Today, I attempted to detail Kirky - and I believe I failed miserably but learned a few valuable lessons:

1. Clay is a necessity. Although I tried to wash with wool mitt and Mistique (2 bucket system with improvised grit guard), the car is still filthy. There are tiny black dots everywhere in the lower part of the car.

2. There is such a place as Detailing Limbo. Since Kirky is still dirty I did not want to wax/polish - kind of stuck in noclean land.

3. Small is better. Especially when it comes to brushes to clean the wheels - the one I got was too bulky and I ended up digging in my "guest" toothbrush supply - it did the job superbly.

4. Nero is really gray. My results were less than stellar on the interior, I don't know what I did wrong but my interior is now two-tone gray. Anybody knows a fix?

5. Black Wow improved my score. The black trim looks fantastic.

6. Clarity is perfect for my MacBook Pro. DP should market it to all computer geeks - I'll never use anything else to clean my other baby (and it worked wonders on the windows as well). Also does anybody know if I can use it on the sunroof?

 

If it was your first time, don't feel so bad

Yes, clay is your friend and can be used "spot-wise" (i.e., you don't have to do the whole car). The 'spots' will be easier to remove once you have a good layer of wax or sealant.

For wheels I now use a small piece of microfiber towel----I find it is easier to get to certain areas on the wheel with the microfiber over my hand/fingers than a brush.

Can't help you with the Nero.

Just started using BW myself---it's great!

 

I think with Nero you really need to be sure to spread it evenly. I like to get some on the applicator first, plus spray it on the surface I'm working, and the first few time "REALLY" work it in. I don't think you can use too much elbow grease on plastic.

Bottom line, you gave it your best shot, nobody died, so it's a success

We all bumble along, even after years doing it

Mark

 

For wheels I have found nothing better than a sponge. The best sponge I have used for wheels is one I found at pep boys and is about 1.5 to 2 inches thick. I think its a real sponge. However on paint I would not recommend this. But wheels... they see such hard elements that they will never be kept as nice as paint. And I hate cleaning wheels so much that anything which makes it easier is great.

 

i would stay away from nylon bristles on the wheels unless they were
specifically made for wheel cleaning. otherwise boar's hair brush all the
way. griot's sells a nice one i use with a long handle. the brush
head is small. can even clean my wheels that have a 3" lip.

nero... i like using a dilluted version i made 50/50 with distilled water.
as lotsie mentioned, spray into a utility MF towel (applicator) and wipe
on evenly. with a 50/50 mix, it is easy to get an even coat... with
the added benefit of not having to have to remove excess.

 

I've used for years the nylon brushes with the "flagged" ends--they feel soft to the touch. That combined with some wheel cleaner--and the brake dust just rinses off. With the Nomad washer, a simple spritz to rinse, then spritz of Megs Wheel Brightener will loosen 95% of the brake dust to be rinsed off--or in combination with the brush gets it off 100%. I've demoed this on cars with intricate details on the wheels that took the owner hours to do and I did it in minutes....=)

 

Yes! Nick at DP confirmed it - I used too much Nero. I will be ready this weekend for Round II!

Also, I did clay Kirky and it was surprisingly easy - she feels sooooo smooth

And the other lesson I learned this past weekend is to use gloves to clean the exhaust tips (especially if planning to have dinner at a really dressy restaurant) - my BF's out-of-town guests kept on looking down at my impeccably manicured hands with big black soot spots all over my fingers.

All in all I am satisfied with my first Detaling attempt in many, many, many years and Kirky does not look any worse then when I started (good thing).

And I'll be out this weeks looking for sponges and brushes for the wheels.

 

9 discovered clay the same way, finally got my car clean. for the hands, ZEP or GOJO are the best, tylex or clorx work also.

 

yah the ones with the tip cut in halves or even more, right? those are
made for wheels and are very soft. i doubt "guest tooth brushes" are.

 

+1 - I previously had Checkmate wheels that were a complete PITA to clean (regardless of how cute they are)...I could literally wash the whole car in half an hour and then spend 20 more minutes on the wheels...argh!

And then I was shown the miracle that is Meg's Wheel Brightener and I was amazed AND felt like a moron for spending so much time on my wheels, haha. Now with my 5-stars I barely have to touch them...spray on Wheel Brightener, let it sit for a minute, and rinse. 99% of the crud comes right off.

Another "buy it by the gallon" item...

 

Despite your self grade this time around, I think most of us start out this way! It takes a first round to learn some of these things regardless of how much you read on this forum. I would say that the first time around should be pass/fail anyway... and as long as you didn't do any damage then you get a "pass" grade. So, congrats on passing and making it through your first time!


As a matter of fact, this is something that is in the works. Clarity is, in fact, excellent and safe on all screens and similar sensitive surfaces. The Clarity that will be marketed beyond the car geeks will be called eClarity. I suspect will have it out by the middle of the summer.

Yes, Clarity is safe on the sunroof. Really, I can't think of anything it isn't safe on.

-Heather

 

how can it be safe on a sunroof?

you could forget you placed your bottle there and drive off.

(no, i do not have experience, but my boss does with coffee).

 

eClarity. Awesome.

We're ADDICTED to Clarity in my household. My wife is NOT a believer in "boutique" cleaning products - she's a national brand queen. She just shook her head when I started talking about how much better Clarity was than, say, Windex. Then she tried Clarity on one of our mirrors. Just once. And she was BLOWN AWAY by how easily it yielded a truly streak-free surface. And now she won't touch the Windex bottle anymore. And she has her own Clarity bottle.

And, yep, it works great on screens of all our electronics... and a lot of other glossy surfaces.

 

Just a thought, but something I have always done. If I know I don't have time ( 8+hours) at one time to do a wash/clay/taping off/polish/wax, I do the whole works to an area of the car. Better to have a finished bonnet or roof or boot or side of the car, than a whole car partially done. You don't have to back up a step each time, even if a car is garaged stuff gets on it. I'm sure when OctaneGuy says he works day and night on a car, this is why, because it is important to do all the steps needed. Plus you don't have to drive around with wide blue pin striping on your MINI. Also remember, until you get the "wax" of your choice on the paint, there is no protection.

Another thought, with these high end, both price and quality wise products, less is more. The up front cost may seem high, but the small amount needed to do each step in the long run make them very price effective. Folks are always amazed when I show them how little product is used in each application.

Mark

 

I agree with you on both points.


Around here we're often tight on time (unless we're testing... that's part of the job!) so we sometimes do modified polishing routines on our daily drivers.

For example, as long as my daily has at least had its annual full day polish at some point in the year, then the rest of the time I will often just abrasive polish my hood and trunk with Swirl. Then, I Amigo and Epic the whole vehicle. The hood and trunk get abused the most and usually need a real polishing more frequently PLUS it is the part of the car that is most noticable to me in the bright sun.

IMO, it's not a detailing sin to be practical and cut corners once and a while.

-Heather

 

See, now we can all sleep easy

Mark

 

Not that it carries as much weight when I say it... but I do the same thing as Heather. In my case, I Swirl the boot 2-3 times per year because it needs it that much... but only Swirl the rest of the car about once a year. Amigo on everything the rest of the time and it makes it look groovy (but without the grooves).

 

You sir carry lots of weight, and I think that we all do, because besides what we know, and do for ourselves, we share that info, and that if worth it's weight in clay Heaviest product I could think of by volume

Mark

 

Actually I weigh considerably more than my volume in clay.

And I carry lots of weight on all topics, but it's the beers' fault. (note I used the plural of beer)

 

We had some sayings back home"beer fixes everything" and "we work for beer"

Mark

 

That's the beauty of an active forum like this! Besides, who would only want to hear 1 person's opinion/experience? That would not only be less useful but boring too.

Yes, worth its weight in clay.

-Heather

 

Plus, we're all just so darn nice and warm and fuzzy!

 

Warm and fuzzy is nice, why I enjoy be the forum Moderator, and avoid the mod forums

Mark

 

yah, i dont think im going to be putting landscaping plastic on my
aero kit anytime soon.

 

Snob.