newbie.......anxious to get started

[Falcon12]

Hello everyone, Oh! Man! this is just the place I have been looking for! Some guy at the corvette forum told me about this site. I have always loved detailing and keeping my cars clean, I use the term detailing very loosley, because before I was turned onto this forum I thought I knew a thing or to......I was wrong!

I have 3 cars to keep up with, all dark in color, a black corvette Z06, a dark blue VW Jetta, and a dark green Jeep Cherokee. The vette only has 3k on it, but is starting show some marring and very light scrathes, from my lack knowledge and experience of proper car car I'm sure. The other two are older and showing alot more ware. I have used some zaino products on the vette, but I think I used should have used some of those micro fiber towels to take the polish off instead of cotton ones.

I thought I would say hi, and start asking a few Q's......lol. I guess I really need to know what to start with, such as a good polisher/buffer, rotary or orbital, what type of pads and products.....oh boy I'm starting to get dizzy here....lol. Really any help, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I know it's kind of a broad spectrum, with the older cars with more ware, and the newer one with less, but after reading the contents on the forum a newbie could get pretty confused.

Thanks all

[Nick T.]

Falcon12 - - Welcome to Autopia!

Don’t be too anxious to jump into the deep end! Do some reading and then some experimenting first. I highly recommend the eBook from Autopia for starters. Then do searches on Autopia for washing, claying, and polishing. Then give different products, methods, and techniques at try on inconspicuous areas of your either your VW or your Jeep. As you’re finding out, black is a PITA to keep mar free!

In the mean time order a random orbital buffer, not a rotary! With your black vette a RO buffer will be a necessity. A rotary is best left to the professionals - you can easily do enough damage in just a few minutes to require repainting! Coastal Tool has a good explanation of the Porter Cable model differences and they also have great prices and service. CMA is the best source for pads for the RO buffer. at the minimum get one each of the yellow, white, and gray pads. I’d also buy their 3.5” backing plate and an orange 4” pad for it - great for those hard to get to areas where the 6” pad is just too big!

Here is an excellent post about Porter Cable accessories by 4DSC, and one about Porter Cable for Beginners by GeekySteve. Both should be on the read and initial list!

Also order some microfiber towels. I recommend getting twenty 16”x16” ultra - micro fiber towels from PakShak. Ranney Pak will give you a fantastic discount if you send him an Autopia PM. You will need at least one waffle weave microfiber drying towel. The best that I’ve tried are the Biog Blue and the Little Blue from CMA. I haven’t tried PakShak’s nor Autopia’s drying towel, they may be as good or better. For finishing towels I don’t think that the Concours Buffing Towel from Autopia can be beaten for softness. Get the three pack.

For claying I recommend either blue Clay Magic or Zaino’s Z-18. For polishes/cleaners I don’t think that you can beat the 3M line available in most large paint stores. For protectants there is a wide range of choices and you’ll have to experiment to find what works best for you.

Autopia will go a long way in helping you to climb the steep learning curve. Good luck and enjoy!

[4DSC]

Welcome to Autopia Falcon12!

Also don't forget to check out the Learn! link at the top right of the screen. As Nick said, be careful about just plunging into the deep end - it's good to know what you're getting into first. My advice to you is to pay close attention to paint preparation (ie, swirl removal) first and searching for that uber-product second. Also don't neglect the process of proper washing, which is the most common time when damage can occur. Preparation and proper technique/methods are key. Good luck and have fun.

[Falcon12]

Thanks guys for the warm welcome and great advice, it sure is easy to get too carried away too soon. I'm going to take it slow and easy, and work my way up. Thanks again!

[Taxlady]

Hi Falcon and welcome. I know the feeling of wanting to get going. I was that way too, when I discovered Autopia a year ago.

Read, read, read, and if something doesn't sound logical, see who posted it and ask more questions.