|
A friend of mine used to detail and taught me some things.
First Wash the car.
Clay bar is exactly what it sounds like and you use it with a spray detailer. take the little clay bar and spray some of the spray detailer on about a 1'x1' section of paint. Make sure the paint is wet with the spray detailer and then rub the clay bar on the paint until it does not feel abrasive. Sounds strange and it is at first but you actually feel the clay loosen up and start to slide over the section. If you drop the clay bar - THROW IT AWAY. It will pick up rocks, etc. if it hits the ground so be careful and remember to keep it really wet where you are doing the clay bar. wipe clean with a detail cloth as you finish each area. If the bar gets dirty and it will turn it over and then kneed it like silly puddy and then make the same rectangular shape and do the whole car - Paint only.
Next I would suggest a random orbital polisher. I had a Harbor Freight but it made swirls so I got a Mothers Wax Attack and changed my technique a little. I used either Mothers polish or have good results with the once a year stuff in the orange bottle. You have to use one pad to put the polish on and a separate one to buff it off. First do this out of the sun in the shade or preferably in a garage. put a small swirl of polish on the polish pad with the orbital off. spread it on the paint and then turn on the unit. The trick is to not put very much pressure on the random orbital and do small areas otherwise you will have swirls all over. Go in a methodical motion like you are plowing a field one way and then the other way. Eventually you finish and then use a buffing pad to buff the car the same way. Microfiber cloths clean up the rest - Costco is a great place for these. I practiced on a company car and removed some swirls that another detailer had left in there so I was pretty happy and it was a black car.
I then seal it with small drops of cold water and wipe the whole car down with the microfiber cloths.
Chemical Guys is a great place to find overall great products and they have some videos of how to's. These guys are way into it so they do many more steps with sealers, etc.
They have a good product for rubber kind of like Armour all but it is a gel and not shiny and works great on all the rubber. Black plastic is always an issue and the ONLY product I have ever found that work with Black on Black by Chemical guys. This is probably the best detail product I have used that actually works on plastic and does not harm surrounding paint, glass, etc. That say to not use it on rubber and I think it would probably dry rubber out which makes sense when you use it. I use it for items like the Carrera badge on the engine lid, remove the key surround on the dash, etc.
A detail brush works good to get the polish out of the cracks and around badges, etc.
I then use an automotive glass cleaner on all the glass and use one old t-Shirt or towel for the initial cleaning and then a separate one for buffing. I never use these towels for anything else and wash them separate from all the others and no bounce in the dyer.
That should get you started but don't try and do it all at once take it in steps and then you will not rush through it and you should see some good results. You should do the clay bar and waxing all in one day though. If your paint needs some cleaner or polishing compound due to it being really flat I would take it to a highly recommended detailer for that and have them do the whole car once.
|