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[geoffr70]

Hi everyone, after seeing some of the mirror like finishes on some of the car pictures on here I've decided to attempt the same on mine.

Just wondering what the best wax/polish would be to give a deep long lasting shine? What's this carnauba wax stuff (think I've spelt that right!).

Also, between washing and waxing should i use a showroom shine/window cleaner type stuff to remove watermarks and grease etc prior to polishing? Thanks!!!

[Mr Skrunts]

This is one of those subjects that no matter how good you are you can get so in tence.

As you know polishing cleans the car, wax seals it.

I also believe that the wax you use will make for a better job on some cars than it will others, due to paint type and sometimes even colour, have actully seen one brand of polish outperform all others on black paint work but yet be poor on others.

Carnuba is a good wax but benifits from a few coats after cleaning and polishing, so therefore is hard work at the time but benificial, and you will see the funnish wear off just with looking at rain beading.

Generally classed as the best site for info is http://www.detailingworld.co.uk

 

[geoffr70]

Thanks for that! I'll have a look at that and get mine sorted! Forgive me for being nosey Mr Skruntie, but it says you drive a 7.2 Elite?!?! Is that just a typo or do you drive a 7.2 Elite?!?!

[gstylebaby]

I wash mine using snow foam and then the two bucket methord and then clay the hole car (only if its not been done for abit) then polish. At the mo i have been using meg's stage 2 then waxing. I'm using dodo juice banana armour its great stuff but like skruntie says some wax are better on some colours than others have look around on detailing world and have a look at the dodo range they do different wax's for different colours.  Be prepared to get addicted mate and a word to the wise try and keep your wallet closed until you have made up your mind (wish i would have took my own advice  ).Hope this helps mate.

[mudflap]

Back in February i was cleaning up my newly acquired Green Goddess and i was recommended Turtle Ice wax Polish kit, i bought and used it (after a T cut) and was amazed at the results - no white smears on the rubber seals, no hard work, and gave the car two coats.  After six months the rain is still beading and rolling off the body work, and cleaning is still easy as nothing "sticks", not even bird shite

Highly recommended!  8-)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turtlewax-Ice-Liquid-Polish-483ml/dp/B002J932FK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1279113290&sr=8-1

[Sixstring]

Have been using "elbow grease" and meguires brand polish and wax. Needs a lot of polishing off (I use an electric polisher with a  lambswool pad sometimes) but gives a long lasting finish, and doesn't powder or streak.
Not expensive either, cos you don't use a load of polish, it goes a long way.

[Entwood]

While we're talking polishing ...

2 months ago I took the plunge and "clayed" the car. First time ever for both of us !! Followed it with AutoGlym Resin Polish and the Carnuba Wax .. well impressed with the results, and it is dead easy to wash then chamois, looks good.

Rain is still "beading" nicely .. but what next ?? do I have to clean the old wax off and then clay again ?? or do I clean wax off, Re-polish with AutoGlym and then rewax  ... or just repolish/rewax... or what

Newbie to this level of cleaning & polishing .. so treat me gently !!! 

[Psychoca]

Back in February i was cleaning up my newly acquired Green Goddess and i was recommended Turtle Ice wax Polish kit, i bought and used it (after a T cut) and was amazed at the results - no white smears on the rubber seals, no hard work, and gave the car two coats.  After six months the rain is still beading and rolling off the body work, and cleaning is still easy as nothing "sticks", not even bird shite

Highly recommended!  8-)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turtlewax-Ice-Liquid-Polish-483ml/dp/B002J932FK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1279113290&sr=8-1

Sounds very much like some stuff I got about 15 years ago, Had some polymer stuff in it which gave awesome finishes for little work (Finish 2001 or something)...

May have to give it a try when I get round to sorting the Body work on the car...

[cem_devecioglu]

While we're talking polishing ...

2 months ago I took the plunge and "clayed" the car. First time ever for both of us !! Followed it with AutoGlym Resin Polish and the Carnuba Wax .. well impressed with the results, and it is dead easy to wash then chamois, looks good.

Rain is still "beading" nicely .. but what next ?? do I have to clean the old wax off and then clay again ?? or do I clean wax off, Re-polish with AutoGlym and then rewax  ... or just repolish/rewax... or what

Newbie to this level of cleaning & polishing .. so treat me gently !!! 

imo no need to clay again for some time (cant predict your conditions, after waxing you can feel with your hands when it will be necessary ) only polish and wax will be adequate..

I nearly paste the car completely one time a year but use wax every 1-2 months in our conditions..

after waxing when I check the surface( mostly flat parts) have some sticky particles on surface I clean them locally with paste.. (of course under the shadow or after the sun goes down-paint being cold)

[gstylebaby]

While we're talking polishing ...

2 months ago I took the plunge and "clayed" the car. First time ever for both of us !! Followed it with AutoGlym Resin Polish and the Carnuba Wax .. well impressed with the results, and it is dead easy to wash then chamois, looks good.

Rain is still "beading" nicely .. but what next ?? do I have to clean the old wax off and then clay again ?? or do I clean wax off, Re-polish with AutoGlym and then rewax  ... or just repolish/rewax... or what

Newbie to this level of cleaning & polishing .. so treat me gently !!! 

I would just apply another coat of polish and then re-wax you can just keep building up layers...I tend to clay once a year and then build up you can tell when you l.s.p fails cause the water when you wash seems to hang on the panel.

To the peeps who use t-cut i would becareful as it can damage your clear coat. I would never use t cut again after finding clay and cleaner wax's.

[geoffr70]

daft question, what does 'clayed' mean? is it just slang for waxed?!?! When I wax the car i don't have to take it off to do it again do I? I can just clean it (well), wax it, then when time permits, clean it again and wax it again right? thanks

[gstylebaby]

daft question, what does 'clayed' mean? is it just slang for waxed?!?! When I wax the car i don't have to take it off to do it again do I? I can just clean it (well), wax it, then when time permits, clean it again and wax it again right? thanks

Clay is a clay bar and you use it with lube water or detailer. Have a look at megs clay bar they do a kit in halfords with two clay bars and a detail spray and a cloth.  It gets all the crap out of your paint but you will have to wash the car then clay the car then re-wash. Then dry so no water marks then polish and then wax. well worth the time mate.

Think it mite still be three for two in halfords at the mo....There are loads of other makes of clay bars some for soft paint some for hard so on and so on i just use the megs one.

[geoffr70]

Thanks for that! But what's the difference between soft and hard paint?!?! How do you know what yours is? Why would you want to remove the wax after you have put it on as some people have suggested? Does it go off and need to be removed and reapplied? Thanks

[Entwood]

Thanks for that! But what's the difference between soft and hard paint?!?! How do you know what yours is? Why would you want to remove the wax after you have put it on as some people have suggested? Does it go off and need to be removed and reapplied? Thanks

Apparently it's a very large subject .. but some of your questions can be answered here ..

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum

I prefer to ask the simpler questions here.. as I have more chance of understanding the answers !!! The Guys on that site take their hobby extremely seriously !!!

[geoffr70]

Thanks!