thafool
07-30-2012, 12:03 PM
Howdy all.
I`ve been lurking for a several weeks since I got an almost new car that is actually worth keeping in good shape. It started as a search for info on what wax to use, and turned into OMG my paint is completely screwed - hand me the 105 and a yellow pad. I`ve flirted with detailing in the past, but never really committed to to it. Well, now I`ve got the `itis` bad and I`ve decided to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. A few weeks ago I couldn`t spell Meguiar`s, but now I worry about things like whether to buy a DA polisher or a rotary (or both ;)), or whether my swirls need an white or green pad. But I`m basically still a noob.
Now, before the outcry starts of "don`t use a rotary! you`ll burn your paint you incompetent boob! burn him at the stake!", let me just say that I`m starting with a PC DA, and my wife has foolishly agreed to let me practice on her minivan before I do anything crazy to my own paint. She has a few `corrections` that I have messed with over the last few years, and while they have done well at protecting the paint, they are hideous, and I had planned on taking them to a shop to fix anyway. So the worst that happens is I pay someone to do it anyway, and it`s white so I`ll get a little bit of a break on the learning curve there I hope.
I tend to be pretty cautious, patient, and methodical with this sort of stuff, so I think I can be good at it with some experience. I`ve gotten through the washing and claying on my car, but now I have a real hurdle to get over with chips, scratches, and chips/scratches someone else has poorly repaired. Oh... did I mention my new ride is very dark blue? Guess I`m a glutton for punishment, but I love the color, and I love a good challenge.
So thank you all in advance for this incredible resource, and for answering my dumb questions. In return, I promise to screw up a bunch of stuff and post pics so you can laugh at my noob mistakes. :D
I`ve been lurking for a several weeks since I got an almost new car that is actually worth keeping in good shape. It started as a search for info on what wax to use, and turned into OMG my paint is completely screwed - hand me the 105 and a yellow pad. I`ve flirted with detailing in the past, but never really committed to to it. Well, now I`ve got the `itis` bad and I`ve decided to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. A few weeks ago I couldn`t spell Meguiar`s, but now I worry about things like whether to buy a DA polisher or a rotary (or both ;)), or whether my swirls need an white or green pad. But I`m basically still a noob.
Now, before the outcry starts of "don`t use a rotary! you`ll burn your paint you incompetent boob! burn him at the stake!", let me just say that I`m starting with a PC DA, and my wife has foolishly agreed to let me practice on her minivan before I do anything crazy to my own paint. She has a few `corrections` that I have messed with over the last few years, and while they have done well at protecting the paint, they are hideous, and I had planned on taking them to a shop to fix anyway. So the worst that happens is I pay someone to do it anyway, and it`s white so I`ll get a little bit of a break on the learning curve there I hope.
I tend to be pretty cautious, patient, and methodical with this sort of stuff, so I think I can be good at it with some experience. I`ve gotten through the washing and claying on my car, but now I have a real hurdle to get over with chips, scratches, and chips/scratches someone else has poorly repaired. Oh... did I mention my new ride is very dark blue? Guess I`m a glutton for punishment, but I love the color, and I love a good challenge.
So thank you all in advance for this incredible resource, and for answering my dumb questions. In return, I promise to screw up a bunch of stuff and post pics so you can laugh at my noob mistakes. :D