How and what, to maintain a machine polish?

[Stay Puft]

So i have just had my 172 machine polished, paint corrected and the rest of it and i want to keep it tip top!

I am completely new to all of this, and on a budget.

Can anyone recommend me a process, how often etc, and products to use? I want good value for money products, so reasonably cheap.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rickyquicky]

Now its been corrected mate all you need to do is keep on top of it as it will slowly get tar, swirl marks, and bits of s**t in the paint over time.

All I would do now is clean it every week or so, and every month or 2 give it a polish and wax. Every 3-6 months you could maybe go over it with a claybar to pick up the ingrained crap from the paint.

There's 100's of products out there, so I would just recommend something readily available from most retailers, so polish - autoglym super resin polish £10, and wax - autoglym HD wax £30.

The wax will last you ages if you use it properly so it works out cheap anyway.

 

[Stay Puft]

Okay great, cheers!

What is iron-x and dodo juice, roughly remember reading about them.. Any good?

 

[rickyquicky]

Iron-x is a spray to remove metal contamination in the paint, I wouldn't worry about products like that if you are on a budget. Your money would be better spent elsewhere, for example a clay bar would be a better buy for you IMO.

Dodo Juice is a brand of products, like Meguiars, Autoglym etc, I've never used it but its supposed to be decent stuff.

Most of my cleaning stuff is Meguiars, but as long as you use the right product for what you want to do it normally comes down to personal preference when it comes to choosing which brand to buy.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

OP - What was it sealed with ?


Why would he want a clay bar ?? Last thing you need on freshly machined (and sealed, hopefully!!!!) paint ! Why would he need SRP when, again, it's freshly corrected !?

If it's been done properly, all you should need is a decent shampoo wash every few weeks. The less washing / contact, the less marring you're going to get.

OP - I'd be buying Snowfoam lance for your pressure washer and a proper decent washmitt will minimise the marks on the paint.

 

[Stay Puft]

I dont have a pressure washer so will be buying one soon..

Thanks for the points guys!

 

[rickyquicky]

OP - What was it sealed with ?


Why would he want a clay bar ?? Last thing you need on freshly machined (and sealed, hopefully!!!!) paint ! Why would he need SRP when, again, it's freshly corrected !?

If it's been done properly, all you should need is a decent shampoo wash every few weeks. The less washing / contact, the less marring you're going to get.

OP - I'd be buying Snowfoam lance for your pressure washer and a proper decent washmitt will minimise the marks on the paint.

He's asking how to maintain his paintwork now that its looking good.

Therefore, after 6 months or so, the paint will have picked up enough crap to warrant the use of a claybar.

After a few months the car would appreciate a polish and wax, or just a topping up of wax.

You suggest he buys a snowfoam kit to clean his car. Is that going to fix/fill imperfections or bring out shine? What does he do 6 months down the line then when the paint isn't looking quite like what it was after detailing? and the wax/sealant isn't there anymore to protect the paint?

 

[Stay Puft]

Which products would you recommend? Any cheap links?

Thanks guys.

 

[Yellow Dave]

First of all look into your kit for regular washing to maintain the current finish: pre wash, shampoo, wash mit, two bucket method, quick detailer spray.

4 - 6months on look into decon and re seal detail. So to add to the above, a tar remover, a pre wax cleaner or glaze, then protect with a wax or sealant.

yearly, adding to the above, iron remover, clay.

This is just the basics and only touching on a few types of products. Look at the ranges available from i4detailing and Autofinesse as they are both traders on here.