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I guess this question is best answered by Heather or Octane Guy --
I am going to be working by hand, what applicator is best used for the following products, and what should then be used to buff off the product after application: Swirl, Epic, Nero, Wheel Armour and Amigo.
__________________ MSMingel - 2008 Nightfire Red Cabrio w/ Black Bonnet Stripes named "Randolph Wadsworth Cooper", Sport and Cold Weather packages, HK Radio, Multi-function steering wheel - ordered January 31, 2008, delivered March 1, 2008
Just adding to this post....I too will be doing a PRIMA detail by HAND for the 1st time on a 6 month old Mini. I am too afraid to do the PC stuff yet. I am planning on claying and Epic waxing, but may want to reduce any minor factory swirl. Which one, Swirl, Finish or Amigo should be used to minimize those and can that be done by hand? I DON'T want to use all 3...just one, then EPIC. BTW, Dark Silver with Black top.
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2007 MCS, DS/B, Redwood Leather, Metal, Plastic and Glass...mods to follow sometime....
2006 Range Rover HSE Light Silver...wife's ride
I guess this question is best answered by Heather or Octane Guy --
I am going to be working by hand, what applicator is best used for the following products, and what should then be used to buff off the product after application: Swirl, Epic, Nero, Wheel Armour and Amigo.
And, personally, I would not suggest anyone get their hopes up regarding swirl removal by hand... it CAN be done (and HAS been done), but it takes SOOOOOO much work, I don't know that it's practical or worthwhile. Personally, if I didn't have a PC, I'd clay, then do Amigo, then Epic, then Hydro on top after the Epic cures. That would give good swirl hiding, without a lot of effort. Polishing out my car by hand with something as gentle as Swirl or Finish would kill me...
And the PC shouldn't scare anybody - you're more likely to damage your paint washing it the wrong way, than damaging it with the PC, as long as you get it clean before you begin and use good hygiene (don't use dirty pads, don't lay them on the ground, etc.)
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I'm Paul, The car is Blimey--- BlimeyCabrio's Blog--- 2006 MCSCa w/lotsa mods and Union Jacks
Ten-time Dragon Veteran - Occasional Trackrat - Extreme Twisty Addict - Rhymers Ferry Road Fanatic
... what he said. (not what Ken said but what Blimey said).
I lost both arms after doing our Expedition by hand.
I got better.
That one challenge justified purchase of a PC. Plus Detailers Warehouse is running a special right now for only $100. Buy two - one for each hand!
And the PC shouldn't scare anybody - you're more likely to damage your paint washing it the wrong way, than damaging it with the PC, as long as you get it clean before you begin and use good hygiene (don't use dirty pads, don't lay them on the ground, etc.)
Thanks for your help. My eyes feel like I slept in a sand box...been reading ALL the detailing pages for a few days now to get up on this stuff.
...I was trying not to get OC on this...and a PC looks like it may be the onset of OCDetailing. Maybe I should buy a PC and practice on the wife's 06 Rover...it's bright silver and has been a scratch magnet for the previous owner. For now, I guess I will stick with the mini hand job (alway's has been good to me ) and do the Dawn, Clay, Amigo, Epic and Hydro special. Next 6 months I may do a PC job on it.
Thanks again!
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2007 MCS, DS/B, Redwood Leather, Metal, Plastic and Glass...mods to follow sometime....
2006 Range Rover HSE Light Silver...wife's ride
Maybe I should buy a PC and practice on the wife's 06 Rover...it's bright silver and has been a scratch magnet for the previous owner.
That's an EXCELLENT low stress way to learn - I learned on our minivan - though, really, once you start doing it, you realize you can't really hurt anything. Only real thing you learn is to go slow for maximum results.
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I'm Paul, The car is Blimey--- BlimeyCabrio's Blog--- 2006 MCSCa w/lotsa mods and Union Jacks
Ten-time Dragon Veteran - Occasional Trackrat - Extreme Twisty Addict - Rhymers Ferry Road Fanatic
I wonder if DW's sale includes the Velcro backing plate? It wasn't clear when I saw their ad if that included the backing plate and pad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MiniMaybee
That one challenge justified purchase of a PC. Plus Detailers Warehouse is running a special right now for only $100. Buy two - one for each hand!
If I had to work by hand I would use a Foam applicator for Swirl, microfiber applicator like the Skinny for Nero, Wheel Armour, and Amigo. Like others have said, your best results will come via PC. But you won't know until you try it. =)
I guess this question is best answered by Heather or Octane Guy --
I am going to be working by hand, what applicator is best used for the following products, and what should then be used to buff off the product after application: Swirl, Epic, Nero, Wheel Armour and Amigo.
__________________ 5548 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807 866 707 9292
Looking for Prima?? Buy Prima at ShowCarSupplies.com
11% off everyday discount code: MINI11NAM 2010 Midnight Black MCCSa
They will say..."Wonderful!! Can you now polish out the kitchen, and the bathroom, and while you're at it, the floors, and...."
Quote:
Originally Posted by kenchan
now we're all going to look like robots.... wonder wat the wives
would say...
__________________ 5548 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807 866 707 9292
Looking for Prima?? Buy Prima at ShowCarSupplies.com
11% off everyday discount code: MINI11NAM 2010 Midnight Black MCCSa
So yesterday I took my all my detailing gear and the Mini and the GF down to a buddies house as he has a nice big drive, and double garage that we could work in.
The Mini, once washed, really didn't need claying yet, so it got Epic, Banana Gloss and Hydro'd. the GF then did the windows with Clarity and the interior with Nero, vaccumed the whole car, jet washed the floor mats and conditioned the leather seats.
Meanwhile, my buddy and I set about his jet black Jetta. He doesn't have much love for this car after it was in an accident and the bodyshop did some shoddy paint work. Still we set about it anyway. Wash and clay. I don't have a PC, so Amigo by hand was the best I could offer. So we did a test spot and his eyes lit up when he saw the difference. Amigo, Epic, BG, Hydro. Black wow where needed and then all the interior and glass.
The cars looked great afterwards, but my word were my arms killing me. We went to grab some food and both my inner forearms started to cramp up every time I picked up my burger!
I guess seven lots of buffing by hand in an afternoon is a little
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Dnc - A British Expat living in the Netherlands after 2.5 years in Southern California.
'06 MCS - Astro Black on Astro Black: "Black Sunshine"
'02 A6 2.5 TDi Quattro Sport Avant Arctic Silver.
Haha nice job!! It's amazing what a little love, even by hand can do! A PC can let you do so much more because it lets you do more work easier with less fatigue. So applying wax is a no brainer, 10 minute operation or you can polish for as long as you want making the paint look better each minute that you spend!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doesnotcompute
So yesterday I took my all my detailing gear and the Mini and the GF down to a buddies house as he has a nice big drive, and double garage that we could work in....
The cars looked great afterwards, but my word were my arms killing me. We went to grab some food and both my inner forearms started to cramp up every time I picked up my burger!
I guess seven lots of buffing by hand in an afternoon is a little
__________________ 5548 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA 92807 866 707 9292
Looking for Prima?? Buy Prima at ShowCarSupplies.com
11% off everyday discount code: MINI11NAM 2010 Midnight Black MCCSa
My wife says great job when I'm done working on either MINI. She knows the value of the work, and that the tools involved do not cross over to other things. So I get a smooch when I'm done, and new tools if something else needs to be dealt with.
For now, I guess I will stick with the mini hand job (alway's has been good to me
) and do the Dawn, Clay, Amigo, Epic and Hydro special. Next 6 months I may do a PC job on it.
ok, let's not give our wives any ideas. my hands are full. 
.
