff I have to buy online...unless it isn't available in the US market.

e.g. Local folks have no idea about P21S products :lol:

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 6th, 2011, 9:50 pm

P21S ,, i saw somewhere just recently selling it ,, never tried it - if you bring it in to sell pm me would like to try it !

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 6th, 2011, 10:33 pm

^^No scene...but chances are I won't bring in to sell really :oops:

Honestly, I'm looking to try their auto wash.....but I find I'm spending a hint too much on detailing stuff :lol:

Karim Khan, ever tried Zymol stuff? I came across some Zymol stuff (see above)....and I've been wondering if I should try their waxes (plain wax, not the cleaner).

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 7th, 2011, 3:31 pm

Aplha_2nr – Yes I have tried Zymol, it’s a product that has been long on the market. Like most detailing products it is very good. The problem I have with detailing products sold in T&T is that there is an unreliable supply of product (s). As you would have noticed for yourself, when you visit the distributor for a product they carry, they either don’t have it or it is in shipment. So what I do is bring in my own products.

When I first started out detailing, I did spend a lot of $$ on detailing stuff. But over the years I realized that the product will only contribute to only 30% of the job. The other 70% of the job is based on pure skill and experience. Once you follow the basics and acquire the skill and try different methods you can use virtually any product brand and get the results you are looking for.

The point here is place more emphasis on learning techniques and gaining skill rather than product. Yes product has a lot to do with detailing, but when you do the research all the different brands basically perform the same function. This is where your skill will separate you from the rest of the others. This makes the difference from a $400.00 job to a $1500.00 detailing job.

What I would recommend is to use products that work for you and give you the results that you want ……. This will bring you closer to your goal of Auto Perfection!!!

Karim Khan

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 7th, 2011, 3:34 pm

^Thanks bro...much obliged for the inspirational words.

one problem though.....I only detail my own cars...not professionally like you....so my experience comes a little "slower" :oops: :lol:

Maybe one day I might be brave enough to work on some other folk's cars :oops:

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Chemical » January 10th, 2011, 9:38 am

oxidation wrote:i went to auto art and there stock are very limited, they didnt even have the clay bar.


^^Ok sorry as I've not been there for approx 4 mths. Normally buy the Extreme tire shine from them only & a few times the nxt wax & car wash. I now use the wash t/wax from P/smart.

My polish jobs usually last long as I have covered parking @ work & home so the paint really does not beat the elements except when coming home from work.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 10th, 2011, 10:49 am

You are welcome Alpha,

Alpha, i am sure you keep your car in pristine condition. I am sure one of your friends will want their car to look like yours, in that case you can gain some experience.

On the other hand i still try most of the new detailing stuff there are out there.They are really some good detailing products on the market and the only way to find out if it works for you is to TRY IT..!

Once again if anyone what to know more about detailing feel free to ask..

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 10th, 2011, 11:01 am

^Thanks again d00d.

I picked up a bottle of Poorboys Black Hole last week, I aim to try it on the daily driver sometime over the next two weeks (that one is black). Not sure what to seal it off with though - I may just use Megs Quik Detailer on top of it just to see how the PB holds out.

Apparently, the PB Black Hole is quite oily (lots of glazing and fillers) so I'm not sure how well a sealant will bond to it.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby oxidation » January 10th, 2011, 11:36 am

Karim Khan wrote:
Once again if anyone what to know more about detailing feel free to ask..



yea man im looking at these polishing bonnets

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NP ... PDKIKX0DER

would like to know which bonnet is for which when polishing

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 10th, 2011, 11:37 am

Cool let me know how it works for you.

What i would recommend if you want to keep the long term effect of the Poor boys, you will need to lock it in. Meaning you should either use a sealant or wax. The black hole is more on the Glazing side. and Glazes are mainly used for the "car show" effect, but it is not that durable. If you detail you car every week, then by all means just use the Poorboys and don't worry about locking it in. A nice substitute to the Poorboys is the 3m hand glaze.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 10th, 2011, 1:53 pm

^^Hmm...hand no idea about the 3M Hand glaze! Will have to check it out.

Yep, I realise the PB BHole is filler heavy. Just feeling the product in my fingers, it's REALLY oily and smooth.

Also, I won't use the NXT TechWax 2.0 on top it because apparently (from a discussion on a foreign forum), TW2.0 has some mild cleaners in it. If that's true then maybe that could affect how those PB Bhole fillers sit...well...that's my thinking.

I'll probably see if I could get some PB EX-P (or maybe just a coat of Mothers step 3 carnauba) and see how durable that is. Supposedly though, the EX-P isn't as durable as other "sealants" on the market (e.g. EGP).

Karim Khan, what's your take on Quick detailers? I don't use them in between washes, as I'm too paranoid about swirls. What I have done is use them to add protection to an existing waxed finish immediately after washing and drying.....do you think it's worth it?

I had tried some QD (Aglym) on my black car (see pics two pages back for what that paint looks like) before I had waxed it, just to see if it would affect beading on its own. It sure did...but of course, it wasn't terribly durable!

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 10th, 2011, 2:07 pm

If you are Car Crazy and you detail your car very often, lets say once a week, then you really don't need any sealant.

In layman terms Wax and sealants are good for guys who dont have time to detail often but they want a paint protection.

But you seem like an Auto Perfectionist and i am sure there is not even a single speck of dust on your car as you are reading this!!!

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 10th, 2011, 2:12 pm

^^Well actually...... :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Parvin » January 10th, 2011, 5:49 pm

Advise from anyone is welcomed.

Thinking about doing over my application since it didn't really turn out the way I expected. I admit the paint may be damaged too much due to improper washing methods prior to owning the car but I still think that it could be better.

Used the Mothers 3 step line of products by hand so i wanted to get an electric polisher to do over the application. Anyone can recommend a good brand and reasonably priced polisher/waxer for a beginner?

Looking to source the 'Professional Heavy Duty Rubbing Compound' to assist in the process as well.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Alpha_2nr » January 11th, 2011, 10:45 am

^^Why do you feel the need to go with a compound? Most times, those are very aggressive and while remedying heavy scratching, they will also leave lots of fine scratches and swirls, which will need to be finished up with a milder polish.

I'd faster apply multiple applications of a milder polish, rather than use one strong one in one go.


On another note, light swirling CAN be remedied, or at least "filled" by hand (believe me, I've done it) but it takes ALOT of elbow grease, and many hours, if not DAYS to successfully complete all panels....along with loads of painkillers.

For example, when using the mothers step 2 glaze, if it takes you less than 5 minutes to finish a panel, by hand, then you're doing it wrong.

Repeated application, and working the Glaze in properly into the paint is what will lead to a successful result....especially since the Glaze is filler heavy (to which repeated applications help IMO).

Also, the APPLICATOR and buffing towel being used is just as critical - if you applied the glaze with say, the nearest "cotton" towel you found, you may have very well inflicted more swirls if say:

1) the towel wasn't 100% cotton

2) the towel wasn't turned frequently

3) the towel was dirty


Thinking about doing over my application since it didn't really turn out the way I expected. I admit the paint may be damaged too much due to improper washing methods


So why can't you just post a picture (like we asked a few pages back), so we can see what you're not happy about?


or better yet, get a professional detail, like what Karim Khan would do.


electric polisher to do over the application


This can also do more harm than good if improper technique is used.

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Parvin » January 11th, 2011, 4:11 pm

^^^

Didn't know you could repeat the Step 2 ... thanks.

Applicator was a microfiber cloth ( new one for each step and was turned frequently )

Lemme give it a wash since it has been roughly 2 weeks and the dust is heavy, will get the pics.

And thanks for the advice ( painkillers for my arm the next day would have been nice ) :twisted:

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Karim Khan » January 11th, 2011, 10:10 pm

Alpha_2nr wrote:Karim Khan, what's your take on Quick detailers? I don't use them in between washes, as I'm too paranoid about swirls. What I have done is use them to add protection to an existing waxed finish immediately after washing and drying.....do you think it's worth it?

I had tried some QD (Aglym) on my black car (see pics two pages back for what that paint looks like) before I had waxed it, just to see if it would affect beading on its own. It sure did...but of course, it wasn't terribly durable!


Quick Detailer's (QD) are very good i use it on my personal rides and when i am claying a vehicle.

I use the QD as the final step when i have finished wash and dry the vehicle. The QD helps to remove any water marks from the paint and it gives the finish a nice brilliant shine and a very small amount of protection. Its also a good lube for when you are claying the surface and removing dried up polish in the seams and cracks of the car.

If you use the QD with a CLEAN MF towel in the above method you should not get any swirls.

DONT use a QD after you apply any paint sealant as it would interfere with the bonding process of the sealant. Sealants need time to "molecularise"/ cure before you top it off with something else....

With Respect to swirls, the most amount of swirls you will get on the vehicle is through improper washing methods. Like it or not anytime you wash your car you WILL instill swirls on the paint. If you have a dark colored car it will show up more than others. So what pple need to do is learn about different wash methods eg. the two bucket method. and it will help to REDUCE the amount of swirls you instill on to the paint.

If pple throughly wash the car and use the proper techniques and tools (that was manufactured for this purpose) then you should not have a problem. The reason why i say this is that i see pple using their old tee shirts and other cloths to dry their cars... these materials was not intended to be used for drying a vehicle or for use in washing a car. So it may cause more harm than good.

QD is a must in a detailer s arsenal

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Re: Car Polishing 101

Postby Dunman » January 12th, 2011, 4:38 am

Gentlemen,

I have a question about the Turtle Wax Ice Liquid synthetic polish. I use it due to ease of use and I don't have to worry about residue on my black vehicle.

Is it a true polish or a polish and wax? If its a polish, then the ICE line is incomplete imho.

Also, should I be using a sealant after this product?

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