graememk
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 07:50 PM |
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tin top paint work
ok i've had my black vectra from new (now 3 years old) and i've never polished it and its getting close to selling it
the paint work has never been through a car wash but dosnt look bright, looks like very fine light scratches on it, whats the best combination of
polish and rubbing compunds to make it sparkle?
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chockymonster
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 08:22 PM |
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Here's how I'd bring a not polished ever car back to a gleaming one. (be warned I'm really, really anal when it comes to cleaning
cars!)
Wash with a decent car shampoo and leather off. I use meguiars NXT.
Use 2 buckets, one with clean water, the other with shampoo. Before dipping the mitt in the shampoo rinse it off in the water bucket. Don't use
a sponge, use a mitt, sponges lock in dust and will scratch the paintwork.
First step is to do the wheels, once they are clean then I'd move on to the body(with fresh water!)
Once cleaned an leathered prepare the paint using a clay bar and wetting compound to remove contaminants from the paint (meguiars quick clay detailing
kit, instructions are very good in this kit)
When you run your hand over the paint afterwards it should be nice and smooth. Word of warning, if you drop the clay it's useless afterwards as
any dirt it picks up will scratch the paint to pieces, so break of a chunk and use that.
Polish car with decent car polish and a foam applicator, don't use a circular motion. I use either Klasse all in one, which has to be applied in
a specific way, using a damp cloth apply the polish until you have covered the entire car, then buff off, or P21S.
If I used Klasse then I'll use a fixing spray (Meguiars Quick Detailing spray or 4* Ultimate Protection) If I used P21s then wax the car with a
carnuba wax to lock in the shine.
For ease of use I'd go with P21S as the Klasse stuff is a bitch to apply and remove easily. Best place to purchase from is
Car Sparkle
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graememk
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 08:45 PM |
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thank you very much, i'll give it a go weather permittting next sunday
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richardR1
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 10:35 PM |
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Have a look on www.detailingworld.co.uk to see how it should be done. Pretty much what chockymonster says
but use a Meguiars Water magnet rather than a chamois to dry the car. Only problem is you can end up getting carried away with all sorts of product,
I've spent nearly £1k in all. For a good start to sort the car for selling, you could get along to halfords and buy the Meguiars 3 step
Crystal system, a couple of foam applicators and a pack of microfibre polishing cloths. Your fine scratches will mostly have come from washing the
car with a sponge but the first stage of the Meguiars system is a reasonable swirl remover and should help sort them out. Also budget on most of a
day to get a decent result.
[Edited on 1/5/06 by richardR1]
MK Owners Club Member 1015
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chockymonster
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 10:45 PM |
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Be careful with the 3 stage meguiars system, if you use too much product on the foam applicators you will end up with a smeary finish. That's
why I moved away from meguiars and over to the p21s and klasse stuff. It also lasts a lot longer on the car which means you use less and that then
lasts longer in the bottle!
I know what richardr1 means, I've spent a fortune on product and chopped and changed till I found something I liked and now I've stuck
with it.
[Edited on 1/5/06 by chockymonster]
[Edited on 1/5/06 by chockymonster]
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graememk
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| posted on 1/5/06 at 10:48 PM |
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i'll have a look for both products tomorrow
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chockymonster
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| posted on 2/5/06 at 05:13 AM |
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Halfords sell most of the meguiars stuff. P21S is harder to find in shops, but carsparkle (NTDWM) are very reasonably priced.
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