TheWizardofOdds 0 Posted October 8, 2006 Dried with my new sonus Der Wunder drying towel Quality name,you just know that's going to be a crowd pleaser. Loving the porn,keep up the good work. Most valeters it seems,start with the wheels when detailing-why? Probably an obvious explanation,but I always do mine last. Last question;what's a clay bar for?.I've seen it mentioned plenty of times. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 9, 2006 more pics coming very soon... did an rs6 plus today not sure why wheels first to be honest apart from that the wheel cleaner spray might slightly get onto the paint and if you do that last it could take off any waxy products you have applied Clay bar gets rid of tree sap and brake dust that are embedded into the paint. check out the dirty clay in the rs6 pics in a moment Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 9, 2006 Todays detail started at 7:30am over in oxford. Gotta be the longest one i have done so far... guess i didnt realise just how big those blasted things are! Anyway... started in the dark so no before pics. Usual process on wheels, arches, shuts and engine bay. Onto the clay.. the past 3 cars i have clayed havent been very dirty atall... this on the other hand... This was after half a door... So i clayed each panel twice so make sure it was clean. Every inch of paint was clayed. Long job. Sun came out (and it got boiling for an october day) and i checked the paint. Was in very good condition. Car had been done by dave (******* guy from the tt forum) about 6 months ago so im guessing he sorted the paint out nicely. So onto my favorite product... Super Resin Polish (Radiant Wax in trade form) Few pics after the SRP was taken off.. Then onto the Megs #7 Glaze No pics of this as rain was imminent nso i had to crack on but it was looking great at this stage. Then on with 2 layers of Collinite 476s before it did rain. Re-dried, applied dressings, cleaned interior and then some final pics. One thing i will say... i didnt use it but the seats had already been treated with liquid leather and they felt the best i have ever felt leather. Gonna be getting some of that i reckon! Anyway.. the pics.. unfortunately it was gone 5pm and there wasnt any bright sun which is a same because in the sun it looked amazing! Then a long 2 hrs drive home in torrential rain and m25 traffic. Fun day though and a great car Cheers Nathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ardandy 0 Posted October 9, 2006 Where did all your high value car clients come from? Word of mouth? Working from the S3 today? Thats my fav car by far, love RS6's. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 9, 2006 word of mouth mainly. I've never really advertised apart from forums and the website Yeah oxford was too far to bother taking the van. Client had a pressure washer so i could fit everything else i needed in the car Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DEL VR6 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Is it true that with a metallic car, you are really only polishing layers of lacquer away? Mines in a right $h!te state from being left parked under trees and not washing it properly. Not sure what to do with it the way it looks right now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Most modern cars will have a layer of lacquer even if their non metalic. Best way to sort your car would probably be to give it a good wash with a strong TFR. this will get rid of built up grime and dirt. Then wash with shampoo and use a clay bar. This will get rid of any dirt or tree sap and brake dust contaminates. Once its free of dirty you can assess the paint to see if it needs machine polishing and go from there. How east midlands are you exactly as im offering a service to forum members as outlined here.... http://the-corrado.net/.archive/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47208 Im willing to travel. Nathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DEL VR6 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Thanks for the advice Nathan. Have already thought long and hard about asking you to come over one day. You could easily spend the day here, and do the whole fleet! Am just a bit skint right now, but when i have the money, will be calling you over mate. Incedentally, its probably dead obvious, but whats TFR? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 10, 2006 Actually the full works takes 1 day on just 1 car so a fleet of cars would take me a week. :) TFR is short for Traffic Film Remover. Its a trade product. It degreases the car and gets rid of old wax etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iow_corrado_g60 0 Posted October 10, 2006 where do you get it from TFR thats is thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 10, 2006 from the autoglym trade guy. i dont think you can get it in the shops Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick 0 Posted October 10, 2006 What happens if it starts to rain, half way through a process? Does this mess the 'levels' of wax/polish/, or does it not effect it? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yandards 0 Posted October 10, 2006 from the autoglym trade guy. i dont think you can get it in the shops Think I have seen an Autogleam product that is suppossed to get rid of traffic film but can't remember what it was now.. :roll: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 10, 2006 What happens if it starts to rain, half way through a process? Does this mess the 'levels' of wax/polish/, or does it not effect it? if its raining then i cant really apply or take off the products with much success. Luckily yesterday it only showered once i had applied the wax so it was ok. Think I have seen an Autogleam product that is suppossed to get rid of traffic film but can't remember what it was now.. you mean Autoglym... AutoGLEAM is the name of my company. ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 12, 2006 THINGS DONT ALWAYS GO MY WAY.... This started out as a prefectly normal detail but turned into my longest most difficult bit of work so far. The car was a newly purchased 1997 911 993 C2S in Ocean Blue. The new owner had only had it 1 day and had asked me to come along to remove swirls and prep it for winter. No problem i thought to myslef. I've done hard german paint before and a few other porsches so i didnt see a massive job ahead of me... Started off as usual with a good wash down and then a clay which brought up small amounts of dirt on all panels. Looked lovely and silky afterwards. Just a washing pic for you though. Then the fun started. Under the lights you can see i was fairly sucessfull with swirl removal on the bonnet.. Before After Upon closer inspection though (holding the lights much closer to paint... no pics as its a 2 handed job) there were loads of very very fine marks... not really swirls but linear marks. I was using Menzerna PG followed by FF which has worked well on past details. So i went over the panel again with PG. Didnt budge the fine marks I may aswell mention the PTG readings at this point (i took them after claying the car) Roof was 110-150 Rest of body was anything from 220-300 and up to 600 in a couple of places. I smell a respray. Paperwork for the car confirms a new rear panel, repaired and painter R/O/S panel and repaired and painted O/S Door. But all the rest of the car matched the readings on those known resprayed panels so i think at some point the whole thing has been done. This has susequently led me to believe that some defects are UNDER the new clear coat and therefore untouchable by the polishing. If you look at these pics you can see the very fine lines as well as some more before and afters... in some cases there was no difference in before and after even after 2 atempts with PG which would have atleast shifted some of the marks as its so harsh and well renouned for being and excellent defect remover. Fine lines in R/O/S wing after alot of polishing. PTG still reads 250ish. and no there not holograms. i had also gone over this panel twice with FF Finishing polish. N/S door before N/S door after (didnt get a pic in sun but hundreds of fine lines runing front to back still after PG and FF twice) R/N/S wing after PG and FF (i was getting very disheartend at this point as it seemed no defects were coming out even with what i would consider extreme polishing.) Agreed with the owner to give it a quick coat of SRP to protect for a couple of weeks while i worked out what to do... Its only since i have been home that i have talked to a few people in the know and a couple of friends that work in bodyshops who have all now pretty much confirmed that the defects must be under the new clear coat. Have to now break bad news to owner and arange a time when i can return to complete the winter prep and do interior if he still wants it doing. Very tired and demorolised after almost 20hrs of fruitless labour. Final pics from today... At least it looked lovely in low light Will update this if and when i go back to finish the car. Nathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Forinor 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Any updates on whether or not you can sell on the stuff you use mate, like what the mini valet kits people were talking about before? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trig 0 Posted October 15, 2006 I'm sure the owner will be gutted that his Porsche is slightly less than perfect! Looks lovely to me. :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Any updates on whether or not you can sell on the stuff you use mate, like what the mini valet kits people were talking about before? Yeah im hopefully setting up a deal soon with an online product provider where i can sell kits and he will put them together and send them out. I'm sure the owner will be gutted that his Porsche is slightly less than perfect! Looks lovely to me. Smile owner was a little upset that it appears to have had paint but nothing you can do. It did look very good in low light though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr Forinor 0 Posted October 15, 2006 Yeah im hopefully setting up a deal soon with an online product provider where i can sell kits and he will put them together and send them out. Excellent, keep us updated mate 8) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted October 31, 2006 So its taken the best part of 2 days but its done. My friends Black MR2 Turbo needed some love. Some before pictures. General muck and cat prints from them loving the warm engine. The process Wheels Soaked with AG (Autoglym) Wheel Cleaner, Scrubbed, Rinsed Body Soaked with AG PM3 TFR and pressure rinsed Body Washed with AG Shampoo and a Megs wash mit. Body Clayed with Megs Quick Clay which showed up mild dirt. Then You could clearly see how dull and swirly the paint was so it was all taped up and sorted with Menzerna Power Gloss and Final Finsh oh Megs Cutting and Finishing Pads respectively. Before (swirls in both lights) After (swirls on right hand side have gone.. still see some on left ) Action shot... Then I applied a coat of AG Super Resin Polish and left it for the night as it was dark and couldnt really continue. 50/50 shot of the Super Resin Polish though New day......(actually 6 days later now) Washed. Applied Super Resin Polish again... then... Applied Megs Show Car Glaze The applied 2 coats of Collinite 476s Wax. Then conditioned all the exterior plastic and cleaned the glass in and out. Applied AG tyre shine Cleaned exhaust tips.. And the results.... The one of me is a reflection in the bonet. Cheers Nathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Whitedog 0 Posted October 31, 2006 That looks to have come up a treat, another fine instalment that keeps me (and i'm sure everyone else too) glued to the screen mesmerised by the relection shots etc... And as for them pesky cats that sit on warm bonnets....my other half has two cats that just seem to sit on my bonnet on purpose with a smug cat grin, just because they know it p*sses me off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DelMonty 0 Posted November 1, 2006 That MR2 looks mint after! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RADO.001 0 Posted November 2, 2006 another great job mate, looks MINT (shame bout the white wheels tho) wish i could aford to get mine done proper :cry: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lippy 0 Posted November 2, 2006 any updates on the porker mate? bit of a gutter for the new owner Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jedi-knight83 0 Posted November 2, 2006 Today i was back to do a proper winter prep afrer it had had some work done. Products used: Autoglym (AG) Wheel Cleaner AG PM3 TFR AG Shampoo and Conditioner Sonus Der Wunder drying towel* AG Super Sheen AG Super Resin Megs #7 Show Car Glaze* Collinite 476s* Megs Last Touch* AG Fast Glass AG Glass Polish AG Vinal and Rubber Care Gliptone Leather Cleaner* Gliptone Liquid Leather Conditioner* *Purchased and Available from Clean Your Car Right .. usual wash down and application of SRP and then onto the Megs Glaze. I tried to apply and take this off in a different way this time. Usually did 2 panels and then removed but i read that it can be applied to whole car and then taken off. Pic with Megs glaze then the usual collinite 476s 2 coat application. Inner arches sprayed with the AG Super Sheen. Plastic, Glass treated accordingly. Onto the interior and it was pretty darn cold out today and the liquid leather should be applied to warmish leather... so... spot the hair drier Seats wiped with damp cloth then cleaned with the gliptone cleaner. Then treated with this stuff smells great. After shots.... So. I thought it was looking pretty damn good to be honest. About the under clear coat marks though... the owner asked the painter he used for his opinion and he said it was rubbish and either my compounding wasnt working or i was inflicting as many swirls as i was removing!? He said there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY marks would have been put under clear coat. This is after me talking to a friend who is also a well respected painter who said the paint may be rubbed down (tacking) and if the paint is still tacky then it may leave marks.. Anyway.. the panel that was aparently resprayed STILL has the same un removeable marks! Interesting. hope i never come across another car thats so difficult to get right. Still gutted i cant get it perfect. Cheers Nathan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites