Help a detailing newbie understand what he's got on hand.
 

Hi all.

I'm enjoying my time as I slip further and further down the rabbit hole of detailing.

I want to take a moment to admit my ignorance and ask for thoughts on what I've got and where I might be heading before I spend any more money. And/or start asking people if I can practice on their cars. (I have a few candidates; folks whose cars are simply oxidized commuter appliances that I can only make look better)

I've been working on my own car (a 2003 R50 MINI - pics in Gallery link) and I've done a friend's '99 Audi A4. Both with pleasing results so far. But i want to go further.

Here's what I have on hand presently:

• Porter Cable 2474XP
• 5 inch backing plate/counterweight
• Lake Country Hydro-Tech Foam Pads (One each, Blue, Orange, Red)
• 5-¼ Inch Ultra-Fiber buffing pads (I bought 2)
• Assortment of washing and polishing textiles (all involving MF in one way or another)

• Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish
• Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish

• Meguiar's Ultimate Compound
• Meguiar's Ultimate Wax
• Meguiar's Gold Class wax
• Meguiar's Gold Class shampoo
• Mother's Liquid Carnuba

Do I have a sufficient starter set in here?



The LC Hydro pads are presented as a complete set with only 3 pads. And honestly, I just noticed they are supposed to be specific to water-based products. I don't even know which of the products I have are water based.

I am a little uncertain about where these chemicals would go in a line-up. From most aggressive to least, would it be:

1. Blackfire Glass Enhancing Polish
2. Meguiar's Ultimate Compound
3. waxes
4. Blackfire Wet Diamond All Finish

How would you line these up? Is the Meguiar's Compound more aggressive than the Blackfire Gloss Polish? (I honestly can't tell-maybe they are the same)


Am I missing a step between 2. and 3. ?


Maybe that's enough to start.

I'm no expert. I've used my DA on 4 cars, so here's my recommendations.

You're going to need more of each type of pad. A clean pad is important.

3 blue,
3 orange (Atleast. I've used this the most for polishing)
2 red.

Here's a link to aggressiveness of your products
http://www.autopiaforums.com/Todd-He...lish-chart.jpg

Best bits of advice I've read from autogeek are:
- Start with a test section 18"x18", inspect.
- Don't move too fast.
- Concentrate on the task at hand. (It's easy to think about the next step or section and you end up not doing a complete job on the section you're working on.)

It takes me a long time to complete a car. Sometimes 2 days.
I've never used the MF pads, but I hear they work great. More aggressive than foam pads.

Good luck.

Wow. Thanks for the chart. I was way off on my assumptions about the Meguiar's Compound v. the Blackfire Gloss enhancing polish!

Blackfire Gloss enhancing polish is probably a paint cleanser to be used after polishing and before sealing/waxing to make the sealant/wax bond to the paint.

You might also want to pick up a medium cut polish and a light polish, since the UC is pretty aggressive. Something along the lines of Menzerna IP2000 or PF2500 for medium and SF4500 or sf4000 for fine polish. You can probably get the Meguiar's equivalent if you like that brand.

I've read that you should follow up UC with a fine polish.

Good luck.

I've never gone to the point of cutting, but I have found clay bar is amazing, I wax about once every 3-5 months and clay twice a year keeping everything off the surface before I wax by hand/orbital. I've noticed when i owned my black cars major swirl reduction, my mini had major micro marring on the roof when i got it. just by that method its gone. Plus it's great to pull out on the windshield after a road trip.

Ok here are my thoughts and I have been detailing for over 30 years. This is just what works for me, I am sure others have had good experience with other products as well.

Meguiars Clay
Meguiar's Ultimate Compound
Meguiars Ultimate Polish
Meguiar's Mirror glaze number 7
Meguiar's NXT techwax 2.0
If you use these products correctly and always use clean towels your car will be as smooth as glass. The number 7 Glaze is very good, but you must wax after it to seal it in.

I am big meguirs product fan, but I use griots clay. I've found it kneads a little better.

I am going to give tha a shot, the Meguirs is a bit stiff.