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Detailing Chat & Questions Thread



Can a car be done with only say 5"/6" pads or would you recommend getting smaller say 3" pads too for more intricate areas?

I guess the answer would be yes but maybe easier with smaller pads too?

Im just in middle of clearing my garage out so i can at least nose my car half way into garage and work on it unexposed to elements..i will get round to attempting my car! 😂 (await my 'ive burnt through the clearcoat!')
 

MLB

ClioSport Club Member
Unless you've got a Civic type R you'll get quite far with 5" pads on most cars.

Smaller pads obviously make bumpers etc easier but overall you'd get most things pretty decent looking with a 5" pad.
 

Coby.

ClioSport Club Member
2 stage! Pah. Rupes yellow and some perfect finish from sonax gents. Keep it enjoyable. That combo can do some amazing work.

Might have to give this a go, Really lost interest in spending forever with the machine but fancy giving the car a decent refresh before summer.
 

Daniel

ClioSport Moderator
  Whichever has fuel
Guys, I have ran out of shampoo (yes I’m bald, fnar fnar) and my supplier isn’t due in for another week.

yesterday I used a tiny drop of snow foam instead and whilst it worked great - the slickness when washing was unreal - but today my hands are like leather. Proper shiny and stiff skin.

does anyone know if this is a safe process?? Is Snow foam really bad for the skin or shall I just man up and crack on??
 
Certain products come in a container that has the corrosive symbol on them

I'd decanted some neat into a water bottle to give a mate and it 'leaked' out the bottle? Dont know if that was upright or on its side or what?

(AS Actimousse)
 

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
Guys, I have ran out of shampoo (yes I’m bald, fnar fnar) and my supplier isn’t due in for another week.

yesterday I used a tiny drop of snow foam instead and whilst it worked great - the slickness when washing was unreal - but today my hands are like leather. Proper shiny and stiff skin.

does anyone know if this is a safe process?? Is Snow foam really bad for the skin or shall I just man up and crack on??
Surely depends what product Dan? Most non enthusiast products are quite coarse because they are a pre wash? Non touch.

Enthusiast snow foams are a bit lighter. I snow foam a car whilst shampoo washing to aid slickness and minimise damage.
 

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
Might have to give this a go, Really lost interest in spending forever with the machine but fancy giving the car a decent refresh before summer.
I always recommend the least amount of products for people.

Even triple on a white rupes head. Fills. Polishes slightly and gives an insane finish.

Perfect finish and a hello pad or 2 is a great combo. Make sure the pain is squeaky clean before any polishing.
 

Daniel

ClioSport Moderator
  Whichever has fuel
Certain products come in a container that has the corrosive symbol on them

I'd decanted some neat into a water bottle to give a mate and it 'leaked' out the bottle? Dont know if that was upright or on its side or what?

(AS Actimousse)
This was AS Actimousse!

I’ll stop by a shop tomorrow and grab some proper shampoo. For the sake of a 10 mile detour I’d rather do that than f**k my hands up.
 

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
Can a car be done with only say 5"/6" pads or would you recommend getting smaller say 3" pads too for more intricate areas?

I guess the answer would be yes but maybe easier with smaller pads too?

Im just in middle of clearing my garage out so i can at least nose my car half way into garage and work on it unexposed to elements..i will get round to attempting my car! 😂 (await my 'ive burnt through the clearcoat!')
Depends how pro you want to be. We never used to have 3 inch pads. I know I sound old but it's true. Never stopped us. I'm not even that old.

Check any of my old thread. All one stage jobs mostly, one size pad.
 

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
This was AS Actimousse!

I’ll stop by a shop tomorrow and grab some proper shampoo. For the sake of a 10 mile detour I’d rather do that than f**k my hands up.
Actimouse is designed to strip similar to tfr so definitely with have a a few tasty chemicals in there.
 

MLB

ClioSport Club Member
Finally got to test the Bilt Hamber Auto Foam today.

Car was a lot dirtier than I'd usually let it get because of a 600 mile trip last week. Similar to this:
20210306_130656.jpg


Firstly expected it to be very watery, but it was almost shaving foam thick, stuck well but a bit too 'dry' for my liking. Note that I have used the exact PIR BH advises to use, so 4% measured output of the foam gun.
20210326_174724.jpg


Let it sit for a couple of minutes and then thoroughly rinsed with the pressure washer and I have to admit, I am more than impressed.

Usually don't wipe anything like this but the car needs a polish anyway so wiped the boot and bonnet down with a cloth and quick detailer.

This was ALL the dirt that was left on boot and bonnet!
20210326_180232.jpg


Compared to a single 40cm wipe on the Clio bumper which looked fairly clean:
20210326_180340.jpg


Easily the best result I've had with any foam.
 

MLB

ClioSport Club Member
I'm planning on using it in a pump sprayer next time, expect it to work as well, just use less product, this used about 200ml of autofoam.
 
Cheers @MLB and @Gally (actually know its you and not the roasted cheese name 😂) for re-assuring me I don't need to spend more on smaller pads!

I do need more clay and some tar remover / tardis! Had some cheapo ebay blue clay but left a lot of marring last time i used but it was fairly cool temperature wise outside?

I half arsed washed the car properly this week, really going for it under arches etc then went to polish and wax by hand (wasnt in mood to try DA) completely forgot about claying and realised how many contaminants still on paintwork!

Seen the Menzerna Power Lock sealant, i think i'll buy that and make myself treat the paintwork to some loving...or mess it up! 😂

Re the Bilt Hamber, does that not sound a lot of product? Vs say 50-100ml per 1litre of AS Actimouse in a snowfoam lance (which is more than enough to do 2-3 cars)?
 

MLB

ClioSport Club Member
For the Bilt Hamber stuff to do it's work it's apparently important to get a panel impact ratio of 4%.

Maybe why so many people don't get the results they hope for as they just chuck some in a foam gun and get foaming?

Anyway, if using a sprayer it'll use a fraction of what it'll use when foaming as it's just about getting the car wet.
 

-Jamie-

ClioSport Club Member
For the Bilt Hamber stuff to do it's work it's apparently important to get a panel impact ratio of 4%.

Maybe why so many people don't get the results they hope for as they just chuck some in a foam gun and get foaming?

Anyway, if using a sprayer it'll use a fraction of what it'll use when foaming as it's just about getting the car wet.
Never had any issues with lack of cleaning power with it and most times I just chuck some in the bottle and top it up
 

Gally

Formerly Mashed up egg in a cup
ClioSport Club Member
200ml! Jesus that's an expensive car wash! Not really surprising it was like shaving foam. BHAF is never thick as it's designed to dilute and drag the dirt off. Almost melting the dirt away making the PW job a lot easier and leaving the car clean.

Really impressed with the cloth check though. Put it on social media and tag them. Great example of genuine cleaning power.

Pump sprayer is just another great way of using it. I think I was 25:1 maybe dilution. It's been a while. I used Rob at dooka's recommended dilution and it was always bang on. My pump sprayer is 5 litres from memory, lasts ages especially as a gallon of AF is so cheap.
 

MLB

ClioSport Club Member
Ha, yes 85p for the auto foam!

But this is exactly what Bilt Hamber prescribe, I've measured the output of my pressure washer to get the 4% impact ratio.

I have to say though, any foam I use gets extremely thick out of my own setup compared to my parents and some friends at the same dilution rates.

Next time I'll be using it in the pump sprayer.
 
Was going to ask that myself - are we talking normal garden pressure pump sprayer or a foaming pump sprayer like the Gloria ones?

My snow foam seems to be varying in thickness, cant work out if its just neglect of equipment (over winter and might have forgot to rinse out properly), got my lances mixed up with the sealant product (AS Aqua Seal) or whether theres still protection on the paintwork from last time and so it just seams to fade away and just goes 'flat' if thats the right word to use? Might try dismantling the lance and soaking overnight in bicarbonate of soda or a descaler.
 

leedsboy

ClioSport Club Member
  Bean 182 + E70 X5
Whilst we're all talking about snow foam, anyone find that their Bilt Hamber Auto Foam leaves an oily, slippy residue behind even after blasting off? Tried it in both a lance and pressure sprayer. Maybe I've got the ratio totally off with too much product?
 
What are folks using for wheels these days?

I've tried C5 a few times but the amount of prep it needs is a hassle. I've tried a nano spray which works quite well and is easy to apply. Anything out there that offers better protection but is quick and simple?
 
Quick question for you guys, maybe this is the wrong thread but hey ho.

What is the best product to clean the matte bump strips along the side of my 172 Cup? They have been painted recently and looked really good to begin with but after a few washes of the car, they now look like they are water stained. Ive tried some basic cleaning products but they dont seem to remove the marks.

Cheers
 

Pegasaurus Rex

Bon Jovi Officianado
ClioSport Club Member
Quick question for you guys, maybe this is the wrong thread but hey ho.

What is the best product to clean the matte bump strips along the side of my 172 Cup? They have been painted recently and looked really good to begin with but after a few washes of the car, they now look like they are water stained. Ive tried some basic cleaning products but they dont seem to remove the marks.

Cheers

I have used this on Matt finish bike frames before, it adds protection and removed water marks etc. Whilst not altering the Matt finish. Worth a go
 
Cheers mate.

I did do some googling and there was an article on the Autoglym website specifically about removing stains from matte paint and they recommended their fast glass cleaner. Needless to say, it doesnt work!
 

riz

ClioSport Club Member
  Jaguar XFR
My discs have suddenly rusted. Not sure what I've done differently. I used AG polar blast , which I haven't used before.

Any tips?
 

Sunglasses_Ron

ClioSport Admin
My discs have suddenly rusted. Not sure what I've done differently. I used AG polar blast , which I haven't used before.

Any tips?

The discs on my 200 did this after every wash. And having gloss black wheels meant after every drive post wash the wheels ended up looking like I’d been driving on Mars.
 

Sunglasses_Ron

ClioSport Admin
The rear screen on my Peugeot was grubby as f**k inside and out. After the trusty Dooka didn't do the trick I dug out a bottle of Autoglym glass polish that I've had sat in the garage since well before I got into detailing. Applied it inside and out with a wet foam applicator pad. Wiped off once it dried and the glass is absolutely gleaming. To be honest it's absolutely embarrased every other glass cleaner I've ever tried, and believe me I've tried a lot. Top tip is to mask up any black plastic surrounds as the stuff leaves residue everywhere.
 


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