Halfords sell most of what has been recommended here but colinite etc are from www.cleanyourcar.co.uk
The washer is from your nearest Range store!
The washer is from your nearest Range store!
*** The Car Cleaning Thread ***
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jesus! you are suppose to rotate it so it doesnt get that dirty!
although saying that i "tested" it on my dads car roof and one wipe did that.... was your's really that bad on one panel? lol
I need to do mine again
although saying that i "tested" it on my dads car roof and one wipe did that.... was your's really that bad on one panel? lol
I need to do mine again
Yes thanks Overlag I do know how to clay a car 
I went through 200G of Bilt Hamber Auto Clay aka 12 quids worth today (I can't recommened this stuff enough btw, you do not require any sort of "Quik detailer" you simply use water as the lube instead). That picture was taken after "treating" one panel....
It really was a sorry state I had a lot of industrial fallout on the car as the previous owner worked at the railway and parked up near the lines at the station I'm led to believe.
I'm going to order some more clay up and give it another going over, 95% has been removed though I'm very pleased after 4 hours yes 4 hours claying. Removed a serious amount of crap from the car today, so much that the new box of clay had to go straight in the bin. My mate who's a detailer is going to machine polish it for beer money when I'm ready.
I went through 200G of Bilt Hamber Auto Clay aka 12 quids worth today (I can't recommened this stuff enough btw, you do not require any sort of "Quik detailer" you simply use water as the lube instead). That picture was taken after "treating" one panel....
It really was a sorry state I had a lot of industrial fallout on the car as the previous owner worked at the railway and parked up near the lines at the station I'm led to believe.
I'm going to order some more clay up and give it another going over, 95% has been removed though I'm very pleased after 4 hours yes 4 hours claying. Removed a serious amount of crap from the car today, so much that the new box of clay had to go straight in the bin. My mate who's a detailer is going to machine polish it for beer money when I'm ready.
Yes thanks Overlag I do know how to clay a car
I went through 200G of Bilt Hamber Auto Clay aka 12 quids worth today (I can't recommened this stuff enough btw, you do not require any sort of "Quik detailer" you simply use water as the lube instead). That picture was taken after "treating" one panel....
It really was a sorry state I had a lot of industrial fallout on the car as the previous owner worked at the railway and parked up near the lines at the station I'm led to believe.
I'm going to order some more clay up and give it another going over, 95% has been removed though I'm very pleased after 4 hours yes 4 hours claying. Removed a serious amount of crap from the car today, so much that the new box of clay had to go straight in the bin. My mate who's a detailer is going to machine polish it for beer money when I'm ready.
yeh my first claying took about 2hours but it was a year old car so wasnt too bad. Only used meg's clay so not as aggressive either i guess. Post pics when shes done
Yea Bilt specialises in removing Industrial Fallout (Orangy surface rust spots) tbh the second time round claying will take a lot less I'd imagine an hour or so. #
The boot took up most of my time, I think the rear of the car must have been facing the train lines as it was absoloutely pitted with contamination, removed all the badges and completely clayed it down, pleased to have removed at least 95% of it, I really don't believe I'll remove it all it's just not going to happen but the paintwork is like gloss now so much nicer. Going to pick up some nice new shiny Renault sport badges tommorow
I did take a few pictures but it was with a fail mobile camera.
The boot took up most of my time, I think the rear of the car must have been facing the train lines as it was absoloutely pitted with contamination, removed all the badges and completely clayed it down, pleased to have removed at least 95% of it, I really don't believe I'll remove it all it's just not going to happen but the paintwork is like gloss now so much nicer. Going to pick up some nice new shiny Renault sport badges tommorow
I did take a few pictures but it was with a fail mobile camera.
Apologies if its already been covered, but does anyone know of a UK based establishment that imports Porter Cables?
Cba to import one myself
G220 or a DAS-6 Dual Action Polisher would do the same job, but wont need 110volt transformers etc. or is there another reason to want a Porter Cable over the rest?
Porter Cable seems to be the "standard" in the detailing world, its not exactly that expensive and most guides/tutorials are written with this particular make/model in mind.
I have limited experience and for the sake of a couple of notes I would rather get something I can follow guides with to the letter
I have limited experience and for the sake of a couple of notes I would rather get something I can follow guides with to the letter
Well the G220 is the uk homologated Porter cable so go for one of those so you dont need a stupid transformer, or if you want to save some quid get yourself reading this thread. http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=83874 I followed that and saved myself a good £150 for a random orbital.
This thread has been a thoroughly entertaining read but a mightily confusing one at the same time. There's loads of great advice in here but there's so much to take in it's hard to know where to start. But having ploughed my way through it on a number of occasions I think I might have picked up enough along the way to take a stab at what would be the best combination of products for my car - an '03 Focus in Machine Silver.
I'm liking the look and the results from the Werkstat Acrylic Kit so I think that might be on the shopping list, but what sort of shampoo should I team it with? Is it worth going for the Werkstat Auto Body Wash or are shampoos all much of a muchness?
The price of all these new goodies soon add up but I'm willing to pay out to ensure I get the right stuff, first time. So with that in mind, what other bits and pieces do I need, bearing in mind I'm pretty much starting from scratch and I'd like to give my pride and joy some serious TLC during its time with me.
I'm liking the look and the results from the Werkstat Acrylic Kit so I think that might be on the shopping list, but what sort of shampoo should I team it with? Is it worth going for the Werkstat Auto Body Wash or are shampoos all much of a muchness?
The price of all these new goodies soon add up but I'm willing to pay out to ensure I get the right stuff, first time. So with that in mind, what other bits and pieces do I need, bearing in mind I'm pretty much starting from scratch and I'd like to give my pride and joy some serious TLC during its time with me.
whatever shampoo you like. Its job is purely to clean the car. nothing else
Once dried the shampoo will be all gone so just choose the one you like the look of.
As for a quick buyers guide. the post by mrk about 15 posts up is a very good place to start.
Except the werkstatt triple will do the job of polish / sealant for you.
If you are going for the Werkstat, I'd go for the shampoo as well. There is a noticeable difference in gloss when the car is dried between the other two shampoos I use (Poorboys Slick and Megs Hyper). Since topping with Concorso, the Megs gives better results.
If you are buying from Rich, check out his Show n' Shine section
As far as anything else you require, what do you have to start with?
I got some Bilberry wheel cleaner through SoliD the other day and it's pretty intense, cleans the wheels to a nice shine quickly and painlessly. Also the snow foam is cool, just need a lance to do it properly
All you need really is:
--In order of application--
> 2 buckets (£2 !)
> A decent shampoo (£3-£5 for a large tub of Triplewax)
> A decent washmit, not a sponge!! (£5)
> A hose or pressure washer (I would recommend the Nilfisk 110.3 after buying one recently after it was recommended to me) (£39)
> A Microfibre drying towel (£5-£10)
> A polish, Autoglym super resin polish for example (£9)
> A sealant or wax overcoat, Autoglym extra gloss protection for example (£9)
> An alloy wheel seal wax or spray, Autoglym Alloy Wheel Seal for example (£5)
All that will cost you around £80 but consider this a long term investment. The SRP and EGP will last you at least a year, the shampoo the same and the pressure washer while cheap, is better than competing brands that cost almost double and can be used around the house too but if you have a pressure washer or decent hose already then you saved £39
Is it standard for the wax to be used with every wash, and the polish to be used a couple of times a year?
What's Concorso? Sounds rather posh!
Oh, that's your GT-R. I thought I'd seen it somewhere before, albeit not looking quite as a shiny!If you are buying from Rich, check out his Show n' Shine section
Buckets of elbow grease and access to an unlimited supply of water, And, er, that's about it.
anyone finding it problematic to wash there cars at the moment? Its far too hot so i cant really do it as the car will dry itself in seconds leaving streaks etc. Then theres the polishing and waxing. the products want low temps but the body work is probably in the 60s at the moment.... 
anyone finding it problematic to wash there cars at the moment? Its far too hot so i cant really do it as the car will dry itself in seconds leaving streaks etc. Then theres the polishing and waxing. the products want low temps but the body work is probably in the 60s at the moment....
It's harder when you don't have a hose. Wax and polish you'll have to wait till the suns just popping in. Cleaning wise you can just do a panel then hose it off etc etc.
Aint cleaned mine for ages, I hate getting up close to the stone chips and other defects
anyone finding it problematic to wash there cars at the moment? Its far too hot so i cant really do it as the car will dry itself in seconds leaving streaks etc. Then theres the polishing and waxing. the products want low temps but the body work is probably in the 60s at the moment....
Just wash it later in the evening. after about 8pm out of the sun the bodywork will be much cooler and you will have enough light to do a full clean and dry. Anything else you will have to be getting up very early to get there just as the light is coming up.
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