4 Step Detailing Process + Pictures 1024x768

I detailed my car this past weekend. It took a lot of elbow grease, sweat, and patience but she turned out very nice....

 

Here is the four step process that I used.

 

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9630/4stepprocesspw4.jpg

 

 

 

Here are just some initial shots that I took.

 

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2747/4pics1xl5.jpg

 

 

 

Some close up shots. The mirror finish is key.....

 

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/6767/4pics2lc0.jpg

 

 

And of course....my poses for the 2008 Calendar

 

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/5079/finalslidehf9.jpg

 

 

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/6559/picture012cj8.jpg

do you have the USDM chrome stripped rocker panels??

^ still chromed, not stripped, (yet anyway)

I have used the paint cleaner before and not really seen a difference. OCDetails tells me it makes more of a difference for older cars.

 

My vote would be:

wash with NXT soap - dry with california blade + absorber

clay

sealer

wax

 

NXT Tech Wax is nice

^

Isn't wax pretty much pointless? It only lasts like 2 weeks anyhow right?

 

I dryed with microfiber.....I will have to look into the california blade, it sounds easier

 

IMHO, I really think the clay is what made the difference...

Your car looks good

 

I've used the deep crystal paint cleaner on a beat up early 90s XJ6 and it made a pretty good difference.

 

NXT is technically a synthetic sealant not a wax. It last longer than 2 weeks although people complain about it losing it's reflection properties too quickly.

 

I like the california water blade, but I still go over the car with a waffle towel after I have gotten the majority of the water off with the blade.

^

I should just get one of those huge industrial fans and blow her dry!

Most people look at you strange, but I know people that use leaf blowers to dry their car...

^ That is a great idea

I am guessing ur car is brand new and no fine scratches/swirls or else the stpes would have had one more

1. Wash - Clay - Wash

2. Clean paint with cleaner (Klasse)

3.Polish any scratches away

4. Clean paint with cleaner (to remove any polish residue)

5. Sealant - cure for 8 hours another coat - 8 hrs another coat (shoot if ur doing it once get 3 coats on there to last a while right??)

6. Wax (optional - if you want that warm finish...i like the glossy finish of sealant...who needs wax on top)

^

Isn't wax pretty much pointless? It only lasts like 2 weeks anyhow right?

 

I dryed with microfiber.....I will have to look into the california blade, it sounds easier

 

IMHO, I really think the clay is what made the difference...

 

2 months give or take depending on where you live (weather), how you store the car, etc

 

list from meguiars website:

• How well the surface was prepared to accept the wax
  
• Local environment (normal conditions and extraordinary events)
  
• Condition of paint
  
• Number of hours exposed to outside conditions
  
• Quality of the wax used and method of application
  
• Quality of car wash used (dish soaps will remove wax)

check out my thread, i topped my car with klasse, lasts a whole lot longer (~6 mths supposedly, but i wax too frequently to test this lol)

 

http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62340

^

Isn't wax pretty much pointless? It only lasts like 2 weeks anyhow right?

 

I dryed with microfiber.....I will have to look into the california blade, it sounds easier

 

IMHO, I really think the clay is what made the difference...

 

Car looks great..

Yeah the clay works really well. Makes the paint feel slick.

 

They clay is supposed to lift everything off from your paint. I would swap the paint cleaner and the clay bar steps, and if it was a newer car I would skip the paint cleaner all together. It doesnt hurt anything but just an extra step that you dont need. I would also wax it after because it does help protect your paint from the sun rays.

I would also wax it after because it does help protect your paint from the sun rays.

 

Not to mention any car detailer's worst enemy.....bird poo. A good wax works better than sealants imo for protection from bird poo etching. Get a wax like Collinite and you can see 3+ months of protection easily.

it takes me roughly 6-7 hours to do a car...

 

 

thats a full detail including swirl removal.

it takes me roughly 6-7 hours to do a car...

 

 

thats a full detail including swirl removal.

 

Mine took me 4-5 hours. I suppose if I through another coat of wax after the sealant it would have taken me another hour.

well you didn't do swirl removal and polishing so it would have taken you even longer if you had.

 

wash + clay = 1.5 hours

swirl removal + polishing= 3.5-4 hours

Sealing = .5-1 hour

interior = .5-1hour

 

pretty much sums up what most takes me to do. (varies on the job)

well you didn't do swirl removal and polishing so it would have taken you even longer if you had.

 

wash + clay = 1.5 hours

swirl removal + polishing= 3.5-4 hours

Sealing = .5-1 hour

interior = .5-1hour

 

pretty much sums up what most takes me to do. (varies on the job)

 

 

Fortunately, I have a white car, (swirls aren't very visible). I also didn't detail the interior either. But I hear you, its a lot of time and effort to keep a car clean. Speaking of which, what is the best cleaner out there for small stains on your carpet? I need to get a stain off the taupe trim between the windshield and the front passenger seat window. Best thing for that?

for carpet I use prestone (red bottle with a scrubber built into the cap)

for carpet I use prestone (red bottle with a scrubber built into the cap)

 

Would it be ok to use that on the trim between the windshield and passenger/driver side windows? You know where I am talking about right?

the pillar I believe is what your getting at...

 

Yes it should be ok to use on the pillar.

yeh, the pillar, i have a nasty looking stain on it....