First Time Detail

[AlexHealy]

I want to start detailing my car and having it look half as good as some of the cars on here. I've made a list of the things I think I need, and found out how much it will cost.

I want to know if anyone thinks I'm buying something I don't need, or missing out on something.

It's worth noting that I can't use a hosepipe, so all washing will be from a bucket, so it's going to be a long job!

I've got the prices from Halfords on their 3 for 2 offer.

Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit - £23.99
Autoglym Polished Car Wash Kit (Shampoo and Resin Polish) - £12.99
Autoglym Aqua Wax - £12.99
Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection - £9.99
Microfibre Chamois - £5.99
Soft Foam Applicator Packs - £4.49
Car Polishing Mitt - £3.49
Car Wash Pad - £2.99
Car Wash Bucket - £2.99

Total : £59.44 with a total saving of £20.47.

It does seem like quite a lot of money, but I figure that after I've done it once, I will only need to repurchase a few of the items on the list, and then it should only be costing me about £25 each time.

Should I go for it?

 

[DanFreemanPhoto]

Only thing I would say is replace the aqua wax with a proper wax. Ive heard good things about the aqua wax for quick results, but I doubt it'll beat a proper wax

Have a look at AG HD Wax, halfords sell that.

 

[AlexHealy]

Cheers.

I've had a look and the HD wax is a bit too much for me, so I'll have a look when I get there and see what I find.

 

[JD]

You could order something cheaper over the internet, rather than the HD wax.

 

[AlexHealy]

Went to Halfords and picked up this lot, spent about an hour on the car and started polishing, when it started raining.

 

[JD]

Perfectly acceptable.

 

[JD]

Just spotted the chamois, don't use it, take it back!!!!! Scratches galore!!!!!

 

[Justin]

You'll need a couple of extra buckets! One for rinsing the mitt, and another for throwing fresh water over the car!

Good start though!

Also try and get a decent drying towel. Chamios aren't great, and can cause quite bad swirl marks

 

[Justin]

Just spotted the chamois, don't use it, take it back!!!!! Scratches galore!!!!!

Damn too slow!

 

[AlexHealy]

What do I do now? Carry on in the rain, or wait, and start all over again?

 

[Justin]

Wait and start over.

 

[AlexHealy]

Just spotted the chamois, don't use it, take it back!!!!! Scratches galore!!!!!

Damn.

It made such a mess over the car.

 

[AlexHealy]

Wait and start over.

Cheers.

Typical, I spend the money because I keep thinking I really want to do the car nicely, and the weather won't hold on for me.

 

[Justin]

The meguiars gold liquid wax is surprisingly good! I've got a bottle of it somewhere

 

[AlexHealy]

I'll give you my bottle for your car.

 

[Ben]

Should of got a waffle weave drying towel. They are amazing, one of my best buys tbh. Oh and I'd add some AG Tyre Shine and some AG bumper care to the list also, both very good products IMO.

 

[AlexHealy]

Should of got a waffle weave drying towel. They are amazing, one of my best buys tbh. Oh and I'd add some AG Tyre Shine and some AG bumper care to the list also, both very good products IMO.

Already have a bottle of the tyre shine in my boot, ta though.

 

[Justin]

I'll give you my bottle for your car.

LOL. Deal!

Here is a good towel when you next feel like spending! I just bought it and im very impressed. Probably the best one I've used!

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/miracle-dryer-ultra-plush-25-x-36-/prod_362.html

Out of stock just now though

 

[AlexHealy]

LOL. Deal!

Here is a good towel when you next feel like spending! I just bought it and im very impressed. Probably the best one I've used!

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/miracle-dryer-ultra-plush-25-x-36-/prod_362.html

Out of stock just now though

Cheers.

Probably for the best that it's out of stock, it would probably never stop raining and not get a chance to use it.

 

[Liambo-235]

Its a start buddy! Everytime you go into halfrauds you will always see something you like and get it, or everytime you have a few quid in change you need to get shot of and you have a spare ten minutes, always pop online or halfords and get a new product and your collection will grow!

 

[Justin]

Just stay away from detailing world! Or you'll have a very big credit card bill! :lolup:

 

[JD]

Just stay away from detailing world! Or you'll have very big credit card bills! :lolup:

 

[Justin]

Too True!

Off topic. Loving Onyx! Put three coats on so far

 

[JD]

Aye, not bad is it!

YHPM mate.

 

[AlexHealy]

Went back outside and gave the car a polish, gloss and did a bit of a wax but it started to rain again.

Haven't touched the wheels because I don't have any clean materials, plus they'll only get dirty when I go down the missus' house anyway.

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/5240/22072009980.jpg

 

[JD]

Ahhaaa, another naughty blue!

 

[Budgie]

AG bumper car next on the list. Tidy up those black plastic bits...

Also, get down the £1 shop, and pick up several microfibres. You can NEVER have too many.

Also, go down to Sainsburys and pick up some cheap dishclothes. They come in massively handy for doing arches, engine bay and applying bumper care, etc.

 

[7MAT]

LOL. Deal!

Here is a good towel when you next feel like spending! I just bought it and im very impressed. Probably the best one I've used!

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/miracle-dryer-ultra-plush-25-x-36-/prod_362.html

Out of stock just now though

We've still got stock of these drying towels although Smartwax branded they are the same product - cheaper too with CS discount.

Matt

 

[AlexHealy]

Ahhaaa, another naughty blue!

Best colour there is.

Wish mine looked as nice as yours though.

 

[oz_clio]

That drying towel Justin and I4d posted is great - go for that!

 

[RussZS]

Little birdy told me the CYC Miracle Dryers aren't from Chemical Guys, hence why mine wasn't much cop!

The SmartWax one which Matt sells is the same as the CG one though, but cheaper

 

[RussZS]

Oh and Aqua Wax is fine, given that you're using EGP on your car anyway.

Otherwise, look at Natty's Blue, or Megs #16 from Matt:

http://www.i4detailing.co.uk/acatalog/Meguiars_16_pro_paste_wax_1.html

 

[Alastair.]

clean bodywork always looks shite against dull tyres. Get some gel out sunny jim

 

[AlexHealy]

Cheers for all of the suggestions guys.

clean bodywork always looks s**te against dull tyres. Get some gel out sunny jim

Wasn't able to do it, used all of my cleaning clothes etc, and then it started to rain.

Quick question, when I ran my hand over my paintwork today there were a lot of bumps and lumps, obviously from the cleaning materials, anyone have any idea what I did wrong to cause this?

 

[RussZS]

Did you clay it?

 

[AlexHealy]

Did you clay it?

Yeah, and I washed the left over lubricant off afterwards. There were no bumps before?

 

[Aluco]

Lovely colour, looks nice too

I have personally been "experimenting" and I find that AG bumper care works much better than most tyre blackener's and last longer too !

Just squirt a little onto a microfibre and rub it in

 

[RussZS]

Yeah, and I washed the left over lubricant off afterwards. There were no bumps before?

Bizarre - how big are these bumps?

 

[AlexHealy]

Lovely colour, looks nice too

I have personally been "experimenting" and I find that AG bumper care works much better than most tyre blackener's and last longer too !

Just squirt a little onto a microfibre and rub it in

Thank you. I shall give that a go the next time I have a chance.

Bizarre - how big are these bumps?

Really small, as if I'd flicked paint on it and left it to dry, thats what they were like.

I wasn't sure if I hadn't left the polish etc long enough before buffing it.

 

[Aluco]

Thank you. I shall give that a go the next time I have a chance.

Should come out like this

I was impressed!