View Full Version : The Big Wax Test - The Story of the Preparation!
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:13 PM
A test of different waxes is taking place in Slough, nr. London tomorrow - can a wax costing £Â£Ã‚£Ã‚£ outshine a tin of Collinite? Tomorrow will tell when folk come to look at the cars. But for now, I thought I`d create this thread outlining in pictures to work and effort put into preparing the 7 Corsas over the past three days to make this test happen - huge thanks must go to the guys who helped me here, Neil, Gareth, Brian and Bryan as without their help, I`d still be machining the fourth car!! LOL
On with the story:
Day 1
Pictures from day 1 of the preparation, and these are the seven lucky Corsas parked up and waiting...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10001.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10002.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10003.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10004.jpg
Not the cleanest, these are just out of storage so we do have our work cut out!!
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10005.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10006.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10007.jpg
So, we picked the dirtiest of the lot to get started with:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10008.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10009.jpg
Bird bomb anyone?
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10010.jpg
Dust?
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10011.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10012.jpg
Nothing a good wash wont sort out...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10013.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10014.jpg
Or will it - some serious etching here:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10016.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10017.jpg
Well - it`ll polish out :)
The car cleaned and clayed, ready for machining:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10018.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10019.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10020.jpg
Doesn`t look too bad, maybe a little dull... under the lights, you can see a dullness to the reflections:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10023.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10025.jpg
And the etching:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10024.jpg
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:14 PM
While Harry cracked on with washing Corsa No. 2, I decided to see what we were going to need - and this is where the shock came: to get that finish back to sharp needed 3M Fast Cut Plus (two hits to get rid of the bird etching!! :doublesho)!! Got a sharpness back, left some light hologramming:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10027.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10028.jpg
Cleaned up very nicely with 85RD Final Finish though, ready for wax - panel after IPA wipe:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10043.jpg
Out in the sunlight you can see the difference the polishing has made... this car is the one Harely has just washed, no machining:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10031.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10033.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10035.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10038.jpg
And this is the one that has been machined - you can see a sharpness returned to the paint, and a lovely gloss restored:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10030.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10032.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10034.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10037.jpg
Indoors, we can see the difference too:
Unpolished:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10042.jpg
Polished:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10041.jpg
And now, the two cars sitting ready for tomorrow:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10045.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10039.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10040.jpg
But still 5 left...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10046.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%201/2008_0723WaxTestDay10047.jpg
It`ll be all hands on deck tomorrow!! :thumb:
Day 2
After testing the water yesterday with the polishing and realising that we were going to need Fast Cut Plus to get rid of a peely haze on the paint, we knew we had out work cut out today!! The target was three cars machined to a finish...
So best crack on - some work in progress shots:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1305.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1306.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1307.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1308.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1317.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1318.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/2008_0724WaxTest20001.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/2008_0724WaxTest20002.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/2008_0724WaxTest20003.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/2008_0724WaxTest20004.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1297.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1301.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1296.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1330.jpg
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:15 PM
Some befores from around the cars...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1289.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1290.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1291.jpg
And some after compounding...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1293.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1292.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1327.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1328.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1329.jpg
After finishing:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1321.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1300.jpg
And we did make out target... 3 cars complete:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1313.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1314.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1315.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1332.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1333.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1335.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1337.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1342.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1340.jpg
Tucked away... :)
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%202/DSCF1319.jpg
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:16 PM
Day 3
This will be the final thread of pics until after the event :)
Day 3 of the prep, and it started painfully for me... the gearbox on the Makita I was using yesterday got rather hot, and slowly burned my hand without realising it!...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30009.jpg
So while I did a little first aid...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30001.jpg
Neil sorted the Makita with a little modification:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30010.jpg
Meanwhile, Gaz was killing his backing plate:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30011.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30012.jpg
And ensuring I didn`t steal his Last Touch :lol::
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30020.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30021.jpg
Work in progress pics:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30002.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30004.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30006.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30007.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30008.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30013.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30015.jpg
Bryan from Drive & Shine came along to help today too, and did some Fast Cutting for us: many thanks!! :thumb::thumb:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30034.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30042.jpg
They are armed and dangerous - rotaries, cutting pads, and Fast Cut!
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30031.jpg
Neil did some wet sanding on etching...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30037.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30038.jpg
Polish out...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30040.jpg
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:18 PM
Bryan kept on washing...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30024.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30025.jpg
Despite Gaz attacking him... :lol::lol:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30026.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30027.jpg
A before and after shot by Gaz :thumb:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30029.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30030.jpg
I ran away for a little while... to a bodyshop...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30053.jpg
to play with a Sealey...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30054.jpg
The back to work...
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30046.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30047.jpg
Oh heck, we killed Neil :doublesho
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30045.jpg
Blood, sweat and tears... but we`re there!!
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30048.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30049.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30050.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30051.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%203/2008_0725WaxTest30028.jpg
:thumb:
Shuskan3
07-26-2008, 02:19 PM
Subscribed! I have been waiting for this test...
imported_Dave KG
07-26-2008, 02:19 PM
Day 4
Well, we made it!! :thumb::D:D
7 Corsas, machined with Fast Cut Plus and then finished to perfection with Menz 85RD. Then on with a set of LSPs, each one getting three layers, they will of course be revealed tomorrow... but for the time being, some teaser pics of the cars all complete and waiting for tomorrow`s entertainment :D
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40001.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40002.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40003.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40004.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40006.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40007.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40010.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40011.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40012.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40013.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40014.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40015.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40016.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40023.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40024.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40025.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40029.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40032.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40037.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40038.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40041.jpg
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/DaveKG/WaxTest/Day%204/2008_0726WaxTest40042.jpg
thesacrifice
07-26-2008, 03:28 PM
amazing thread!
imported_Sludge
07-26-2008, 03:43 PM
Subscribed to this one. Beautiful job of polishing all those cars.
Macko
07-26-2008, 03:52 PM
Fantastic stuff as ever, Dave. If anyone doubts that the key to a great finish is the prep, those last few shots prove it.
imported_shine
07-26-2008, 04:49 PM
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
imported_sal329
07-26-2008, 04:59 PM
Tose cars look amazing as is
Cleaning Fool
07-26-2008, 05:24 PM
You got my vote
distrbd
07-26-2008, 05:45 PM
Those cars look great ,as usual .
BTW,How`s your back?
citizen arcane
07-26-2008, 05:54 PM
If only all new cars were delivered as you guys presented them here!
....subscribed as well.