Newb looking for detailing tips

C

cheechitup88

Member
Location
Montreal
Wuddup guys. So a buddy of mine has been doing this detailing thing for quite some time now and he really got me into it. I went out and ordered a Porter Cable 7424 and want to get started this weekend to make my baby sparkle. Was wondering if anybody here had some good newb tips? My friend offered to help me out as much as I need, but I figure the more I know the better. Feel free to throw out all your tips. Of course there will be before and after pics once I start.
 
cheechitup88 said:
Wuddup guys. So a buddy of mine has been doing this detailing thing for quite some time now and he really got me into it. I went out and ordered a Porter Cable 7424 and want to get started this weekend to make my baby sparkle. Was wondering if anybody here had some good newb tips? My friend offered to help me out as much as I need, but I figure the more I know the better. Feel free to throw out all your tips. Of course there will be before and after pics once I start.
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Go for the clay bar first. Get all that sap and road grime off your paint before you wax it. It takes a little elbow grease, but ask anyone who's done it or has had it done... it's worth the effort.
Peace
 
cheechitup88 said:
Wuddup guys. So a buddy of mine has been doing this detailing thing for quite some time now and he really got me into it. I went out and ordered a Porter Cable 7424 and want to get started this weekend to make my baby sparkle. Was wondering if anybody here had some good newb tips? My friend offered to help me out as much as I need, but I figure the more I know the better. Feel free to throw out all your tips. Of course there will be before and after pics once I start.
Click to expand...


i detail my black beauty all the time i would say once every two weeks. (yes i know im crazy) If you have not detailed her in a long time i would first was her with good soap such as Turtle Ice soap, rinse her off and do it again! Yes i said again. Make sure you are in a area where there is no sun!. After doing those I would clay then use any other product that you have.

HumbertoCali long time ago gave me 3M quick wax and after that day i havent stopped using that product it is well made and a good product overall!.

can be found here. LINK
I would use that after every wash puts a nice clean shine on your car without any extra grease!.

Also use painters tape around edges and around your light edges so you dont get anything in places where you cant get it out.
 
I agree with doing the clay bar first or you will just be sealing in any dirt that is on the surface. However if you don't want to spend all that time masking everything off I like the turtle wax sealer protectant as it goes on clear and works on all the plastic also. It's very user freindly and leaves no residue whatsoever. Then I keep it shining like new with Turtle Wax Ice Detailer I use these products on everything--Rims,all the trim,front and rear black plastic lower bumper areas. During the winter months I put the protectant sealant on the rims and don't wipe or buff them off for added protection from the snow.
 
Sweet! I am a newb detailer too - got my Porter Cable last month and have already started learning. I have an old 1995 beater that has terrible paint so I started learning on that.

Using the machine is actually pretty easy - it's picking the right combination of pads and polishes that seems so confusing. There are just sooooo many to choose from and I have done a LOT of reading. I've found that different products work better on different paints. In the end you have to find the ones that work for you and your FX. I'm not sure the same products I use on my 1st gen would work as well on the special healing paint in the 2nd gen. Maybe they would - not sure.

I guess my advice to you is to watch some Youtube videos of professionals using the porter cable, then try to use the same technique. I liked autogeek's videos.

I found that once you get a polisher, a bunch of extra steps seem to pop up. After washing and using a clay bar (or cleaner wax if already pretty clean) the polisher has separate steps for removes swirls, then applying polishes, then applying sealants. After that comes an optional glaze, then the wax.

All of those steps take me about ten hours and I plan to do this two or three times a year.

For weekly/bi-weekly maintenance and protection, it will be wash, dry and wax.

If I'm going to a meet or a show, then I'll wash & dry, then use Meguire's Ultimate Compound, then wax.

Good luck - be sure to post up some photos. Learning how to really capture the paint in a photo is a skill all by iteself! Lighting is the key.
 
Cu Head said:
Look's like you guys are on it. I only use ICE on my rigs...paste once per year and liquid 3 times per year.
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...and that's where it starts!

I still have my full ICE kit - and that's the clay bar and lubricant I have been using. I like everything about that kit EXCEPT for the final layer. The silicone based liquid wax doesn't last long enough for me. That applicator sponge and liquid wax work better on trim and rubber to shine it up but it doesn't do much for protection.

So after using the ICE system three or four times, I went out and got Meguire's NXT paste wax and used that as my final coat. Big difference. Takes a little longer than the ICE liquid, but is one of the easiest waxes I have used.

After using that for a while I wanted to get rid of the swirls, haze and scratches. The wax sort of covers them up for a couple days but then I can see them all too clearly. Once you get into polishes, it is tough work by hand. That's why I finally broke down and went for the polisher.

To the OP, I assume you have a similar story. What were you using up until you decided you needed a polisher? What products have you picked to use with the polisher?
 
This is what I do with my 350z, to maintain it and keep it detailed, to my taste and what I am going to start doing next week with my new FX.

Every weekend or at least 3 times a month, I wash the car using Turtle Wax Ice, twice. Then I apply Meguiars Quick Detailer while the car still wet, use Microfiber towel and dry. (Every time in a shaded area, no sun nor direct heat).
Also, I use a damp towel to clean engine cover, air filter boxes, etc... Using another damp towel I clean the interior of the car, vacuum and finish with Febreeze New Car Scent. Yep, Every weekend... Too much time there and I love it. :)

Then, once a month, after doing above, I use in the front bumper, headlights and/or where needed, clay and after that, I use Xymol and wax it.

Doing that, the paint is in great shape, clean a soft. Same with the interior.
 
fxp35818 said:
i detail my black beauty all the time i would say once every two weeks. (yes i know im crazy) If you have not detailed her in a long time i would first was her with good soap such as Turtle Ice soap, rinse her off and do it again! Yes i said again. Make sure you are in a area where there is no sun!. After doing those I would clay then use any other product that you have.

HumbertoCali long time ago gave me 3M quick wax and after that day i havent stopped using that product it is well made and a good product overall!.

can be found here. LINK
I would use that after every wash puts a nice clean shine on your car without any extra grease!.

Also use painters tape around edges and around your light edges so you dont get anything in places where you cant get it out.
Click to expand...

HAHAH when i first got my car, i think i washed her like once a week. When it gets sunny in oregon i tend to wash it. Since summer started i been almost getting it washed like once a week. And a wax like every two weeks. Looks just to clean when its waxed
:tonguey:
 
fablew said:
anyone know goo detaling place in brooklyn ny?
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my shop is about a half hour away from brooklyn. im the best in queens, one of the best detailers in nyc. hit me up if you want the job done right. my prices are reasonable for the excellent work that i do. sorry to thread jack, couldnt resist lol. :tup:
 
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