Now for anyone who knows me, I don't really give THAT much of a flying f*** about the quality of my paintwork. TWO buckets!? What a waste! I will take my one bucket thank you very much, and the odd refill when it gets a bit mucky in there

Anyway - last weekend I gave my car a brief claying over, and a coat of some zymol stuff I've had lying around for years - smells of spearmint, that's all I can say,

First rain in a week overnight so I took these couple on my phone before I leathered her down this morning.

Roof

Bonnet, nearside edge

I don't care what you think - I thought it was just "different" to how my paint usually looks! :P

Edited 4 April, 200917 yr by devonutopia

Now for anyone who knows me, I don't really give THAT much of a flying f*** about the quality of my paintwork. pg[/img]

:rofl: omg that sounds like me

im a two bucket man :holmes:

That's not beading...

This is beading!

That's not beading...

This is beading!

Yes, thats co-ordinated beading. Denonutopia's beading is a bit hap-hazard.

hummmm, looks like its been thru a drive through car wash to me!

Thats Pooling Jason, Get some more protection on it

the smoother the paintwork the quicker you will go

It's going to need a full "detail" at some point. I need to get it back to this condition on one weekend, then use the collinite 476s wax. I still have not got any clues as to the best way to apply it, given I have nothing more than polishing cloths, and the like....

ok can somebody explain what clay is?? i've heard it mentioned on this site but i dont think i've ever seen it... i imagine it is like a bar of soap or something

i imagine it is like a bar of soap or something

Think more blu-tack.

looks nice. Anyone on here use the site cleanyourcar.co.uk i love some of the waxes they have on there.

The primary function of paint is corrosion protection. Wax is to make paint more waterproof. Shampoo is to make it easier to get dirt off, and extend the intervals between wax treatments. I have no idea what a clay bar is in this context!

Clay is like plasticine to the touch and you rub it over the paintwork to take away small surface contaminants such as tar spots, etc - which can not be removed using normal washing processes.

So if you don't have tar spots you don't need clay?

If your paint doesn't have surface contaminants which can include tar spots, paint splashes, etc, then there is no need to clay the car.

There's almost certainly not a need to clay the car every time you wash it (in my opinion)

How will claying help my car? Do I need to clay?

Claying is a process to decontaminate the paint, ultimately preparing it for polish and wax. This is an intense deep cleaning that should be preformed as often as your autos surface is rough. A clean smooth surface looks letter, feels better, shines better and is ideal for application or wax and sealants because they all of for better contact with the surface.

- from Smartwax - An Evolution In Car Care

And who's going to be the first to tell these people that waxes are a subset of polishes?

And who's going to be the first to tell these people that waxes are a subset of polishes?

You are

Now for anyone who knows me, I don't really give THAT much of a flying f*** about the quality of my paintwork. TWO buckets!? What a waste! I will take my one bucket thank you very much, and the odd refill when it gets a bit mucky in there

Anyway - last weekend I gave my car a brief claying over, and a coat of some zymol stuff I've had lying around for years - smells of spearmint,

:confused:

One of those 2 statements must be untrue, if you don't give a dam about your paint work then why go to the effort of claying it!

:confused:

One of those 2 statements must be untrue, if you don't give a dam about your paint work then why go to the effort of claying it!

Well - It's more a "Don't care "that" much, but like for it to be as tidy as possible. This is why I am a strict user of the ONE bucket method, and an old barmat cloth / dirty leather... Also, my claying is perhaps not as intensive as some - I try and do the biggest area as quickly as possible.

as saying claying removes all the carp on the car but it also removes all the wax/polish you have so it needs a good clean then wax/polish afterwards to seal and protect the paintwork afterwards.

Your lucky your car is silver and not black Blacks a nightmare, but you cant beat a good weekend detailing session!

Your lucky your car is silver and not black Blacks a nightmare, but you cant beat a good weekend detailing session!

What's with all the blue tape? That's just the kind thing I can't be bothered with. If I get anything on plastics I will just have to rub it off and use bumper trim gel or something else.

Still, no-one has said how best to apply with collinite wax. It looks like a big candle in the pot! :confused:

The blue tape is to stop the edge of the buff pad catching the high edge of the bump strip ( which ive had painted ). Didnt want to buff the paint off or mark it etc.

As for collonite go down to halfords (for easyness), buy a couple of the meguiars yellow applicator pads and apply it with that. Dont apply it to thickly or its a nightmare to buff off and doesnt look as good as whenits applied well. Just wipe the wax with the applicator, then the car with the wax, let it dry to a haze and buff with a microfiber cloth or even an old t shirt cut up to make cloths would do the job?

I found some autoglym "polishing cloths" I have a Halfrauds about a mile from my house now I've moved, so will look out for those pads.