Detailing chat

Curran

That looks to be the job!!

edburg

JoeA3 wrote: »

One car cleaning job I absolutely detest and can never do properly is clean the inside of the windscreen. Complete pig of a job. And you think you've done it only to drive into the sun and see loads of streaks!

Well I finally found the answer. Get down to Lidl, pick this up for €4. I can confirm its genius, does exactly what it says on the tin!

The handle is telescopic and the head is thin enough to get right into the corners and bottom of screen with minimum effort. It comes with a couple of microfibre "socks" that you pop onto the head.

Does it have a flexible head???

Angle on head doesnt look like it fit all way down on my car's, to much angle on screen and dash.

*Kol*

edburg wrote: »

Does it have a flexible head???

Angle on head doesnt look like it fit all way down on my car's, to much angle on screen and dash.

If the head is tilted the other way the angle is much shallower and will get in anywhere. Great job altogether.

JoeA3

Yeah the head swivels in every direction. I was able to get right down into the base of the screen and all around into the corners with it.

edburg

Excellent find for the less flexible detailer indeed.

cena

Dealz sells them for 1.49

Marty McFly

Don't think this warranted it's own thread just looking for a few tips .


I generally keep my car spotless polish wax de tar etc but all my other cars the paintwork was pretty much spotless.

On the new car it was given as much love and it badly needs to be restored it's driving me demented when it's clean it's all I can see. Little marks everywhere :mad: stupid black car.

Just looking for best way and things to buy if I was going to restore it myself.

MetzgerMeister

cena wrote: »

Dealz sells them for 1.49

Can't find them

Foxhole Norman

Marty McFly wrote: »

Don't think this warranted it's own thread just looking for a few tips .


I generally keep my car spotless polish wax de tar etc but all my other cars the paintwork was pretty much spotless.

On the new car it was given as much love and it badly needs to be restored it's driving me demented when it's clean it's all I can see. Little marks everywhere :mad: stupid black car.

Just looking for best way and things to buy if I was going to restore it myself.

By hand, something pretty aggressive like AutoGlym's SRP on a heavy cut pad would do a decent job, a machine polish would be the way to go though, really brings it up.

Curran

By hand the best you will do is hide swirls (assuming the car is fairly new) and with an older car, if the paintwork has lost a bit of depth and gloss, you will be able to restore a bit. Hand polish will give the appearance that the swirls have been removed, but in reality its fillers in the polish, and they will eventually wash out of the paintwork, and you are back to square one. If you polish it, and importantly protect the polish then with a wax or sealant, and do it every 2-3 months, you will be able to keep the car looking well.

The only permanent solution would be to machine polish the paintwork.

Marty McFly

I was afraid the answer would be machine polish. I haven't got one and not sure if I'd trust myself to do it

MetzgerMeister

Marty McFly wrote: »

I was afraid the answer would be machine polish. I haven't got one and not sure if I'd trust myself to do it

Bring your car to Elite Auto Clean and let them do it for you. It'd only take 30 mins or so.

Marty McFly

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Bring your car to Elite Auto Clean and let them do it for you. It'd only take 30 mins or so.

30 minutes really?

Curran

Think he has mixed your post up with someone elses post about polishing head lights!

MetzgerMeister

Ah jaysus what have I done?! :pac:

Sorry Marty, for some reason I thought you were on about headlights

Marty McFly

Curran wrote: »

Think he has mixed your post up with someone elses post about polishing head lights!

Yea they'd be doing well to do a paint correction in 30 minutes

MetzgerMeister

Marty McFly wrote: »

Yea they'd be doing well to do a paint correction in 30 minutes

Especially on a Bimmer

Foxhole Norman

Marty McFly wrote: »

I was afraid the answer would be machine polish. I haven't got one and not sure if I'd trust myself to do it

I thought the same myself but it's the opposite really! I picked up the entire kit when doing mine, DA Pro, 3 cutting pads, 3 different Polishes, all for €250.would be worth getting one and attacking it yourself!

MetzgerMeister

I would agree with FN. Once you have all the stuff you have it not only for the main job but if you have any new scratches down the line just like FN did

Foxhole Norman

They are very handy to have! I'm going to be doing mine again once it gets repaired as there's spots I'm not too happy about and I'm going to focus on the boot/bonnet/bumper a bit more.

edburg

How far do you guys go when cleaning/detailing your cars people??

I know some of you have brand new cars so probably don't go far, but my mental state has no barriers when this time year comes around and start taking the Astra apart and taking the detail a touch far possibly. :eek:

Last winter I stripped the rear inner arches back and cleaned and anti-corrosion waxed the area plus cleaned and treated said plastic inner arch.


cleaned


Waxed


This winter the front end is getting the same treatments and anything plastic removed and treated



Plus area under the wiper arm plastic panel, waxed last year but needs cleaning and touching up.


other side cleaned



Behind the front inner arches I actually found enough wet mud/muck to make 2 large mudballs in my hands.

Curran

Respect dude!

mik_da_man

That's some dedication!

vintagevrs

I thought taking the wheels off was too much!

Gave them a good clean and then some of this stuff

Newtown90

Finally gave in to all the hype and bought some Fusso and King of Gloss!!

Cannot get over the size of the tins.

Can't wait to try it out the long weekend!

rolexeagle1

Lads, I have the use of a DA from a mate. I can't afford to have the car sent to a pro at the moment.

I want to give the car a once over. Have some Meguiars ultimate compound and polish ready to go. Can someone recommend what pads I will need for these? I am pretty confident that I won't mess up using the DA, have read many guides etc

The car is 2002 golf LC6X paint code, the paint is in good condition apart from all the swirls that would come with a 13 years old car that has been through too may car washes.

Aim is to get rid of the swirls and breath a bit of life back into the paint.

thanks

Curran

Traditional foam type: Chemical Guys Hex Logic, or Lake Country pads

Being on a DA with though VW paint; Microfiber Pads offer extra cutting ability, Chemical Guys do a range

If looking for further cut again; CarPro make pads that represent 2000 and 3000 grit sandpaper. Their Denim and Velvet pads

vectra

Newtown90 wrote: »

Finally gave in to all the hype and bought some Fusso and King of Gloss!!

Cannot get over the size of the tins.

Can't wait to try it out the long weekend!

Proper prep and you will be good to go.
I would advise though. Give 2 coats of Fusso 24 hours apart, Leave it that and see what you think. I had a personal preference to Fusso on its own other than KOG on top. I found the beading was much better from fusso that it was from KOG.

MetzgerMeister

KOG sounds more like something that should be applied directly to the paint, not on top of a wax like Fusso.

vectra

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

KOG sounds more like something that should be applied directly to the paint, not on top of a wax like Fusso.

No,
It is quite alright to use on top of Fusso, I just dont like the beading from it. To me it is more of a show wax.
Then again, it could be the picky part of me seeing this

Foxhole Norman

My unlucky streak continues, the Power Washer's lead has now decided it no longer wants to be in one piece

DoctorStrange

DoctorStrange wrote: »

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vax-W87-RH-P-Ultimate-Upright-Upholstery/dp/B00B7HZ316

I have the above carpet cleaner and it's been great in the car so far.


Two questions:

Would it be safe to go at the headliner with this? It's fairly dirty, previous owner smoking I think.

Should I use the Vax carpet cleaning solution or APC?

Car is a bmw e46.

This didn't really work.

Shampoo spray rate / pressure wasn't really strong enough when using upside down. Most of the liquid ended up dripping all over the car.

Only a thin spray area actually hit the headliner and this resulted in some sagging and me panicking!

Thankfully was only a small area and tightened back up when dry. On a positive note, the carpets and mats are still looking brand new a month later.

DoctorStrange

DoctorStrange wrote: »

This didn't really work.

Shampoo spray rate / pressure wasn't really strong enough when using upside down. Most of the liquid ended up dripping all over the car.

Only a thin spray area actually hit the headliner and this resulted in some sagging and me panicking!

Thankfully was only a small area and tightened back up when dry. On a positive note, the carpets and mats are still looking brand new a month later.

I've a steam cleaner I got in woodies for €100 before. A karcher one I think. I used that before for giving the ceiling a going over on a car or two (never did the whole thing, but instead just targeted stains/marks).

Worked alright for me.

Not sure of model number or anything but it's the same as this one (in appearance anyway):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71UElYg5bZL._SL1500_.jpg

MetzgerMeister

vectra wrote: »

No,
It is quite alright to use on top of Fusso, I just dont like the beading from it. To me it is more of a show wax.
Then again, it could be the picky part of me seeing this

It still sounds like a waste of time IMO as the 2 coats underneath would prevent KOG from doing anything to the paint itself.

vectra

No, It wont do anything to the paint as fusso will have it sealed up. It just takes from the beading of fusso as far as I was concerned. Try it.
two coats of fusso on your car, The do half with KOG on top.

MetzgerMeister

I will in my arse! My point was always that KOG would have no effect sue to the underlying 2 coats of Fusso. You said otherwise ya stook :P

vectra

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I will in my arse! My point was always that KOG would have no effect sue to the underlying 2 coats of Fusso. You said otherwise ya stook :P

Where?

MetzgerMeister

vectra wrote: »

Where?

vectra wrote: »

KOG is fine to be put over Fusso baaaaiiiiii

:pac:

vectra

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

:pac:

I think you are sniffing that tailpipe too much.

Fusso is excellent on its own. > Personally prefer this

KOG can be applied over it... >> I find this spoils the beading effect from Fusso... The beads are more like Blobs whereas the beading from Fusso on its own are Smaller and rounder.

This is a personal preference of mine..
I dont know where this topic went haywire after I said that..

micks_address

Hi guys,

Looks like I got some wax on my windscreen.. Smeared.. like coating on it... Tricky driving in the rain... What would be best way to clean it?, couple of weeks since applied collinite do either I put on to much or I used the buffing cloth on the windscreen...

vectra

micks_address wrote: »

Hi guys,

Looks like I got some wax on my windscreen.. Smeared.. like coating on it... Tricky driving in the rain... What would be best way to clean it?, couple of weeks since applied collinite do either I put on to much or I used the buffing cloth on the windscreen...

Collinite on the windscreen??
take it off.

Clay
Clean
Clay
Can of Coke
wash car
Clean screen with water and dry with newspaper.

micks_address

vectra wrote: »

Collinite on the windscreen??
take it off.

Clay
Clean
Clay
Can of Coke
wash car
Clean screen with water and dry with newspaper.

Vinegar and newspaper do?

Curran

Have you IPA or inspection fluid of some sort? Strong APC or a small bit of tar remover on a cloth.

micks_address

Curran wrote: »

Have you IPA or inspection fluid of some sort? Strong APC or a small bit of tar remover on a cloth.

I'm in sligo for weekend.. Would halfords have anything?

Curran

Doubt it. A chemist should have small bottles of IPA for sale.

Noccy_Mondy

What did you guys say is the best for window wipers. Fairly new floppy blades, yet they squeak a bit and tend to hop a tad.

micks_address

Curran wrote: »

Doubt it. A chemist should have small bottles of IPA for sale.

Got 500 ml bottle of IPA in chemist.. Smallest they had... Neat onto a micro fiber cloth then over windscreen?

MetzgerMeister

I find the best way to clean wiper blades is to use IPA and a cloth followed by 303 wiper blade treatment. These used be sold by cleancar but I don't know where you'd get them in Ireland now. I bought a few boxes of them before they folded.

mik_da_man

Think the Rallye needs a clean

vintagevrs

Suits it!