I now consider detailing a car to be manual labor
#18
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I bought a Griot's random orbital and it's great. I still remove the polish and wax by hand, but the job goes so much faster when you apply it with the machine. It also takes out swirl marks much better. If you use it properly, you won't damage the paint. It's not difficult to use properly.
But the Griot's is great when it comes to polishing and even applying the wax. Plus it's difficult to damage the paint since you can literally put all your weight on it and the machine will not burn through. I had a couple of light scuffs on the hardtop and I was able to get them removed with some mild polish.
Thankfully it hasn't rained here all week so I still have a decent shine going on...
#19
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First point is "my god the things the size if a red rider wagon" It takes me exactly 1.5 hours to clean and wax my car. I use a product called permanon which is used in the yachting industry. It uses some very advanced technology to prevent the surface from fouling in the first place.
#20
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absolute pain in the ***. Hate detailing. If it wasn't so bloody expensive and more technically difficult, I'd pay someone.
I stopped caring about my car being clean.
I stopped caring about my car being clean.
#22
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I have a black car.
I take it in for a "paint correction" and full detail job once a year (April). I take over on the washing and cosmetic care thereafter, which I really enjoy.
As much a like to do the "heavy lifting" (buffing etc..) and have all the equipment to do so, my results are never as good as the pros.
I take it in for a "paint correction" and full detail job once a year (April). I take over on the washing and cosmetic care thereafter, which I really enjoy.
As much a like to do the "heavy lifting" (buffing etc..) and have all the equipment to do so, my results are never as good as the pros.
I'll leave it to him to do what he does, although I do enjoy the regular maintenance work and interior/engine bay.
Cheers,
Robert
#23
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My favorite T-shirt has a giant Q-Tip in the front and back...
and a big red circle around it with a red slash through it.
I'm planning on wearing it next Monday at the Parade concours. I'm not entered in that event. But I will take pictures on Sunday of my fellow PCA'ers feverishly re-detailing their cars in the brutally hot Savannah August sun. I will keep my cellphone close by in case I need to dial 911 for any of them. Otherwise loving couples will be screaming at each other as if they were lost on the TSD Rally ( I AM entered in that event, but not with my wife, though she is an excellent rally navigator).
Once a year, I take my car to my very favorite Porsche dealership, request a mid-cycle oil and filter change and a Level 1 detail. Then I drive away in the free Porsche loaner and come back in a couple days to find a stunningly shiny car, treated leather, sparkling engine compartment, and wheels clean on the inside.
Then I wash it once every month or so with car soap/wax until the following year.
And I still often win my class at the local PCA concours. LOL! My preparation for that event usually consists of vacuuming the interior a few days before the event and then wiping down the morning dew the day of the event. LOL!
My car is otherwise a perfect 30 footer. LOL!
and a big red circle around it with a red slash through it.
I'm planning on wearing it next Monday at the Parade concours. I'm not entered in that event. But I will take pictures on Sunday of my fellow PCA'ers feverishly re-detailing their cars in the brutally hot Savannah August sun. I will keep my cellphone close by in case I need to dial 911 for any of them. Otherwise loving couples will be screaming at each other as if they were lost on the TSD Rally ( I AM entered in that event, but not with my wife, though she is an excellent rally navigator).
Once a year, I take my car to my very favorite Porsche dealership, request a mid-cycle oil and filter change and a Level 1 detail. Then I drive away in the free Porsche loaner and come back in a couple days to find a stunningly shiny car, treated leather, sparkling engine compartment, and wheels clean on the inside.
Then I wash it once every month or so with car soap/wax until the following year.
And I still often win my class at the local PCA concours. LOL! My preparation for that event usually consists of vacuuming the interior a few days before the event and then wiping down the morning dew the day of the event. LOL!
My car is otherwise a perfect 30 footer. LOL!
#24
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We had a PCA driving event today - the Peak To Peak Highway drive from Denver to Estes Park. We had brunch at the Stanley Hotel, which is where they filmed The Shining. We had about 45 cars. It was cool. Yesterday, in preparation for this event, I detailed my car for about 8 hours. This included 3 coats of Griot's Best In Show wax applied with the random orbital buffer and hand buffed to remove it. My car looked like it was wet... it was awesome. It was quite a bit of work, but well worth it.
#25
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A few weeks ago, I had an "all day date" with the garage. I took a couple of Ibuprofen before I started. Busted out the Griot's Orbital buffer, clayed the car, then step 1 polish, then Best in Show Wax and then a speed shine final wipe down. (Can't seem to get all the wax off with the buffer)...then treated the seats, took off the wheels they were cleaned, (checked the brakes/rotors), cleaned the windows, vacumed the inside.........basically an all day affair, manual labor, hell yes! But an enjoyable to me depsite the soreness, etc. Once the car was done the black paint looked amazing...and it was easy to see, because I was lying on the gargage floor, almost crippled...but satisfied with the results/efforts. I can only do this max, 2x per year..........just can't take the strain as much as I used to...sucks getting older.
#26
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I use the spray on wax on areas that I can't remove dried wax. One quick spray and it gets it moist again so you can buff it off.
#27
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After i apply the wax with the porter cable and when it dries, i take the bulk of the wax off with a cheap orbital buffer with a terry cloth bonnet. That seems to really work well on light or dark cars.
#28
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I found there were too many of those which is why I decided to apply with my machine but remove by hand. Since I kept having to go over spots that the machine couldn't reach it just made more sense.
Sure it was more exhausting but going on one week now the car still looks great!