My first detailing foray

bonehead · #1 01-03-2010, 09:13 PM

For those of you that do this for a living, I have a new found respect. Took me 2 half days to do a 4 step process. Wash, clay, glaze, wax. Very incomplete as I don't have an RO for polishing and I wasn't about to do it by hand. Water is hard as rocks around here. Got a CR Spotless and it works AS ADVERTISED

$80 pressure washer from Harbor Freight and I was ready to rock.

Chemical Guys Citrus Wash
CG clay/ONR lube
CG EZ cream glaze
CG Wheel Wax and Swissvax Zuffenhausen (if you have kids, keep them away from this stuff b/c it smells awesome! I wanted to eat it

)

Car wasn't that bad to begin with. Wheels were the worst. As a glutton for punishment, not only do I have a black car but also black painted wheels.

The horror

The after (P21S and Chemical Guys Wheel Wax) Still some slightly dirty water that pools in the bottom of the inner rim. Very annoying.

No other before shots (as I said, car wasn't TOO bad) and my camera sucks.
But the after:

Think this would have been easier with a Porter Cable or FLEX, but I had to see how this went before I spent more $$$. Thanks for looking.

sal · #2 01-03-2010, 09:25 PM

Definitely not bad for a first time run without all the professional goodies. Car looks awesome and great result!

DJ · #3 01-03-2010, 11:22 PM

Well for one thing if you look at some of Phil's threads he lays out exactly what to buy which is awesome for us do-it-yourself guys

Bonehead I absolutely love love love the HRE's your picked for your 997 TT, perfection

Auto Concierge · #4 01-04-2010, 02:06 PM

As for the water pooling....... use a leaf blower and follow up with a 4" or longer paint brush narrow with a microfiber or towel you do not use on the paint, dab up the water with the towel over the paint brush tip and you are set.

Raz5219 · #5 01-04-2010, 07:10 PM

Nice job. I remember my first full paint correction detail taking way longer than expected also and mumbling to myself "what did I get myself into." From now on, I leave it to the pros. I give these guys a lot of respect for doing this on a daily basis.

Fuel&Fire · #6 01-04-2010, 07:38 PM

I've been contemplating doing this myself and buying the Porter Cable/Pads/Polishers/Wax's. I just got another Black car, and I want to keep the paint perfect, so I figure it might be a worthy investment. The car has some pretty bad swirl marks, and some hard water spots that I really want to get rid of. But part of me says - "leave it to the pros" - we'll see what happens.

Gobbles · #7 01-04-2010, 08:28 PM

My hat is off to anyone that does this stuff. I will drive anything. ANYTHING. I've drag raced a bone stock Honda Insight.

I HATE cleaning cars.

MuttGrunt · #8 01-06-2010, 10:38 AM

Great to see a dedicated owner taking good care of his ride. Also nice to hear people appreciate the quality pros: nothing will show you how much goes into things as trying it yourself. Take into account the more often you do these things the more efficient and quicker you'll be.
Regardless, she looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing and be careful: having a perfect looking car gets addictive :P