trying to get into detailing

T

thatcardude

New member
So I`m looking to get into detailing for personal use and I need a little help on what to get because I have never used a polisher, I have only clay bared and waxed my car by hand. I have done a ton of research but just can`t find the right answer. I do not have a ton of time though so I`m hoping to get some help from this community, I am a full time student, play college baseball and have 2 jobs but I have a passion for cars and want to fix mine up. First I have a 1997 white 4runner that has some water spots in it and the paint just looks dead but the paint condition is not faded or any damage to my understanding, i believe this is one stage paint so i saw someone who washed clayed, polish then wax and thats it no compound.. wanna make sure you cant use compounds to correct it. My second car is a 2010 civic si that is black. It has swirls for days, it also has pretty bad rock chipping in the front. So I was looking into some kits on autogeek, I am mainly interested in the porter cable DA polisher or possibly the GG6" but ive read that you want 5.5 inch for detailing so i was gonna buy the porter cable with a 5" backing plate with a couple different pads. So I was hoping someone could give me some guidance on what direction to head as far as what compound, polish/sealants/waxes, polisher and pads i should get..... I don`t have a specific budget but really not trying to go over the 250-300 range for everything.
 
Get the PC or Griots (more power). Both come with a 6" acing plate and will need to be replaced with a 5". For ease of use, I`d suggest megs ultimate compound and ultimate polish. Or if you want maybe even get 3D HD Cut and HD Polish. Keep it simple. For pads I`d recommend buff n shine flat foam pads, a couple orange for cutting and a couple green for polishing. Very durable pads.

All that above should easily fit in your budget.

If you want a little easier, autopia has numerous kits available that have your polisher, compound, polish and pads all included along with a pad clean brush and some microfibers usually. Just check the store
 
I agree 100% with the "keep it simple" statement, don`t follow the rabbit hole and get lost in the numerous brands and grits of compounds/polishes. Meguiars and HD are simple,affordable and can give you professional results.
 
Owning both porter cable and grouts garage i`ld highly recommend the grouts as it is more powerful motor and smother to operate


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thanks for all the advice! I went with one of the kits from this website, the griot 6 inch with 2 5.5 pads, 5inch backing plate and BF SRC and polish... for 169... What a deal imo. then got a 6 pack of buff and shine pads, 3 orange , 3 green. I then got the BF clay kit with clay cleaner and luber along with two towels.. then got there free weavel towel and a sample of sealant from wolfgang for free.. all that stuff for 210 shipped to my door. I`m super excited! Not sure how to clean the pads but thats something ill have to research.
 
For an easy, cheap way to clean pads... Have a bucket of dawn water ready to go while you`re working. As you finish, scrape the pads with the brush likely included with your kit, spray with APC(if you have it), and drop into the dawn water. Allow to soak over night, then wash in your machine with regular detergent. Usually works well enough for most polishes and such. Strong sealants might require a bit more. The best pad cleaner ever is the Wolfgang cleaner. Couple sprays of that, brush it in, let it sit for 15 minutes, then in the dawn water until you`re done working, then in the washer. There will be no remnant of anything left in that pad, event with strong sealant.
 
thatcardude said:
thanks for all the advice! I went with one of the kits from this website, the griot 6 inch with 2 5.5 pads, 5inch backing plate and BF SRC and polish... for 169... What a deal imo. then got a 6 pack of buff and shine pads, 3 orange , 3 green. I then got the BF clay kit with clay cleaner and luber along with two towels.. then got there free weavel towel and a sample of sealant from wolfgang for free.. all that stuff for 210 shipped to my door. I`m super excited! Not sure how to clean the pads but thats something ill have to research.
Click to expand...

For pad cleaning, I have had only positive results from Snappy Clean which is unfortunately, no longer sold at the store here..
It is made by Lake Country, the people who also make very good pads.
Here is a place that has it Lake Country Snappy Clean Boost Pad Cleaner | Free Shipping Available - Detailed Image
- Put on some long rubber gloves, etc., to keep the product off your hands - it will take all the oils right out of your skin..
- Just mix an envelope or half an envelope in a couple-3 gallons of water, put your used pads in there, let them soak, or get them saturated with the product.
- Then, under the water rub them together as you fold them in half to work all the product in them out.
- Squeeze them a few times under the water to further get the soap mixture in and out of them..
- When they look better take them out and rinse them in clear water in the sink or something, or outside, with the hose, squeezing the clean water in and out of them a few times and they will look very nice now..
- Squeeze them a final time or two to get as much water out, you can even carefully wring them like you would do a towel, and then set them somewhere on their edge so they can get good airflow and they will dry - sometimes takes 24 hrs to longer depending on how warm it is and how much airflow there is..
Good Luck !
Dan F
 
Wow! thanks for the response! I will have to check out the cleaner you mentioned. I really appreciate what y`all are telling me. I`ve experienced in many car forums where people simply just say look it up.. hit the search button and very arrogant about it. Y`all are very helpful though and i appreciate it. I`ll have to post some result pictures when I do the detailing on my cars which will probably be sometime this week or next week depending on when everything comes in! might have to go find some off the shelf stuff to clean the pads cause i simply can`t wait that long:)
 
When I started off I used Dawn and it works fine. Don`t use too much or you will be rinsing for days. Once you start doing more a dedicated pad cleaner would be best, but for now use Dawn and rinse well.
 
Good to see you`re getting the help you were looking for! :)

In my experience, white Toyota single stage paint is on the HARD side. So keep that in mind when you`re doing your test spot. The BLACKFIRE Duo should be perfect for that paint. I always recommend having good lighting to see where you`re working.

This pic is from I believe a 2011 Toyota Camry single stage white. You can see the light oxidation on the right hand side.

2Wje55P.jpg


But it came out looking great, even under cloudy skies.

IntiMJI.jpg
 
super stoked with the shipment from autopia! I got everything and more for a great price! Time to get to work^_^
 

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Migue said:
don`t follow the rabbit hole and get lost in the numerous brands and grits of compounds/polishes.
Click to expand...

I hear you talking but this hole i have fallen into is quite deep. Lol

I can`t even see the light, haha

Wait, there it is, casting a shadow on new Poorboy`s products



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512detail said:
I hear you talking but this hole i have fallen into is quite deep. Lol

I can`t even see the light, haha

Wait, there it is, casting a shadow on new Poorboy`s products



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Click to expand...

I tossed a rope down there for you but it wasn`t long enough.
 
Don`t wanna derailment gif.

To the OP, if you`re still following your thread, which I accidentally derailed...and you`re in the states...I got a few blackfire samples I had intended on giving to a friend but he bought them online already.
Gloss enhancing polish
Total polish seal
Midnight sun paste wax (really small 23ml jar)

I don`t think those came in your kit.

If you`d like them, pm me an address. I`d rather ship them to you for your new hobby than have them sitting on my shelf taking up space.

Disclaimer : I might not make it to the post office for a week or more though. 7 day work weeks are no joke.


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