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Hey all,
Overview…
So I bought a new (but used) daily driver just over 4 weeks ago (Ford focus).
Interior, engine and paperwork were in the best of order but the exterior looked like it had issues, I actually thought it just needed a good once over at the jet wash. I was mistaken!
I think the previous owner had used it to commute himself to the train station where he parked in the same spot, possibly under trees as it seemed like tree sap had become bonded to most of the glass and the majority of the paintwork.
I started Googling like a maniac and came across Detailing for the first time. Having spent many hours watching videos and reading up on the subject I formulated a plan of attack and started shopping.
The Glass, especially the windscreen was a priority as the wipers sounded like they were going over sand paper and I hoped for no rain while I was driving it.
To work…
I gave the car a good wash using Meguiars wash mitt/Tech wash and 2 buckets (old trusty the sponge has now been retired lol).
I opted to use detailing spray as lubricant and razor blade the glass (small test area first and wiped off to check results) the bonded muck was coming off so all glass was worked in a steady methodical manner. I followed this up with giving it a going over with the clay bar (first time ever using clay – I like claying). This was followed up with a final clean and then treated with a coating of Rain-x…Glass now looks fab and have since done all the interior glass using Meguiars glass cleaner and several clean microfibers…very pleased with the result.
Next stop the bodywork…
More research and more shopping!
I thought I would follow advice I saw from Junkman and ‘select one small area and take it all the way from start to finish as it’s pointless trying to work the whole car if you cannot get the result in a small test area’.
Car was washed and dried – test area selected and taped off, detail spray and clay bar put to work…area prepped. I would love to own one of the polishing machines but funds mean I am currently working by hand, probably good for the soul and I will get a machine in due course, I did not fancy using those little foam applicators so ordered a couple of the chunky CCS euro foam pads.
Orange pad and Ultimate compound were tentatively worked, wiped off and looked good, next up was the white pad and ultimate polish, wiped off and looking really good and finally a coat of Tech wax was applied allowed to dry and buffed off (damn that Tech wax is so easy to work with).The results from the test area were inspirational and I pushed on for a further 8 hours, did another 3 hours the next day, just got the roof left to do when time allows. Considering I was working by hand and first ever attempt at all this I am over the moon with the results thus far. I have also done the tyres with the Endurance tyre gel and the exterior plastic with Ultimate protectant trim and dash restorer…the car looks 100% better than when I bought it and I am enjoying both the challenge and the process.
I now want to go a step further and am awaiting delivery of some Poorboys black hole glaze (The Focus is black and will be the only black car I ever own lol).
Hopefully this post is not too long but I thought I would share the story and ask a question if I may.
The car has only had the one coat of Tech wax 2 weeks ago after compounding and polishing and lives on the street, To apply the Poorboys black hole successfully will a wash and clay suffice or would it be better to cut things back a tad further with a light polish before application?
Overview…
So I bought a new (but used) daily driver just over 4 weeks ago (Ford focus).
Interior, engine and paperwork were in the best of order but the exterior looked like it had issues, I actually thought it just needed a good once over at the jet wash. I was mistaken!
I think the previous owner had used it to commute himself to the train station where he parked in the same spot, possibly under trees as it seemed like tree sap had become bonded to most of the glass and the majority of the paintwork.
I started Googling like a maniac and came across Detailing for the first time. Having spent many hours watching videos and reading up on the subject I formulated a plan of attack and started shopping.
The Glass, especially the windscreen was a priority as the wipers sounded like they were going over sand paper and I hoped for no rain while I was driving it.
To work…
I gave the car a good wash using Meguiars wash mitt/Tech wash and 2 buckets (old trusty the sponge has now been retired lol).
I opted to use detailing spray as lubricant and razor blade the glass (small test area first and wiped off to check results) the bonded muck was coming off so all glass was worked in a steady methodical manner. I followed this up with giving it a going over with the clay bar (first time ever using clay – I like claying). This was followed up with a final clean and then treated with a coating of Rain-x…Glass now looks fab and have since done all the interior glass using Meguiars glass cleaner and several clean microfibers…very pleased with the result.
Next stop the bodywork…
More research and more shopping!
I thought I would follow advice I saw from Junkman and ‘select one small area and take it all the way from start to finish as it’s pointless trying to work the whole car if you cannot get the result in a small test area’.
Car was washed and dried – test area selected and taped off, detail spray and clay bar put to work…area prepped. I would love to own one of the polishing machines but funds mean I am currently working by hand, probably good for the soul and I will get a machine in due course, I did not fancy using those little foam applicators so ordered a couple of the chunky CCS euro foam pads.
Orange pad and Ultimate compound were tentatively worked, wiped off and looked good, next up was the white pad and ultimate polish, wiped off and looking really good and finally a coat of Tech wax was applied allowed to dry and buffed off (damn that Tech wax is so easy to work with).The results from the test area were inspirational and I pushed on for a further 8 hours, did another 3 hours the next day, just got the roof left to do when time allows. Considering I was working by hand and first ever attempt at all this I am over the moon with the results thus far. I have also done the tyres with the Endurance tyre gel and the exterior plastic with Ultimate protectant trim and dash restorer…the car looks 100% better than when I bought it and I am enjoying both the challenge and the process.
I now want to go a step further and am awaiting delivery of some Poorboys black hole glaze (The Focus is black and will be the only black car I ever own lol).
Hopefully this post is not too long but I thought I would share the story and ask a question if I may.
The car has only had the one coat of Tech wax 2 weeks ago after compounding and polishing and lives on the street, To apply the Poorboys black hole successfully will a wash and clay suffice or would it be better to cut things back a tad further with a light polish before application?
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