First attempts at detailing (LY 182 content)

[Tommy_C]

Hello detailing people.

As my van snapped a gear linkage bracket yesterday, I was 'working from home' today... so it was time to clean the Clio.

Disclaimer - I'm quite new to this, so if anything the wrong way round/incorrect please do let me know All criticism taken as constructive (except yellow is for gheys etc. etc. yawn).

A few befores, the car hadn't been cleaned for a while

It appears the local birds like yellow

And this was today's arsenal

Started by rinsing the car using the pressure washer with no nozzle attached so nice and low pressure

..then foamed (I cannot remember for the life of me what foam mix this is)

nooks and crannies were aggitated and foam was left to soak and drip off for around 10 mins then rinsed

Important time now... game pie and a cuppa al fresco

After that, wash time. Using the 2BM, grit guard in the main wash bucket and Dodo's BTBM shampoo

Applied with an i4d synthetic wool wash mitt x 2 (top/bottom)

Then rinsed at low pressure and dried using i4d uber blue towels

Next came the clay. I don't know a fat lot about this, but from what I've read on here the i4d lime clay seemed to be good enough for the novice, so that was today's choice. Lube used was Dodo's Born Slippy. I will now illustrate this by taking a picture

Roof wasn't too bad

Drivers door bottoms we're quite contaminated as I expected

But by far the worst part was the boot

Once the whole car had been clayed, it was washed, rinsed and dried as before

Now to something I'd never used before, Iron-X. I couldn't find this in stock anywhere, so ended up buying the 'eco-pack' and using in a spray bottle with a chemical resistant head.

Wasn't anywhere near as contaminated as I expected it to be, I did wonder if I'd made a massive error (once I came to the wheels I realised I had not)

Left for 3-4 mins and rinsed off, lovely job.

I hadn't realised how tired my bullets are looking, but hopefully by the end of the week my carbon ones will be ready from Chris Powell on here (Carbon Central)

Pt. 2 to follow imminently

 

[Tommy_C]

Next to tackle was the wheels. They are trophy turini's, originally from No. 007. They do need a refurb ideally, but I thought I'd see what I could do with them.

Valet Pro Bilberry was used (4:1), along with the silverline wheel/alloy brush (cheapskate I know, I didn't buy the EZ detail)

Bilberry was left to dwell for a minute, aggitated with brush then rinsed...really impressed.

Decided to Iron-X the wheels, and so glad I did... jesus!!!!

Boom, couldn't believe how much crap came off

This was my version of working from home...

Shuts we're cleaned using Megs APC 5:1 and a Valet Pro brush

Next was tyres

From

Using (How nice does this smell?!?!?!)

To

Exhaust was given a going over with wire wool and autosol but frankly I got bored so it's not a great result haha

Polish used was AG SRP, applied with a foam pad and removed with an i4d plush microfibre

And finally the car was waxed using AG HD Wax and the supplied applicators and cloth

Left to cure for 10-15 mins

Finally a few afters:

Sorry for all the pictures, I got a bit carried away. I'm happy with the results, and always open to what I can do better next time

 

[James28]

Great write up mate. Good Results . Enjoyed reading!
A freshly detailed car is so satisfying!

 

[chriscummins7]

Good effort mate!

I'm very much just starting my detailing adventure, but from my experience - I moved to using AF rejuvenate and Tough coat from AG SPR and HD wax, the quality of the AF products really make a big difference IMO.

Have you thought about a Glaze?

 

[Stewner]

+1 :clap:

 

[yellowbelly]

Good work, Next time use the Iron X before claying.

 

[dannycivic02]

The worst part is you get it looking good and then you don't want to get it dirty after all the hard work I keep putting mine in the garage overnight but its still gradually getting dirty from the weekly commute. Car looks great though good job my exhaust is in a worst state than yours ben using 80 grit paper and its still got a way to go but like you got bored will get there eventually.

 

[Shifty.]

Good write up this, and the car looks sweet, I'm just getting into the detailing as well, just out of interest what did you use to apply the tyre gel?
Gonna have to try some of this ironx stuff too.

 

[gti6steve]

Good work mate

 

[Cub.]

Looks great mate, I did something very similar myself a few weeks back. So satisfying seeing the before and after. Good work!

 

[Gally]

Looks good mate.

Just a few things... In the future... Tar remover (Tardis) - Iron X - clay. Also maybe look into something like Prima Amigo next time instead of SRP. SRP is a very good product but it's very old school. The likes of AF rejuvenate is a more modern bettered version. And Amigo is a very good glaze that should be used before the wax.

When waxing do a panel or 2 at a time. It'll be a lot easier to remove. 5 minutes cure time is reet. Nice job.

 

[MatthewR]

As said above, good work there. also as said above, try and use the iron x before the clay next time it will make claying a lot easier. also try and use some tar remover, same principle as iron x use before clay and it will get rid of most of the tar therefore making the claying process easier.

Damn you Gally, you beat me to it with the tar remover.

 

[lesley]

not bad for a beginner! agree with gally, wax 2 panels, go back and remove first one etc etc. You don't realise how bad your paint is until you use clay and iron x Looking really good tho!

 

[Ian_R]

Looks good mate.

Just a few things... In the future... Tar remover (Tardis) - Iron X - clay. Also maybe look into something like Prima Amigo next time instead of SRP. SRP is a very good product but it's very old school. The likes of AF rejuvenate is a more modern bettered version. And Amigo is a very good glaze that should be used before the wax.

When waxing do a panel or 2 at a time. It'll be a lot easier to remove. 5 minutes cure time is reet. Nice job.

+1

 

[chris_p]

Looks fantastic mate!
Good job on the detail, I really need to do mine.

 

[Tommy_C]

Thanks for all the comments and words of wisdom guys, really appreciated. Will look into getting some tardis and other polish/glazes. I had a feeling I'd done the Iron-X/Claying the wrong way round, when I think what the products do that should be pretty obvious 2bh!!!

Good write up this, and the car looks sweet, I'm just getting into the detailing as well, just out of interest what did you use to apply the tyre gel?
Gonna have to try some of this ironx stuff too.

I just used a sponge

 

[NFox]

Car looks fantastic mate, I really want a 'ghey' liquid yellow 182! Best colour by a mile imo!

 

[Knuckles]

Yellow is gay :rasp: nice to see some new pics of it it looks awesome mate!

 

[yellow_chris]

brilliant work mate ... picking up my LY 182 this saturday and looking at your thread here makes me even more excited..all the hard work is worth it,really shows how nice the colour is

 

[Wick]

Nice work dude!

 

[Tommy_C]

Yellow is gay :rasp: nice to see some new pics of it it looks awesome mate!

Oh yes mate, got your name all over it this

brilliant work mate ... picking up my LY 182 this saturday and looking at your thread here makes me even more excited..all the hard work is worth it,really shows how nice the colour is

Cheers pal, good choice in colour Need to get some proper photos of it rather than just on the drive. Spent 5 hours on it this afternoon and still need to do the interior!!!! Better than working...

 

[yellow_chris]

il be doing the same to mine ..are you a member on detailing world? when i pick mine up itl get a proper good clean so il upload some photos so we can gaze at our yellow gems!haha

 

[joshhicky]

Great work mate looks brilliant

 

[MichaelGrimes]

WOW! looks beautiful buddy! i must start to put together a detailing/cleaning kit! as i just havnt got time at the moment! and jsut pay a valeter friend to clean mine!

 

[Jon.G]

I noticed something reading that, you put your grit gaurd in your main wash bucket.

Now I've been putting mine in the rinse bucket. Is this wrong?

 

[Tommy_C]

I noticed something reading that, you put your grit gaurd in your main wash bucket.

Now I've been putting mine in the rinse bucket. Is this wrong?

Logically you'd be right sir, should be in both I suppose really!

 

[Jon.G]

Aye, I should have two, but I only ordered one with a deal that was on DW a while back.

 

[aucky]

I noticed something reading that, you put your grit gaurd in your main wash bucket.

Now I've been putting mine in the rinse bucket. Is this wrong?

I put mine in the rinse bucket also.

 

[gtt_jmy]

Nice one, love the fact you where working from home, car looks spot on

 

[VIICarCare]

lovely!

 

[Kane.]

Love it. I would wash the wheels before the bodywork though.

 

[Eddie.]

Grit guard in both wash and rinse bucket for me

Great work there mate, looks brilliant, I know someone pointed it out on the last page, but make sure you Iron-X before claying

Finished result looks brilliant too, paint looks very nice

 

[shell-vt]

a few hours work...

 

[RussZS]

Looks superb - great work!

 

[bobbycav1991]

car is looking real tidy mate

 

[JD]

Lovely. As Gally has stated, a few things the wrong way around, but this hobby is all about a learning curve. The car itself is super!

If I may add, next time, try using a damp applicator to apply the wax and use what seems like far too little product. You'll be surprised how far it spreads and how much easier it is to remove.

 

[domsclio182]

Looks really good mate using a detailing spray like Poorboys Quick Detailer Plus after every wash will help keep the contaminates at bay and keep it looking great.

 

[craigt]

where did you get all the cleaning products from? and how much

 

[Sam]

Nice write up Tommy.

Cant believe you sold it.