Just a Jeep

[imported_Jon P. Nusbaum]

As a little side job I detail my friends and family friends` cars. I obviously don`t do an all out job like my own vehicle, but I do make them look very nice. I have a new idea for the exterior. Probably for a car with minor swirls. Here it goes:



Wash (clean the wheels, clay if needed, etc)

3m IHG - applied with foam, removed with Viper MF Bonnet on PC

OG Blitx - applied with foam, removed with Viper MF Bonnet on PC

(maybe a once over with OGSO if needed)



I would use 3M FI2 if needed for heavier swirls. I also know that the shine won`t last long (3-4 weeks ?). I`m just looking for overall opinions, comments, improvements.



Thanx, Bob

[dengelson]

Hi Bob and welcome! That sounds like a pretty good plan but if the car has slight swirl marks you would be better off imo using 3M SMR (`http://multimedia.mmm.com/mws/mediawebserver.dyn?AAAAAAjhtMPAVdBAOdBAAAJ4rMD0000&-`) instead of the IHG. Then if the SMR doesn`t provide enough abrasive then try the Finnesse It II (`http://www21.3m.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry10?xid=28181&SP=10023&PN=1&V1=267722&DSP=&CUR=840&PGRP=0&CACHE_ID=0`).

[TheKingOfDETAIL]

3M IHG sometimes won`t cut it when removing swirls. It`s mostly a cosmetic product that simply hides swirls and the durability is quite limited. 3M SMR or Finesse It II will do a better job removing swirls as they each have abrasives in them, SMR being the mildest of the two.

[Don2000g]

Bob S. Your plan is identical to some of ours from a while back. If you`re really not looking for durability, then your plan sounds fine for the exception of the 3M IHG. As others have noted, its just not sufficient for us as it will only last two washings or so and doesn`t do the job of removing swirls. 3M SMR or Finesse It 2 should be given some consideration. Nevertheless, if you just want a shine that will last a few weeks and then have the swirls reappear then your plan is fine. Laters.

[Brad B]

I agree with what everybody is telling you is: <strong class=`bbc`>Remove[/b] as many swirls as possible first. It`s a lot of work but worth it in the long run. I use 3M FI for 99% of my swirl removal work.

IHG is great stuff, I use it on show cars, but it needs frequent reapplication for maximum effect.

Your plan sounds fine. Good luck.

[GreyGoose]

Feel kinda funny posting here because I`m just a rookie amateur, don`t have an exotic, don`t have the right equipment, but I just used my BF kit for the first time (thanks Angelo!) and had to tell someone!

Jeep is 09, lots of scratches on the sides from bushes etc. You gotta forgive the photography as I don`t know how to take pix to show the silver very well.

2 buckets
BF gloss wash
BF Clay
BF Polish
BFWD

Some of you will cringe I`m sure, but I used a (gasp) cheapie-delight random orbital with MF bonnets for the polish and BFWD. Is it better to just do it by hand? I think it came out ok. After i get a job I will be getting the new Meg`s polisher.

Here`s the `after` shots. The photos don`t do it justice. I am so pleased and impressed with the Blackfire products.

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC04115.jpg

Hood

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC04116.jpg

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC04118.jpg

Peace!

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC04119.jpg

Wife`s car is in the background, my next target!! It`s got some issues...

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC04120.jpg

Thanks for looking. Suggestions welcomed!

[BIOLINK]

I started with a bottle of FPII and a bottle of FMJ. Good work can be done with a minimum amount of equipment. When I sold my silver Golf my neighbor thought I was crazy for selling my new car. It was six years old.

Keep up the good work, the Jeep looks great. The folks here at TID are receptive of all posts. Don`t worry about being a pro.

If you have success with those fender wells, please share your secrets. That is a lot of black to keep clean.

Good Times!

[GreyGoose]

Thanks Biolink. This Jeep is NOT a mall-crawler, I take it offroad often and it gets plenty dirty with sand, silt, mud, dirty water etc. and the fenders and bumpers get trashed. I am really liking the Aerospace 303 protectant right now for the fenders and the soft top (Jeep is topless right now!). Wheel wells I started using AA foam (the cheapest can) and I like the result. I posted some pix in the Tires and Wheel care section of TID showing them.

[Old Pirate]

Wow, it really looks great Goose!, are you sure your been not detailing for many years? The jeep looks great and your work on it shows it! Thank you very much for sharing it here with us!:thumbup:

[imported_gewb]

Feel kinda funny posting here because I`m just a rookie amateur, don`t have an exotic, don`t have the right equipment, but I just used my BF kit for the first time (thanks Angelo!) and had to tell someone!

Jeep is 09, lots of scratches on the sides from bushes etc. You gotta forgive the photography as I don`t know how to take pix to show the silver very well.

2 buckets
BF gloss wash
BF Clay
BF Polish
BFWD

Some of you will cringe I`m sure, but I used a (gasp) cheapie-delight random orbital with MF bonnets for the polish and BFWD. Is it better to just do it by hand? I think it came out ok. After i get a job I will be getting the new Meg`s polisher.

Here`s the `after` shots. The photos don`t do it justice. I am so pleased and impressed with the Blackfire products.



Looks great! A well used Jeep MUST show some battle scars but it also must be kept clean and shiny. From the looks of your post you have the process (two bucket, clay, polish, sealant) you have accomplished that goal well.

What did you use to do the fenders / black trim?

You asked about machine vs. hand for applying the BFWD. I have tried both and found by hand works very well, is almost as fast as by machine, gets into the tight areas better, uses MUCH less product and is very satisfying .:biggrin: :biggrin:

I apply the BFWD using the Gold Finger Pockets - works a lot better than a round applicator.

http://classic-motoring.stores.yahoo.net/gofipo.html

Regards,
GEWB

[Todd@RUPES]

I honestly would rather see posts like this more often! :Dancing Dot:

I think the Jeep looks great, perfect color for it. I would stick to applying it by hand as opposed to the el-cheepo orbital approach because I don`t know if I would trust the quality of the microfiber in the bonnet. I would suspect it is a lower quality fiber and could swirl the paint.

Thanks for sharing!

[Husker Z]

Awesome job, the Jeep looks great!! I`ve seen a few of those around, they are very cool looking.

[GreyGoose]

Thanks guys! My wife was like "yep,it`s shiny." Oh come on! Can`t you see the depth and... oh never mind. I`ll try by hand next time on my wife`s 05 Explorer. It`s got swirls, holograms, everything. I don`t expect miracles by hand, but I`m sure it will improve a lot.

The black stuff on the Jeep was tough, my first post ever on TID was what to do with it. But then I found 303 and have been liking it a lot. Angelo suggested Black Wow, I`ll probably give it a shot when my 303 runs out.

Proof that my rig does what it`s built to do!

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC03755.jpg

Black stuff getting fixed, truly night and day!

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/af341/caginns/Dirt%20and%20shelf/DSC03778.jpg

[BIOLINK]

Now that`s a before and after. Usually people post from dirty to clean shots. You go from clean to dirty. Love it.

[yalerd]

Those are very nice results! And I enjoy seeing that you really "use" your Jeep well. Know how to use it and know how to take care of it :D