The Official Detailing Thread

[DeviantRebel442]

So ive been into detailing for a while now...

ive done a few cars in my time, and im wondering who else here is into the full on detail...

What products do you use?
What machine do you use?
How long have you been detailing?
Pictures?

I have used several products, but my favorite (always have and always will be) are the Meguiar 80s line...i use 80,82,83,84 on all the cars i detail, plus a NXT 2.0 tech wax...

I used a orbital for a while, but i quickly made the transition to the rotary...i find that the wet look of paint is just unbeatable and looks amazing...far better then anything a RO can turn out...but it comes with risks...

i use the makita 9227c

overall ive been doing this shindig on my own for about 2 years now ....

[QuietChaos]

I have terrible car washing technique. When summer rolls around, I intend to get the engine bay freshened up a bit, and a good detail. I have a fair amount of rock chips and scratches to fix. I don't know if it would be cheaper to DIY or pay someone else to do this for me.

I pretty much just hose the car down, dry it, apply Turtle Wax, wipe it off.

[falcon]

1)Water
2)Soap
3)Dry


done.

[Oakville]

1)Water
2)Soap
3)Dry


done.

sameski. I worked as a detailer during the last 4 summers, $12 an hour for a highschool kid, in ON especially, is solid. I just recently started using Meguiars Chrome Polish on bodies with scuffs etc, thats about all the details i can give. dun dun chhhh!

[C-unit]

pay my bro 5bucks to wash it.

[SVTong]

I'm a big fan of Meguiar's Gold class wax and quick detailer, but I'm interested to see if the new NuFinish detailer is any good.

[falcon]

on a serious note, at work I only use AutoGlym.

If no cutting is needed my routine consists of some paint cleaner, ,paint renovator if needed, super resin polish (with fillers), and finish off with the liquid hardwax.

That routine will make any paint shine.

[assass1n]

i want to go rotary buffer but just cant afford one right now. so far i've been doing decent with the orbital one.

heres what i normally do. first use ice liquid clay bar. im just too lazy to use the actual clay bar. it works but obviously not as good. then when it feels like theres no more contaminants. i do a few rounds with meguiars proffesional swirl remover 2.0. after i get all the swirl marks and light scratches off i finish it off with meguiars 16 carnuba paste wax. once im done with that i go work on the wheels with meguiars hot wheels rim cleaner. then i use meguiars endurance tire shine.

if ever i need to touch up a bit. i just use a california car duster. then i use either shining monkey hand glaze or shining monkey quick detailer. depending on how much time i have. obviously the hand glaze makes it feel like it just got detailed. compared to the quick detailer.

[mcfly]

I use original turtle wax with the included sponge for application.

I then use a soft i think it is cotton material to wipe it off once dry.



Takes a lot of time for a wax job but it looks amazing

[DeviantRebel442]

wowzers....

when i do a full on detail i like to go all out...

i prefer to get everything out a full 20 hours....rotary and speed do not mix because it equals burns...and although properly you can mask burns...you can never fix them unless your car gets repainted....

heres what i do...

first wash....get rid of all the drift and grime...i use 2 products...full degrease spray and meguiars car show wash...

second clay bar...i use "smooth as glass" clay bar from meguiars...

thrid i rewash becasue the quick detailer is a nightmare...its streaks like no ones business....horrible to use unless its last minute or for lubricity on a clay bar...

fourth i cut...i start with a light cutting pad and meguairs #83 dual action cleaner polish...should remove most of the stuff...

fifth i cut again if the first cut doesnt remove most of the original scratches and oxidation and i use a heavier pad...also i step up the product to #84 compound cleaner...

sixth i polish with a polishing pad and #80 speed glaze to remove any micros put on by the rotary and the high compounds...

seventh i polish using a finishing pad a #82 swirl free polish or a #21 to make sure theres nothing but shine left...

ninth i apply 3-4 layers of pure carnabua wax...recently used mothers...dont like it....its really shitty and leaves a haze..IMO when it comes to wax dont cheap out...ive decided to step up to the NXT 2.0 tech wax....leaves a good finish...

after all is said and done each step takes around 3 hours minimum....sometimes longer....but detailing should not be rushed....

i aim for a finish like this...

before


after

[assass1n]

^if you like meguiars nxt wax. you should really try meguiars 16. i usually buy mine from eshine.ca. its so much better than nxt wax. last longer too.

[DeviantRebel442]

^if you like meguiars nxt wax. you should really try meguiars 16. i usually buy mine from eshine.ca. its so much better than nxt wax. last longer too.

eshine FTW....

great site to buy from....

ill keep that in mind...ill get some in my next order...

also looking at m95, m105, and m205 for some new products from them aswell

[Oakville]

after

what did you use for that finish? and how long did it take???

[Terrh]

if you read his post, he explained pretty much exactly how he got there.

[NismoS-tune]

I've done the mothers 3 stage twice a year for the last 5 years on the gtr and I'm now upgrading to meguires and give it a go. I never use power balls or anything. Everything is done by hand, in a garage at 20 degrees and takes me 6 hours including 4-5 beers. My biggest problem is the plastic window trim getting dyed... I haven't done the black car yet though it's pretty badly scratch everywhere (gotta love black for telling the truth about everything as soon as it's dry lol). I'll post some picks in a month or so once it's done.

Does anyone wax their rims? No, I don't have gangster chromes, steelies or OEM uglies.