New car... Want to polish it up and getting looking nice but im lost.. Please help

[Phat VR6 3]

Ive just brought a new car and want to give it a polish, Been looking at afew of the treads but its left me quite confused. My car metalic black by the way

So im guessing first I want to give it a good wash... What shampo should I use and whats the 2 bucket wash people are on about. How does it work and how do i do it?

Then I understand I need to clay the car while wet? What grade clay do I use and how do i lub it?

Then touch up stone chips and scratchs

Then would I use a fine cutting paste?

Wash again???

Polish

Then wax it, and what wax.

Is that the process or have i missed anythink. Also could I use 2000 wet and dry before I start??

Could somone give me a list of the products they use and in what order. Also where to buy from :-d

Thanks Tom

[binliner 0]

unless you know what you're doing and have a pc to polish it properly I'd stay well clear of wet sanding!

Have a look here http://detailingworld.co.uk/ or here http://autopia.org/ for info (or wait until sanky comes along, he's the man for detailing )

[SankysVR6 1]

Thanks Justin,

Washing with 2 buckets, is a better method then the traditional 1 bucket as was used back in my parents days, because it works.

Basically you start off with 2 buckets and 2 wash mitts.

1 bucket has the shampoo of your choice and the other bucket is clean water for rinsing.

1 mitt for the top half of the car and 1 mitt for the bottom half of your car.

You then start with the top of the car place mitt in the shampoo mix and wash half the roof, then rinse the mitt in the clean water and ring out excess water. Then back in the shampoo mix and do the other half of the roof, and rinse.

Then start with sides a panel from top to bottom rinsing after each panel from top to about your knee length.

Then the front and finally the rear, you might want to rinse each panel with hose after each panel on a hot day, to stop water etching.

Then use the second mitt starting from the sides to go from your knee to the bottom of the car, rinsing after each panel.

If washed correctly your buckets should look like this.

Before washing

After Washing

Hope that helps

[SankysVR6 1]

As for claying, i would start off with something mild as Megs. Quick Clay, It comes with it's own lube, which is basically a detailing spray, this is available from Halfords if you want it quick..

You can touch up the chips, and let them dry overnight and then rub them down with G3 cutting compound if doing it by hand just spray plenty of water on the panel as it keeps it cool, and also helps with cut.

As for polishing it all depends what you want the end result to be like. If it's your first time with all this then try using the Megs 3 step system.

You might want to change the 3rd step for a wax of your choice as the Megs 3rd step is not that durable.

And i would leave the wet sanding alone unless you've done some research in to it, and confident about using it.

Good luck with it all, and i know it might seem like a lot but when you start doing it, it's not that bad.

[Phat VR6 3]

Cheers Sanky thats just what I was after.

So i take it the G3 is the cutting compound, Thats different to polish and wax??

You've got a black car, Is the polish and clay included in that 3 step megs pack and what wax would be good on my black car (what do you use)

Cheer for you help Tom

[binliner 0]

Basically polish improves the finish by removing a fine layer of paint... how much it removes depends on the 'cut' of the polish... G3 is basically a very abrasive polish

Wax is a final stage used to protect and enhance that shine... imo the most important stage is the polishing

The megs 3 step includes a paint cleaner, polish & wax but not a clay. Megs clay comes in a kit with the quick detailer (lubricant)

You'll find lot's of recommendations for waxes on those links but I've always just used P21S paint cleaner and wax on mine...

black magic...

[Phat VR6 3]

The link you sent me have way to much imformation to take in lol. Well that black car looks amasin so im going to go for that P21S stuff you use

Im picking the car up at the weekend so ill start then. It looks ok but needs a good clean and polish, Also theres a spot of rust the size of a 2p on the bottem of one of the archs by the side skirt so im going to chop that out weld abit in and spray that before i start. Hopfully the G3 will help blend it in abit If not im going to risk the 2000 grit and do some reading.

So just to sum up, the shopping list

Car shampo

Megs fine clay and lub

G3 cutting polish

P21s paint cleaner

P21s wax

2 of them car mitts

2 buckets

Touch up paint

5 hours of my time lol

How do people dry there cars?? And where did you get your P21s stuff from, halfords? Thanks for the help

[binliner 0]

P21S I get from www.thepolishingcompany.com but if you look on detailing world there's a section with place s you can order from

[SankysVR6 1]

You won't find quality products like P21s from Halfords, have look on ebay, or the link above.

As for drying i would get some Euro Waffle weave towel. From elite car care.

And for a drying technique,

Take the end of the hose so it's open ended and turn the tap down about half way, then chase the water off with hose. This works particularly well when the has had good layer of wax to it.

Then simply place the towel on the panel where the water is still present and pat it down and lift off and move on to the next section.

[Roan 0]

"Polishes" come in 2 types -

abrasives which remove a microscopic layer of paint (such as the Meguiars Pro range, Menzerna and the G3 stuff you are referring to but these will only be effective if using a rotary or d/a polisher) OR

fillers which fill in the swirls and defects with minute amounts of product (such as the Meguiars stage 2 or Autoglym Super Resin Polish). Without using a machine, Meguiars Scratch-X is the best abrasive polish to work by hand, but you will need a lot of patience & elbow grease to see any results on rock hard VW paint.

You should be looking to get:

Good shampoo

Meguiars Quik-Clay kit

2 mitts

2 buckets

Megs stage 1 or P21s paint cleaner

Autoglym Super Resin Polish

Collinite 476 (the most durable wax out there and cheap)

[xyber 1]

Oh dear, here we go! hahaha Once you start down this path, you will get obsessed, trust me!

If drying with a microfiber towel, they are worth getting damp first and spritzing the area to be dried with a quick detailer

P21s is awesome stuff, but short lived as it burns away quickly so give it an hour after the 1st coat and do it again, it makes a hell of a difference, especially after its cured over night!!

Also worth getting a proper foam lance or a Gilmour to give it a good pre soak, the less you need to touch the paint during washing the better

Soon you'll find yourself spending whole days polishing away because it still aint shiney enough!! (only in your head though, everyone else thinks your mad!)

[Phat VR6 3]

haha il try not to get obsessed :-d

I think ill use some G3 on my tough ups stone chips ect as it abrasive and then some autoglym stuff for the hole car.

Ok so ive got it looking mint then i sput down the road and get it alittle messy.

I dont want to wash the wax off or wax it again so what do i do to get the mess off, Just a quick wash and shampo or just cold water on its own??

Anythink wrong with the old school chamois leather. I brought a goodun not long ago and cost me £20

[xyber 1]

so long as it is washed and rinsed well after every use a chamois isnt bad, but a microfibre towel is alot less scratchy

So long as you follow the instructions on the shampoo it wont strip the wax, Megs NXT is good, wash it with that, dry it then Megs NXT quick detailer is good for a quick shine top up, 5 minute job, spray on and wipe off

[rodney 17]

I think this is a kit to start you off..

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/Store/Product/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductId=431

The other boys/n/girls will confirm....