Covers? Washing? Buffing? Tips & Advice

[charnock]

Looking for advice on covers, washing, buffing, etc. Products, where to buy.

Also looking for what NOT to do to harm the finish. Dealer already has circular swirls on the trunk lid.

Thanks for advice or links.

[nostatic]

mine stays in the garage at night, commutes every day, and I don't own a cover or bra. I wash it about every three weeks or so, wax it about every 4th wash. Low tech...rags and towels, Maguires soft wash and one of their waxes.

I'd rather drive it than clean it...

[nate930]

Ok, here we go...
As far as covering the car, unless you keep it in a garage and only cover it when it is freshly washed to just keep dust off, I would recommend against it. If you cover a car outside wind tends to pick up dirt, sand, ect., and push it up under the cover; then as the wind moves the cover it acts like sandpaper and can really cause a lot of damage to your paint. Just keep it washed and away from trees if it's kept outside.
As far as waxing and buffing, you can't beat 3M products or Allied Tech (who carry a line of products called Kar Kraft which are what I use.)
The best way to get a great shine is to wash your car very well then while it is still wet go over the car with a quality clay bar--they come in different grades, (use a medium one they work well) and make sure you keep the car wet and keep rotating the clay. Next chamoise the car meticulously and dry all the jams with a towel. Then using a machine buffer (not an orbital) set on a low speed with a polish, go over the entire car working the polish into the paint, always moving the buffer with the grain of the paint (front to back.) It doesn't take a lot--half a ketchup bottle full will do an entire car. Always keep the buffer flat and don't push down, let the machine do the work, this will keep you from swirling the paint.
If your car is very scratched you can use a compound prior to the polish but be careful on any edges as it is easy to go through the paint if you are not careful.
If you do compound it make sure you wash it again before you polish it, otherwise you will get swirls. If you plan on using any tire shine or highlghters do it befor you wax--this will keep any aerosol mists from floating onto the paint and spotting your finish.
Next, wax it using a paste wax, put a thin but thorough coat, working in small circles (don't use a liquid-- although it seems like less work it is basically just watered down wax and won't last.) Next, remove the wax with a soft cotton towel--an old bath towel cut into pieces works great as long as your wife doesn't find you using it. Never buff or wax in direct sun light, a garage is the best way and florescent lights will make any flaws in your paint stand out so you can work any problem area more thoroughly. Any quality Porsche or highline dealership will offer this service for around $125 but if you take your time and do it yourself the end product is very gratifing, and you can spend that money elsewhere on goodies for your Porsche.

[Harlan Chinn]

Paint cleaning clay bars are a must have. If your car is stored in a garage, a simple lightweight cotton car cover is all is needed to keep the dust off. Search threads for Stongard for protection from rock chips if you want to maintain pristine paint.

[cellison]

On the cars I cover in the garage, one is with a cotton cover and the other is made with a nonwoven material. The nonwoven material does a better job keeping dust from migrating thru and is also gives better protection against things that may fall/hit it from the dogs or kins or wayward garden tool. Go to www.blockit.com for more specifics on car cover materials and their applications. For whaterver cover you use, it's best to get dust off the car surface before covering. I use a California duster
and give it a once over before covering.


Charles
88Cab

[RickM]

There is a forum for this particular subject here at Pelican although it looks to have been cleared of all posts.

Here's another excellent resource for information... http://www.carcareonline.com/

[Emission]

My wife bought me this Porter-Cable polisher for my birthday. I use it with Griot's wax/polish (but you can use any wax). It rocks! I have been waxing by hand for decades, but now I am a changed man...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SUQ8/103-6424357-3283816?v=glance

I got it for $119 @ www.coastaltool.com

[tobluforu]

P.C. rocks!

[chuckr]

I keep my car covered in a garage, I use a California Car duster before I cover it. I use Griots products and One Grand products and 3M products.carcareonline has good info on all this. Pelican has the Coverking covers that are very good .

[singpilot]

Being in both P-car worlds (water cooled and oil cooled) I could really use an air cooled Porsche clock.

(Word Count = 19; P-car content checked, Word "PORSCHE" found, line 1)

[Emission]

Originally posted by singpilot
Being in both P-car worlds (water cooled and oil cooled) I could really use an air cooled Porsche clock.

(Word Count = 19; P-car content checked, Word "PORSCHE" found, line 1)

True, but your post has NOTHING to do with the subject.

[charnock]

Thanks for all of the advice, I posted some photos in the 996 forum :Photos of my 2003 Targa"

[Halm]

Just memorize everything the guys at Car Care Specialities include on their web site and with all orders.

Also on a nerw car, I would be careful with clay bars.