Anyone wanna help a n00b make his car shine?

MrHanky · 08-27-2005, 12:50 AM

Hey all,

Ok before I get flamed; I'm a complete n00b when it comes to detailing... I have searched through here a bit before I posted but the information I was after was kind of all over the place and only confused me more...

Anyways, today the sun finally poked it's head out after weeks of quite miserable weather here in Melbourne, and when the sun reared it's ugly head on the bonnet of my black DC5R I was greeted by some rather severe swirl marks...

I want to spend a day (maybe tomorrow?) giving my car some extreme love

but I need some serious advise on what to do to fix the swirl marks (yes I know it has been covered but please read on) & ensure they don't come back anytime soon!

First of all, a few weeks ago I purchased a Meguiars car lovin kit which contained:

Gold class car wash
Gold class Wax
Quik Detailer
Endurance High Gloss tire black (this stuff is unreal!!

)
"Hot Wheels" (I think that's the name of it) wheel cleaner
Wash mitt
Bucket

I keep hearing Gold Class wax. vs. NXT... which is better, or perhaps not which is better but what are the characteristics of each? E.g. Which lasts longer? what type of shine does each give? etc. etc.

I've also seen a lot of people talking about Meguiar's Scratch X being good for swirls &/or scratches... I went to the local Autobarn and requested some and when the guy asked my intended use I told him for swirls- he said that it's probably not the type of product you'd use over a whole car, more the type of product I should use for the few scratches I've got near the driver's door handle etc.

Also I know not what to apply the products with- I know that when buffing I should use a microfibre cloth... I recently bought two polishing cloths but I'm not sure if they're microfibre or not... How can I tell?

Anyways from what I understand my day of detailing should go something like:

Wash
Clay
Wash
Remove swirls
Polish
Wax * 3 coats

but I really really need some advice on what products to use to remove swirls (which are pretty much everywhere...

) Meguiar's #82? or #83? Also what are the *names* of these products... If I walk into Autobarn and say "I want Meguiar's # 83" I'm not entirely sure they're going to have any idea what I'm talking about, and as I've never seen the stuff before I don't know what it looks like...

Help me in my n00bness please and make my car shine!

BTW: NBP '01 DC5 ITR.

03K20A2 · 08-27-2005, 01:03 AM

is this gonna be all by hand right? personally if doing it all by hand, i would recommend zaino, nothing will beat the shine and durability of zaino

MrHanky · 08-27-2005, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03K20A2

is this gonna be all by hand right? personally if doing it all by hand, i would recommend zaino, nothing will beat the shine and durability of zaino

What products and in what order? Any idea where to buy them here in Australia- I've never seen/heard of them (aside from these forums) whilst browsing any of the major auto retailers here (AutoBarn, Super Cheap Auto etc.)

MrHanky · 08-27-2005, 01:54 AM

Here's a quick pic I took of the swirls on the bonnet today on my lunch break; excuse the quality of the pic as I took it using my camera phone... also excuse the dirtyness of the car it hasn't been washed since last weekend

Edit: changed image hosting.

03K20A2 · 08-27-2005, 10:30 AM

its gonna be done by hand correct?

monsterBEN · 08-27-2005, 03:54 PM

With you being down under, You cant order Zaino products online and theyre not offered in any stores. You'd have to research to see if theirs a Zaino distributor somewhere in Aus.

I believe Scratch X can be used for removing swirls because in this link, theres a Meg's detailer that uses it for swirls.
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=7011

This link will also give you an idea of how to apply everything correctly.

It looks like you have everything you'd need except for a claybar, and polish. I have always used Mothers claybars and havent had any problems (it also comes with a quick detailer to use as lubricant) As far as polish goes, if you want to stick with Meg's products, you can pick up a bottle of their Deep Crystal Polish (step 2 of their 3 step system). Your Gold Class wax will work fine on top of the polish

Hope this helps, if you have any questions ask away.

MrHanky · 08-27-2005, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03K20A2

its gonna be done by hand correct?

Yeah gonna be done by hand... Thx for the replies I'm gonna go pick up some extra products today...

MrHanky · 08-29-2005, 10:11 AM

Ok update time...

I went down to autobarn and bought a Meguiar's Quik Clay Detailer, a nice wool (sheepskin) wash mitt (was using synthetic.. after using the wool one I'm never going back!), some deep crystal polish, scratch x, foam applicators & 100% cotton towels...

Anyways so I applied a liberal amount of scratchx- I found that it lightened significantly but would not remove alltogether the swirls I have on my car... not to mention there were a number of other light scratches that it just seemed to reduce, but not remove...

I claybar'd the whole car- damn I wish I'd used this stuff earlier.. it's unreal

Polished + Waxed... Looks nice and shiny- still a tad swirly though (not as bad as it was before)...

Any suggestions as to where to if scratch x hasn't fixed the prob? is my paint screwed?

Thanks again...

08-27-2005, 12:50 AM	#1
MrHanky Vrooooooooooom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	Anyone wanna help a n00b make his car shine? Hey all, Ok before I get flamed; I'm a complete n00b when it comes to detailing... I have searched through here a bit before I posted but the information I was after was kind of all over the place and only confused me more... Anyways, today the sun finally poked it's head out after weeks of quite miserable weather here in Melbourne, and when the sun reared it's ugly head on the bonnet of my black DC5R I was greeted by some rather severe swirl marks... I want to spend a day (maybe tomorrow?) giving my car some extreme love but I need some serious advise on what to do to fix the swirl marks (yes I know it has been covered but please read on) & ensure they don't come back anytime soon! First of all, a few weeks ago I purchased a Meguiars car lovin kit which contained: Gold class car wash Gold class Wax Quik Detailer Endurance High Gloss tire black (this stuff is unreal!! ) "Hot Wheels" (I think that's the name of it) wheel cleaner Wash mitt Bucket I keep hearing Gold Class wax. vs. NXT... which is better, or perhaps not which is better but what are the characteristics of each? E.g. Which lasts longer? what type of shine does each give? etc. etc. I've also seen a lot of people talking about Meguiar's Scratch X being good for swirls &/or scratches... I went to the local Autobarn and requested some and when the guy asked my intended use I told him for swirls- he said that it's probably not the type of product you'd use over a whole car, more the type of product I should use for the few scratches I've got near the driver's door handle etc. Also I know not what to apply the products with- I know that when buffing I should use a microfibre cloth... I recently bought two polishing cloths but I'm not sure if they're microfibre or not... How can I tell? Anyways from what I understand my day of detailing should go something like: Wash Clay Wash Remove swirls Polish Wax * 3 coats but I really really need some advice on what products to use to remove swirls (which are pretty much everywhere... ) Meguiar's #82? or #83? Also what are the names of these products... If I walk into Autobarn and say "I want Meguiar's # 83" I'm not entirely sure they're going to have any idea what I'm talking about, and as I've never seen the stuff before I don't know what it looks like... Help me in my n00bness please and make my car shine! BTW: NBP '01 DC5 ITR.

08-27-2005, 01:03 AM	#2
03K20A2 Master Detailer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 3,997 iTrader: (1)	is this gonna be all by hand right? personally if doing it all by hand, i would recommend zaino, nothing will beat the shine and durability of zaino __________________ Reflections Revived "It's all in the details" Automotive Detailing in the chicagoland area-pm me or email me at reflectionsrevived@yahoo.com

08-27-2005, 01:54 AM	#4
MrHanky Vrooooooooooom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	Here's a quick pic I took of the swirls on the bonnet today on my lunch break; excuse the quality of the pic as I took it using my camera phone... also excuse the dirtyness of the car it hasn't been washed since last weekend Edit: changed image hosting. Last edited by MrHanky; 08-27-2005 at 03:22 AM.

08-27-2005, 10:30 AM	#5
03K20A2 Master Detailer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bartlett, IL Posts: 3,997 iTrader: (1)	its gonna be done by hand correct? __________________ Reflections Revived "It's all in the details" Automotive Detailing in the chicagoland area-pm me or email me at reflectionsrevived@yahoo.com

08-27-2005, 03:54 PM	#6
monsterBEN use a lil vandyke brown Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northern Va Posts: 3,355 iTrader: (0)	With you being down under, You cant order Zaino products online and theyre not offered in any stores. You'd have to research to see if theirs a Zaino distributor somewhere in Aus. I believe Scratch X can be used for removing swirls because in this link, theres a Meg's detailer that uses it for swirls. http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=7011 This link will also give you an idea of how to apply everything correctly. It looks like you have everything you'd need except for a claybar, and polish. I have always used Mothers claybars and havent had any problems (it also comes with a quick detailer to use as lubricant) As far as polish goes, if you want to stick with Meg's products, you can pick up a bottle of their Deep Crystal Polish (step 2 of their 3 step system). Your Gold Class wax will work fine on top of the polish Hope this helps, if you have any questions ask away. __________________ '03 ABP-S Physical Therapy school crew #1 Drinking Crew Holy Shit!!

08-29-2005, 10:11 AM	#8
MrHanky Vrooooooooooom Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 90 iTrader: (0)	Ok update time... I went down to autobarn and bought a Meguiar's Quik Clay Detailer, a nice wool (sheepskin) wash mitt (was using synthetic.. after using the wool one I'm never going back!), some deep crystal polish, scratch x, foam applicators & 100% cotton towels... Anyways so I applied a liberal amount of scratchx- I found that it lightened significantly but would not remove alltogether the swirls I have on my car... not to mention there were a number of other light scratches that it just seemed to reduce, but not remove... I claybar'd the whole car- damn I wish I'd used this stuff earlier.. it's unreal Polished + Waxed... Looks nice and shiny- still a tad swirly though (not as bad as it was before)... Any suggestions as to where to if scratch x hasn't fixed the prob? is my paint screwed? Thanks again...