Detailing Chat & Questions Thread

[JHead]

ah ok... so.... wash, dry, tardis, wash, clay, wash again?? :S seems like lot of washing.. :S :L sorry i'm not up to speed yet.. :L

 

[Jaff.]

Wash, tardis, clay, wash, dry, polish

 

[Matt W]

The clay will be melted by the tardis Jaff!

 

[Gally]

Indeed. Washing after tardis is uber important.

Tadis, wash, iron x, then clay. I try and wash between ix and clay also.

 

[JHead]

matter that i havent got iron x?? is it true imperial would do the same and wont damage the paint...?? :S

 

[Jaff.]

Sorry, I should have mentioned to rinse the tardis off. Surely you don't need to wash fully after tardis?

 

[Tim.]

Here's mine:

1. PW rinse
2. Snowfoam and allow to dwell
3. Apply wheel cleaner & clean arches
4. PW rinse
5. 2BM wash
6. Open-ended hose rinse
7. De-tar (Tardis)
8. Hose rinse
9. De-contaminate (IronX)
10. Snowfoam
11. PW rinse
12. Clay
13. Snowfoam & PW rinse or 2BM wash & open-ended hose rinse
14. Dry
15. Apply polish
16. Apply wax/sealant
17. Clean glass
18. Apply tyre dressing

 

[Scrooge]

Just used hydro2. Impressive!

 

[Gally]

Isn't it!

Great product if you have reload/cquartz!

 

[Scrooge]

Great product if you have nothing too tbh
i will be buying a fair bit of it.

 

[Scrooge]

After 80 miles of driving though gritty wet roads i'm still impressed! Water behavior is brilliant, beading isn't brilliantly tight but it just sheets straight off including the windows. It coated everything nicely too, I had no need to apply endurance etc

 

[Jack!]

Right, bit of a muddle, trying to get everything in to get a good detail done without breaking the bank - currently have a range of AG products; Shampoo, SRP, EGP, Engine & Machine Cleaner and Bumper and Trim Gel. These are the products I used to use on my 1.2. I also picked up some Demon Shine Rapid Dirt Shifter the other day as per threads about it being a good cheap alternative to Citrus Power while on offer in ASDA.

My plan would be snow foam and/or RDS, depending on what people recommend? However, for the time being I have a pretty poor lance, so debating the usefulness of snow foaming, but do have a pressure washer available for rinse stages.

Clean wheels with the AG Engine & Machine? Saw someone suggest that on another thread on here, because it's non acidic, not sure what opinions on this would be, or whether I should invest in a decent wheel cleaner - if so, please do recommend.

2BM, with newly purchased lambs wool wash mitt - utilising the AG Shampoo I already have - how important is a grit guard in the bucket?

Then the stage I had a few questions about, decontaminating. Got some Iron X in the basket, wasn't sure if a Tar remover is needed alongside this? If so, I see that Tardis comes highly recommended, but can only see the option to buy 5L bulk right now, whereas I'd rather get something smaller and cheaper at this exact moment, also read that Tardis is very acidic, so not sure how advisable it is - the car is yet to be fully detailed in my ownership, and no idea how meticulous the previous owner was so didn't want to go in with something too strong.

Then I'll clay, looking at going with the Bilt Hamber Soft, people suggest using it with water as lube - is this best, or can this be improved upon? Also, will it need to be distilled water or from the tap? Happy to spend a bit here on a decent lube if recommended.

Got a new ultra-plush microfiber in the basket for drying.

Thinking AF Tripple for polish/wax - don't have a DA - keen to get one and learn, but not right now - is this a good shout, or would I be better off with separate polish and wax stages with individual products?

Then seal with the AG EGP or should I get something else? Fancied AF Tough Coat, but pretty pricey at £20 quid for the small bottle.

AF Mercury and steel wool to sort out my exhaust that is caked.

Then finally, maybe thinking of throwing in some Z6, and wasn't sure whether the AG Bumper & Trim would do for the plastics, or maybe replace it?

Also, what is best for applying polish/wax/sealants etc? Between things like applicator pads, small microfiber cloths etc.

Sorry for the long post, but thought I'd get it all in at once. Any advice & recommendations greatly appreciated.

 

[riz]

If you going by hand, I would just use the SRP. EGP has been forgotten about a little and probably isnt as good as some of these newer sealants but its still great.

I would consider a nice wax to go over the top.

If your not machine polishing then I wouldn't waste money on other products.

 

[Gally]

The problem I have with that combo is the price. You can buy something like Tripple which is the same price but more modern and better. Egp isn't cheap. A bottle of C2V3 is not only cheaper it's easier to use.

Some old school products are still used but things do move on genuinely not just marketing.

 

[Jack!]

I only suggested using EGP as I already have some, so in this instance price isn't an issue, when it runs out I'm more than happy to move to something more modern which gives better value.

 

[Feates172]

Anyone know if there is a discount code for i4detailing at the moment?

 

[Gally]

DWX works mate.

 

[Yellow Dave]

'cliosport' has always worked for me including a recent order. gives same discount as DWX. Just mess about with capitals as it's case sensitive.

 

[Feates172]

Cheers guys. Nice little 7.5% off.

 

[Gally]

More than welcome mate. Think that's the most you get for general public.

 

[Feates172]

Just trying to get a good foam lance as cheap as possible. Was a toss up between the one on their website and the AB one.

Can't find them cheaper. So 7.5% helps. Haven't ordered yet, still shopping about.

 

[Gally]

http://www.carpro.uk.com/snow-foam-cannon/

Discount code is in the sticky at the top of the detailing section mate.

 

[Feates172]

Legend, says no bottle included. Can't see it for sale either? Will my bilberry bottle fit? That's nearly empty.

 

[Gally]

All 1 litre bottle should fit mate. Standard thread usually. Bottle are like £1

 

[JHead]

Is it necessary to de-iron the car if claying?? I have tardis, just not an iron remover...

 

[Gally]

I just don't see the point in half doing it. Just my opinion.

 

[JHead]

fair enough AF imperial wont remove iron will it...? :S

 

[Gally]

No, it's a wheel cleaner. Iron out if you must, IX is still the leading product.

 

[JHead]

yeah ok.. cheers

 

[Feates172]

Stupid question time.

I have this left in my snow foam bottle,

Is it ok to leave it in there? Or do I have to leave it empty?

 

[JamesBryan]

I leave mine in all the time, never had a problem in 5+ years.

 

[Jaff.]

Just keep it upright. Mine used to spill all the time in the boot of the car leaks out of the bleed hole on the top.

​

 

[Feates172]

cheers guys :approve:

 

[Gally]

You should be cleanning the nozzle with water as you finish though. Ie turn off snow foam and flush through with just water. Saves the gauze getting clogged up.

 

[Feates172]

Ah, thanks. I'm using it again Saturday on the mrs car, so will do that then.

 

[JHead]

Is it normal when claying to have gone through 500ml of quick detailer, then another 750ml of concentrated wash solution as clay lube?! Was my first time today... Heard it needed lots but surely I must have gone rather over kill?

 

[Gally]

To be fair you can go through a lot of clay lube but buying proper clay lube is mental. Citrus bling seems a great money/performance product. Dilutes 10:1.

I use quite a lot of product as it's better than damaging paint so plenty of lube always helps.

 

[JHead]

Ok good... at least it's not me then...

 

[Scrooge]

Neat demon s**t and Bilthamber.

 

[Yellow Dave]

Feates172, dependant on size of car and how generous a dilution you have it set to, 1l in a snowfoam bottle should coat at least 4cars.

jhead, mix up shampoo mix as clay lube if youre using that much. But I normal use a sponge to wet the panel then clay lube an area as I work. I wouldn't use more than 500ml