*** Car Wash / Valet / Detailing Thread ***
- Thread starter ShiWarrior
- Start date
Borrowed a friend's polishing machine this week, lost one of the pads. So want to replace it, they were the generic pads that came with it, no name brand.
Are the pads on amazon, or the kit on halfords a decent replacement? Or are they trash?
www.halfords.com
The halfords one look like exact replacements.
Are the pads on amazon, or the kit on halfords a decent replacement? Or are they trash?
Halfords Foam Pads (Hard/Medium/Soft) | Halfords UK
Shop the latest Halfords Foam Pads in Hard Medium and Soft at Halfords UK
www.halfords.com
The halfords one look like exact replacements.
Soldato
Noticing in this weather, snow foam is a better way to go rather than pump sprayer - the sprayer is drying too quickly for it to be effective as a pre wash.
Did a full machine polish on the other half's fiesta at the weekend - what a job it was in the sun.
About 5 hours work, and that was with the clay bar and decontamination been done a couple of weeks before.
Did a full machine polish on the other half's fiesta at the weekend - what a job it was in the sun.
About 5 hours work, and that was with the clay bar and decontamination been done a couple of weeks before.
- Snow foam (for above reason)
- Wash (inc Surfex HD for wheels & tyres)
- Dry
- Single stage cut & finish with Scholl Concepts S20 Black & Lake Country Manufacturing HDO Blue Foam pad (killer combo IMO - amazing cutting ability for a single stage). Did the headlights with it too and they came up REALLY well.
- Panel wipe
- Finished with Rupes Uno Advanced and Koch Chemie Purple pad
- Tyre dressing with poor boy natural look to finish it off.
Caporegime
That is an absolutely stunning colour btw 
Soldato
That is an absolutely stunning colour btw
Very different to the other vehicles on the road, which was one of the main reasons we got it.
It’s nice having a car which is easy to spot in a car park
Soldato
I am just sitting here downing a Brandy before I venture outside to wash my Focus - Only washed right side earlier in week to make sure hot soapy water will wash off these sand grains stuck in wax. Might even take a pic.
i think the Snow Foam did its job
nice one :thunbsUp:
nice one :thunbsUp:
paintwork is too hot in Cambs today, unless you got up at 5:30am, and then, the neighbours might complain about pressure washer or DAP use.
Associate
Can anyone recommend a dual action polisher, looking at the Halfords one but happy to buy a Chinese cheapy if it will do the same job?
Soldato
Das 6 V2 is a decent place to start.
Associate
Cheers, I'll take look
Associate
Now all I normally do for washing cars is as follows
* Using a bucket of water to wet wheels.
* Spray wheels with a wheel cleaner.
* Using a few different sizes of plastic bristled brushes I clean thd wheels.
* Clean wheels with another bucket of water.
* Using a chamois leather, dry off the wheels.
* Chuck a bucket of water over the car.
* Using a sponge, bucket of lukewarm warm water, wash the car.
* Wash car off with a bucket or two of clean water.
* Use a chamois leather to dry off.
Sometimes I may wax the car and polish off.
Now we have three cars I want to start doing a better clean on the cars but don't know where to start or what products to buy.
Looking at the cars, there's several places with scratches in the lacquer, using tcut I have removed the shallower scratches but the deeper ones remain. My daughters Corsa also has slightly misted headlights - it was a cheap car for her to learn in - today we dropped the headliner to replace the aerial gasket which was perished.
So based upon all of the above would it be better to look at scratch removal first and if so what products would people recommend? Also been watching YouTube regards polishing the headlights to remove misting, feel this could be a good starting point - has anyone done this?
Then what products for washing the cars, maintaining the paintwork would people recommend?
Obviously I can't go out and buy loads of kit or products all at once but would like to start buying the right products or better quality products over time rather than just use the generic stuff we use.
Where would you guys start onorder to build up your cleaning kit?
Matt
* Using a bucket of water to wet wheels.
* Spray wheels with a wheel cleaner.
* Using a few different sizes of plastic bristled brushes I clean thd wheels.
* Clean wheels with another bucket of water.
* Using a chamois leather, dry off the wheels.
* Chuck a bucket of water over the car.
* Using a sponge, bucket of lukewarm warm water, wash the car.
* Wash car off with a bucket or two of clean water.
* Use a chamois leather to dry off.
Sometimes I may wax the car and polish off.
Now we have three cars I want to start doing a better clean on the cars but don't know where to start or what products to buy.
Looking at the cars, there's several places with scratches in the lacquer, using tcut I have removed the shallower scratches but the deeper ones remain. My daughters Corsa also has slightly misted headlights - it was a cheap car for her to learn in - today we dropped the headliner to replace the aerial gasket which was perished.
So based upon all of the above would it be better to look at scratch removal first and if so what products would people recommend? Also been watching YouTube regards polishing the headlights to remove misting, feel this could be a good starting point - has anyone done this?
Then what products for washing the cars, maintaining the paintwork would people recommend?
Obviously I can't go out and buy loads of kit or products all at once but would like to start buying the right products or better quality products over time rather than just use the generic stuff we use.
Where would you guys start onorder to build up your cleaning kit?
Matt
Caporegime
Go watch some of Larry Kosilla's video on youtube. Sooooo much information on there
His spring clean up step by step is well worth a watch:
As for the scratches, dodgy territory. Ideally to properly sort them you want to get into the world of machine polishing. Go visit your local scrapyard / breakers and see if you can find cheap / free panels to practice on and learn a bit before taking it to your own car.
I'd also recommend the detailingworld forums for UK product recommendations. Larry's video as instructuctional videos are good, and I've no doubt his products are good, but USA based so you get shafted on shipping and import duties etc.. so unless you happen to have a friend in the states - buy from UK distributors like clearyourcar.co.uk
As for product recommendations
1st order of business is bin the sponge, and the chamois leather. Get yourself some microfibre cloths and drying towels. Zero point you polishing you car to make it all look nice, then to go put scratches back in it.
Be warned though, you can go very deep down the rabbit hole with this hobby
His spring clean up step by step is well worth a watch:
As for the scratches, dodgy territory. Ideally to properly sort them you want to get into the world of machine polishing. Go visit your local scrapyard / breakers and see if you can find cheap / free panels to practice on and learn a bit before taking it to your own car.
I'd also recommend the detailingworld forums for UK product recommendations. Larry's video as instructuctional videos are good, and I've no doubt his products are good, but USA based so you get shafted on shipping and import duties etc.. so unless you happen to have a friend in the states - buy from UK distributors like clearyourcar.co.uk
As for product recommendations
1st order of business is bin the sponge, and the chamois leather. Get yourself some microfibre cloths and drying towels. Zero point you polishing you car to make it all look nice, then to go put scratches back in it.
Be warned though, you can go very deep down the rabbit hole with this hobby
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Yeah... my first attempt looked perfect for all of 3 days... then once it had "cured" I guess... awful. (That was more than just polishing).
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Are these scratches deep enough to get catch a finger nail in? Or are they swirl marks?
Have a look at the washing cars/ valeting/ detailing thread. You’ll find some good tips and advice. Sounds like the car in question needs a good session with a machine polisher (DA) with a compound this is usual know as paint correction. There are lots of good YouTube videos on how to do this safely and plenty of product reviews. One my favourites is the forensic detailing channel. Be warned this could start you down a rabbit hole and a large credit card bill. . Once you have most the equipment and cleaning chemicals it’s not that bad.
Have a look at the washing cars/ valeting/ detailing thread. You’ll find some good tips and advice. Sounds like the car in question needs a good session with a machine polisher (DA) with a compound this is usual know as paint correction. There are lots of good YouTube videos on how to do this safely and plenty of product reviews. One my favourites is the forensic detailing channel. Be warned this could start you down a rabbit hole and a large credit card bill. . Once you have most the equipment and cleaning chemicals it’s not that bad.