*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***

[Irish_Tom]

Hi All,
Anyone here got any experience of using a Rotary. I have heard some good reviews of this product. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/cleanyoucar-ep801-compact-rotary-polisher/ep801-rotary-polisher-sonax-perfect-finish-kit/prod_1268.html

For the same price I would also consider this.

I went for this, it's the same as above with smaller pads as well, only slightly more expensive.

Not got any pictures, but I used my DAS-6 Pro for the first time at the weekend (Hex logic pads, Mezerna polishes & Dodo Purple Haze Wax).

Firstly it looks amazing albeit a little dusty from where the polish had dried out from it being such a warm day! Secondly it is absolutely insane how much work it turns out to be, thought i'd be finished long before I actually ended up putting everything away and making a run for it!

Anyone have an idea whether snow foam will strip off the wax/polish when I next wash the car at all? Should probably know this but to be honest have never given it too much thought as this is the first time I've proactively gone out to correct the swirls on the car.

DA is always going to require more effort than a rotary but a million times easier than by hand!

Assuming you're using a PH neutral snowfoam like Valet Pro your wax should be fine.

e: Incidentally, I spent the weekend machine polishing my Mondeo – gave it a full going over with Menzerna Super Finish SF4500 PO85RD and Menzerna Yellow Finishing Pad, then protected it with SRP followed by EGP then three layers of Collinite 476.

It may be a nine year old dagdag but it's got to be the shiniest in the country at the moment! It's a shame the alloys are letting it down so much.

Here's the obligatory bonnet reflection shot:

 

[GhostWKD]

Definately needed more effort but I found I was spending longer on each area trying to get the swirls out with only a mild cutting compound (IP2100) than I would have done before I knew too much about this sort of thing.

I tend to use Autobrite Super Snow Foam mixed with a little Car Shampoo (Use Muc Off shampoo with the snow foam but have meguiers gold & autoglym shampoos) - Think the SSF is PH Neutral so could always use that alone if would potentially be best?

Edit: Just to add this is because I've done a big clean on the car a week before euro trip and would like to give it a quick once over before I go

 

[Irish_Tom]

Definately needed more effort but I found I was spending longer on each area trying to get the swirls out with only a mild cutting compound (IP2100) than I would have done before I knew too much about this sort of thing.

I tend to use Autobrite Super Snow Foam mixed with a little Car Shampoo (Use Muc Off shampoo with the snow foam but have meguiers gold & autoglym shampoos) - Think the SSF is PH Neutral so could always use that alone if would potentially be best?

Edit: Just to add this is because I've done a big clean on the car a week before euro trip and would like to give it a quick once over before I go

I don't think Megs Gold or AG Shampoo strips wax but I would go with just the SSF to be on the safe side.

You could always go over the car with a quick detailer or liquid wax after you've dried it for a final layer of protection before the road trip.

 

[GhostWKD]

Nice clean reflections on the Mondeo must be said! Thanks for the advice on the products to use, great to run it past someone before going ahead with it all

Just remembered I got a couple of bad iPhone pics when cleaning at the weekend... not 100% but was quite happy with the outcome given it was my first time using all the kit.

A 50/50 on the bonnet

And a reflection but the sun had gone in at this time...

 

[Irish_Tom]

That 50/50 is brilliant, especially considering that area of the bonnet is so prone to stone chips!

I cheated with my pic, it wasn't in direct sunlight so it's always going to hide the lighter scratches.

 

[Greboth]

Hi All,
Anyone here got any experience of using a Rotary. I have heard some good reviews of this product. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/cleanyoucar-ep801-compact-rotary-polisher/ep801-rotary-polisher-sonax-perfect-finish-kit/prod_1268.html

If you are looking at that price point I don't think you can ebat the EP801. The silverline linked above is cheaper but also is heavier and has a higher start speed. For around £100 you can get a Dodo Juice spin doctor but suffers with a known problem with low rpm torque (also IIRC has a higher start speed too).

The reasons above plus that I couldn't justify £200+ on a machine that would be used once or twice a year is why I got an EP801. I have used more expensive machines on training days and not suprisingly the more expensive ones are nicer to use but it is an unfair comparison as they were £200 - £300 so they should be.

 

[nam]

Thank you, How difficult is it a machine for a newbie to use. I know about the constant movement and keeping it flat, but i am not looking to do anything drastic in terms of correct just help polish and wax my 2012 Audi A1..

If you are looking at that price point I don't think you can ebat the EP801. The silverline linked above is cheaper but also is heavier and has a higher start speed. For around £100 you can get a Dodo Juice spin doctor but suffers with a known problem with low rpm torque (also IIRC has a higher start speed too).

The reasons above plus that I couldn't justify £200+ on a machine that would be used once or twice a year is why I got an EP801. I have used more expensive machines on training days and not suprisingly the more expensive ones are nicer to use but it is an unfair comparison as they were £200 - £300 so they should be.

 

[TheSgtDK]

If anyone is interested, for the next 20mins or so you can pick up the Nilfisk C110 4-5 PC X-Tra from amazon for £49.99

click

 

[smr]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a new car. She's all nice and clean and shiny at the moment and I intend to keep her that way. I lack the effort needed to trawl through this thread and have severely limited knowledge of car cleaning.

Can anyone recommend me some good products for the following:

Good wash materials - mitts etc.
Shampoo
Polish
Bug, Tar and Tree Sap Removal
Tyre Dressing
Interior Valeting Products

I'm going to buy the nilfisk centennial pressure washer soon and want to get into snow foam cleaning as well as I haven't done this before so any recommendations on what snow foam to go for etc. and how it all works would be greatly appreciated. As I understand it snow foam is for pre washing and loosening the car?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Conscript]

Materials - Get a microfibre wash mitt, a big soft microfibre drying towel, and lots of sundry microfibres.
Shampoo - Jurys out on this one. I haven't really noticed much difference between shampoos. I use AG Bodywork shampoo, but I think all it's there for is to lubricate the mitt, so anything will do - plenty of people seem happy with cheap shampoo.
Polish - AG Super Resin Polish is a good, easy to use product. Doesn't cut much but contains chalk which fills swirls. Easy to get good results with little effort.
Bug/Tat/Tree Sap - Never used them myself, I'm sure someone else can weigh in.
Trye Dressing - Chemical Guys New Look Trim Gel
Interior - I use Poorboys Natural Look Dressing for the interior plastics, AG Leather Cleaner/AG Leather Care Balm on the seats.

Snow foam - ValetPro snow foam seems to get the most praise here. I use the cheap no brand CleanyourCar.co.uk stuff and it seems to work fine.

GO!

 

[Phil W]

Anybody in here local to S-O-T or Shropshire with the machine polishing shizzle? My Octavia needs de-swirling

 

[Bigpig]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a new car. She's all nice and clean and shiny at the moment and I intend to keep her that way. I lack the effort needed to trawl through this thread and have severely limited knowledge of car cleaning.

Can anyone recommend me some good products for the following:

Good wash materials - mitts etc.
Shampoo
Polish
Bug, Tar and Tree Sap Removal
Tyre Dressing
Interior Valeting Products

I'm going to buy the nilfisk centennial pressure washer soon and want to get into snow foam cleaning as well as I haven't done this before so any recommendations on what snow foam to go for etc. and how it all works would be greatly appreciated. As I understand it snow foam is for pre washing and loosening the car?

Thanks for any help!

Pick up a lambswool mit

I love Zymol Natural Car Wash.think it's around 5 quid in halfords

srp should be fine if your car is new and not many defects. It should clean and hide any that's there

Ironx and Tardis is the go to products for tar/bug.

You want to get a nice wax or sealant to protect your new paint work.

Wait for the halfords 3 for 2 on car cleaning products it pops up nearly all the time. You can really pick up a lot of gear

 

[Phil W]

Might as well pop this in here, posted in Honda thread too..

Gave my mates CTR a spruce up yesterday, he's away working and his fiancé wanted it spotless for his return. Shame really, its mechanically perfect and fully maintained by Honda but the car has been neglected cosmetically and it shows

Wax has been buffed off and tyre shine just applied here

 

[Bigpig]

Hey guys after a few tips. Just after going over the car with a da with hexlogic green pad and Meg's UC now am very happy with the results as I removed most of the swirl but I notice can notice some slight holograms. Think this is mostly down to my technique and black car?

Thinking of going over the car in the morning with Meg's 205 and a hexlogic white pad. It should remove the holograms? Also what speed setting should I be using with 205 and white pad for finishing?

 

[nam]

ordered the EP801 Sonax kit, I have a small scratch near the drivers side door which i will post photo of once i have washed and clayed the car tomorrow.

Can someone comment on my workflow

1) Start of with 2 small pea sized drops on the Orange Pad with speed setting on slowest settings no pressure just spreading the polish
2) after 60-90 secs , turn up the speed and continue (left > Right) motion until polish is dissolving, no additional pressure
3) Continue working at high speed until polish is dissolved..

 

[cheechm]

Hey guys after a few tips. Just after going over the car with a da with hexlogic green pad and Meg's UC now am very happy with the results as I removed most of the swirl but I notice can notice some slight holograms. Think this is mostly down to my technique and black car?

Thinking of going over the car in the morning with Meg's 205 and a hexlogic white pad. It should remove the holograms? Also what speed setting should I be using with 205 and white pad for finishing?

Assuming a DA polisher I'd use between 3 and 5.

 

[Bigpig]

Does Halfords stock anything similar to an api wipe? To remove polishing oils?

also the lower door is a right pain to get comfortable. Anyone just sit on there arse?

Assuming a DA polisher I'd use between 3 and 5.

cheers

 

[GhostWKD]

also the lower door is a right pain to get comfortable. Anyone just sit on there arse?

Glad it wasn't just me thinking this! I do and did end up sat on my backside when doing the lower parts of the car

 

[Irish_Tom]

I sit on one of my wash buckets.

 

[PiKe]

Clean cars are all well and good but we should have a contest to see who can get theirs the dirtiest