[SnareeWer]

A bit of advise on car polishing needed, I've noticed in the sunshine today loads of cirular tiny scratches in the paintwork of the car I just bought and planned to attack it with T-Cut colourfast polish (Red), is this the best idea, I've just got an electric polisher to give it a buff but thought I'd ask what the best results might be, is the coloured T-Cut polish a good idea to use or is there something else, should I use the electric polisher and whats the best way.

Never polished/waxed/T-Cut a car before, i just take em to the car wash (hand carwash)

Cheers
Ace

[Reocourgigiot]

A bit of advise on car polishing needed, I've noticed in the sunshine today loads of cirular tiny scratches in the paintwork of the car I just bought and planned to attack it with T-Cut colourfast polish (Red), is this the best idea, I've just got an electric polisher to give it a buff but thought I'd ask what the best results might be, is the coloured T-Cut polish a good idea to use or is there something else, should I use the electric polisher and whats the best way.

Never polished/waxed/T-Cut a car before, i just take em to the car wash (hand carwash)

Cheers
Ace

JUST DONT GO MAD AND DONT USE IT ON ANY DAMAGED AREAS LIKE PAINT CHIPS AND GLOSS LAYERS THAT HAVE FLAKED OFF [LAUGH]

[bushomeworkk]

these paint swirls are a big of a bugger. i dont know the best way to get rid of them. mum my got a car about 18 months ago (2006 honda), but within a few weeks it was relatively badly effected by these paint swirls, or tiny circular scratches. i just gave it a regular hand poilish that did make it better, but not perfect.

[Abofedrorobox]

these paint swirls are a big of a bugger. i dont know the best way to get rid of them. mum my got a car about 18 months ago (2006 honda), but within a few weeks it was relatively badly effected by these paint swirls, or tiny circular scratches. i just gave it a regular hand poilish that did make it better, but not perfect.

Follow this guide it is very good.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides.html

If you want to get rid of those paint swirls you're going to have to use an abrasive polish as the marks are probably in the paint itself. What I would do...

1. Wash the car
2. If you haven't done so in the past 6 months, Clay the entire car to remove all the dirt/clay/bugs that washing missed (you can get a clay bar and detailer spray package for cheap at a local auto parts shop.). This step is very important, because if you are going to polish the car you want to make sure there is absolutely NO dirt/grime/tar remaining on the vehicle because if you apply the polish and start swirling it around with a buffer or applicator pad you will also drag the dirt/dust etc that the car wash missed around on the surface of the paint and scratch it.
3. Apply an abrasive Polishing Compound to problem areas.
4. Apply regular (non abrasive) polishing compound to entire vehicle - Do NOT do this in the sun as it will leave streaks on the vehicle, do it in your garage or if you must do it outside use Turtle Wax ICE polish (designed to work well in the sun). I'm not sure if they sell that in the UK though.
5. Apply carnauba wax to entire vehicle. This step is really important, don't stop after the polish or you will lose all the shine of the polish the first instant it rains. With carnauba wax, I've found I can wash my car 4 or 5 times or let it be rained on several times before I see any degradation in overall shine of the car.

[tadacia]

Frim the uK uea? ill make it easy

1: wash car iwth a decemt car wash, I presfer either Megs or Autoglem.

2: Either use Megs clay bar or use Scattch X. I'ts basicalty a foundation lauer.

3: Use somethimg along the lines of Autoglym SuperRsin Polish, this will get dirt from within te paintwork.

4: 3 Spte Megs the car, Foundation clraner, polish & wax.

5 : Megs Nxt Gen Wax, gives an evemm finish.

6: Autoflym Paint detlailer, or summet like that, forgotr its name bt its geat for going overh t paintwork to finisu it off.

othjer products worthy of using are, Wheel cleaner (NOTR Wonder Weheels) and ture blanker, oh and plastic detalier.


Im a bit drink so plase bare with my spealling.

[Amirmsheesk]

Follow this guide it is very good.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog/guides.html

If you want to get rid of those paint swirls you're going to have to use an abrasive polish as the marks are probably in the paint itself. What I would do...

1. Wash the car
2. If you haven't done so in the past 6 months, Clay the entire car to remove all the dirt/clay/bugs that washing missed (you can get a clay bar and detailer spray package for cheap at a local auto parts shop.). This step is very important, because if you are going to polish the car you want to make sure there is absolutely NO dirt/grime/tar remaining on the vehicle because if you apply the polish and start swirling it around with a buffer or applicator pad you will also drag the dirt/dust etc that the car wash missed around on the surface of the paint and scratch it.
3. Apply an abrasive Polishing Compound to problem areas.
4. Apply regular (non abrasive) polishing compound to entire vehicle - Do NOT do this in the sun as it will leave streaks on the vehicle, do it in your garage or if you must do it outside use Turtle Wax ICE polish (designed to work well in the sun). I'm not sure if they sell that in the UK though.
5. Apply carnauba wax to entire vehicle. This step is really important, don't stop after the polish or you will lose all the shine of the polish the first instant it rains. With carnauba wax, I've found I can wash my car 4 or 5 times or let it be rained on several times before I see any degradation in overall shine of the car.

If you do have a place in the shade to wax then don't waste your time with the ICE. Stick with the Turtle Wax Platinum Ultra Gloss it is much easier to put on and take off compared to the ICE.

[blackjackiisre]

Great advice so far. My suggestion would be to invest in a Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher. With these there is absolutely 0 chance that you will burn a hole in your paint. Every auto detailing site/forum I've been to rates this as a "must have."

Don't skimp on the claying, either. I've found it's best to tear off strips of clay for each body panal (rather than using the entire bar). That way if you drop your clay, you don't have to throw away the entire bar.

[Ettiominiw]

I hate cars that have that crap on the paintwork afaik caused by stupid carwashes [thumbdown]

[SnareeWer]

Does anyone use mobile detailers, I've found one online that'll clean, clay, mechanically polish, remove scratches/swirls, fix minor stone chips (I've found a few), wax with carnauba, clean and shampoo inside all seat/carpets, clean dash and interior/exterior windsows/wheels, arches etc £115.00

I ain't lazy but the thought of all this work fills me with dread and if I can pay a professional to do a much better job, so much the better

[OGOGOogoloshennya]

not sure on price but i know people have done it

after going down that road it would only then need a wash on a regular basis, detailing and clay and so on is generally a yearly or twice yearly process

personally i feel more satisfied doing the job myself, but i would say its worth it for a proper professional job at that price as it should last a while

[Abofedrorobox]

personally i feel more satisfied doing the job myself, but i would say its worth it for a proper professional job at that price as it should last a while

I agree. It really depends. Where I am from it wouldn't be worth it to get it done by a pro because it rains every few days so I'm accustomed to doing it myself, but if you think it will last for a while I would go for it. [thumbup]

[blackjackiisre]

Does anyone use mobile detailers, I've found one online that'll clean, clay, mechanically polish, remove scratches/swirls, fix minor stone chips (I've found a few), wax with carnauba, clean and shampoo inside all seat/carpets, clean dash and interior/exterior windsows/wheels, arches etc £115.00

I ain't lazy but the thought of all this work fills me with dread and if I can pay a professional to do a much better job, so much the better

That really doesn't seem like too bad of a price if it is quality work.

However, I get much more out of the process if I'm doing the actual work. It makes me appreciate the car's beautiful finish that much more, knowing that I did the work. And in all honesty, with the proper tools (quality shampoo/mitts/porter cable random orbital) you really can't screw anything up.

It really is a labor of love...as it takes me 6+ hours to fully detail my car (wash/clay/polish/polish/wax), but in the end it's worth it. And as posted above, you only "need" to do it twice a year.

But of course not everyone gets enjoyment out of 6+ hours of washing cars....

[Amirmsheesk]

For 115 that should be a quality job, and it should take at least 8 hours to complete if they are doing a honest job. Also if you can take it to their shop instead of doing mobile detailing I would do that that way they can park it inside while they do the waxing, instead of working with the elements.

I work for a professional detail shop and to do a full detail it takes eight hours minimum, but we do not cut any corners.

[SnareeWer]

For 115 that should be a quality job, and it should take at least 8 hours to complete if they are doing a honest job. Also if you can take it to their shop instead of doing mobile detailing I would do that that way they can park it inside while they do the waxing, instead of working with the elements.

I work for a professional detail shop and to do a full detail it takes eight hours minimum, but we do not cut any corners.

It said it takes between 4 & 5 hours depending on the car, it's only a mobile detailers, no shop, I don't mind washing a car or even polishing it, I washed it yesterday and I think the seller had used some kind or colour polish on it cos loads of marks and sratches have shown up that wasn't there before or wasn't visible, but 8 hours or even 4 hours work is something I haven't got the patience for, if I can get a good job done inside and out for £115 it's gotta be worth it, I thought it'd cost much more than that anyway and expected at least £200