From Riches to rags

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Started yesterday off with a detail on a 03 330i Black, with lots of scratches and swirls, not to many before shots, sorry



Engine/wheels-degreaser/DetailPlus non acid wheel cleaner

Wash/Clay Sponge/Dry

megs-diamondcut-rotary med foam

ProKem Cryatal 2000-PC with yellow meg pad

ProKem Carnauba Sealer by hand



Befores-Hood is horrible

Afters

And then I went to pick up a 2003 SL55, part of the reason I love this dealer account, but every once in a while they throw me a curve ball...you will see.



It was in pretty good shape a few scratches, and the interior needed some work



Engine/wheels- Shampoo and APC, some Detailplus wheel cleaner

hand wash with a big megs yellow MF towel

clay sponge during wash

Wiped down and dried

masked

scratches removed with PC with megs red pad and crystal 1000

polished with crystal 2000 with PC and meg yellow

Detailplus polymer sealent by hand



Befores

Afters in next post

 

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Interior Afters

Exterior Afters

Forgot to take pix with the top down, plus I did not drop the suspension back down, here are 2 from the lot

So then I take it back and I get this....

So days you get the bear, and somedays the bear gets you

 

[mr.ikon]

all cars looks excellent. what do you think about the clay sponge? i've had my eye on that for a while.

 

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all cars looks excellent. what do you think about the clay sponge? i've had my eye on that for a while.

I love them, I hardly use traditional clay anymore

 

[BRODEY1]

I'm lovin' those vacuum lines in the carpet !!

 

[audicoupej]

All look good, even the Cavy.

 

[Bert]

I love them, I hardly use traditional clay anymore

How many uses do you get out of one sponge? I looked at the website you told me about. Once I use up most of my clay, I may have to buy one or more, just wish shipping wasn't so high. I have a feeling they are designed around large volume users like you not hobbyists like me. Do they mar the paint to the point where you have to polish afterwards?

 

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How many uses do you get out of one sponge? I looked at the website you told me about. Once I use up most of my clay, I may have to buy one or more, just wish shipping wasn't so high. I have a feeling they are designed around large volume users like you not hobbyists like me. Do they mar the paint to the point where you have to polish afterwards?

I keep two sponges going, 1 I use when I am doing a whole car, and 1 for just partial stuff. I just did 10 or 11 full clay with the spong about 2 hours ago and it is not seperating yet, when it starts to seperate you only have about 2 uses left before it will start to mar here and there, corractable but a pain when it happens, I got about 12-15 out of the last one

 

[P1et]

Really nice details, love the Mercedes! It's hard to make a color like that look good, but you did!

 

[Bert]

I keep to sponges going, 1 I use when I am doing a whole car, and 1 for just partial stuff.

What is your reasoning behind doing this?

I just did 10 or 11 full clay with the spong about 2 hours ago and it is not seperating yet,

Impressive

when it starts to seperate you only have about 2 uses left before it will start to mar here and there, corractable but a pain when it happens, I got about 12-15 out of the last one

So during the first 10 or so uses you saw NO marring? Very impressive. Since a sponge cannot absorb the contaminents inside itself, it seems like dragging those contaminents on the paint would cause marring. What are you using for lube? How often are you rinsing the sponge off to get the contaminents off?

 

[imageautodetail]

What is your reasoning behind doing this?







Impressive







So during the first 10 or so uses you saw NO marring? Very impressive. Since a sponge cannot absorb the contaminents inside itself, it seems like dragging those contaminents on the paint would cause marring. What are you using for lube? How often are you rinsing the sponge off to get the contaminents off?

I do not know if you have seen the sponge close up, and I do not have one here to photo so I will try to explain it the best I can, the sponge is approx 1 1/2 inches thick, 3 inches wide and 5 inches long, now say that is the sponge part, there is a layer of clay about an 1/8 of inch or so on one side of the sponge, the sponge is used more for easier handling.

found a good picture



My method is to use while washing the car

bucket O' Soap and rinse bucket

mitt on right hand sponge in left



I wash 2x2 section or so and then use the sponge in the same section, and hit again with the mitt, I then hit the clay surface with the mitt as I dip them both in the rinse water, back to the soap and repeat, after several uses you will start to see the clay seperating from the sponge, this is the only time i have had any marring. I like the fact that when you slip and it hits the ground you can clean it off and still use, instead of pitching it, I will never forget when my wife dropped some clay and rinsed it of and put it back into the container, It turn an easy clay and 1-step on a 7 series into a nightmare buffing a big black car kind of day

 

[Scottwax]

Chevy Cadavers need love too.



Nice work on all three.

 

[Bert]

I will never forget when my wife dropped some clay and rinsed it of and put it back into the container, It turn an easy clay and 1-step on a 7 series into a nightmare buffing a big black car kind of day

:doh Let me guess, you bring this up atleast once a month?



Once I finish off more of my clay, I may have to order some. Just wish it could be purchased locally to save on shipping.