detailing car for first time

[BA_Turbo]

Hey all,

I'm just about to go out and buy all my meguiars products to clean/detail my car. Below is a list of what i believe i need:

Gold Class car wash shampoo & Conditioner
Quik clay detailing system
Deep crystal paint cleaner
Deep crystal polish
Nxt gen wax (paste or liquid?)

Applicator pad
2x microfibre cloths/towels
microfibre sponge

My boot also has a few blemishes as shown below in the photo. Hard to explain but I guess it’s best described as “blotchy stains”. Will the above mentioned products remove this blemish or will I need something else?


I have very minor swirls in the paint so I’m guessing scratchX won’t be needed?


Picture below to indicate colour of car.


Cheers for any advice!

[TXShine]

Re: detailing car for first time

Looks like a great start. I would suggest getting a couple more applicator pads (one for each product / don’t mix products) and a couple more micro fiber towels, you be glad you did. Do you have two wash buckets for two bucket wash method and Grit Guards? If not, you might consider those as well, they’ll come in handy for maintaining what you accomplished with all your hard work.

If you want to get rid of the swirls even though they are minor, you’ll need the Scratch-X. Be prepared for some heavy work if working by hand. Not sure about the blemish. Hard to tell in from the picture.

I’m sure others will chime in with good advise as well. Check these out :
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21321

Good luck and let us know how it goes....

[Tillmanator]

Re: detailing car for first time

I am far from an expert. But I also work by hand on a car about the size of yours. When I do the paint cleaner, polish AND wax I typically use two applicator pads for each product. It annoys me a little if they get too gunked up so I switch to a second before that happens. So that's at least three applicator pads. And as for micros... get lots. You'll be wiping off the QD after claying... wiping off painter cleaner AND polish (that really gunks up my towels) and then the wax.

I would get at least three/four micros each for the clay, clean and polish steps. Then I would use some Ultimate Wipes for wax removal. LOVE those Ultimates!

As I said, this is just how many I personally use and I tend to go overboard with not getting stuff too gunked up. Others may use less towels.

Have fun!

[guitarman502]

Re: detailing car for first time

tillmanator.. every thought about getting a da? .. if not for any other reason that making it a little easier on yourself? I mean your car looks fabulous but.. dang thats alot to do by hand

[tabletennisman]

Re: detailing car for first time

Finally got my own account activated.

Looks like a great start. I would suggest getting a couple more applicator pads (one for each product / don’t mix products) and a couple more micro fiber towels, you be glad you did. Do you have two wash buckets for two bucket wash method and Grit Guards? If not, you might consider those as well, they’ll come in handy for maintaining what you accomplished with all your hard work.

If you want to get rid of the swirls even though they are minor, you’ll need the Scratch-X. Be prepared for some heavy work if working by hand. Not sure about the blemish. Hard to tell in from the picture.

I’m sure others will chime in with good advise as well. Check these out :
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21321

Good luck and let us know how it goes....

Cheers mate. Ended up getting around 10 microfibre towels, 6 application pads. What's this 2 bucket wash method? I take it 1 is filled with the carwash, while the other is clean water to rinse the microfibre sponge? Also, what is grit guard?

I think i'll leave the scratchx for next time. Will hopefully get around to washing it this weekend after the rain here has cleared!

It seems you guys have far far cheaper prices over there compared to here as well!

Cheers also Tillmanator

Will keep you all posted.

[yalerd]

Re: detailing car for first time

Read this link, it will help you understand the two bucket method
Two Bucket Method - a little how to and proof...
You can also search for it on Youtube.

Grit Guard is something that you put in the bottom of you bucket that it separates grit from your mitt when you clean your mitt in the bucket.

Read about the two bucket method and this will clarify your doubts

[tabletennisman]

Re: detailing car for first time

Got my car detailed. Took way longer than expected to do!

Paint cleaner removed the blemishes in the bootlid. Paint is now super smooth all over after using the claybar and paint cleaner! I was suprised however that the polish made no visual difference? Is that normal? Not sure how much i was meant to work the polish into the paint but it took me over an hour to polish the car by hand. Maybe i need to spend ALOT more time doing it?

The final finish also isn't as good as i had expected. Are there any steps to "go further" to get a better (shinier) finish? Swirls are also now much more visible than beforehand...

Cheers