*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Why?

Also, what do you use for the spray window cleaner?

 

i think it does the same to the window as it does to the paint, takes off the bumps?

i use windex

 

sub'd.

 

i cant find the boxes or labels for my towels. is it safe to machine wash them with soap? and machine dry? i have an absorber a generic waffle weave and a megiuars supreme shine towel.

 

anybody know of a good tire and wheel cleaner?

 

Wash in delicate and hot water. Air dry. No heat dry. Pre-soak if needed. Use any dye/fragrance free product. When the MF doesn't feel 'tacky' anymore, boil in vinegar.

 

I use Castrol Super Clean (i think that is the name, purple bottle in Walmart). I dilute it 3 parts water to 1 part cleaner in a generic high flow spray bottle. I use a boar hair brush and a MF towel on the rims and a fender brush on the tires and inside fender wall and whatever else I can reach. I REALLY like Adam's Green Wheel Cleaner, but it is pricey and then there is shipping. Best wheel cleaner around and and it no way harmful to anything but tire grime.

 

The clay takes all the crap off that plain ol newspaper can't get. Also, if you have some fine polish, that will sparkle them windows right up. Comes out best with a machine polisher, but elbow grease works fine if you got the gusto.

 

do you recommend aggressive or mild clay?

$27 Meguiar's Professional Detailing Clay, Mild, C2000 - Car Clay Bar Safely Removes Contaminants Bonded on Paint for a Smooth, Glossy Finish - Premium Clay Bars Auto Detailing and Paint Prep, 200 Grams

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-C-21..._6?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1278658258&sr=1-6

or

$27 Meguiar's Professional Detailing Clay, Aggressive, C2100 - Safely Remove Contaminants Bonded on Paint for a Smooth, Glossy Finish - Premium Clay Bar for Car Detailing and Paint Prep, 200 Grams

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-C-20..._9?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1278658258&sr=1-9

 

Always go with mild clay. The aggressive kind will leave some marks that will need to be polished out. Just keep the surface lubes good. Also, break that clay in two just in case you drop one.

 

^ thx

Im about to pull the trigger on a porter cable 7424xp:
http://www.tools-plus.com/porter-cable-7424xp.html

is that a good deal on the link? and a major question is if the polishing pad is 6", do I need 6" bonnets or 6.5"? Reason Im asking is because all the bonnets in their package deals are 6.5" and they are harder to find and a little bit more expensive.

 

i have some chips on my paint from driving on the highway. whats the best way to resolve this? i have a lot on my bumper and some on my doors

 

bump

 

That is a good deal on the PC. I got mine from there. Not sure what you mean by bonnets. If you mean pads, then I would stay around 6-6.5". You do not put anything over the foam pads. The polish is added to the pad, and removed by hand (a little 50/50 90%+ ISPA and distilled water helps). Checkout ChemicalGuys.com, DetailedImage.com, Adamspolishes.com, AutoDetailingSolutions.com for different stuff.

Hope that answers you questions. If you need some more help in deciding, PM me and I will help you out. I have been a backyard detailer for about 15 years or so. All those years polishing by hand. Mother of god. It is sooo easy now. You will love the PC. I am getting a flex very soon.

 

Touch up paint is the quick answer. How good it looks is the long answer. Get a bottle of touch up and some toothpicks. Use the toothpick to dap the paint on. Either that or a fine fine artist brush, but I would stick with the toothpick. Let it dry and see how it looks. You can then add some clearcoat the same way. Just a dab only. No globs here or on the paint. You can then wetsand it down and polish it out for almost perfect results but if you never wetsanded, lol.....

 

whoa you actually dont put those microfiber elastic pad thingys over the pad? but directly put the polishing compound on it? Does that mean the pad will be dirty and wear out within the first few uses? Or is there a way to clean the foam pad after each use? And, if polish goes directly on that foam pad, what are those elastic bonnets used for? thx!

 

anyways, I just ordered this kit, I think it's a great deal and includes a lot of products you recommended:
http://www.tools-plus.com/porter-cable-7424xp-m1.html

 

That kit come with a stock white pad that screws into the machine. Do not use this pad or you may damage your paint! You'll actually use the yellow backing plate with either the orange, white or black pad with either the compound or polish depending on the severity of the swirls/scratches you are working on. Use the orange pad with the compound and the white pad(non-stock) with the polish.

I would suggest that you also get a 3" backing plate along with a couple 3.5" orange and white pads. These smaller pads are much better for tight corners and around windows and edges. I would start by using the 3.5" pads first on the corners and tight spots then move to the 6.5" pads for the larger panel areas.

Also invest in some blue painters tape and cover the rubber and plastic trim. This will protect the trim from being stained by the polish and makes cleaning up much easier.

Good luck, that SWB will look great when finished.

BTW... a 6" bonnet should fit over the stock white pad. Usually I apply and remove wax by hand then sometimes follow that with a bonnet on the stock white pad to really ramp up the gloss.

 

^ thx man, great info! +1 rep sent

 

rb11701 has posted tons of great detailing info and his ask a detailer thread is tremendous.

Also check out the forums at http://www.autopia.org/forum/forum.php
They got everything you could ever want to know about technique, polishers, pads, polish, waxes, sealants etc... It's a good group of people offering real helpful info... very similar to tacomaworld.

Post some closeup pics of your paint before and after paint correction. That SWB will clean up real nice!