This is my car detailing plan

[HarveyGTI]

HI All

Well I have been reading up on alot of detailing for sometime, and have been getting the condition of the paintwork on my car to a very good standard, slowly removing fine scratches, T cutting, polishing and waxing...all by hand and now has come the time to step up to the next level and machine polish

SO

I am getting the machine polisher, and this is my plan

Step 1
Wash the car - Meguiars Gold

Step 2
Wash and rinse

Step 3
Wash the car again to get rid of any stubborn dirt, and so to bring that extra shine and then rinse

Step 4
Dry and clay bar the car to get rid of any minor imperfections

Step 5
Meguiars Quick Polish and Dry

Step 6
Sonus SFX-2 - polish using machine to get rid of swirl marks, and buff off (Dont need SFX-1 as the paint is already in very good condition)

Step 7
Sonus SFX-3 - final polish to bring up the paintwork and then buff off

Step 8
Carnauba wax - wax on, wax off and buff

Step 9
Carnauba wax - wax on, wax off and buff

Done!

Would that be a good plan, or have I missed anything?

(windows and wheels cleaned off course )

 

[Daffy]

You could pre-soak the car either with water or a foam gun with some APC in to remove and loosen the worse. I would suggest a quick wash and dry after the clay. Not sure what Quick polish is but if you are machining then it may be a waste of time. I personally find the Sonus polishes sh1te and never even touched the mild cobwebs on my R32. VAG paint is notoriously tough and I would go for the Menzerna Ceramiclear Polishes IP and FF to follow up. You may also wish to add a glaze and sealant before the wax, which wax are you using?
All I can think of for the minute.

 

[HarveyGTI]

You could pre-soak the car either with water or a foam gun with some APC in to remove and loosen the worse. I would suggest a quick wash and dry after the clay. Not sure what Quick polish is but if you are machining then it may be a waste of time. I personally find the Sonus polishes sh1te and never even touched the mild cobwebs on my R32. VAG paint is notoriously tough and I would go for the Menzerna Ceramiclear Polishes IP and FF to follow up. You may also wish to add a glaze and sealant before the wax, which wax are you using?
All I can think of for the minute.

this is the Wax I am using:

Autosmart Carnauba Gold Wax Paste
Carnauba Gold Wax from Autosmart, suppliers to trade.
Made from natural Brazilian palm wax, carnauba is regarded as the best natural product available to give a deep, long lasting lustre and shine. This is grade 1 yellow carnauba and is 30% by volume.

Applied with an applicator pad and removed with a quality microfibre to give outstanding results and protection.

Just...£9.99

Sorry which polish should I use then?

will need a slightly abrasive one to remove swirl marks and then a final polisher

Paint work is already very good, but could certianly be alot better (no oxidation or anthing like that though)

 

[googies]

Very amature on this stuff, but AutoGlym extra gloss sealant followed by AutoGlym super resin polish and carnauba wax. i have followed this by hand and got good results!

 

[HarveyGTI]

Very amature on this stuff, but AutoGlym extra gloss sealant followed by AutoGlym super resin polish and carnauba wax. i have followed this by hand and got good results!

cheers mate

I used to use Autoglym before I went to Meguiars

but IMO autoglym is the cheaper of the range for car products....and I just found Meguiars to be a step up in terms of quality

now that I am using a polishing machine, I think once again, more expensive/professional polishes and waxes will be needed

although not sure what yet and waiting more for th experts to get back to me on what is a good two stage polish

 

[Daffy]

Googies. AG SRP first then followed by EGP if you must use AG thats the order. You appear to be starting backwards.
Harvey what colour is your car?

 

[HarveyGTI]

Googies. AG SRP first then followed by EGP if you must use AG thats the order. You appear to be starting backwards.
Harvey what colour is your car?

how you mean starting backwards?

colour is black magic (the gold and silvefr pearl effect)

Thanks

 

[Reg]

He means that you don't put a finishing sealant on first, then polish afterwards. I hope Googies made typing error, otherwise common sense is rather lacking.

 

[HarveyGTI]

He means that you don't put a finishing sealant on first, then polish afterwards. I hope Googies made typing error, otherwise common sense is rather lacking.

sorry, my fault for not doing my homework and research probably

Ok after more reading up, at cleanyourcar.co.uk, what an amazing site...this is my revised detailing plan:

Step 1
Wash the car and rinse - Meguiars Gold

Step 2
Repeat step 1 - Wash the car again to get rid of any stubborn dirt

Step 3
Inspect the car for any intensive stains of dirt, insect debris etc and remove with an intensive tar remover

Step 4
Dry and then clay bar the car to get rid of any minor imperfections

Step 5
Quick mild wash and rinse again

Step 6
Dry

Step 7
Masking tape off all plastic sills, bumper strips etc

Step 8
Meguiars #83 Cleaner/Polish

Step 9
Meguiars #80 Speed Glaze

Step 10
Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze

Step 11
Meguiars #20 Polymer Sealant

Step 12
Victoria Concours Wax - wax on, wax off and buff

Step 13
Repeat step 9 for an extra deep shine

Done!


My only query is that with the sealant (as I am sticking with Meguiars) which one is better to use?

Meguiars #20 Polymer Sealant

OR

Meguiars #21 Synthetic sealant

I am guessing #20 is a bit finer and would be better applied as the car has aleady been cut using a #83 grade cleaner/polish?

I think thats it!

this is what I aspire the paintwork on my car to look like....truly amazing (example used is Bens 16v Ibiza who is on this site)

 

[Daffy]

I liked Megs 21 on my black R32 really added something to the paint.

 

[Reg]

Sealants don't have cut to them - they are non abrasive, so the #20 and #21 is just the product name.

To be honest, unless the car is really minging, I don't think you'll need to wash it twice before claying. I'd pre-soak/rinse, then wash, then inspect & de-tar, rinse (wash again if you really have to), then clay. Also, don't waste your time drying the car before claying it.

 

[HarveyGTI]

Sealants don't have cut to them - they are non abrasive, so the #20 and #21 is just the product name.

To be honest, unless the car is really minging, I don't think you'll need to wash it twice before claying. I'd pre-soak/rinse, then wash, then inspect & de-tar, rinse (wash again if you really have to), then clay. Also, don't waste your time drying the car before claying it.

good point, wont bother drying before I clay

as Daffy suggested, I will give the 21 a good go

worked out the total cost of all the stuff i needed:

Machine Polisher 51.99
Meguiars Quick Detailing Kit 11.85
Meguiars #83 Cleaner/Polish 16.96
Meguiars #80 Speed Glaze 13.95
Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze 9.95
Meguiars #20 Polymer Sealant 14.95
Victoria Wax Concours 6oz 29.95

Total 149.60

 

[googies]

Sorry, i did mean it SRP and sealant next..... was a friday afternoon waiting to escape work!!!