Any pointers before I begin my full fledged detail?

T

TGates

Active member
I am going to be doing a full detail on my car this weekend, and have all the stuff I need to do it. I would just like to see if anybody has any last minute pointers or suggestions before I get underway.



-Car has been clayed already, paint is in good shape besides swirls.

-Wash with Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo.

-1ZPP (terry applicator pads, hand)

-KAIO X 2 (MF pad)

-KSG X 3 (MF pad, allowing time to cure between layers)

-Souveran every so often until swirls become an issue, then 1ZPP and start over. (foam pad or whatever comes with it)

-Maintain with Pinnacle Crystal Mist



I also have some QEW that I'll use when it's too dusty to QD but doesn't really need a full washing.



What am I missing?
 
Sounds good to me. Just be sure to get the paint swirl-free to your satisfaction prior to AIO.



By the time swirls become an issue again, inspect the surface and see if it needs claying again. Quite often "overhauls" also include claying because it needs it by then.
 
Tape off any rubber and or "grained" plastic mouldings with 3m blue painters tape before polishing and waxing. A few minutes of taping will save you hours getting wax out of the areas where there shouldn't be wax!
 
A lot yourself plenty of time. I always schedule in many more hours than I need....but then I end up using the "extra" hours anyway.:p

Have plenty of water standing by (for drinking)...that sounds like a good work out.

.....and do that tape thingy Gonzo's talking about.

Most importantly....smile :D
 
BlackSunshine - Once you finish polishing, you can remove any tape. The AIO/SG/Souveran won't be a problem on trim, in fact, it's what I USE on it. But if you plan to use a ERV dressing on it, then that would be different. In that case, remove the tape and clean up any polish residue. Then retape and do the AIO/etc.



When you go from the PP to the AIO, watch that the AIO doesn't uncover marring you didn't get (to your satisfaction) with the PP. Go back and repolish if you find any- the "wax" in PP can act as a filler.



If you run short of time, don't worry as long as you get some SG, or even just the AIO on there. In a worst case scenario, even (just) the wax in PP will provide more protection than you might expect, so you could do the AIO/etc. next time. And you can add more SG after subsequent washes until you build up as much as you want (*then* top). As others have said, spend your time and energy doing the prep work, i.e., the polishing.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I am really looking forward to starting this process. I am going from Zaino to this, so this is all kind of new for me.



I hope I can most of the swirls out by hand with the 1ZPP since I do not have a PC. I will make sure the AIO is not uncovering any swirls, thanks Accumulator. They are not very bad, so hopefully it will not be a problem getting them under control.



I will probably only have time for two coats of AIO (just in case, I know some may think this is overkill) and one coat of SG. I am currently at school 6 hours from the car I am doing this to, so I won't actually have time to apply any Souveran (as I will only have one day (Saturday) to do all of this. The next time I am home, I will apply two more coat of SG and then Souveran. I can't wait to see the results.



Thanks again.
 
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