Catch up (repost with couple of pics)

"Svend" (svend) 07/19/2015 at 05:45 • Filed to: None

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Saw the owner of the Ford Focus RS I did the other month. He’s looking after the car and is very pleased with how she looks and easier to clean now and uses the stuff I gave him to wash it with and only that.

It’s always nice to feel appreciated and that someone has taken in what you’ve had to say.

EDIT: was at work when I posted, so here’s a picture of the girl from the 30th May.

Echo51 > Svend 07/18/2015 at 16:56

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A good coating/sealant/wax make it much more enjoyable, AND easiere to wash it. What’d you give him of kit to use?

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/18/2015 at 17:16

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Svend my friend, just ordered a griots garage DA polisher. Excited to finally be able to polish my cars and get the swirls out. Any tips/advice for a first time polisher?

Svend > Echo51 07/18/2015 at 18:53

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I gave him some Gtechniq Gwash car shampoo. Some UVwash (summer anti-static car shampoo) and some Gtechniq C2v3 sealant to use as a drying aid/quick detailer.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/18/2015 at 18:58

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Get a large panel from a scrap yard to practice and always start with the least aggressive polish and pad combo and work up. Paints behave differently depending on the car, where it’s made and whether it’s been resprayed and always tape up plastics and panel edges. The risk of burn through is very very slight but you can still reduce the thickness to an unacceptable level.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/19/2015 at 01:52

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Unfortunately I can’t pick up a spare panel, no nearby junk yards. I’ve been doing lots of research so I’m a little more confident than before, and I'm likely going to use a less aggressive cut polish like M205. My paint isn't in terrible condition so I'm going to try out the less aggressive set up first.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/19/2015 at 02:52

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Good lad. Always start the least aggressive, you can always get more aggressive if needed.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/19/2015 at 05:17

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Few other things:

Keep a firm grip on the polisher at all times

Make sure the polishing pad is centred correctly (it may be a DA but the counter weight inside will keep it well balanced. A pad not centred correctly may vibrate out your hand, cause a tingling and possible numbing in your hands or arms).

Also use the correct size pad for the backing plate.

Prime the pad sufficiently with polish without adding too much (you’ll get fling off and get spots of polish all over the place).

When doing the bonnet (hood), lift the bonnet and put a large towel under, covering the scuttle panel and half way up the windscreen, then close the bonnet down and then your ready to start, this will stop the scuttle panel getting caked in polish residue.

Start on a low speed to spread the polish over the area you want and then turn up the speed, with a DA you’ll probably be operating around 2/5s to 1/2 the max speed while your getting used to how it behaves and your learning how to keep it under control.

Keep the pad flat to the panel and as it’ll wondering from you or to you.

Use a longer enough power extension cord that the plug is only a couple of feet away from you so you aren’t putting any strain on the power cable, run the cable over your shoulder so as not to drag it over the panel.

Work small areas at a time and be patient, you may have a polisher but your learning and perfection takes time.

I hope these help but also have fun.

Leon711 > Svend 07/19/2015 at 06:58

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Damn if only you weren’t in the North, I recently purchased a Golf GTI that could do with the attention to be perfect. I am not sure if I told you about the residue in my windscreen, but I followed your steps you gave me and it came off without a fuss. Thanks for the tips.

Svend > Leon711 07/19/2015 at 07:06

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No worries. It’s what we’re all here for, the enjoyment of cars and all it entails.

Just take your time with her and she'll do you proud.

Leon711 > Svend 07/19/2015 at 07:11

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I’m getting better at this cleaning it lark, I am more at home under the bonnet than cleaning it. Now I’ve got a reasonably nice looking car I wanna get on top of the cleaning regime.

Svend > Leon711 07/19/2015 at 07:38

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If you want an inexpensive pressure washer and wet/dry vacuum cleaner, check out Karcher Outlet. K2 pressure washers from £35 and wet/dry vacuums from £30. They are ‘refurbished’ but they are newer than new. I've had two pressure washers and a wet/dry vacuum from them myself over the last four years and I've bought several of each from friends.

I can send you down some shampoo, sealant, degreaser, glass cleaner, and any other odds and ends if you want to try some Gtechniq stuff.

boxrocket > Svend 07/19/2015 at 09:41

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Good info!

That generation Focus - especially the RS - is so comprehensively good-looking it’s almost criminal that Ford didn’t offer it back here at home.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/19/2015 at 11:30

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Thanks for all the tips.. I'm excited to get started! And I really appreciate that chart, definitely gonna save that and use it for reference in the future. I'll be sure to post up results whenever I get it done. One last question unrelated to polishing, have you heard of nanoskin? Apparently it's a great alternative to clay.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/19/2015 at 13:57

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I’ve heard of them ye’. The clay replacement is so much better and cheaper than using a clay bar.

Many companies do versions of the clay replacement in the form of foam blocks, towels, mitts and pads. Essentially it’s a textured rubber lay on an accessory that is far easier to look after than a clay bar, easier to use and cheaper used regularly. They typically retail for three times the cost of a clay bar but can be used on up to 20 vehicles (first use is best on glass as it needs to be broken in first). Where as with a clay bar if you drop it you have to bin in, a clay block, mitt, etc... if it’s dropped simply place it in a bucket of water and run your hand up and down the textured rubber to agitate and remove any dirt and/or grit from the surface and it’s safe to use again.

Using a clay bar I think has had it’s time.

Leon711 > Svend 07/19/2015 at 14:28

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I may very well hit you up for some, I have an issue with pressure washers and vacs in that my car is parked nowhere near my house I have used a nomad 12v pressure washer in the past and hoovered it at my sisters gaff. The nomad is broken now but I see kleers do a 12v one.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/20/2015 at 00:18

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Thanks for the knowledge.. I’ll likely be ordering a nanoskin and using that to “clay” the car before the polish.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/20/2015 at 00:49

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Car cleaning products have come on leaps and bounds in the last four years alone, it takes quite a bit to keep up sometimes but if I can help at all, I’ll do my best to give you an answer or a somewhere that will.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/20/2015 at 01:02

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Definitely have provided me with lots of help on more than one occasion.. Thanks a lot Svend! The detailing world is definitely one that requires some research.. But fortunately there are plenty of great sources out there. I'm a big fan of the DRIVE clean videos with Larry. Great videos that are informative and feature some nice cars. I’ll be sure to take pictures before/during/after the detailing process!

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/20/2015 at 01:49

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Cool fella. Also, speaking of the detailing world, check out DetailingWorld.co.uk There’s plenty of us on there to help with anything at all.

AM3R shamefully returns > Svend 07/20/2015 at 01:54

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Will do! Thanks again for all the help.

Svend > AM3R shamefully returns 07/20/2015 at 01:56

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Anytime fella, anytime.