My First Detailing Job

T

TwoStroke

New member
I'm thinking this might be "click and brag" but I got all my advice here so I'd like to share this with you all.



After a lot of reading and some excellent advice from this forum, I just finished my first detailing job. It's nothing spectacular, but I am completely knackered! It took about 5 hours. Here is what I did:



Wash with Maguires NXT

Clay

Wash with Maguires NXT

Klasse AIO

Klasse SG



The only down side is that it was dusk by the time I got done, so there wasnt a lot of light to show off the reflection... oh well.



This is a 2006 Lexus IS 350. I got it from the dealer without being detailed/swirled. It has been raining so it was pretty dirty to start. Obviously I can't take credit for the finish as it is brand new.



Here goes:



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The brakes rusted while I was detailing! :nervous:

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Ah, there is the process. Are you going to top SG with anything or just keep layering it?



Beautiful job, btw - that's some liquid-y silver. :)
 
Thanks Picus. :) I need to go back and take a look at the tires. I did a crap job there. It's hard to get inside all the lettering.



I was going to put another layer of SG on, but I'm open to suggestions.
 
TwoStroke said:
I was going to put another layer of SG on, but I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...



Ya, definitely put another layer on. it looks great. You know how we are here though, always trying new things - so I just wondered if you had been bitten by the bug and had a bunch of products you were waiting to try. :)
 
Thanks imacarnut. :)



I think I've probably got a bug. I don't have any new products because I'm really new at this and just taking baby steps at the moment. What sort of things would I top SG with? I understand that Carnuba doesnt mix well with SG.



I'm pretty sore though, and about $400 poorer. This is a little harder than the average hobby. :)
 
TwoStroke said:
Thanks imacarnut. :)



I think I've probably got a bug. I don't have any new products because I'm really new at this and just taking baby steps at the moment. What sort of things would I top SG with? I understand that Carnuba doesnt mix well with SG.



I'm pretty sore though, and about $400 poorer. This is a little harder than the average hobby. :)
Click to expand...



Well, SG and Caranuba mix great, but you have to do them right. You need to start with SG, and keep layering it. SG needs to be applied to fresh paint (ie, no carnubas), and no carnubas should be applied while you are layering SG. I usually do around 3 or 4 coats of SG, allowing a bare minimum of 24 hours of cure time between each coat (you definitely need to let them cure before adding more).



Then, once you are done with the final coat of SG, and won't be adding more, allow it to totally cure (24 hours bare minimum, though I personally wait much longer. I allow at least 3 days, usually a week), and top it with the carnuba.



The carnuba at the end is what's known as an LSP (last step product), and will finish off the paint nicely and give it a rich, warm glow.
 
That's great advice, thanks. One thing that still eludes me is how I layer SG. Can I drive around and let the car get dirty, wash it, then apply another layer of SG?



Also, I removed my first layer of SG with a Sonus Polishing towel. Should I be using a buffing towel instead?



Thanks again!
 
Yep, that's exactly right. As long as it's clean you can put another layer of SG on. The towel you use to buff it off really isn't of huge importance. Buffing towels tend to have more nap, which makes it a little easier to buff with them - but if the polishing towel is working then keep using it.
 
TwoStroke said:
Thanks Picus. :) I need to go back and take a look at the tires. I did a crap job there. It's hard to get inside all the lettering.



I was going to put another layer of SG on, but I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...





For tires with a lot of lettering, somethin like PB's Natural Look is great. It's pretty thin, so it gets into all the grooves and lettering pretty easily. With tires like the Goodyear Regatta2, I never bother using my WG gel that I use most of the time. I love the finish that I get with NL anyway though, so it's not really a trade-off. It's just a little less durable than the WG gel.



Personally, I'd get some Nattys or MaxWax to add on top of the SG.
 
White95Max said:
For tires with a lot of lettering, somethin like PB's Natural Look is great. It's pretty thin, so it gets into all the grooves and lettering pretty easily. With tires like the Goodyear Regatta2, I never bother using my WG gel that I use most of the time. I love the finish that I get with NL anyway though, so it's not really a trade-off. It's just a little less durable than the WG gel.



Personally, I'd get some Nattys or MaxWax to add on top of the SG.
Click to expand...



Thanks, I'm going to order some. That's great advice.



Thanks Picus, I'll keep layering then. It's rainy and nasty here at the moment, so I'm sure my car is going to be a mess before layer 3. :)
 
That's a very nice car, and you did a good job too :2thumbs: Have you got any pictures of the interior? I haven't seen the new IS in person yet, don't know when it goes on sale here in Finland.
 
I sat in a Lexus IS350 this past weekend at the local Auto Show. I was very impressed. It is 100x nicer than the car it replaces. How do you like it so far? The reviews I have read have not been glowing about the car's driving abilities. Apparently, too much electronics and not enough direct control by the driver. So, I'm curious what you think.
 
Hey I wouldnt worry to much about the brake disc turning brown on you. My disc on my Tiburon have done that since day one (I freaked when I saw it too). I think the water must react with the brake dust...anyways they will look like new after a few stops. Hey and incase you didn't know, your car is awesome.
 
TwoStroke said:
Thanks, I'm going to order some. That's great advice.



Thanks Picus, I'll keep layering then. It's rainy and nasty here at the moment, so I'm sure my car is going to be a mess before layer 3. :)
Click to expand...

Looks like your already getting the "bug", you'll have way too many products soon. lol

The car looks great and I'm sure it gets better with every layer of SG and soon a wax layer. I love those new IS's, especially those 350. Those things are pretty fast!
 
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