Order of detainling a car

[rossmeister]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Not sure what you mean by difficult... Most popular brands should be ok if using them right.



Ult. Polish has some cleaners, so would be able to remove wax.

It may be a bit mild though, as far as removing defects goes.



Well, it is popular to work from the top down after the wheels are done. But no right or wrong, just whatever works best for you.

I wanted to start with a product with the least aggressiveness and then move up to something stronger if needed. Hopefully I won't be needing Meg's Ultimate Compound. At least a local auto parts store has both the UP and UC for sale. Less things to order over the internet. Call me old fashioned, but I like to physically view the things I want to buy. Of course I won't have this option for the rest of my product 'wish list', most of which will have to be bought over the internet.

[rossmeister]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Thanks for all of the help, guys! Guess I've learned much more than I thought, but realize that this is an ongoing thing and will need to learn more. At least I know I'm on the right track. Maybe someday I'll be experienced enough that I'll be able to offer help. Thanks again, everyone!

[Murr1525]

Re: Order of detainling a car

4. Apply Sealant, let cure, apply another layer, let cure again and then top with wax. But I am still debating the sealant application since I understand they will be extremely difficult to remove when it comes time for re-application.

Not sure what you mean by difficult... Most popular brands should be ok if using them right.

Here's my number one question: will a polish remove old layers of wax, or should I use a separate wax remover? And what is recommended?

Ult. Polish has some cleaners, so would be able to remove wax.

It may be a bit mild though, as far as removing defects goes.

I know it is against suggested recommended practices, but I generally always wash the lower areas and wheels last..

Well, it is popular to work from the top down after the wheels are done. But no right or wrong, just whatever works best for you.

[BillE]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Seeing you are claying, that in itself will remove any wax that may be on the vehicle. But yes, polishing will also remove the wax.

Here is where a confusion may enter the situation...some 'polishes' are non-abrasive (think M-7) whereas others (like Ultimate Polish) do incorporate (abet very fine) 'abrasives'.

Hope that helped ya some...

Bill

[kiwiatlarge]

Re: Order of detainling a car

I know it is against suggested recommended practices, but I generally always wash the lower areas and wheels last.. Maybe because both our cars are outside and daily driven I tend to not get too meticulous with my details. Prioritise on sprucing the panels up, and worry about the interior/jambs/wheel detail etc if I have time and are in the mood.

If I do the interior etc, I always do that first, because naturally electricity and water aren't a good mix. Just a comment on the time frames. One thing I find is I try not to delay too much moving from the wash to the LSP. If there is a polish or cleaner, they go on pretty quick, otherwise I get dust settle on my paint. I always end up doing a quick detail between coats of wax, no matter the delay between the two... on the horizontal panels definately..

[wifpd4]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Clay-baring will remove wax, in addition to providing a smooth foundation for the rest of your work by removing any possible bonded contaminates.

[rossmeister]

Re: Order of detainling a car

With the limited experience I have detailing. I usually detail my cars in a certain order.

1. tar/bugs
2. wash car
3, wash wheels/tires
4. Rinse
5. Dry

6. Clean Floor Mats/Protect
7. Vacuum
8. Clean Vinyl Dash and sides/Carpeting/Leather
9. Protect Vinyl Dash and sides/Carpeting/Leather
10. Clean inside windows

11. Compound(if needed)
12. Polish(if needed)
13. Final Wax

14. Outside Windows
15. Exterior Trim Protected
16. Tires and Wheels Protected

Wondering what order most others use?

And for the more experienced, do you see any "Major problems" with what order I've been doing things that I should surely correct. I'm not a proffesional so I don't know what is best.

You know, I've posted that same question in other forums but no replies so far. Here's what I plan to do, once I get all of my products in:
1. Wash using rinseless wash. (I live in a condo with no water hose access)
2. Claybar
3. Polish. To remove, or at least hide, some very fine swirl marks and scratches. And hopefully remove old wax layers as well.
4. Apply Sealant, let cure, apply another layer, let cure again and then top with wax. But I am still debating the sealant application since I understand they will be extremely difficult to remove when it comes time for re-application.

BTW, this will all be done by hand using Pinnacle's Polishin' Pal. Polish application using 3.5 " white pad; sealant and wax application using 3.5" red pad. Washing: Lake Country 'Big Blue' wash sponge, and of course, the obligatory two-bucket method with grit guards in each bucket, along with several other buckets of water for pre-wash and final rinse. Oh yeah! My car is parked outside in the blazing TX sun 24/7. No covered parking either.

I've left out the undercarriage, wheel and tire, inner fender and interior cleaning for brevity on this thread/posting, but I WILL be doing them, never fear. LOL

Here's my number one question: will a polish remove old layers of wax, or should I use a separate wax remover? And what is recommended?
Like summerstorm, I too am a newbie, and am learning more and more each day. These forums are more addicting than Facebook! But FAR more edumacational IMO. LOL

p.s. My car is white.
p.p.s. White is almost as hard to care for as black. Every speck of dirt is there for all to see. And it's hard to see scratches and swirls, unless I get perfect light conditions.

[Murr1525]

Re: Order of detainling a car

The water will run down, but they will tend to stay wet, get re-sprayed, etc so less chance of spots.

And if nothing else, better than on the car paint.

[yuriko]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Actually why is the tyres cleaned first before the car? As water will drip onto the wheels and cause water spots.

Curious ^_^

[Murr1525]

Re: Order of detainling a car

If you just do stuff regularly, nothing really looks that un-detailed, even if they arent done together.

[summerstorm]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Yeah, that is all great advice. I was beating myself up that I could rarely do my entire car in one day, and thinking I was being way too anal about everything. And I would usually force myself through(with my own car) an 8 -10 hour day.

It is a heck of alot better and easier splitting over a few days, exterior one day, and interior another day. And when I think about the engine that's got to be a whole other time.

[Murr1525]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Yeah, wheels before car.

And interior another day.

[andytsang]

Re: Order of detainling a car

No way I could do everything in a day nor a weekend. Even I have the time, I don't have the strength (way out of shape). I spread the works in many weeknights after work and weekends. For compound/polish, I even have to do one or two panels at a time. So my order really depends on how much time I have and my physical condition on that day.

My mother-in-law once mistaken I wash my car every night!

[Deaner5]

Re: Order of detainling a car

Like most things in life it's probably personal preference that drives the order for most people. I do agree with Mark and would say tires before paint. I also like to leave water on the paint for as little time as possible as I have pretty hard water, so tires after the wash would just cause me water spots.

I will sometimes clean the interior a day or two before doing a wax, just so I don't have a marathon detail day. I also like to do the interior before paint as sometimes I think my vacuum will put extra dust in the air I don't want on clean paint.

You could also put the tire shine above other trim as it may need more time to dry than the other trims, so that could be a consideration if you plan on going somewhere right away (I typically detail at night so I'm rarely going anywhere right after a detail).

[TheSublimeGoose]

Personally, I clean my tires/wheels before the rest of the car, as to not get any crud from said area onto the paint. For example, scrubbing your tires with some APC you're bound to flick some crud-laden APC onto your paint.

Also, I like to clean my outside windows before working on the paint. If you spray your glass cleaner directly onto the glass like I do, your bound to get some fine mist, which will land on the paint, or your freshly applied wax.

Just my 2 cents.

Mark