Detailing on a budget!

[dvb247]

Is there a kit that a novice can purchase to use for reasonable cost?

My car was detailed just before I purchased it a couple of months ago, it's never looked as good sinse!

There is almost to much advice on here with dual action polishers, US products etc.

I would like some kind of kit with car wash, clay bar, wax, sealer....can't remember what else??? oh pads and an idiots guide!!!

I have some Autoglym wax from years ago but it leaves white wax in all the stones chips and grooves, looks terrible!!!

 

[rossyl]

detailing world forum is your friend.

there are threads there on cheap products that work.

As for the AutoG wax - what one is it? the products are very well thought of. Try using a thinner l;ayer of wax, and not leaving it on too long before buffing off with a microfibre cloth.

 

[azaman]

Try Zymol Cleaner Wax (Halfords sell it).

You might find after using it the result is so good you don't need to do anything else...

 

[Baron_Samedi]

Two buckets... with grit guards (even if you home make the guards)

One for clean water and one with your chosen car wash solution.

Apply to the car from the car wash bucket and rinse off the sponge etc in the clean water bucket.

 

[rossyl]

do a search on the forum, and you'll find people ahve asked similar questions.

Also on the detailing world forum, search the phrase credit crunch for cheap stuff.

 

[dvb247]

Thank you Rossyl, how often should/can you clay bar and machine wax your car, I heard you can't do it very often as it thins the lacker?
I am leaning towards the Meguiars £35 kit, some brushes, new wash mit, etc

 

[lynall]

Claying doesnt thin the lacquer, but machine polishing to excess will, i had and old disco that i used to off road a lot and it got a lot of scraths damage etc and the big old 7" polisher always bought it up a treat did it several times but it was years ago and it was a very fine compound.



Lynall

 

[rossyl]

as lynall has said.

i'm a novice at this but you shouldn't need to clay that often but you can do it as often as you want. just make sure the clay is clean, you turn it often enough, or you'll scratch the car. if you drop it on the floor throw it away.


machining too often will thin paint.

 

[dvb247]

When you say turn the clay is there a tecnique, ie, mold clay to the size of a beer mat, then what? fold over and reform keeping the grit in the middle? how many times can you do this? how far does 1 bar go?
Just washed my car and the paint is like sand paper at the bottom half of the doors and wings etc!!!

 

[wemorgan]

Personally I fold the clay until it has the surface area of a match box (roughly as it comes I guess). With working it become more malleable and looses its shape quicker, so I fold again every 2 minutes or so. I could have a duff technique, so don't take my word on it.

I've used the same clay 3 times so far. I'd hope it has another 2-3 goes left.

 

[cammy]

I have never used clay bar Auto Express recommend this Autoglym - car cleaning products, car care products, car valeting, car detailing then a polish that i have used and would not change back to anything else
High Definition Wax from Autoglym :: Welcome

 

[rossyl]

When I said turn I meant fold.

You get a clay bar, divide it up into manageable pieces, then spread it out a bit dependant on how you wish to drag it along the car, then spray lube on the area, then drag the clay along, look at the clay after each sweep, if it starts looking too mucky then fold it.

You don't want to drag a dirty piece of clay with bits of dirt stuck in it over a car, you'll just create scratches.

 

[rossyl]

read both

Detailing Clay : Starters' Guide - Detailing World

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_5257717_clay-bar-car.html?cr=1

 

[cplnoonoo]

check out youtube for meguiars vids. The guys over there have a few vids posted up that show you correct technique for claying. Get the starter kit by them for £15 comes with the bar and lube. Use with megs gold class shamp, AutoG SRP(red label) and finish off with 1 or 2 coats of gold class wax.

If its been clayed in the detail that was done not long ago then i wouldnt bother doing it again unless youve dragged your motor through a hedge backwards into a mud pit and covered it in salt lol.

I usually do it just after winter and at the end of summer before it gets cold again. During winter a good bit of wax should help keep the paint in good condition and a regular quick wash to keep the salt from doing any damage. After the main period of winter give it a going over with some clay and add the usual protection to keep it looking good over summer lol.