Wax / Polish / Clay

[jamesstock]

I like to hand wash our EX because I can get into all the gaps and edges, clease all the way. But when it comes to polishing and waxing, that is the 'hard' part. If I take the car to have it professionaly done, they use buffer / machine to do the wax and polishing. But at home, I don't have these machines hence have to do it by hand. Is polishing and waxing by 'machine' better than by 'hand'?

Any suggestions on procedures waxing and polishing you car? Hard vs. liquid wax? best way to clean windows (I use newspapers)? what about the inner wheel walls / wells? How do u guys clean that part (I just spray water but that's not enough..i sometimes use a towel to wipe down, towel will be 'totalled' aterwards).

[txgcoupe]

Get a Porter Cable buffer.

You can hand wax all day long and it won't look like a machine polish.

John

[EXceptional]

What he means by getting the Porter Cable Buffer is that it is a Dual Action Orbital Buffer... and does not leave the usual swirl's or halo's that Body Shop Rotary Buffer is famous for.

Mind you, someone who is experienced with a Rotary can produce some good results also... but for a Newbie, the Dual Action is the way to go.

http://www.AUTOGEEK.net is good place to look at for Detailing equipment and stuff. Here are some Videos >>> http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/sho ... llips.html

There is also a Detailing Thread on NICO >>> detailing-forum.html

[EibachMBZ]

I like to hand wash our EX because I can get into all the gaps and edges, clease all the way. But when it comes to polishing and waxing, that is the 'hard' part. If I take the car to have it professionaly done, they use buffer / machine to do the wax and polishing. But at home, I don't have these machines hence have to do it by hand. Is polishing and waxing by 'machine' better than by 'hand'?

Any suggestions on procedures waxing and polishing you car? Hard vs. liquid wax? best way to clean windows (I use newspapers)? what about the inner wheel walls / wells? How do u guys clean that part (I just spray water but that's not enough..i sometimes use a towel to wipe down, towel will be 'totalled' aterwards).

Pay someone to do it... About $100 your car will look better than the first day you bought it. Look for deals on craigslist.

I do detail my own car too. I have Porter Cable buffer and a professional detail kit which cost about $200 for pads, wax, compounds, and all kinds of good stuff. But I got lazy...

[jamesstock]

I had some buffing and waxing spounges which I used to polish and waxing. How am I supposed to 'wash' those pads? I soaked in water and the thing just stay the same if not worst...all gluey and such.

[txgcoupe]

I wash all my pads in the washing machine with liquid detergent.

NO fabric softener though.

John

[one12darkstar]

A little off topic, however a newbie to the board.
Can someone tell me if any specific cautions should be taken with the self-healing paint? I'm sure this has been discussed multiple times before so if anyone can point me to a link instead, that would be helpful as well.

Best

[one12darkstar]

Back on topic, I have learned a ton from Todd Cooperider at detailedimage.com. If you're ever looking for product reviews and detailing insight this is a great place to start. Some amazing work.

[zarar]

What will waxing do? Is it hard for a beginner if I buy what you guys referenced above? After the snow storm I noticed alot of microscope (swirl lines) going across my paint especially on the roof. Like if you were to look at my car whilewalking past it, it looks like a billion lines running through the paint as if the paint thinned out (not really if sure that the case, I never really wax my cars but considering it this time. Its not real scratches but more swirm except on every inch of the car. I'm hoping waxing or buffing the car will help fade those away? Not sure what each one does, haven't been really knowledgeable about detailing.

Not as noticible as this but maybe because I have a light colored car, not really sure (or what im talking about really). Better explained through a picture (found on the internet, not my car)

[EibachMBZ]

Wax will hide the lines but they will show up again after you washed your car once or twice. You will need something that actually cut into the clear coat to smooth the surface out. Fine compound or swirl remover will do the job. However it will take days if you want to do it by hand. With a polisher/buffer you can get it done lot sooner but too much you will also burn the paint... I suggest have a professional do the entire car and just apply wax in the future.

If you really want to do it yourself, try search some tutorial on youtube and learn from there. That is what I did when I wasn't that lazy.
Now I put a CF overlay on my roof so I don't have to deal with the roof anymore

[zarar]

Wax will hide the lines but they will show up again after you washed your car once or twice. You will need something that actually cut into the clear coat to smooth the surface out. Fine compound or swirl remover will do the job. However it will take days if you want to do it by hand. With a polisher/buffer you can get it done lot sooner but too much you will also burn the paint... I suggest have a professional do the entire car and just apply wax in the future.

If you really want to do it yourself, try search some tutorial on youtube and learn from there. That is what I did when I wasn't that lazy.
Now I put a CF overlay on my roof so I don't have to deal with the roof anymore

Yeah I might have a professional do it, last shop I had it done detailed it but barely did much to the outside only washed it and used leather wipes on the inside then rinsed the carpets. I have to find a trustable shop to do this or else I will be paranoid. Is it normal because the car sits out all day or anything I can do to prevent it from happening the future? I just want to avoid my paint from fading prematurely and loosing its shine.