That's what I like (not) about this forum, similar to the fuel debate, a lot of people think they know about a subject when actually they don't. I have dealt with at least four professional - and prize winning detailer's, one of whom personally looks after JK's fleet of classic cars and another one who is top of the recommended list of Rolls Royce at Goodwood, and a third who is the top man in my area for the Porsche Owners Club and not one of them uses a machine on any part of their work. I'll believe them if you don't mind.

Edited 30 September, 201312 yr by Timoctav

That's what I like (not) about this forum, similar to the fuel debate, a lot of people think they know about a subject when actually they don't. I have dealt with at least four professional - and prize winning detailer's, one of whom personally looks after JK's fleet of classic cars and another one who is top of the recommended list of Rolls Royce at Goodwood, and a third who is the top man in my area for the Porsche Owners Club and not one of them uses a machine on any part of their work. I'll believe them if you don't mind.

I think more research is needed on your part. Every detailer everywhere will use a machine polisher if required for removing scratches and defects. You cant remove scratches with a piece of clay. The contaminants are dragged off the paint with clay.

Im trying not to be funny about it but its the truth.

....Every detailer everywhere will use a machine polisher if required for removing scratches and defects.

/quote]

No they don't - at least none of the top detailer's mentioned above do, at any rate.

Edited 30 September, 201312 yr by Timoctav

That's what I like (not) about this forum, similar to the fuel debate, a lot of people think they know about a subject when actually they don't. I have dealt with at least four professional - and prize winning detailer's, one of whom personally looks after JK's fleet of classic cars and another one who is top of the recommended list of Rolls Royce at Goodwood, and a third who is the top man in my area for the Porsche Owners Club and not one of them uses a machine on any part of their work. I'll believe them if you don't mind.

Absolute rubbish. You've been very badly misled

Polishing with a machine polisher is at the heart of any Detailers equipment

If you've been told otherwise, they've been winding you up

I don't 'detail' my car, I just use the "one bucket and old sponge method" But, if machine polishing is taboo, why an entire sub-forum devoted to it on the Detailer's go to web-site? http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=32

My car has the autoglym lifeshine jobbie (already done as demostrator)and I'm happy with it inside and out.

A lot depends on the preparation before applying the autoglym etc.

Mine beads up all the time and looks pretty good even with a once a fortnight 20 min shampoo wash and dry

It was originally applied over a year ago.

^ I have to agree. Autoglym appears to be well thought of on the DW site. 

I repeat, a proper detailer never ever uses a machine to polish.

 

I have no in depth knowledge of detailing. But I know of a member who uses a Detailer of high repute....won top prizes at prestigious concours events. He once posted details of the process.

 

Ah, found the post:-

 

Detailing is a lot more involved than valeting, your comments would indicate that you don't really know what "detailing". involves - the klaying process in itself is skilled; a lot of amateurs try it and end up ruining their paintwork:

Stage 1

• Pressure wash wheel arches, clean wheels inside and out, and doors shuts using only natural cleaners.
• No contact pre-wash using PH Neutral Snow Foam.
• Wash car with Zymol Shampoo with pure lamb's wool wash mitt.
• Rinse car using an Aqua Gleam De-ionising Water Filter.
• Hand dry using soft drying towels.

Stage 2

• Klay bar bodywork to remove any surface contamination making paintwork ultra smooth.
• Single stage machine polish (If required).
• Carry out HD Cleanse process - this cleanses the paintwork ready for the wax to bond to the surfaces.

Stage 3

• The exterior is then finished using a Zymöl Glaze which will give your car a shoe finish and depth of shine.

Stage 4

• Full interior clean including; clean and condition leather, clean windows and dress tyres.

 

.........and he uses a machine polisher. 

This thread is a great read guys, I'm learning so much. I didn't order the paint/interior protection on my Octavia vRS. So you guys in the know would reccommend I just buy some stuff of ebay to spray on the car myself? Is it really that simple, if so, great!

 

P.S; I've got a spare full kit of Autoglym stuff my mate didn't want when he bought his car, so i'm planning on putting that to use!

Or alternatively, the 'Dodgy method'

 

1. Fill bucket with warm water and some turtle wash

2. Hose car with water from hose

3. Wipe car with sponge

4. Rinse with hose

5. Walk away

 

:p

Edited 30 September, 201312 yr by Dodgy

and come back to count the swirls in the paint ! 

Absolute rubbish. You've been very badly misled

Polishing with a machine polisher is at the heart of any Detailers equipment

If you've been told otherwise, they've been winding you up

I think not so we will agree to disagree on this one as the debate is going nowhere

The effort needed to polish by hand to remove imperfections (assuming no machine is actually used) must be serious.  I would only imagine you would polish something by hand if a) you were really worried about machining through a very expensive coat of paint on a classic car or similar, and b ) you know the owner of said classic car or similar was minted and you wanted to spend many extra unnecessary hours work on it, knowing there was no issuing with getting paid / value for money.

 

Just my opinion from someone who can do a decent full spruce up in 6 hours or so (with 2 machines used),

Big respect to anybody who can spend ages cleaning and caring for their car, I find it absolutely soul destroying. I love driving, and that's it. I don't enjoy working on cars or cleaning them. If my past cars could talk i'm sure you'd all be horrified!

Well let's name the detailers and let people research?

and come back to count the swirls in the paint ! 

 

And not care :P

I think not so we will agree to disagree on this one as the debate is going nowhere

No we wont!

You cant come on here, talk rubbish and then say we will have to disagree

You actually appear to not understand at all what detailing is, or perhaps more importantly, what a detailer does.

I would be doing this section and detailing in general a disservice if I didn't call you to task on such a completely wrong statement

Please can you further explain? I'm struggling to understand you

Tell me...How do you explain this:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/290026-autoglym-treatment/?p=3442300

Is it possible this gentleman knows people who don't use machines because they work on super-high grade stuff like he mentioned previously?

 

I know nothing about detailing so i'm just reading and learning. I don't want to take any sides I was just wondering if they didn't use machines because of the type of cars they are?

Is it possible this gentleman knows people who don't use machines because they work on super-high grade stuff like he mentioned previously?

I know nothing about detailing so i'm just reading and learning. I don't want to take any sides I was just wondering if they didn't use machines because of the type of cars they are?

At last - someone who talks sense!!! You appear, sadly, to be in the minority here.

Edited 30 September, 201312 yr by Timoctav

Well? Name the pro detailers, let the guys look them up themselves

It takes a certain type of person to spend hours on there and as someone who has a £1200 wax collection I'm one of those losers hahaha.

I have a lot of time off work so gives me something to do on the days off.

Also allowed me to spend a day or 2 with some lovely motors to get them up to scratch. You wouldn't believe how bad aston martins are delivered. Wet sanding marks all over them (machine polisher used to remove), my mk2 octavia is the best new car condition iv seen straight from the factory so fair play to skoda for that.

Is it possible this gentleman knows people who don't use machines because they work on super-high grade stuff like he mentioned previously?

I know nothing about detailing so i'm just reading and learning. I don't want to take any sides I was just wondering if they didn't use machines because of the type of cars they are?

To remove defects such as swirls/holograms/pigtails so on and so forth, you have to use polish/compound. Before polishing you would clay the car to remove particles such as industrial fall out and tar to ensure the paint in clean to machine polish as could cause more damage. If there is not much paint left on the car from previous polishing or the car is very concours and old then they would still machine or maybe apply a polish by hand or a pre wax cleaner to fill any defects such as swirls so that the finish is as good as possible.

At last - someone who talks sense!!! You appear, sadly, to be in the minority here.

You said that proper detailers don't use Machine Polishers

Are you referring to well respected detailer's like Heavenly Detailing, Magic Detailing...to name just two

These guys charge hundreds of pounds to 'Detail' cars from Nissans to Lamborghini's. Their primary equipment is a Machine Polisher

So who is talking sense?

You certainly are not.

You even contradict your own statement quoting what some mate of yours does when Detailing...he uses a Machine polisher

So please explain because myself and others wonder what the hell you mean....you clearly make no sense at all

To remove defects such as swirls/holograms/pigtails so on and so forth, you have to use polish/compound. Before polishing you would clay the car to remove particles such as industrial fall out and tar to ensure the paint in clean to machine polish as could cause more damage. If there is not much paint left on the car from previous polishing or the car is very concours and old then they would still machine or maybe apply a polish by hand or a pre wax cleaner to fill any defects such as swirls so that the finish is as good as possible.

Ah ok, so is that why that guy on the Drive channel on youtube uses that device to measure paint thickness? So he can guage what kind of approach to make?

And clay bars lift off bad particles and stuff? So do you use clay after you have washed the car? or before?

 

Oh, and Rob jeez! That wax is £1200?! Amazing! I can't believe how expensive that stuff is!

Edited 30 September, 201312 yr by Juanito5

Ah ok, so is that why that guy on the Drive channel on youtube uses that device to measure paint thickness? So he can guage what kind of approach to make?

And clay bars lift off bad particles and stuff? So do you use clay after you have washed the car? or before?

Oh, and Rob jeez! That wax is £1200?! Amazing! I can't believe how expensive that stuff is!

Yes thats it.

Your paint is made up of various layers some known as single stage and will not have a clear coat on them hence oxidising for example red Vauxhall are common for this and majority will come with a clear coat. It is still very thin layer and measured normally in microns. Its the clear coat with light/fine scratches caused by bad washing which gives the swirl affect which when polished using a compound will remove a small layer of clear coat to give a defect free finish.

Clay is done after the washing step yes. For my new octavia ill be washing, using a product known as iron x which will dissolve any iron particles on the car and then use Autosmart Tardis to remove any other contaminants/tar from the paint. Ill then use a fine clay bar with a clay lubricant and rub on the paint surface which will pull the imbedded contaminants off the paintwork leaving it smooth for me to do a one stage 'MACHINE' polish which will bring the gloss and clarity of the paint without causing damage.

To give a comparison here's a car I detailed recently and my own car I did recently.

Audi TT - 2011 - 2000miles on the clock and kept in a garage. Here's the clay bar after:

That's the dirt you can't see on the paint.

Here is my current octavia after 18,000miles regularly looked after - mainly tar that was removed (shown on the clay by the lines) but nowhere near as much as a Car that's not looked after:

Very anal process but its what i enjoy doing and pays very well .

Hope this helps your understanding and i apologise for the ling winded reply.