Wash, Polish Wax?

[WithanF]

You did well. You don't need to rinse off after using the detail. You are supposed to wipe the detail spray off with a dry cloth BEFORE it dries on its own. Detail spray is mostly used to touch up an already clean car. For example, if it rains and you get some water spots, you can eliminate them with the detail spray and a dry towel.

You've started to detail the car in pieces, which is pretty common for me, but I caution against starting with the easiest and most satisfying parts, like the hood.

If you do the car in pieces, each day is a quick project and doesn't turn into the type of task you keep putting off because it takes too long. The flat surfaces are the ones that get the most sun and need the most care IMO. They are the easiest areas to detail and they show the best when you are done, so that's a win win. Any panel that reflects light up toward your eyes is going to give the most satisfaction.

The bottom of the car, which reflects light down, is the most difficult to get clean and doesn't show well when its done. The bottom requires the most work and gives the least reward. A lose lose.

When you are in the mood to detail, I suggest you get in the habit of doing the hard areas first. You'll always get back to the hood, trunk lid and fender tops. If you do the hood and lid first, you may never get around to the bottom half. If you wait until you are in the mood to do everthing at once, that mood may never come.

p.s. If anything is harder than detailing a white/ivory car and getting it to look good, it's getting the results to show in pictures, but we want some anyway.

[WIP]

Ok, will definitely post pics when done... you are absolutely correct about the order ... hardest to simplest... I usually do it in that fashion exactly for the reasons you describe. Just, kind of, wanted to see if it really would make any diff to my car - it sure did! Awesome!!!

Also, can't recall if I already stated this either... hit my rear window with plastic polish and the powerball - Wow!!!!! Diff. of night and day.

Sooooo... this weekend, will hit the rest of the car and post pics afterwards... stay tuned!

One more question too... do ya'll use the Orbital buffer to remove the polishes and wax as well? For my trial, I used the towels, by hand to "remove" stuff... should I use the buffer for removal? Pretty happy with results so far though.... machine on, hands off. This time, hard parts first.

Thanks again folks! The advice, for me, was invaluable and works great!

Ron F.
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[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WIP Ok, will definitely post pics when done... ---

[WIP]

Will do over this weekend sometime... but, the car is Ivory (I guess that's what you'd call it) so, may not show that well in photos. But, we'll give it a shot. Claying IMO is definitely worth it.

[msiert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WithanF When you are in the mood to detail, I suggest you get in the habit of doing the hard areas first. You'll always get back to the hood, trunk lid and fender tops. If you do the hood and lid first, you may never get around to the bottom half. If you wait until you are in the mood to do everthing at once, that mood may never come.

[WIP]

Ok, back again... now please know, color of car will make this hard... you'll have to trust me Was a diff of night and day for my car... also, clayed it about 10 months back... so what you are seeing now is about 10 months old, after a washing... but still... was really faded before, no shine really at all... could not see any real reflections etc... also, the back window... with that scratch remover... before, could hardly see through it... you definitely could not see into the car (hmmmm, safety feature )... and now you can, after two hadn applications of the Plastic Polish stuff... so, bad photos, hard color, but, what they hey... Thanks again for all ya'lls advice etc... some photos here and more on the next page ...

[WIP]

Here are a few more... and also, no picking on my car ok, should have seen it when I acquired it... PO did some pretty good things... but, it needed some TLC big time... electrical was a mess, idle was way off, starting was really bad etc etc... my next projects will involve completing the mechanical side of things, then completing the paint for the exterior, followed by redoing the interior... all in time and $$$ I suppose... but it's fun! Most times anyways, ha ha.

[msiert]

Wow Ron looks brand new..........................Nice job! I have always like white cars they don't show the dirt and small scratches like the dark colors do.