Detailing thread- Q&A Welcome!

[garbo41610]

Duragloss.

The end.

[Hotwire]

I use these on the dash fairly regularly:
Pledge® Grab-It Electrostatic Dusting Cloths
Suitable for wood, ceramic, vinyl and other hard surfaces
Contain no sprays or liquid - so won't leave any residue
Available in both neutral and Citrus fragrance - to leave your home smelling fresh and clean
Available in a convenient pack of 20 cloths


great for picking up the dust particles and leaving no residue behind or turning dust to mud

[nabsie]

I've always been very much in to detailing my car and keeping it looking good but I had to sell my heavily modded WRX to help fund buying a house.

Now a few years down the track I have a car that I enjoy driving again (08 Liberty 2.5i Premium Wagon) I feel like it deserves some love but the problem is all my old products are well past it.

This is where you come in.....I need recommendations for some new quality detailing products.

I've always been interested to try the Poorboy's products as I've heard good things, the "Blackhole" product sounds great. Also Clay Magic was always popular but I have never used it. This new ION Coat Naviwax seems interesting too.

Previously I've used:

Meguiers
Auto Glym
3M Clay Bar
Zymol
Swissvax (previously Swissol)

Not looking to go as crazy expensive as Zymol or Swissol but would like to step outside of the Meguires range which can be bought at Big W etc.

So I'll need:

Car Wash
Clay Bar
Lubricant spray for use with clay
Polish/Wax
Chamois (I've always used a chamois but open to suggestions)
Leather Cleaner
Leather Conditioner

So let me hear what you've found works best.

PS: My Liberty is dark gun metal grey.

[hamish_023]

Car wash - duragloss, optimum any decent brands
Clay - blue magic, zaino. Zas or concours I find are good.
Clay lube - dodo juice is the best
Chamoius - waffle weave
Leather cleaner - zaino, duragloss, dp
Conditioner - same as above plus optimum and swissvax is good as a matte finish

Wax and polish depends on variety of different things

[nabsie]

Thanks for the recommendations Hamish. Seriously admire your work by the way.

I am guessing you mean wax/polish depends on what finish I am after and also the condition of the paint?

I am chasing a wet look, with great depth rather than a highly reflective finish.

The paint is actually in pretty good condition, little to no swirls, etc, one bird etching though that bugs me no end. I clayed the car about 9 months back and it was also professionaly machine polished about 3 months ago, no restoration work though. When I bought it the paint was quite contaminated. The roof, tops of doors and boot were terrible, worst I've ever done.

I mainly hand polish, used random orbit before but I'm afraid of machine polishing myself, dont want to do more damge than good.

[hamish_023]

Preparation for a wedding car the following day so time was spent making it look as it just rolled from the show room

Another pearl white WRX, this time not the wide body version

Before:





Wash:



Iron decontamination:



Clay:



Before: Serious build of carbon all over the rear end of the car:



After:



Before:



After:



Before:



After:













Time taken: 7 hours

[Deep Heat]

Why did my clay bar go some orange/brown colour?

[garbo41610]

What colour was it beforehand? What brand is it?

[Kekotic]

Assuming it was white. that is all the contaminants it picked up off the paint that had been bonded to it.

Oh you did actually wash your car immediately before clay barring right?

[Deep Heat]

What colour was it beforehand? What brand is it?

Blue, Clay Magic

Assuming it was white. that is all the contaminants it picked up off the paint that had been bonded to it.

Oh you did actually wash your car immediately before clay barring right?

Yes I'm not stupid.

[Kekotic]

Never said you were!

[SegR]

What's the best product for cleaning exhaust tips? My STI tips need a bit of love; I have brasso lying around but not sure if it's a bit abrasive? Is autosol any better or are there any general purpose solvents which are good for cleaning them up?

[augo]

Autosol will be heaps better than Brasso!

How would I get old polish off the paint thats wasn't removed properly?
It's gone white, just in the cracks near the door handles etc....

[Kekotic]

Something like isopropyl alcohol will probably remove it.

[hamish_023]

Autosol will be heaps better than Brasso!

How would I get old polish off the paint thats wasn't removed properly?
It's gone white, just in the cracks near the door handles etc....

+1 Isopropyl alcohol for polish/wax residue etc (diluted down to 10-20%) on a bit of micro fibre or all purpose cleaner and use an ear bud to get into those fine cracks