breakneckvtec
04-08-2005, 08:25 AM
Ok well, I have recently purchased my first white car. I got it toward the end of detailing season last summer and didnt have too much time to play with it.
I did not claybar the car when I bought it, it is a low mileage 02 Jetta 1.8T...with Flik artic rims, GLI suspension, GLI front lip, 20th GTI side skirts and color matched 4 motion dual tip rear valence...and other goodies :cool:
Anyway...long story short I began noticing things...things I have never seen before. In the paint I saw black specks and orangish brown specs in various spots...especially on the lower panels. However, the paint felt pretty smooth...VW paint probably...hard as a rock. I resolved myself to believing it was contamination in the paint...and could now see it because the car is white. I began to think that taking my time prepping this car would make more difference than any sealant I use on it. I was right.
I can normally clay a car in about a half hour. Not this time, I only got about 3/4 of the car done, and went through a half a bar in about 2 hours. On the bottom I had to give some extra attention to the lower panels and concentrate on the areas with specs increasing pressure while lubing the surface to get it out.
Also, I found that a mixture of QEW, GC, and water makes for good lube. I took a chenelle covered sponge and basically pretended like I was wetsanding. I would use the sponge to control a flow of lube over the area I was working making sure not to let it dry out. I used light pressure where areas werent bad using maybe just the weight of my hand and then a little bit more in areas with heavier contamination.
I will be spending more time claying next time out as well. I will finish the missed panels then give another go around spot claying areas I may have missed. I was dissappointed that I didnt have time to polish, however the difference the clay was making was so noticeable on white I decided to really take my time with this step before polishing and sealing.
Sorry for being long winded, thanks for reading and if you have a white or light car and have some claying tips that may help me feel free to pass them along. :xyxthumbs
I did not claybar the car when I bought it, it is a low mileage 02 Jetta 1.8T...with Flik artic rims, GLI suspension, GLI front lip, 20th GTI side skirts and color matched 4 motion dual tip rear valence...and other goodies :cool:
Anyway...long story short I began noticing things...things I have never seen before. In the paint I saw black specks and orangish brown specs in various spots...especially on the lower panels. However, the paint felt pretty smooth...VW paint probably...hard as a rock. I resolved myself to believing it was contamination in the paint...and could now see it because the car is white. I began to think that taking my time prepping this car would make more difference than any sealant I use on it. I was right.
I can normally clay a car in about a half hour. Not this time, I only got about 3/4 of the car done, and went through a half a bar in about 2 hours. On the bottom I had to give some extra attention to the lower panels and concentrate on the areas with specs increasing pressure while lubing the surface to get it out.
Also, I found that a mixture of QEW, GC, and water makes for good lube. I took a chenelle covered sponge and basically pretended like I was wetsanding. I would use the sponge to control a flow of lube over the area I was working making sure not to let it dry out. I used light pressure where areas werent bad using maybe just the weight of my hand and then a little bit more in areas with heavier contamination.
I will be spending more time claying next time out as well. I will finish the missed panels then give another go around spot claying areas I may have missed. I was dissappointed that I didnt have time to polish, however the difference the clay was making was so noticeable on white I decided to really take my time with this step before polishing and sealing.
Sorry for being long winded, thanks for reading and if you have a white or light car and have some claying tips that may help me feel free to pass them along. :xyxthumbs