Interesting Looking for some more wax myself.... got any pics?

Awful photos I know, car is in the garage and its dark and with my old phone so not sure they are any use?! But in the flesh the paint work is stunning so smooth, like glass

[URL=http://img59.imageshack.us/i/sz1q.jpg/][IMG]http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/4508/sz1q.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL=http://img408.imageshack.us/i/zs2x.jpg/][IMG]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/1636/zs2x.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[quote name='aph1101' date='24 June 2010 - 07:17 PM' timestamp='1277402822' post='86051']
Interesting Looking for some more wax myself.... got any pics?
[/quote]
Try some of Autosmarts wax. Brilliant stuff.

Thanks, both

Thanks for the pics, the reflections look amazing, very smooth

I'll have a google for that one Gaz

Some pictures on my first attempt of machine polishing.

[size="4"]Before[/size]
[img]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/Gazjs/Photo135.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/Gazjs/Photo136.jpg[/img]
[size="4"]After[/size]
[img]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/Gazjs/Photo148.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/Gazjs/Photo146.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i661.photobucket.com/albums/uu340/Gazjs/Photo147.jpg[/img]

After pictures are finished with Autosmart Wax

As some of you may kno, i recently got my 1st ford
A mk7 zetec in ocean blue

The car was built december 09 and had sat around until aboutr 4 weeks ago when i took delivery.
As you can imagine, the morons at ford put a fair few scratches in the paintwork, i only assume this is because the monkeys who wash the cars for them dont see a problem with putting a poundland spnge on teh floor and then picking it up to was the car with!!

So.. i washed and waxed (with 2 coats of AG HD) the car the first time it was washed
THen washed it a week later in better light and was not really happy with the condition of the paint

THis is where i would appreciate so advice

Today, should i wash, dry, then super resin polish (will this help remove light marks?) and then HD wax it again?

And also, potentially, next time should i claybar beforehand?
thanks very much
any help is much appreciated

RBJ

[quote name='Mk7_Rbj' date='25 June 2010 - 11:52 AM' timestamp='1277462554' post='86124']
As some of you may kno, i recently got my 1st ford
A mk7 zetec in ocean blue

The car was built december 09 and had sat around until aboutr 4 weeks ago when i took delivery.
As you can imagine, the morons at ford put a fair few scratches in the paintwork, i only assume this is because the monkeys who wash the cars for them dont see a problem with putting a poundland spnge on teh floor and then picking it up to was the car with!!

So.. i washed and waxed (with 2 coats of AG HD) the car the first time it was washed
THen washed it a week later in better light and was not really happy with the condition of the paint

THis is where i would appreciate so advice

Today, should i wash, dry, then super resin polish (will this help remove light marks?) and then HD wax it again?

And also, potentially, next time should i claybar beforehand?
thanks very much
any help is much appreciated

RBJ
[/quote]
SRP will defiantly help with the light scratches. However, I would do things in a different order.

Wash
Clay
Wash
Dry
SRP
Wax

This order will be most effective as if you were to go ahead today with washing, waxing etc then the next time you get out the clay bar, you would remove all the hard work you done today. If you are eager to get on with the work today, I recommend Meguiars clay kit available in Halfords for around £25.

Thanks for the quick response Gaz! Much appreciated

I feel the best bet for me today then will be to just wash and clean interior and exterior... and place an order online for a decent claybar (and i am also thinking miocrofibre towel to replace the natural chamois?)

And so, before i do place an order, are there any other products you can think of that i am missing which woudl be handy?
And which company do you suggest out of the 3 or so mentioned in this thread?

Thanks alot

[quote name='Mk7_Rbj' date='25 June 2010 - 12:06 PM' timestamp='1277463399' post='86127']
Thanks for the quick response Gaz! Much appreciated

I feel the best bet for me today then will be to just wash and clean interior and exterior... and place an order online for a decent claybar (and i am also thinking miocrofibre towel to replace the natural chamois?)

And so, before i do place an order, are there any other products you can think of that i am missing which woudl be handy?
And which company do you suggest out of the 3 or so mentioned in this thread?

Thanks alot
[/quote]
That sounds a good bet until you can get the relevant materials. Big yes for the microfibre towel, this will help preserve your paintwork from scratches and swirls. The list I would personally use for the task in hand:

3 Buckets - Wash, Rinse, Wheels (Unless really weird like myself 2 will do)
3 Microfibre wash mitts - Upper body, lower body, wheels (Again, 2 will do)
Car shampoo with a splash of APC to start a blank (APC not really needed)
Claybar
Clay Lube
2 Drying Towel - Body and Wheels
SRP
Applicator Pads
Microfibre cloths
Wax

Sorry, again taken with my 3mp 2yr old phone

[URL=http://www.imagecross.com/11/image-hosting-view-39.php?id=2695Z1.jpg][IMG]http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-th-39/2695Z1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Click Image to Enlarge [URL=http://www.imagecross.com/]Image Hosting[/URL]

[URL=http://www.imagecross.com/11/image-hosting-view-39.php?id=6064z2.jpg][IMG]http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-th-39/6064z2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Click Image to Enlarge [URL=http://www.imagecross.com/]Image Hosting[/URL]

[URL=http://www.imagecross.com/11/image-hosting-view-39.php?id=2736z3.jpg][IMG]http://hosting11.imagecross.com/image-hosting-th-39/2736z3.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Click Image to Enlarge [URL=http://www.imagecross.com/]Image Hosting[/URL]

Hey guys,

What do I use if im wanting to put a fresh couple of covers of wax on, to take the previous coatings (or whats left of them) off?

APC would do a nice job of this, along with clay.
Depending on how long ago you applied the wax most of it is probably off anyway

About a month ago its got the AG Super Resin and HD treatments, so im thinking by the time the summer out it would be times to strip it back and give it another coat, just wanted to know what to order in for that time.

Umm happen to have a link where to by Gaz?

Sorry tahts Meguires all purpse cleaner, the green tub?...alot of poeple talk about its interior cleaning!?!?!?

It can be used for absolute anything. I prefer to use Autosmart G101. Just add a drop into wash bucket or pressure sprayer and it will aid in stripping wax.

May be of interest I think I'm bad at buying detailing stuff This guy charges 7k to fully detail a car

[url="http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/britains-most-expensive-car-wash-gurcharn-sahota-2010-07-20"]Top gear link[/url]

[url="http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/10700893"]BBC Link[/url]

I seen this in today's paper ... MAD

I heard about this on Radio One then read up about it online, first thing I thought of was this thread

I heard about this on Radio One then read up about it online, first thing I thought of was this thread

[color="#FF0000"][size="5"][center]NEW DISCOUNT CODE IN ORIGINAL POST[/center][/size][/color]

5% discount at www.elitecarcare.co.uk courtesy of Alexandra

enjoy everyone

hey guys im new on here and have a vision blue fiesta .. what is the best cleaning products to bring out its true colour to use on this pain?

Hi Johnny - give us an idea of how much you want to spend on your products, asking for the 'best' could set you back many hundreds of pounds.

For help, there's my detailing guide, it lists suitable products for each stage and tells you what's what.

[url="http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8406"]Deatiling Guide[/url]

[b]SNOW FOAM[/b]

I am thinking of using snow foam for the first time, firstly is it worth it on a 6month old car, also if yes whats the cheapest way to get involved with foam and an applicator?

thanks

am i allowed to post in here now as i no longer own a fiesta, but still use the dodo juice products and find the advice given here very handy?

[quote name='sussex' date='14 August 2010 - 01:00 PM' timestamp='1281786619' post='92802']
[b]SNOW FOAM[/b]

I am thinking of using snow foam for the first time, firstly is it worth it on a 6month old car, also if yes whats the cheapest way to get involved with foam and an applicator?

thanks
[/quote]

Definitely worth it. I used it from new on our fiesta. It is simply a contactless pre-wash which removes an amount of road film/grit before you go at the car with your mitt. The cheapest way in as far as I know will cost around £50 and that would get you an I4D lance and some I4D foam.

[url="http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ei4detailing%2eco%2euk%2fcgi%2dbin%2fsh000001%2epl%3fREFPAGE%3dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww%252ei4detailing%252eco%252euk%252fcgi%252dbin%252fss000001%252epl%253fREFPAGE%253dhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fi4detailing%252eco%252euk%25252Facatalog%25252Fsearch%252ehtml%2526RANDOM%253dNETQUOTEVAR%25253ARANDOM%2526PAGE%253dSEARCH%2526SS%253dfoam%2520lance%2526TB%253dA%2526PR%253d%252d1%2526GB%253dA%2526ACTION%253dSearch%26WD%3dfoam%2520lance%2520snow%26PN%3dSnow_Foam_5L_2%252ehtml%2523a1_21SNOW5L&WD=hd%20lance&PN=HD_Snow_Foam_Lance_1L%2ehtml%23aHDFL1L#aHDFL1L"]Lance[/url]

[url="http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ei4detailing%2eco%2euk%2fcgi%2dbin%2fss000001%2epl%3fREFPAGE%3dhttp%253A%252F%252Fi4detailing%2eco%2euk%252Facatalog%252Fsearch%2ehtml%26RANDOM%3dNETQUOTEVAR%253ARANDOM%26PAGE%3dSEARCH%26SS%3dfoam%20lance%26TB%3dA%26PR%3d%2d1%26GB%3dA%26ACTION%3dSearch&WD=foam%20lance%20snow&PN=Snow_Foam_5L_2%2ehtml%23a1_21SNOW5L#a1_21SNOW5L"]Snow Foam[/url]

Hope that helps, and feel free to ask any more questions

[quote name='WelshAde' date='14 August 2010 - 01:09 PM' timestamp='1281787198' post='92805']
am i allowed to post in here now as i no longer own a fiesta, but still use the dodo juice products and find the advice given here very handy?
[/quote]
NO!!!! Totally against the rules of FOC
Go ahead .....

Hello, was gonna do some ordering for some bits and pieces but was going o ask, is their anything you can buy that removes fly guts off the front well?....I think I must have spent 45mins alone and was knackered trying to remove every spec of "gut" from the front, seriously kills me thinking of having to go thru that again.

This is mostly due to the fact im on the Motorways for my journey to work, so they are being hit at a fair speed.

A decent layer of wax and a decent shampoo should shift those baked on flies.

As above, no bug remover needed with good shampoo. The wax will then make subsequent washes easier also.

Well there lays the problem...the car has been coated with AtuoGlym resin, then a layer of their HD Wax, and generally washing with a Fibre Mit with Meg's Gold...so wheres it going wrong?

Meg's Gold Class isn't great. Hyperwash is ok.

A prewash will help shift the bugs, so snow foam could help - but I would suggest that Dodo BTBM would shift them without help, it does on my car and I have identical paint to you.

Just so you know I dont have apower hose or anything like that, so I start from hand with the mitt.

we have a karcher 520M pressure washer we use on the terrace etc

[img]http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r85/Edi-no-son/karcher620m1.jpg[/img]

can this be used for snow foam in any way?

sorry if this is a stupid question!

I can't see any reason why that won't work

Did you see my info on the previous page?

i did thankyou :-) if i were to use the karcher how would that connect to the snow foam?

firstly if you havent got one already then you will need one of these

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/elite-heavy-duty-foam-lance-6-types-of-fitment-and-free-1l.php

you will also need some snow foam to go with it

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/ph-neutral-snow-foam.php

you just connect the snow foam lance to the karcher spray head and bobs your uncle

You connect the snow foam lance to your pressure washer like you would the normal spray gun attachment. The lance has the same connector on it as your other karcher attachments.

[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/4007447239_985667651f_o.jpg[/img]

When that lance is attached and full of foam solution, you're ready to go I quite like to add a squirt of shampoo to the mixture aswell.

Back to basics, how do I hand wash a car using tap water, without all the minerals in the water around here leaving unsightly watermarks ? I have tried for years using different leathers but I am stll left with smears. Is there some additive I can put in the water to prevent this or are there shampoos that prevent this. ?

You have a few options to help with water marks...

1) Use a decent shampoo - the better the lubricity the less standing water will be left on your car.

2) Use a technique called 'sheeting' after you have washed the car, rinse the car with an open hose (no pressure washer or hose attachments) allow as much water to run off the car that way. There are YouTube videos on this.

3) Use a drying aid - there are specific products out there such as Dodo Time to Dry, but I use a good quality quick detailer spray, which is a sound investment because it has many other uses on the car.

4) Use a high quality mircofibre drying towel - not a leather - and pat dry, don't rub.

5) Do you have a water butt in the garden? If not, you could fit one. Using rain water (even unfiltered) is both eco friendly and the water will have no additives. Alternatively you can buy filtered, de-ionised or destilled water, but that's a very pricey option and one that I have never needed if I've followed the other techniques.

anyone used the new dodo need for speed product?

[quote name='Magenta' date='19 August 2010 - 09:16 AM' timestamp='1282205170' post='93727']
Back to basics, how do I hand wash a car using tap water, without all the minerals in the water around here leaving unsightly watermarks ? I have tried for years using different leathers but I am stll left with smears. Is there some additive I can put in the water to prevent this or are there shampoos that prevent this. ?
[/quote]


Get yourself a bucket of water mixed with a car shampoo , first rinse the car down with a hose (sometimes i dont even bother) , make sure you have a decent sponge (any sponge will do as long as its not dirty and falling to bits).

Once washed rinse off a again with hose to make sure you have removed any soap.

Now get youself a shammy and dry off(i use a proper shammy leather not them synthetic ones).

I would not worry about the minerals in the water?

Job done!

DON'T use "any sponge"! This will scratch the car like no tomorrow! Get atleast a microfiber mit or something like it. Also, don't use any type of shammy, this will also scratch the car like no tomorrow. Again, use microfiber drying towels. The appeal of cheap sponges might be alright on your walet, but really for a few extra quid get Microfiber to save the damage you will do to the car.

[quote name='mitch84' date='26 August 2010 - 11:49 AM' timestamp='1282819183' post='94723']
Get yourself a bucket of water mixed with a car shampoo , first rinse the car down with a hose (sometimes i dont even bother) , make sure you have a decent sponge (any sponge will do as long as its not dirty and falling to bits).

Once washed rinse off a again with hose to make sure you have removed any soap.

Now get youself a shammy and dry off(i use a proper shammy leather not them synthetic ones).

I would not worry about the minerals in the water?

Job done!
[/quote]

Mitch84 - you need to read the rest of this thread...washing in the way you have suggested is out dated at best and down right dangerous to your paint at worst.

As Mark says - sponges are a no no unless it's a Zymol sponge or perhaps a natural sea sponge.

The chamois is also a bad idea.

The simplest way to think of what to use is to think about the way they're made up - a chamois has no pile, and neither does a sponge. That means that anything picked up mid wash is still in contact with the paint as you continue to wash - the result, tiny scratches that when viewed under strong light can be seen as 'swirls'.

A wash mitt or drying towel, both have a pile - the dirt goes into the pile away from the paint and it kept from scratching anything.

[quote name='WelshAde' date='25 August 2010 - 05:43 PM' timestamp='1282754028' post='94651']
anyone used the new dodo need for speed product?
[/quote]

anyone used it??

Sorry Ade - didn't see that...

Yes, I have - it's a good product if you don't want to go the whole hog.

great thanks, so its just wipe on buff off affair

[quote name='DanGull' date='26 August 2010 - 01:39 PM' timestamp='1282825773' post='94736']
Mitch84 - you need to read the rest of this thread...washing in the way you have suggested is out dated at best and down right dangerous to your paint at worst.

As Mark says - sponges are a no no unless it's a Zymol sponge or perhaps a natural sea sponge.

The chamois is also a bad idea.

The simplest way to think of what to use is to think about the way they're made up - a chamois has no pile, and neither does a sponge. That means that anything picked up mid wash is still in contact with the paint as you continue to wash - the result, tiny scratches that when viewed under strong light can be seen as 'swirls'.

A wash mitt or drying towel, both have a pile - the dirt goes into the pile away from the paint and it kept from scratching anything.
[/quote]

ah sorry , i personnaly have been using a sponge and shammy with no problems , i must admit i do have one of them meguires hand mits , should i maybe use that ? (i did find it strange when i used it thats why i went back to a sponge)

when i wash my car next i will try the meguires mit again.

Could someone recommend me a drying cloth please?

[url="http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fi4detailing.co.uk%2f&WD=drying%20towel&PN=I4D_Uber_Blue_Drying_Towel_1.html%23aI4DBLUEDRY#aI4DBLUEDRY"]This one[/url] is a good place to start

[quote name='aph1101' date='27 August 2010 - 12:26 PM' timestamp='1282907783' post='94838']
[url="http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fi4detailing.co.uk%2f&WD=drying%20towel&PN=I4D_Uber_Blue_Drying_Towel_1.html%23aI4DBLUEDRY#aI4DBLUEDRY"]This one[/url] is a good place to start
[/quote]

that looks huge , is that the only place to get it? , i was also looking at the meguire water magnet but i would like to spend a bit less without losing the quality?

The Water Magnet isn't great - the towel that Alex listed is very good. The size is an important consideration - a very large towel can be draped and used to pat dry, rather than moving it over the paint. This further reduces the risk of scratching.

You get 7.5% off at i4D if you use out forum discount code - FOCX