New to forum... In UK, help with application of specific products!

[stargazerplus]

Hi, I’m new to Autopia, but have been lurking around various detailing forums for quite a while! :hide:



I’ve been detailing cars amateurishly since I was about ten, sometimes very badly! At the moment I live in London and have three cars in our family household… two twelve year old Mercedes 190s, one in pure black, one in diamond blue (light) metallic. The third car is a six year old SLK 230K in brilliant silver.



All of them have spider swirls and after using a two handled pro user machine to “polish� them, I realised the error of my ways and took the plunge and imported the PC from Autopia with no duty along with the Sonus SFX pad kit.



I have used many different waxes and polishes by hand before, including Autoglym SRP and EGP, which I didn’t really like as the SRP was dusty, and the EGP caused streaks (I now know that was because I was applying it too thickly!). My recent favourite is Meguiars Gold Class, but I have tried the new NXT wax (don’t really like it)….. I have also used Meguiars Clay but find it sticks if your not very careful with the lube!



I plan to use the blue 190 as the test bed, as it is the least likely to show any errors!!!!! I have the following at my disposal….



Fairy Liquid (Dawn) (initial wash???)

Meguiars NXT shampoo (do I need to wash after clay or after AIO?)

Bilt-Hamber Autoclay www.bilthamber.com (uses water as lubricant, haven’t tried it yet, if I don’t like it I will use Meguiar’s or 3M)

Autoglym Paint Renovator (I can get my hands on some Poorboys SSR polishes if nec)

Carlack 68 Paint cleaner/acryl protect (Klasse AIO)

Carlack Acryl Wax (Klasse SG)

P21S



PS I CAN GET OTHER PRODUCTS HERE: http://www.seriousperformance.co.uk/sp/products/polish_wax.php



Orange SFX1 pad

White SFX2 pad

Blue SFX3 pad

Sonus DAS buffing bonnet

Autopia Concours Finishing Bonnet



I was going to use the following pads to apply



Autoglym Renovator Orange

Klasse AIO White (or should I use blue)

Klasse SG DAS bonnet over white (or orange?)

P21S Blue



Should I remove these by hand with microfibre or by machine? I don’t have any quick detail, but can get Meguiars or Poorboys fairly easily. I plan to cure and layer the acryl wax. Bilt hamber is a small company that makes stuff for classic car users, such as autobalm wax, which will even stop bare mild steel from rusting once applied.



Oh and has anyone tried farecla pads as they are easier to get over here?



Your advice would be much appreciated. I’m going to take some before and after pictures.. so watch this spot. :brit



Thanks Doug

 

[D3mon]

I'd advise:



*Wash with strong NXT mix

*Rinse

*Dry

*Carefully clean with something like AG Intensive Tar Remover

*Clay

*Wash with weak NXT mix

*Rinse

*Dry

*Paint renovator with Orange Pad (might need a 2 or 3 of passes for serious swirls, as renovator is quite mild) - buffed by hand with microfibre

*AIO with blue pad - buffed by hand with microfibre

*2 coats of SG (24 hours apart) - with sponge applicator - buffed by hand with microfibre

*P21S - with stock P21S sponge applicator - buffed by hand with microfibre



Turn the microfibre cloth regularly - I've found the buffing bonnet for the PC seems to flatten to easily before its had a chance to do a few panels.



I just did the mother-in-laws dark blue 'never properly washed and swirled to buggery' Ford Fiesta last weekend using this method with stunning results.



(note that I used AG SRP and EGP instead of the carlack stuff)

 

[imported_mirrorfinishman]

Should I remove these by hand with microfibre or by machine?

Hey Doug,



Thanks for that good post. For what it's worth, I like to use 100% cotton terry towels for removal of all polishes and waxes.