How long does it take to PC?

[Jas]

I need to PC my car - 2 coats of polish and 1 of wax. Spending a bit of time on the 1st polish to get out swirl marks.

Roughly how long will this take, including preparation (washing and taping black bits)? I have a golf mk4, it's not a Clio.

Just need to know if I need 1 or 2 days off work.

Also can I just use normal masking tape for the black bits? or should I be looking at some proper specialist tape?

Cheers

 

[Darren S]

For a proper job? I'd say two days.

I spent a good 4 hours just doing the claying bit alone - and even that, was rushed, imo.

I learnt so, so much from my first PC session. There were a lot of places where I should have taken more time and got a better result overall.

D.

 

[Alan]

Jas,

Anything up to two days, a solid 10-12 hours sometimes more depending on how much defect removal is needed, break it down into two days so you can give it your full attention without rushing.

Regarding masking tape, normal stuff wont do as it doesn't bond properly with textured plastics...i use the blue 3M stuff.

 

[Da]

Is there a PC-ing 'guide' available anywhere?

 

[Alan]

Theres a few guids and vids kicking around the net Daz, also if your not already on get onto: www.detailingworld.com

 

[FiDoDiDo]

I use the same 3M as Alan does, last lot I got was from www.CleanYourCar.co.uk

Jas if you need any bits give me a shout as the garage is full of stuff so I'll probably have something that will do the job if you havn't got something lol

 

[CUPCRAZY]

It takes a lot of effort but the results are well worth it.

Done mine three times in the last four months and must have spent 18 hours or more.

Practice makes perfect and speeds up the process.



BUY ONE.

 

[Rich]

Normal tape has always worked fine for me, only problem it can leave white adhesive residue where it's edges have been if left on too long.

You should be able to do the Polishing stage in a day, but if you give yourself 2 you can guarantee enough time to be able to wash,clay,polish and seal it for sure.

I ended doing it a few panels at a time this time round pre FCs ensuring I was happy with every panel rather than rushing to do the whole car in a day, and finding my commitment flagged as I got tired and hungry !

 

[JD]

It takes a lot of effort but the results are well worth it.

Done mine three times in the last four months and must have spent 18 hours or more.

Practice makes perfect and speeds up the process.



BUY ONE.

depending on what products you are using, be careful about PCing the car tooooo much!!

jamie

 

[Final Maxim]

normal masking tape has always been fine with me n the rotary

 

[Alan]

It takes a lot of effort but the results are well worth it.

Done mine three times in the last four months and must have spent 18 hours or more.

Practice makes perfect and speeds up the process.



BUY ONE.

depending on what products you are using, be careful about PCing the car tooooo much!!

jamie

Indeed...twice a year max!!

 

[Lagerlout]

LOL - He'll have no paint left at this rate. lol

Took me 4 hours to do some serious defect removal on my mates bonnet on his corsa. Could have done with a rotary really.

 

[Alan]

4 hours on one panel isn't un heard of mate...

Have you used a rotary before? Can be very very unforgiving in the wrong hands.

 

[Rich]

I spent 2 hours on a bonnet last night - was swirled to hell.

 

[Alan]

Using menz on it mate? ^

 

[Rich]

IP and a cutting pad, think I may need a Rotary, Powergloss, and some wool pads to do the whole car lol!

 

[Alan]

Sh1t the bed Rich it can't be that bad...mine isn't even that bad under a Xenon torch and its 16,500 miles, washed twice weekly..

 

[Rich]

Alan 2 hours on a bonnet, not mine though - the car in question is new to the owner but has been abused to hell.

 

[Alan]

Ah right was gonna say...what car, colour is it??

 

[Rich]

Black Ford Ka for a mate. Washed with 100's of Gritty sponges by the looks of it.

 

[Alan]

Oh nein!! I done a bit on my gf's black 56 plate ibiza sport the other night...someone grazed the rear quarter just above the wheel arch with a buggy in a car park....took at least 10 passes with sonus SFX1 on the orange SFX pad to make much of a difference, VAG paint is so touch compared to the Renault paint.

 

[Rich]

You can say that again, the Black R32 I look after always causes me grief. You get it looking better ?

 

[Alan]

Yeah the panel totally flawless now...i'm doing the whole car hopefully next week..she does wash it and try to look after it with SRP etc, its funny tho because she applys it about an inch thick lol

 

[Rich]

LOL - training son, training, also leave her for me ....

 

[Alan]

Lol she trys..i think SRP is about the best 1 step for anyone regardless of experience or how much your into detailing as it does pretty much everything from the person who does their car now and again to the people who have an obsession lol

 

[Rich]

Agreed - It's versatile, works by hand and machine, can be used as a one stepper to - I will always have a 5 litre at hand.

 

[Alan]

I'm currently rolling with a 1 litre consumer bottle...when it runs out i'll get a 5 litre radiant wax it comes under in the trade range IIRC?

 

[Rich]

That's the puppy.

 

[CUPCRAZY]

depending on what products you are using, be careful about PCing the car tooooo much!!

jamie

Indeed...twice a year max!!

Agreed if you spend hours on each panel but I done a bit every time I cleaned my car until the whole job was done.

Twice a year is b****cks you can use a PC every time just depends on the products used as quoted above.

 

[Rich]

You would not want to hit it with IP/SSR 2.5/83 on a cutting pad more than once a year though.

Something like VM Glaze on a finishing pad could be done every week if you wanted though.

 

[vts_saxo]

Interesting reading this, how can you get started using a pc and know the paint wont get damaged?

Can you list some products you would advise for a cleaning newbie.

Thanks

 

[Rich]

Interesting reading this, how can you get started using a pc and know the paint wont get damaged?

Can you list some products you would advise for a cleaning newbie.

Thanks

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=204152

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=205465

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=166238

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=154175

 

[vts_saxo]

Thanks for the info Rich, alan if you ever fancy giving a demonstration i know of a pink car which needs it.

 

[Alan]

Drop me a PM if your wanting it done mate.

 

[Da]

I want it doing and would be willing to travel/pay etc, think I need someone local to me. Anyone about in the NW?

 

[Rich]

makavelli, Darren S and BenP/Ad have PC's in your neck of the woods I think.

 

[Da]

Cheers Rich

 

[Lagerlout]

4 hours on one panel isn't un heard of mate...

Have you used a rotary before? Can be very very unforgiving in the wrong hands.

Nope, hence calling it a day with the PC. There were still some serious scratches left, but I went as far as I was happy to go without further experience/guidance. It was a massive improvement and the owner was happy so I quit whil I was ahead. lol.

His ex-missus had borrowed his car. Whilst in her care birds had s**t on the bonnet. She'd let it dry and then set about the bonnet with what must of been a wet scouring pad.

And the best of it is, she didn't even remove all the bird s**t LOL

 

[Jas]

Cheers for the advice everyone.
I've ordered a few rolls of the 3M stuff, and will take 2 days for the job (weather dependant!)
Ben - hopefully I've got everything now, unless you want to actually do the job, lol

 

[FiDoDiDo]

I'll let you do it Jas, I'm good like that :rasp: Nothing like a bit of practice hey