Paint Care and Car Detailing

[Racer 5]

On another Thread, "Thin Paint" (from the old Protege 5 board)I have been giving some tips on car/paint care. I have credentials with detailing ~~ read the other thread for my resume. . I am starting this thread to invite more care care questions, so I can keep closer track to the questions. Also, If anyone else has a tip or something I miss, or you disagree about, feel free. We all learn something new everyday!
Mike

 

[Racer 5]

Just want to revive this post, seeing as it got buried, Spring is coming, and now that we merged with MP3 guys. Anyone who has any issues concerns, feel free to ask. You can also email me with your questions Mntfsc@aol.com

 

[jsesq]

Thanks Racer!

I was wondering what you use to apply touch-up paint?

I have been using toothpicks. I find the brush in the cap puts too much paint on the car, but my toothpick idea doesn't leave a very smooth finish.

Any advice appreciated!

 

[kep0ne]

theres a product that mothers www.mothers.com sells that you use in conjunction with touch up paint, that supposedly makes the finish like new. im going to order some next week to test it out, but if its anything like other mothers products, it should work really well.

 

[Racer 5]

I will agree with KepOne, I use mothers products for almost every application. I have not used the Paint Chip repair, but a friend used it, and It looks very good. Let us know how you made out. BTW, I use a combination of toothpick, brush, depending on the chip and its location.

 

[cfbjr]

What's the best thing to use to dry a car off quickly? We have serious water spot problems where I live. I use a squegee type thing that's not supposed to harm the paint and a chamois for the spots I can't reach with the sguegee. Is there anything else that better or faster?

What's a good product to get rid of the swirlish stuff in the clear coat? I just want more of that smooth finish wet-look kind of thing.

 

[cfbjr]

One more...
What's a good quick wheel cleaner/detailer? One that gets rid of brake dust really well.

 

[Racer 5]

Mothers wheel mist .... use the yellow bottle for aluminum rims, and red bottle for steel/chrome rims~~~ little scrubbing if any at all. Just make sure to apply cool, and rinse well!!

 

[Racer 5]

Swirls ~~~ Liquid Ebony #27 ~~ look for it in your local auto paint supply store. Also Mothers brand sealer and glaze will work as well if you can't find Liquid Ebony.

I use a chamois... not sure of anything faster? I think they work fast and easy. Make sure to only wipe in one direction, any swirling or rubbing will cause streaks / spots.

 

[kep0ne]

if you have a problem with a lot of spotting...hmmm. do you wash your car in the sun? the sun will dry the water up real quick and leave spots. i use a chamois, and in the shade...make sure you wring that sucker out as much as possible though...if its too wet its pretty useless. i personally dont trust the squeegee s***...the material they use doenst LOOK abrasive...but it still doesnt sit to well with me. get a good chamois, it will last you years. as for swirls, ive heard NOTHING but AWESOME things about 3M imperial hand glaze...i have yet to try it, but believe me, i will.

upon visiting norcalvw.com (im a veedub lover even though i dont hav eone)...theres a thread about detailing.

to recap it...wash your car with Dawn dishwashing soap to clean off any previous wax, and then a good car washing soap (3m, mothers, meguiars) to clean your car off...dry it off with a 100% cotton cloth (or just a chamois). the guy then uses mothers clay bar to remove debris that you cant clean off with soap (you know when you run your hand along the paint and it feels rough? supposedly it should feel completely smooth after using the clay bar). then you use 3M imperial hand glaze to fill in the swirls, and follow up with one grand blitz wax to give a nice shine to the car.

now, keep in mind i havent tried this on my own, although i will. but dubbers tend to be extreme fanatics about their cars, so i wouldnt give any doubt to this technique. racer 5, feel free to correct anything i might have said wrong...since you do have real experience w/ detailing.

also, racer 5, if you could.....provide a detailed post about shampooing the inside of the car. .id like to have my car smelling clean w/o having to have an air freshener in it all the time. those things give me headaches.

 

[Racer 5]

KepOne, Sounds like the detailing info you gave is a pretty good sumarization of what I would reccomend. Howevere, I use a few different products. Clay bars work tremendously, but only need to be done after paint is 1-2 years old(considering you wash and keep up with waxing). Glazing is the key to better than showroom shine and color depth. It will give your paint a "wet" look. I use Liquid Ebony#27~~i have used the 3M, but the Liquid Ebony in my opinion is better, but not everyone can locate the stuff. (My cousin is a 3M distributor, along with a few other paint manufacturers, so I have the luxury of trying out all kinds of products~~retail and professional grade.) Glaze needs to be covered with wax 'cause the paint is not protected by the glaze. Also, I would NEVER use dish soap on my car. I understand to remove wax~~ but that is what a pre-cleaner or clay bar is used for. Dish soap is very high in glycerine, which can leave a film on the paint, that will make it impossible for the wax to bond to the paint correctly. However, to each his own. It just seems like you are making more work for yourself washing twice, especially once with dishsoap.

 

[chitownmp3]

first things first, I am a body shop manager and former painter with over 15 yrs of experience on resto/high end cars. The reason I'm telling you guys this is so you know I'm not comming from left field.
Now thats out of the way. the best thing to dry your car with is a microfibre towel they arent cheep but neither is a worthwhile paint job!I agree squigeys{sp?} are for window washers[thats a joke] a good alternative is a synthetic chamois called the absorber
It works awsome as well.
As for swirll removal ebony is good but is not a permanant fix{it will wash off in time}1st how are you getting them washing drying or waxxing? If you can determine how you are getting them its will make life alot easier, so after they are removed they wont come back! as far as removal use 3m, megiures,ebony....
or other products made for swirll remover and follow with a NONabrassive wax like gold class by meguires or an equivalant.
My oppinoin on clay bars varies deppending on what your trying to do. in some cases its a good idea others its not. in a harsh enviroment like here in Chicago things can build on a paint job in a week depending on what the finish is exposed to.
A really good sight for info on killer products go to www.griotsgarage.com we use alot of his products and they all work as promised!!!!! hey he even wrote a book on detailing for concourse!!!!!!!
remember dont hate the player,hate the game
have fun

OOHH I'm with racer 5 dish soap is a big no no!

 

[Massyellowmp3]

I agree that griots has great stuff, I use it. the stuff is $$ but well worth it

 

[YellowMP5]

i use the absorber to dry the car. works really well. i tried using the chamois but i did not like the feel of it. the squigee doesn't mold to all the surfaces well so you have to keep shifting it to get all the water off the car. try the absorber. i use every week. like somebody said the key is: car must be cool to the touch and in the shade.

 

[cjstringer]

The GriotsGarage site is sweet. Thanks for the link. I never really know if what I'm getting at "Autozone" and the like are really good products. Not sure why, but I like the site and the info is good.
Topics like this are what keep me loving this board.

 

[Racer 5]

Chitown, thanks for your post. Yes, I have to agree that the microfiber is definately one item that is in my arsenal. However, I use it for buffing, not for drying. I find my synthetic chamois to work extremely well. Buffing with the soft microfiber makes your paint like a baby's bottom. To each his own. Also, people, a majority of your "swirl" marks may be coming from washing with a sponge. Please use the softest bristle brush, and scrub in long strokes. Sponges get impregnated with dirt, so you are scrubbing with sanpaper basically, bristles push it away. Wash from top of car down, and make sure surface is wet when you start to scrub(keep the hose near ya!). NEVER use the same brush for your tires, and I even have a seperate one for my rocker panels.

 

[Swimmer]

Water Spot help!

I went on a business trip for a week, and my stupid f%&cking wife parked my car outside where the lawn sprinkler soaked it every day, and then it just sat there and baked in the sun. There are horrible water spots all over the car, and nothing that I do seems to help. Any ideas?
Thanks.

 

[KurtMP3]

Hey racer i can use a brush to wash the car with? I always used a very very clean towel to suds it up then washed it off with the hose and then wiped it down with another clean terry cloth towel....i thought brushes collected dirt that built up and would scratch the paint?

By the way all this talk inspired me to go out and buy the 3 step Mothers wash, i had forgotten i already had the Mothers car wash from Xmas (my mom bought it for me, credit to her for knowing the good stuff) and then i bought the scratch remover from mothers as well....i bought a bunch of terry cloths as well.....question can you use the terry clothes for a few washes and then when you think its getting dirty wash it in the washing machine and then use it again on the car????

All these washing products and im just sitting here waiting for a day off with nice weather and then im gonna spend a few hours making my baby sparkle!

 

[Racer 5]

Swimmer, try using a pre wax cleaner, or a glaze, then wax it. If that dosen't get rid of them, let me know, I have a few more tricks up my sleeve. But WE WILL MAKE THEM GO AWAY, DON"T WORRY!!

Kurt, sorry, but I have been using the softest bristle brush I can find, and rinse it thouroughly before every wash. Cloths, mitts, sponges will hold in the dirt in the fibers, brushes have nowhere for them to "hide" plus, brushes push the dirt away, sponges will collect them, Use the brush on straight strokes, and make sure the surface is wet. Carry the hose with you to all sides of the car.
the surface must be wet in order not to scratch it.

 

[BigBlue]

One thing that always make me just cringe is when people use the foam brush thingy at the car wash. It's great they are washing their cars, but the last things everybody does is wash the dirtiest areas of the cars like the wheels and near the underbody...and gets some much dirt and grit on that thing. Then when you go to use that thing to "clean" your car, you are grinding the last guys rocks and dirt into your paint job. OUCH!

I like my washing mitt personally.....I also make sure to wash it with a load of laundry after each wash of my car just to make sure it's kept free of dirt itself. And for drying I find my chamois works the best...just be prepared to wring that sucker out.