beginner's questions

[akimel]

Tomorrow I have taking my Honda S2000 to a professional detailer. It has some imperfections, stains, and scratches that I know I will not be able to get out by hand.

1) After I get my car back, should I add a second application of wax?

2) I plan on waxing my car probably around three times a year. Should I precede each waxing with a claybar prep? Should I precede each waxing with a wax cleaning/polish? Or can I get by simply by washing and waxing, reserving the full prep for, say, twice a year? What's a good schedule for a guy like me who is committed to keeping his sportster looking good but who doesn't have the time to spend all of his weekends detailing his car? My vehicle is my everday vehicle, so it's exposed to the element a lot. Fortunately, we now have a garage in which to keep her.

TIA.

I've decided to get me a dual action polisher, so I will no doubt be back to this forum soon with my questions on its proper use.

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: beginner's questions

Tomorrow I have taking my Honda S2000 to a professional detailer. It has some imperfections, stains, and scratches that I know I will not be able to get out by hand.

1) After I get my car back, should I add a second application of wax?

2) I plan on waxing my car probably around three times a year. Should I precede each waxing with a claybar prep? Should I precede each waxing with a wax cleaning/polish? Or can I get by simply by washing and waxing, reserving the full prep for, say, twice a year? What's a good schedule for a guy like me who is committed to keeping his sportster looking good but who doesn't have the time to spend all of his weekends detailing his car? My vehicle is my everday vehicle, so it's exposed to the element a lot. Fortunately, we now have a garage in which to keep her.

TIA.

I've decided to get me a dual action polisher, so I will no doubt be back to this forum soon with my questions on its proper use.

First of all, please make sure you're taking the car to a quality detail shop... the word "professional" means nothing in the industry today, and more often than not you're going to get a horrible job... few things to consider... if you're paying less than $100-150 for a single-step polish job you're probably getting a bad job... then again, I've had clients who paid $200+ and the detailers ruined the finish... just do your research... if you're taking it to a bad shop, you'll do a better job your first time around with a PC, 8006 pad and some M80 or M83...

To answer you questions though...

1. If the detailer seals the car properly, you should wax the car again in a month or two...

2. You only need to clay bar 1 or 2 times... so you don't need to clay before each wax application... you should wash the car once every week or two weeks, wax every 4-8 weeks and touch it as least as possible

[Murr1525]

Re: beginner's questions

I would agree... If you are buying G110 anyway, probably could do most of the work yourself, so it is actually good.

Claying is one of those things that you just have to see.. luckily it is quick. You could go months without needing to clay, or drive past someone painting and need to clay tomorrow.

By hand, and even by machine, a cleaner/wax followed by a regular wax can make a nice quick detail when some cleaning ability is needed.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: beginner's questions

I probably would skip going to the detailer if you are getting the G110. Use that savings for more product. Once bitten by the detailing bug there is no cure.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: beginner's questions

Ditto on what everyone else said plus this...

If you decide to take it to a Pro Detailer, try to find out what they're going to use on the paint, as in what kind of machine, what kind of pad and what kind of chemical.

What you want to avoid is having someone swirl your car out and then fill in the swirls so you can't see them so you think you got a good job.

Hate having to write that kind of advice but too many detailers don't do quality work and then we see people come to this forum asking how to remove swirls.

So do your homework and just make sure you're taking your car to a person that actually knows how to do the job right the first time.