First time with clay

[A16NS V]

I've always thought I'd taken care with cleaning my cars but my previous Leon FR in the same Black Magic went back with loads of swirls making me take stock of how I do things. I truely don't think I took any notice until recently and a clean car was just one that looked shiney on first look.

I've since read on the internet about foaming, 2 buckets this and claying that so I decided to change my routine a bit and get some of the Mequires stuff everyone raves about.

So I prewashed just using the soap pipe coming from my Karcher pressure washer into an old bottle of Turtle wax wash and covered the wheels in Mequires wheel cleaner then left for 5 mins. Used the powerwasher to rinse.

Mequires microfibre mit and Gold class car wash and turned the power off the washer to let the water pool on the car.

Then for the first time ever I used a clay bar. I'll be honest and say I've been cynical about this before but jeez it does a good job! Using Megs Speed detailer as lube it makes the paint work so smooth. I even had to show next door and the wife the difference! Wiping off with a MF cloth is a breeze too and gets rid off the water marks from the rinse.

The car is only 6 months old and the paint is showing a few very faint marks but nothing that I need to start thinking about correcting just yet. (I need to practice polishing first!) So I put on Megs Carnuba wax stuff in the red bottle.

WOW! I now have a very clean car and I think I can tell the difference between a 'clean' car and a 'detailed' one!






It didn't take long for the rain to spoil things though but the beading is cool to look at!

[Tomo1971]

Ive started taking things a bot more seriously than the bucket of Turtle wax and a sponge since having the Octy.

Pretty much done the same as you, with exception of using Megs polish before the wax. Didnt know you could use the clay while the car was wet? I have been drying it off then claying, using the same quick detailer.

I have done the mother in laws Mini One today. As its not been waxed or even washed that great in about 5 years the clay took an awful lot of crud off, well impressed. Just spending 3 hours on her car has made a huge difference, can only imagine what it would look like after a full proffessional deltail!!

Im hoping not to be sucked on too much by the detailing lark though for 2 reasons. First it can get expensive, I have spent about £50 on stuff already and thats just basic stuff from Halfrauds!. Also, its bad enough cleaning a car and then it getting dirty soon after or getting a stone chip. Imagine detailing it good and then finding a chip!!

Steve

[Wardy]

Another convert eh?

Looks good

Cheers,
Steve

[Mr Grumpy]

It is so satisying having a clean car, and the feel good factor is worth the hard work.
I am looking forward to having my new purchase thoroughly 'cleaned' ( cheers Steve for the offer ) and a clean car goes faster , everyone knows that.

[oilburninnut]

top tip,when you run out of speed detailer re fill the bottle with megs car shampoo and use that as lube when claying,welcome to the obsessive club,its an addiction

[A16NS V]

Originally Posted by Tomo1971

Pretty much done the same as you, with exception of using Megs polish before the wax. Didnt know you could use the clay while the car was wet? I have been drying it off then claying, using the same quick detailer.

Sorry I did dry before claying but the April sun was strong enough to evapourate the water pretty quickly and leave those bastid water marks.

I'll be like you though...I don't think I'm going to go nuts on this detailing lark but I am tempted in getting a rotory polisher and have a go. I've got my wifes car to practise on too so I'm sure she will let the funds stretch a little bit more.

[A16NS V]

Originally Posted by oilburninnut

top tip,when you run out of speed detailer re fill the bottle with megs car shampoo and use that as lube when claying,welcome to the obsessive club,its an addiction

Thanks I did wonder what would be useful as you do use a lot and at a tenner this is expensive stuff!

Can you still buff dry with that mix?

[Bigw2069]

Originally Posted by A16NS V

Thanks I did wonder what would be useful as you do use a lot and at a tenner this is expensive stuff!

Can you still buff dry with that mix?

I wouldnt try to buff dry with shampoo, If you go through alot consider a bottle of QD, Its concentrated and will last a fair while, smells great too!

Meguiars Last Touch - Meguiars Car Care and Detailing Products

[cjb]

I'm arecent convert to clay as well: the difference was staggering. I used this stuff:

Bilt-Hamber Laboratories - Polish and Wax - Auto-clay

Wich can be lubricated with plain water, and I was very impressed. It even got rid of the spots of masonry paint from painting the house...

[oilburninnut]

Originally Posted by A16NS V

Thanks I did wonder what would be useful as you do use a lot and at a tenner this is expensive stuff!

Can you still buff dry with that mix?

no don't buff dry,the sequence goes wash,clay,wash,dry,polish,seal wax
To simplify things

[Bigw2069]

I think he meant applying the last touch to the wet car before you microfibre it dry.

[oilburninnut]

ahhh all is clear now

[A16NS V]

Originally Posted by cjb

I'm arecent convert to clay as well: the difference was staggering. I used this stuff:

Bilt-Hamber Laboratories - Polish and Wax - Auto-clay

Wich can be lubricated with plain water, and I was very impressed. It even got rid of the spots of masonry paint from painting the house...

I was reading up on that very same bar earlier today! Seems to get some rave reviews I'll get some next time I need to

I was so impressed at how this worked yesterday I did my motorbike today as well. Now coming from using Pledge I don't think I'm going to go back to half measures!!! I am blown away by the deepness of the shine and wet look. I just wish I'd taken a before picture for comparrison!

[gillywibble]

You don't need to dry the car before claying, just make sure it has been jet washed so there is no shampoo residue. Some shampoos break clay bars down.

Looks really nice A16NS V, you can see the flake is starting to pop. This would really be brought out by a glaze after the polishing stage, then a sealant before the coat of wax

[A16NS V]

Originally Posted by gillywibble

You don't need to dry the car before claying, just make sure it has been jet washed so there is no shampoo residue. Some shampoos break clay bars down.

Looks really nice A16NS V, you can see the flake is starting to pop. This would really be brought out by a glaze after the polishing stage, then a sealant before the coat of wax

Thanks, can you explain a bit more about this glaze?

(here comes the slippery detailing slope....preparing to get sucked in )

[gillywibble]

Originally Posted by A16NS V

Thanks, can you explain a bit more about this glaze?

(here comes the slippery detailing slope....preparing to get sucked in )

Basically, the idea is to clean the paint as much as possible with the clay. You can actually feel how smooth and fresh it is when you're done. The next step is to polish, usually two stages for correction and then a final polish which prepares the paintwork for the next stage. This can be done in one go, i.e. you can use a correction polish as a final polish when it starts to break down.

The final stage polish starts to lift the paint, almost like a gleam.

You then move onto a glaze, this does exactly what it says on the tin. It provides an extra layer of protection that also starts to give a shine to the paintwork.

The next step is a layer of sealant, to seal all of the paint protection in.

Finally, the wax lifts the paintwork again. If you've glazed, then you get a much greater depth of shine and the flake really starts to pop, it's a gorgeous effect.

Finish this off with some LSP (last stage product), glass, plastics, chrome and rubber and you have a hard days work but one heck of a proud feeling

[A16NS V]

Thanks for the detailed reply I'll look out for some suitable products

[Wardy]

Excellent overview Gilly

Steve