Detailing thread- Q&A Welcome!

[Tonez]

very very impressive hamish... i like i like

one can definitely learn alot from this thread...

[hamish_023]

A nice black 02 STi with blue metallic.

Before:




Degreasing tyres and cleaning wheels:


After:


Pre wash:


Wash:








Onto Stage 1 paint decontamination:
Dissolving Iron baked into paint


Stage 2 paint decontamination:


Measuring paint around deep scratches:


Accessing paint:








Paint correction:













After:















Roughly 9-10 hours on this car.


Tomorrow is a black EVO 10

[hamish_023]

The EVO 10 wasn't in to bad condition, mostly only light swirl marks so the aim was to try to jewel the car's paint back to a richer colour and bring out the metallic shine. The colour was a dark gunmetal black

Wash wheels and brakes:



Clean/Degrease tyres & wheel arches (the better you cleanse the tyres the longer tyre shine will last).



Pre wash:





Spray and clean with higher concentrate area that normal washes usual forget about (badges, grilles, mesh etc).





Two bucket with gritt guard wash. (One bucket with PH neutral car wash and one bucket to rinse of loose debris.



Rinse:



Paint decontamination stage 1: Iron decontamination (helps prevent deterioration of clear coat)



Paint decontamination stage 2: (What normal car washing doesn't clean off the paint, In my opinion this stage is a MUST before machine polishing, some detailers make it extra cost or avoid it but I find polishing over a contaminated surface will not result in a good finish and even marr the clear coat because machine polish 1 doesn't draw out everything out of the paint and what contaminates it does pick out it then spins them around at a fast rate in the polishing pads).





Rinse, dry and tape up plastics and rubbers (This is so that I can work to the very edge of the paint without marring plastic/rubbers, It also helps any oil getting stuck in vents.





Measure thickness of paint: Trying to detect any resprays where polishing may differ to factory paint or be aware areas of concern where clear coat has failed (sun damage on roof from being unprotected for it's entire life etc).





Assess the paint (Combination of sunlight and artificial lighting is best)

This panel has had some harsh cutting compound rubbed around a deep cut using a old rag causing more marks around it.


Water spots caused from dirty water to dry on the paint leaving minerals these didn't go away after a good wash




More water spots and some light swirls




Lots of scratches on the side skirts caused probably from shoes dragging into the car whilst being dusty.



Once assessed I can start correcting the paint.

Before:


After:


Light swirls marks and scratches are gone, heavy cuts are a lot less noticeable

Before:


After:


Before:


After:


Before:


After:


50/50 shot of before (left light swirls) and after right (deeper, wetter colour and more evident metallic shine)





Before:


After:


50/50 Before - Right, After - Left (light swirls marks)


Before:
Swirls and etched bird poo which was thankfully not deep.



After:





Assessing paint after:





Time taken roughly 8-9 hours

Unfortunately my camera battery died but the owner is a photographer so after shots will come later.

As always all comments welcome.

[SegR]

Hamish what do you use to degrease wheel arches and tyres, and what kind of brush do you use on the rims?

[hamish_023]

It's a foam 3in1 degreaser cleaner in an orange can, this I find better then anything else as it produces a thick shaving cream like foam that dwells on the rubber and plastics. Made by same company as WD 40

The wheel brush I called daytona wheel brush about $40 from waxit or car care. I use it to get behind the face of the rim and use a different brush and cloth from the face and spokes

[Rome_BRZ]

It's a foam 3in1 degreaser cleaner in an orange can, this I find better then anything else as it produces a thick shaving cream like foam that dwells on the rubber and plastics. Made by same company as WD 40

The wheel brush I called daytona wheel brush about $40 from waxit or car care. I use it to get behind the face of the rim and use a different brush and cloth from the face and spokes

I use that wheel brush too, it's great and makes it so easy to clean behind the rim, although with the STI spokes you get a lot of grime and grease flicking back at you so be careful!

Which brush do you use for the face of the rim hamish?

[hamish_023]

http://waxit.com.au/proddetail.asp?prod=AP0032&cat=32

I have one wet and dry microfibre specific to wheels then use that brush to get into wheel nut holes, centre caps etc

[Rome_BRZ]

http://waxit.com.au/proddetail.asp?prod=AP0032&cat=32

I have one wet and dry microfibre specific to wheels then use that brush to get into wheel nut holes, centre caps etc

Awesome thanks hamish, I'm going to give it a try!

[hamish_023]

That brush is awesome and worth the $15.95 as it will last forever. Get some IronX while your there to. Best wheel cleaner and doubles as a paint decontaminator!

[cruisn]

Your work is awesome Hamish.

[Rome_BRZ]

That brush is awesome and worth the $15.95 as it will last forever. Get some IronX while your there to. Best wheel cleaner and doubles as a paint decontaminator!

I use Final Inspections PWC at the moment...once that runs out I'll give IronX a go!

[SegR]

Great info - thanks. My old wheel brush is crap and the wire centre threatens to scratch my wheels so it's getting the dick.

[hamish_023]

A tired old Alfa Romeo this weekend. The owner had a crack at fixing the paint with his machine polisher but created nothing but troubles.

I have no idea why but the image hosting site made the image quality very poor

Before













Wash



Paint decontamination stage 1





Paint decontamination stage 2



Checking paint



The paint (before) buffer trails created from poor machine polishing and major swirls evident.







50/50 (still needs one more pass)





Before



After



Another 50/50



What appeared to be wet-sanding marks (This looked worse in real life but my camera skills fail)





Plastics treated





After shots:












Thanks for watching!

[THERB3]

Hamish get your arse down to Melbourne and detail my car.
Great stuff mate and I wasn't joking about coming down.

[hamish_023]

Thanks mate, maybe I will organise a trip down one day!