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My first detail job!

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  • My first detail job!

    Hello all,

    I have been visiting this site for about two months now and have gotten tons of valuable information... so much that a week ago I broke down and purchased a box full of everything a hobby detailer would need from Meguiar's, including a new PC.
    This past Saturday I detailed my car for the first time... I say the "first time" because after I read numerous threads and seen countless pictures, I realize my car was "butchered" rather than "detailed" by the so-called detailers that have come before who gets the job done in less than an hour. Anyway, here is what I did on Saturday, and please let me know what you think:

    - Wash with NXT Car Wash (2 bucket with grit guard)
    - Clay with Quick Clay (entire car)
    - Wash again with NXT Car Wash (2 bucket with grit guard)
    - Hot Rims on all wheels and NXT tire cleaner
    - Vacuum interior
    - Quick Interior Detailer on all interior surfaces
    - Quick leather cleaner/conditioner wipe on all leather surfaces
    - PC with 8006 pad and #83 then 8006 with #80 on car's hood
    - PC with 8006 pad and #80 on rest of the car
    - Hand polish with #7 whole car
    - Wax whole car twice with NXT Tech Wax

    I started at 8:30 am and after wiping off the final wax coat, it was 5:00 pm! I was going nonstop and lost all track of time. Long story short, I am pleased with my results with the exception of two things:

    - After everything that was done on the hood with #83 and #80, I can still see some scratches (no swirls). I was wondering if I used a 7006 pad with #85 or #84, if I could get those out more effectively? What do you guys think? Then follow that with either #83 or #80 again.

    - After cleaning my tires with the NXT tire foan cleaner, my tires were reddish brown like they were before cleaning, and I allowed the cleaner to work for about 5 minutes before I used a brush to clean. Again, what do you guys think?

    Overall I am very happy with my first detail job and my car looks brand new.

    Peter

    P.S. My car is a 2005 Lexus GS300 just barely one year old. Does anyone know of a Lexus club? I tried to see if there is a detailing class with a Lexus club I can sign up with but I couldn't find one.

  • #2
    Welcome to MOL!

    Congradulations on your first detail. You really did the whole process! Bravo!

    I seriously recommend against using a w7006 pad with a DA polisher, since it is near impossible/impossible to remove hazing that the w7006 pad produces when all you have is a DA polisher.

    Again, great job on the detail. Lets see some pics if you got any!
    Proud owner of the finest looking car in the parking lot.
    Switch to Linux. Use energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances. Keep your car well maintained and drive easy to save gas. Eat less fast food. Call your mother and tell her you love her. Try flying a kite. Read a wikipedia article daily. Use Meguiar's.

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    • #3
      The tire cleaner is only that, a cleaner. Without dressing the tire afterwards, the tire will be able to bloom (turn brown) again.
      2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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      • #4
        Heh, completely missed that part.

        Yes, to restore the black/gloss of your tires, you will need to apply a tire dressing.

        My favorite tire dressing is Gold Class Endurance High Gloss applied with a tire swipe. The gloss and darkness lasts a long time, and it is easy to apply.

        Proud owner of the finest looking car in the parking lot.
        Switch to Linux. Use energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances. Keep your car well maintained and drive easy to save gas. Eat less fast food. Call your mother and tell her you love her. Try flying a kite. Read a wikipedia article daily. Use Meguiar's.

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi guys,

          Thanks much for your replies... I forgot to mention that after I cleaned the tires with the foam cleaner, I did use the endurance high gloss on them and yes, they look awesome after the application!
          Thank you LiquidBlack for your suggestion on the 7006 pad. I will try this weekend to spend a bit more time on the hood with my 8006 pad + maybe #84 or #85 combo to see if that will yield the result I want. I know the DA has its limitations but I am not at all familiar with the rotary and I don't dare to experiment on my car just yet. Why is #84 and/or #85 not recommended for use with the DA?
          I am experiencing 50 mph+ winds where I live (Fontana, CA) right now and have been for the past three days. There is quite a bit of new-home construction going on in my area so you can imagine my suffering when I drove through one sand storm after another on my way to work Monday morning, especially after babying my car in the garage all weekend after my detail on Saturday... I had a building full of co-workers waiting to see the results of my detail only to see a car displaying a beautiful layer of brown dust yesterday. I can't wait to wash my car again this weekend after the winds have died down so I can see the results I achieved on Saturday again. Hopefully all the sand blasting hasn't damaged the paint too much.

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          • #6
            Be sure to give a very good rinse before washing , and maybe use a little extra soap.
            2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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            • #7
              Got it!

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              • #8
                PKLIN from one gs owner to another you can try this place for some other info, clubs, groups ect

                Lexus news and discussion for owners and enthusiasts.
                Armand
                ++++++++++++
                '02 Lex. GS 300/silver

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                • #9
                  I dont know if its ok to use #84 using a DA. Anybody know?
                  Proud owner of the finest looking car in the parking lot.
                  Switch to Linux. Use energy efficient lightbulbs and appliances. Keep your car well maintained and drive easy to save gas. Eat less fast food. Call your mother and tell her you love her. Try flying a kite. Read a wikipedia article daily. Use Meguiar's.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Hi LiquidBlack, I mentioned #84 with a DA because I saw a Sticky post on this forum listing the #84 and #85 for rotary use only. Just wondering...

                    Armand, I am a subscribed member to ClubLexus and have gotten many useful information from that site. I'm just wondering why there aren't any Lexus clubs registered with Meguiar's for classes... Maybe I can get some people together and start one? Further research is definitely needed.

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