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[Bacon Butty Man]

excuse my thickness, WHATS A CLAY KIT???

[cem_devecioglu]

excuse my thickness, WHATS A CLAY KIT???

I never use it , but my car is still shiny

[Bacon Butty Man]

excuse my thickness, WHATS A CLAY KIT???

I never use it , but my car is still shiny

but what is it

[Auto Addict]

excuse my thickness, WHATS A CLAY KIT???

I never use it , but my car is still shiny

but what is it

http://www.performancemotorcare.com/cgi-bin/ss000001.pl?page=search&SS=clay+kit&ACTION=Go%21&PR=-1&TB=A

[cem_devecioglu]

Actually clay kits are cheaper alternative..but to reach satisfactory

results machine polishers are time efficient..

[Marks DTM Calib]

I realy rate the clay bar kits...and can be used regularly unlike machine polishers which actualy remove the paint.

Remember that clay bars remove the surface contaminents though, they dont restore the paint work by removing a layer of laquer as per a machine polisher

As for the wax, I rate the modern synthetic wax better then carnuba wax products as it has a deeper shine and lasts considerably longer.

[cem_devecioglu]

yep..machine polishers must be usued really rarely ..

but if you use waxes ona regular basis they wont be necessary to use

frequently unless you park under a tree or somebody scratch the car..

    imho even the clay bars must remove some surface to make

correction..

[Marks DTM Calib]

yep..machine polishers must be usued really rarely ..

but if you use waxes ona regular basis they wont be necessary to use

frequently unless you park under a tree or somebody scratch the car..

    imho even the clay bars must remove some surface to make

correction..

Not if properly lubricated....

[beemerdevil]

well thanks to ALL of you for all of your comments; very helpful and imformative. I have read loads of info on the subject.........seems like it is quite a professional art - one site actually advised NOT to undertake the 'detailing' task with a power polisher, (unless trained) or if you hadnt done it before, or had never used a power polisher.................................hmmmmm...think i'll stick to good old elbow grease...otherwise i could be driving round in a blotchy miggy !!!!! lol  

PS - i would appreciate any recomendations for a GOOD polish and a good wax - TIA  

[miggy]

hi guys....i know this is a bit of a mundane question, but do any of you know the PROPER method for polishing a car with a power polisher? and the proper stages to do it in?? - do i 'clay' it first then polish then wax??....would really appreciate expert advice so i can get a 'showroom' deep shine on my black meega  8-)  TIA

Send it to me, i will give it the miggy touch... . i use the full treatment, i find the Meguires very good, 3 stage treatment, i also do the claying in 2 stages, i spend about about 6 - 7 hours to do the full treatment but some say thats extreme, but thats me, i also remove the wheels and do the plastic inner wheel arch covers and full engine bay...i used to use the Autoglym but found the resin polish a tad abrasive and left swirl marks... i have tried many waxes over the years and i find the Carnauba wax very good, i usually pay in the region of £38 a tin...again this can be purchased cheaper.

[beemerdevil]

thanks for that miggy  

[Albatross]

well thanks to ALL of you for all of your comments; very helpful and imformative. I have read loads of info on the subject.........seems like it is quite a professional art - one site actually advised NOT to undertake the 'detailing' task with a power polisher, (unless trained) or if you hadnt done it before, or had never used a power polisher.................................hmmmmm...think i'll stick to good old elbow grease...otherwise i could be driving round in a blotchy miggy !!!!! lol  

PS - i would appreciate any recomendations for a GOOD polish and a good wax - TIA  

[size=20]MEGUIAR'S[/size]




http://www.meguiars.com/

You can buy their stuff in Halfrauds.

They do a matching clay bar kit too. Clay bar will really help you. Keep it lubricated, but the way it works is a bit like using a big lump of blue tack to clean biscuit crumbs off a carpet.

The clay bar pulls all the contaminants (such as brake dust) out of the surface of the paint and leaves it glass smooth then allowing you to wash, hand polish and wax properly.

I would disagree slightly with the advice that "using a clay bar is as good as polishing", they are different and a clay bar is preparation for polishing. They are both as good as each other, and you need to do them both; clay bar first followed by polishing to do a professional job. The clay bar ensures that you are not polishing contaminants into the paint.

Another good thing to try to get hold of is some industrial strength traffic film remover ("TFR" to those in the trade). This stuff cuts through road film such as tar spots, tree sap, insect guts like nothing else and really gives you a good clean foundation. I'd do this bit 1st, then wash, then clay bar, then wash again then polish, then rinse, then wax.

BOTTOM LINE:

The hard and really worthwhile bit is the foundation (i.e. get it very, very clean and very very smooth) and the rest falls into place.

You can give a fair or reasonable clean and then wax a car to your heart's content, but it will never look as shiny and smooth as a car which has been cleaned properly 1st.

Those links to the detailing world pages are really it all in a nutshell.

[cem_devecioglu]

if you dont use clay bar like me  (because not existent here) ,

after washing, I spread mixture of wax and paste on the paint wait

some minutes then clean tar,resin and other contaminants as these

become softer with mixture..

        But as I wax the car frequently this cleaning process not

required most of the time..So if required I can go polishing directly..

[beemerdevil]

once again folks, thank you all for your advice/comments on polishing.....lots of good info.............will post some pics when ive done it - lol (might be couple or so weeks) lol....