Help my detailing situation

[shadow85]

Hi, im new to detailing all together. I started learning the process on how to detail this week, and decided to give it a shot today.

As I understand it must go something like:

WASH > DRY > Meguiars CLAY > Meguairs U. COMPOUND > Meguiars U. POLISH > IPA > Meguairs U.WAX

Well, I had a busy day today and after work I decided to try doing this to my car. Little did I know that doing it by hand takes a long time! I don't have any buffer or other tools to help.

I was running extremely late for a car show that I wanted to goto so I basically stopped halfway through the detailing process. I only washed/dried the car, clay'd the whole car using Meguiars Clay kit. I then proceeded to use Meguiars UC, but only done half the car when i decided to call it quits and goto the car show. I did not realise it takes so long to do by hand. So basically, I did not get time to polish or wax the car at all, and only had half the car done with the compound, the left half of the car + some of the bonnet.

I really want to finish the whole detail process, but I won't have a chance for a few more days. What do I do then? Do I wash/dry the car, and clay it all again and then start the compound process all over again? Is it safe to compound the left side that was already done today. I don't want to overuse it, does Meguairs UC diminish paint in anyway if constantly used?

Appreciate any help, thanks.

[Old Bear]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Can you confirm that the paint is in pretty good condition?
I hear the words Car Show, so think that could be the situation.

Here are a couple ideas.
I would use a product like Wash and Wax Anywhere, or a detail spay to clean the dust and contaminents from the car show drive.
Then use Ultimate Polish on the left side of car.
Then put Ultra wax on that side to protect it.
That way if you get interrupted, your work is protected.

Once you sit back and smile, you can decide to tackle the other side.
I might try the Ultimate polish on a section on the right side to see if I got similar results,. If not, then try the compound. Test the least aggressive method first.
Then complete the right side, all the way through Ultimate Wax for protection.

Now, the top panels can be done (normally, we would do this first).

For me, if working by hand and including paint correction, I would need to break the work for most cars into thirds.
Then again, I am an old bear and move like a very old koala.

By the way, I see this is your first post. Welcome to the Forums.

[HCAD]

Re: Help my detailing situation

I really want to finish the whole detail process, but I won't have a chance for a few more days. What do I do then? Do I wash/dry the car, and clay it all again and then start the compound process all over again? Is it safe to compound the left side that was already done today. I don't want to overuse it, does Meguairs UC diminish paint in anyway if constantly used?

Welcome Shadow. Following the bear's comments ... and answering your question above, yes, you will wash and dry again when you're ready to finish the car. No, you shouldn't have to clay the surface again unless you wait a long time in between detailing. No, you won't have to re-compound the areas that you've already done. Hopefully you saw an improvement in the paint reflection after your compounding? Those areas will only need polish and wax to finish them up.

My suggestion, when working by hand, just do a panel at a time. Compound, polish, wax ... a door. Enjoy. Then move on to another panel.

[shadow85]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Ok, thanks alot guys!

Yes my paint was already in good condition, the car is only 2.5 years old with 22K miles on it. And its been washed atleast 1-2x weekly since I have got it, but sadly I have never clayed/polished/waxed it in that time until yesterday when I started.


So I guess I will wash/dry the car again, then polish the left side+bonnet as that side was already compounded yesterday. Then throw ultimate wax over those panels. Then I would compound/polish/wax the right side?

[roushstage2]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Skip the IPA wipe down. Other than that, wash the car and pick up where you left off. One thing I'll add is make sure to put a coat of wax on the panels you used the polish on before you drive or wash the car again.

[HCAD]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Then I would compound/polish/wax the right side?

I'm just curious as to what encouraged you to compound in the first place? Verses just polishing and waxing. Did you see significant improvement from the compounding step? I ask because you are working by hand and it's possible that you can skip the compounding all together if your 2.5 year old paint didn't have specific damage you were trying to remove.

[tcope1]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Lots of extra work... but you did not know it would be at the time.

As mentioned, I'd say the best way to do this would be to wash the entire vehicle. Then, clay and polish only one section that you can finish in a day (within comfort). Wax that section. Next time, wash and work on another section that you can complete.

A polisher runs about $100-$120 and you could probably find a used Porter Cable 7424 online for less. I checked and they for around $50-$75 used. of course, you'd then need 3-4 pads, which would run around another $20-$30.

[shadow85]

Re: Help my detailing situation

I'm just curious as to what encouraged you to compound in the first place? Verses just polishing and waxing. Did you see significant improvement from the compounding step?

Well I thought that using Ultimate compound is ok because it is not super aggressive rite? And I felt that the black paint didn't have a sparkle anymore to it even though I reguarly wash it. So I decided I would try Ultimate compound because it has very good reviews, and I keep hearing it will bring paint back to life.

And I have tried just the Ultimate polish with nothing else, once before but I felt like it didn't do much. I could still see lots of spots, swirls and what look like water marks or something embedded deep on the surface.

Yesterday I spent some time and poloshed/wax all the panels I compounded the day before.

I am really surprised at the results, I was very skeptical about all these clay/polish/wax products but my results are great. Removed most of the scratches/swirls and most of the other marks that were in the paint. And now I my car looks almost like it is new.

I still have to do the right side of the car but the rest I am actually happy with the results. Thanks to everyone for their input here!

[Nick Winn]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Happy to hear you have achieved great results and have received some great tips from the MOL community as well!

Yes, working by hand, to complete a multi step process, can certainly take quite a bit of time. I always like to present the below option, if a user does not want to try to complete a multi step process in one day. In fact, by practicing the below technique, this can make the process much more enjoyable & with better results, because it allows you to take your time, and not be rushed:

For example:

Sunday - Wash & Dry vehicle, then complete one panel on the vehicle from start to finish. Clay if needed, Compound if needed, Polish if needed, Wax. Done. Call it is a day.

Monday - Lets say you get home from work, and since the car was just washed the previous day, maybe the vehicle only has light dust present. Use a detail spray, like Meguiar's Quik Detailer Mist & Wipe, to mist on & wipe off the dust, revealing a clean surface. Now, you are ready to work on the car again. Complete another section of the car, like the two front panels & bumper, from start to finish, clay if needed, compound if needed, polish if needed, wax etc. Call it a day.

Tuesday - If only light dust is present, wipe of with a Quik Detailer & complete another section from start to finish.

The easiest way to use this technique is if the weather is fairly nice, and the car only receives light dust. By the end of the week, you could have the entire vehicle complete. You have also not exhausted yourself trying to complete a multi step process in one day, and chances are you likely will get better results, because you are taking you time.

Also, by completing one panel from start to finish, as opposed to one step on the whole car, the rest of the vehicle will be protected with any existing wax which is present, instead of removing with clay or compound.

Especially when using a compound, don't forget to constantly check your work with proper good lighting to ensure all defects are being removed to your satisfaction!

Hope this helps

Nick

[shadow85]

Re: Help my detailing situation

Thanks Nick, that is exactly what I was acutally thinking of doing. Today I still have about 2-3 panels left from my detailing adventure I started on the weekend, so I will get those done today.

I will wash and dry the car today, and use the quick wax on the already polished and waxed panels from the weekend, then compound and polish and wax the panels that are left over to do.