Machine polishing cars

[Piece]

T-Cut + elbow grease, then Auto Glym super resin, and finish with a coat of Auto Glym extra protection. Jobs a good'un.

Whilst we're on the subject does anyone know of a good product for keeping brake dust from sticking to alloys? Mine are awful to keep clean.

If you really want a proper job on this, I use a quartz coating. It is like runny nail varnish that you apply with a suede cloth and bar. If applied properly (read instructions/watch a vid), it will be excellent, better (IMHO) than wax sealants, mainly because of results and it will last around 12 months. Only apply though once the wheel is spotless; i.e. de-ironed, clayed and prepped. If the alloys are simple, then I would recommend this approach. Gyeon Q2 Rim is what I use, from Polished Bliss.

You can use wax and synthetic sealants too. Slightly easier to apply for more 'complex' alloys and last around 2-3 months.

 

[Slime]

I have never really got into car cleaning, and certainly not polishing or waxing and such. Both of my cars could do with some tlc, and so i have started to do a bit of remedial work by hand, just a very basic go with autoglym scratch remover and some autoglym polish. Its flipping hard work though, so was thinking about buying a machine. So, some questions then:

What is involved, what damage can i do, what do i need, pitfalls i can avoid? Etc.

I am not after a show car finish, just something that is a uniform colour, vaguely shiny, and without loads of swirly marks.

Any help out there? Thanks.

Plenty of time and effort. No real damage can be done when using a Dual Action polisher, I have a Das-6 Pro and leaves a fabulous finish. I use it with Menzerna FG400 and Menzerna Super Finish 3500.
Get a gnarly old bonnet from a scrappy to practice on.

Takes forever  taping rubber seals as the machine gets polish everywhere keeping the pad wet enough to not burn the paint etc. Best watch YouTube for some tips.
Enjoy your free time while you can its addictive

I've never suffered from polish splatter and it's almost impossible to burn the paint when using a DA polisher.

Such blaspemy deserves a yellow card

Is the correct answer.

T-Cut + elbow grease, then Auto Glym super resin, and finish with a coat of Auto Glym extra protection. Jobs a good'un.

Whilst we're on the subject does anyone know of a good product for keeping brake dust from sticking to alloys? Mine are awful to keep clean.

Get them really clean and then wax them. A weekly wash and quarterly re-wax generally does the job.


I got into it through a forum called Detailing World. They have ALL the answers!
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/index.php

I generally buy my products from a firm called Clean your Car and, as a Detailing World member, get a discount.

For tips on using a polisher, I watch the You Tube channel of Junkman 2000 ............ he's ace.
Finally, when claying your car, I use a Fareclá G3 clay mitt, which is availble from Halford who usually do good deals on car clean products such as 3 for 2 offers.
Warning ................. it can get addictive and takes a long time to do a thorough job, but it's so worth it in the end. You can also do the car in sections if that's more convenient.

Oh, NEVER put a sponge near the paint and NEVER dry the car with a chamois.

Piece's post #10 was pretty bang on but, for ultimate nerdiness, dry your vehicle with a leaf blower!!


Enjoy :thup:.

 

[Slime]

Just a quick example of what can be easily achieved.

Before;

After;

 

[Piece]

Lovely stuff Slime :thup:

Polishing done properly is very satisfying :clap:

 

[SaintHacker]

once you have them clean, use this stuff. https://www.amazon.co.uk/PoorBoys-W...6672791&sr=8-1&keywords=poorboy+wheel+sealant

its awesome!

:thup:

 

[user2010]

Just a quick example of what can be easily achieved.

Before;

After;

A fine example of polishing a turd.:thup:

 

[Slime]

A fine example of polishing a turd.:thup:

Hey, I got a lot of money for that turd :whoo:.

 

[Slime]

It just takes a bit of time, effort and care and wonderful things are possible.
My DIL's 12 year old Astra had to be cleaned prior to selling it, which was the first time it'd been cleaned for years. It ended up like below and, as a result, sold quickly for top dollar!
Here's one of the bonnet and two of the roof;

It really can be wonderfully satisfying.

 

[Piece]

Aaah beading......

 

[Rooter]

Ahh the days when i had more than 20 minutes to clean the car! Dug out some old ones of my old 330.

Before:


During:


After:

 

[USER1999]

Ahh the days when i had more than 20 minutes to clean the car! Dug out some old ones of my old 330.

Before:
View attachment 23730

During:
View attachment 23731

After:
View attachment 23732

This is exactly the sort of marks i want to get rid of.

 

[Rooter]

This is exactly the sort of marks i want to get rid of.

then you need a DA polisher and the suitable pads a cutting compound, polish and some elbow grease.

 

[Slime]

This is exactly the sort of marks i want to get rid of.

They're usually caused by washing a car with a sponge that's just been dipped in a bucket of dirty water.
Never use a sponge, use a microfibre wash mitt and two buckets of water, one with warm, soapy water and the other with clean water, just as Piece advised earlier.

Halfords clay mitt is just £13;
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/ca...iling-products/farecla-g3-body-prep-clay-mitt

Halfords bucket for £1;
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/sponges-brushes-buckets/halfords-10-litre-bucket

Halfords wash mitt is just £3;
http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-cleaning/sponges-brushes-buckets/halfords-wash-mitt