help. Basics

[Matt-16v]

Hi guys. i did a search but i cant find anything specific.

Iam going to give my car a proper good wash this weekend (if the weather holds out). At the moment i only wash using the two bucket method and sponge, then dry is using a soft cloth and then autogym polish lol!! the paintwork isn't in a bad way though luckily. i want to buy some decent stuff but i cant afford to spend much more than £50. Also i want to know how i can properly dry the car without leaving smears...

1) Recommended polish and how long before i should buff it off?
2) Drying techniques and materials
3) protection for getting rid of little scratches? me old man said use t-cut lol yay or nay?

 

[aceface]

Polish with AG SRP, work it a panel at a time until there is nothing left to remove. You don't have to cake it on like some people do, the only thing that will achieve is waste and dust.

As for drying, you want a waffle weave microfibre towel and possibly some quick detailer. Try and sheet the water off the car with an open ended hose first, and then lay the towel on a panel and pat dry. Repeat this all over the car.

Regarding protection, your best bet would be AG EGP. Apply 2 or 3 layers 24 hours apart after you have polished using the SRP. For scratches Meguiars Scratch X is a decent product for use by hand. Avoid T-Cut as it is a very out dated product.

 

[Rich]

Scratches depends how deep they are does your nail catch in them ? Do they appear to disappear when wet ? Try some Meguiars Scratch X

Polish - Autoglym Super Resin, work on a panel at a time, keep working until there is little of nothing left of it to remove (same process with the Scratch X) and buff with a microfiber cloth.

Ditch the sponge for a lambswool mitt, and get a get a Microfiber Drying towel to use to dry, follow that up with a Quick Detailing Spray and a plush Microfiber to remove any smeary bits.

 

[aceface]

Just beat you to it Rich! lol

 

[Matt-16v]

Cheers for your help guys. i'l give it a go at the weekend.

 

[Matt-16v]

Scratches depends how deep they are does your nail catch in them ? Do they appear to disappear when wet ? Try some Meguiars Scratch X

Polish - Autoglym Super Resin, work on a panel at a time, keep working until there is little of nothing left of it to remove (same process with the Scratch X) and buff with a microfiber cloth.

Ditch the sponge for a lambswool mitt, and get a get a Microfiber Drying towel to use to dry, follow that up with a Quick Detailing Spray and a plush Microfiber to remove any smeary bits.

no mate the scratches dissapear when the car is wet. i think someone caught it with a zip or something.

a lambswoot mitt? can i use this in the same way that i use a sponge though (two bucket)? sorry iam a mega nooobie lol

 

[Michael172]

Dont use T Cut.

For that money i managed to get a cheap arsed Lambswool mitt, the halfrauds one, some car wash, i used nxt gen at the time but i dont like it, some srp and egp and cant remember much else.

To start with, why dont you get a

Halfrauds lambswool mitt, its grey,
2 buckets,
a microfibre drying towel, wash it befor you use it though,
autoglym super resin polish.
Relativly good shampoo although im not sure what to reccomend form halfrauds, you could try meguirs gold class, but make sure its a very dilute mix of the stuff, i find it quite agressive towards lsp's.

You could buy a wax, or a sealant liek extra gloss protection. Depends on your budget. Id buy the above and then build up what you want to build up from there over time. Consider some decent applicator pads, and some decent drying towels, polishing towels and buffing towels.

 

[Michael172]

a mitt is basically a sponge yeah. only its kinder to paint and also gets in places you cant with a sponge.

 

[Rich]

Scratches depends how deep they are does your nail catch in them ? Do they appear to disappear when wet ? Try some Meguiars Scratch X

Polish - Autoglym Super Resin, work on a panel at a time, keep working until there is little of nothing left of it to remove (same process with the Scratch X) and buff with a microfiber cloth.

Ditch the sponge for a lambswool mitt, and get a get a Microfiber Drying towel to use to dry, follow that up with a Quick Detailing Spray and a plush Microfiber to remove any smeary bits.

no mate the scratches dissapear when the car is wet. i think someone caught it with a zip or something.

a lambswoot mitt? can i use this in the same way that i use a sponge though (two bucket)? sorry iam a mega nooobie lol

They should polish out ok then.

Yeap use it as you would a sponge with the two bucket method.