Ever Detailed a car in stages over days?

GFarra · 04-28-03, 03:46

My ride is in need of a serious detail after this past winter. I can't seem to find enough time in one sitting to do all the prep....wash, clay, polish, seal, wax

Can this be done over the course of a couple days? I don;t have a garage, but I do have a 4 layer car cover.

I was thinking.....come home from work.....wash, clay, and cover

Next day...come home from work.....wash, polish, seal and cover

Next day....come home from work.....wash, wax and be done!

Is this not reasonable? Is washing every evening before proceeding with the next step retarded since the car will be covered?

Thanks,

George

Greg · 04-28-03, 04:25

If you are covering it, I think a non-wax QD would be just fine instead of washing it again.
1. Wash, clay, cover
2. QD, Polish, Seal
3. QD, wax

I use EO wet wipe n shine for my non-wax qd, it's cheap and avail locally.

blkZ28Conv · 04-28-03, 04:26

I normally detail over several days ( garaged and not driven during process). I see nothing wrong with doing the same for an outside covered parked car if you make sure that you prep ( wash or QD) the finish prior to each step. An excellent product for a daily surface prep would be Poorboy's Spray and Wipe. Of course any QD without silicones and waxes (i.e. Clearkote's Quick Shine) would do also.

Now get to work.

blkZ28Conv · 04-28-03, 04:29

I also agree with Greg. EO wet wipe n shine is perfect for this task as a locally and inexpensive alternative. But if in doubt WASH.

jmsc · 04-28-03, 05:24

I was brought a car to detail for my niece that was in brutal shape. Car was kept inside overnite but I washed car both days.

Day 1.

P21S the rims, dawn wash, clay, Sonax wash, dry, IHG and GEPC Polish, Soveran Wax the hood, roof and trunk.

Day 2.

Sonax wash, dry, IHG and GEPC Polish, Soveran Wax the rest of the car.

Day 3.

Vacuum, clean inside windows, Zaino the tires, Soveran Wax door jams.

Doing it in 1 day would have been too much.

Intel486 · 04-28-03, 05:28

I agree that you don't have to wash each day. Just quick detail it and it'll be fine. You'd only have to wash it if you stored it outside uncovered or if you took it for a drive.

I often do my truck a panel at a time. Come home and wash a door and detail it. Next day do the fender. I do this so I don't have to sit there for hours on end and work on my truck.

It works... when I even get around to doing a detail like that

Si00 · 04-28-03, 06:38

Would the Megs Quick detailer (purple bottle) work for this task...? I don't know if it has wax or not?

GFarra · 04-28-03, 07:19

Ugh.....I wish I logged on before going to Autozone! I just picked up 4 bottles of Megs Quick Detail......I saw the Eagle Spray n Wipe & decided to stick with the products I know!

Does the Megs QD contain silicone or wax?

Thanks for all your help

George

4DSC · 04-28-03, 07:30

Well, I think all QDs contain "silicone" but don't worry about it since that word doesn't mean much by itself. Neither QD contains wax either. As far as I'm concerned they're functionally equivalent to each other - you could use either just fine. If you decide to keep the Megs QD don't throw those spray bottles out!!

BTW, I did my car over several days last year. Claying alone took the better part of a whole day.

Lynn · 04-29-03, 08:36

Sounds like Intel486 and I use the same approach. I too lack a garage, so I often wash the whole car, then work on separate sections/panels -- first I'll wipe lightly (more like dusting actually), then start with QD and clay each one, then Zaino that section/panel.

blackcaraddict · 04-29-03, 08:36

If I'm doing a major detail job to my car, then absolutely over a couple of days. By the 3rd or 4th hour I'm getting a bit tired and unmotivated, so I'll find a good stopping point, and it gives me something to look forward to for the next day.

I also won't rush the first day if I know it's going to take a few days (typically two).