Been on the forum for years.

Been cleaning cars for years.

Used clay for 30 seconds, changed everything.

So my car paintwork is awful at the minute, don't think it's ever had a good detail, the sills feel like sand paper! I'm new to the whole detail world so don't know much.

I've bought a regular grade bilt hamber clay and a high pressure spray bottle.

What els do I need? I've looked on the Halfords website thinking I should stick to autoglym, but assume alot better can be had?

- AG Glass polish

- AG Fast glass

- AG alloy wheel sealer

- AG Clean wheels

- AG instant tyre dressing

- AG metal polish

Better can be had. But alot is in the prep. Better the prep then the better the results. Look into contamination removal before clay products such as CarPro Ironx and CarChem Revolt.

Do you snowfoam and use 2BM?

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Edited 27 January, 201511 yr by J306TD

Will have a look at them now.

I don't snowfoam and never heard of 2bm before!

I would look at polished bliss website rather then Halfords, plus it is free delivery.

To get started in detailing it's a massive mine field but there are some very experienced guys who post on this section regularly so you have a wealth of knowledge.

I'll do a list and anyone else feel free to add to it:

2 buckets

Wash mitt/pad - I use microfiber madness incredisponge/pad

Shampoo - car chem 1900:1 is my favourite.

Pre wash - now I no longer snow foam as it's just hassle, I just use power maxed tfr @ 1:10 ratio in a pump sprayer.

Drying towel - loads to choose from

Tar Remover - Autosmart Tardis

Contaminant remover - Auto Finesse Iron Out

Pre wax cleanser - Auto Finesse Rejuvinate

Polish - loads to choose from, by hand Gtechniq P1 is good.

Wax/Sealant - again loads to choose from. Current favourite wax is Artdeshine ArtDeKostos .

then you need glass cleaner, applicators and microfiber towels. That's a basic list with loads of other things you could add. If you want any samples fire me a PM and I will send you a selection of bits.

There are also guides on polished bliss which are very useful !

There are also guides on polished bliss which are very useful !

Excellent advice

Here is the link: HERE

 

Hutch I also provide an intructional morning/afternoon or day, which will cover most techniques from washing to machine polishing to protection finishes

That roughness is likely to be tar on the sills. Rather than getting 5 litres of tardis I'd start with Autoglym intensive tar remover to clean the rough sills.

So am I better off using tar remover rather than using the clay?

Im going to give it a wash over with some soapy water, turtle wax or something, then clay the car, then polish over.

So am I better off using tar remover rather than using the clay?

Im going to give it a wash over with some soapy water, turtle wax or something, then clay the car, then polish over.

Use a tar remover before clay. If not the clay bar will get contaminated fairly quickly & you run the risk of marring the paint more.

Ok, I'm learning!

I'll get some autoglym tar remover for now since I can just pop to the shops and get it straight away.

I take it you just spray it on, leave it for five minutes and wipe off?

Ok, I'm learning!

I'll get some autoglym tar remover for now since I can just pop to the shops and get it straight away.

I take it you just spray it on, leave it for five minutes and wipe off?

Yes...You will need to clay afterwards too

Yep, I'll take some pictures to show you my paint to see what you's think.

It has thousands of tiny like rust spots and far spots, hopefully this is the best treatment!

They came off the small patch I used the clay on the other day so I'm hopefull!

The rust spots would benefit from iron out treatment, but claying should remove them. Iron out would just loosen it making claying much easier.

They must be quite light or on the surface, the clay took them off quite easily so that's good to know.

I take it this means the paint isn't ruined?

And also... What's recomendsd for the black trim?

Door handles, the window trims and aerial base.

I've seen black wow used and it looks great, downside is its a little pricey for a tiny bottle. I don't mind paying it, but just not at the start of getting everything, I could easily spend hundreds here on everything

Gtechniq C4, cheaper alternative is AutoFinesse Revive. C4 will last much longer...but costs twice as much.

Autofinesse it is, looks decent!

Plastic trim ..Bit of a minefiels in terms of products

Do you want permanent or temporary enhancement?

There are many temporary wipe on buff off products

But not as many permanent ones

I would always recommend the permanent option to a client if they requested it..as its virtually maintainance free

I like to wipe and buff with a temporary product, because its kinda theraputic, to see it look so good after a wipe

Depends on your time and inclination

Have a look here: Mostly Temporary Trim Restorers

Here for: Permanent/Semi Permanent Restorer  (The only one I can think of that's permanent..off the top of my head)

Good luck

Chris

 

ChrisRs Detailing, Bingley, West Yorks

Had a quick attempt at claying today but the weather is just to bad. The clay was hard so wouldn't fold easy and wouldn't flatten out. I had it in hot water every couple of minutes but soon as It touched the paint went hard again.

I took a few pictures to show what's happening

As for the lower doors im unsure on what to do.

I've took loads of pictures to show the paintwork. To clarify this is after a good wash and wax.

Even after clay you can still see a few rust spots.

Edited 30 January, 201511 yr by hutchysrs50

I have found massaging and folding the clay first, and also simply holding in a clenched fist for a while, helped to keep it pliable.  What clay are you using out of curiosty.  Whilst my favoured Bilt Hamber clay works really well, it does take some effort to get it warmed up and pliable.

 

The photos appear to show good improvement though   That tar could do with being hit with intensive tar remover, assuming you don't have a spray bottle full of tardis to hand. (what I use)

I'm usimg regular bilt hamber.

The doors are my main issue, even after a clay some very fine rust spots remain.