swirls? Is it impossible to..

Defect free is definitely a dream in this business. As others have eluded to, a glaze is really a relief product for many darker car owners. While the protection isn't there, that is where a good quality carnuaba or blend comes into play on top of it. A glaze also contains nutrients in it to help condition the clear/paint as well.

Another great tool I started using the last 16 months is a grit-guard at the bottom of my bucket. It keeps the grit off my mitts when they are in the bucket.
 
Nick here is a stupid question. If you are using the two bucket method which bucket do you use the grit guard in. I was thinking the rinse bucket but wondered how you did it.

Thanks! Usta
 
Usta HaveA Hemi said:
Nick here is a stupid question. If you are using the two bucket method which bucket do you use the grit guard in. I was thinking the rinse bucket but wondered how you did it.

Thanks! Usta
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Not Nick here and that's not a stupid question......

Put the grit guard in the rinse bucket. You are trying to keep as much dirt out of the suds bucket as possible. Using the two bucket method is the best way to do that. Some people use one bucket with a grit guard. That's better than nothing, but not as good as the two bucket method with a grit guard in the rinse bucket.
 
Here's my ideal equipment and product set up for a swirl free washing procedure. ( I'm excluding tire/wheel cleaning and dressing) Loads of thanks to Accumulator.

Hose with foam gun, another hose with Ultimate Nozzle, both with quick disconnect setups and plastic shut off valves. Have plenty of your favorite car wash.

Four buckets ( I prefer white only): 2 in each, one with loads of holes drilled into the bottom ( tip from Rod Kraft of Meguiars), ideally with Grit Guards installed. These set ups are for rinse water; one on either side of the car. In addition, two rings with casters attached to the bottom to roll each 2 in one bucket setup

Another bucket for typical car wash solution also with a ring with casters

A bucket or pail for placing dirty mitts in

Several sheepskin mitts--the more the merrier

Some type of barrier between the floor/driveway/street to park the car on : mat ,tarp, tarp-like cover.

Insert whatever drying procedure works best for you here.

Some tips that have always helped me include:

For drying, a small, corded car dryer, dedicated leaf blower or cordless Makita blower

Plenty of ww towels with some QD of your choice to help act a barrier between the finish. I even like to follow up with a jumbo size DF Towel.

Spot claying in addition to this process is always a great idea.

In a pinch, this should put you well on your way to marring free washing just be sure to never rush the procedure.
 
What is your opinion or pros/cons of using a 3.5-5 gallon bucket with just a grit guard and not a second bucket? Honestly, that is what I have gone to when washing my own cars just b/c it is a pain to haul around 2 buckets. I spray the mitt out every other dip or so and shake vigorously in the bucket. I think it does well for me :dunno However, this thread is for the "absolute no swirl" so in a perfect world where time wasn't an issue, I probably would. :crazy
 
To cut down on some of the swirls.always remember never use
circular motion, washing/drying/buffing/pc, go front to back
the way wind flows over vehicle.And should use clay at least
once a year and twice is better depending on climate.Machines
rotary-pc make big difference and pads also. But for the most
part everyone has swirls except show cars, some just don't show
them as bad.Compound will remove some and then polish and
then glaze to fill the rest, then good wax to preserve entire
process.
 
Nickc0844 said:
What is your opinion or pros/cons of using a 3.5-5 gallon bucket with just a grit guard and not a second bucket? Honestly, that is what I have gone to when washing my own cars just b/c it is a pain to haul around 2 buckets. I spray the mitt out every other dip or so and shake vigorously in the bucket. I think it does well for me :dunno However, this thread is for the "absolute no swirl" so in a perfect world where time wasn't an issue, I probably would. :crazy
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Hey Nick,

Yeah, it sure is a pain to haul around two buckets let alone a total of 4, one in the other with plenty of water in each. That's why I'm suggesting the caster set up, something I need to get myself.

An alternative is to use even more mitts,a lot more than you might think you need and to change to a new one much sooner than you think is really necessary. You wouldn't have to worry so much whether the spraying and dipping truly got the mitt totally clean enough to be certain to not mar ( especially when washing a "typically dirty" car)

Some may boo at such expense and "excess" but I strongly believe in buying and using quite a few mitts as an overall cheap investment in the paint's continuing beauty. :bigups

I was recently able to pass this idea on to the owner of a dealership who wanted some feedback on how to best care for his own car himself. He he, I guess he knows fully well what might go on in his own detailing bays. :lol
 
That's a very good point Bill. I currently use 2 mitts in my wash regimen. I use a new one for the main top body, and a slightly used one for the bottom panels. I rotate the slightly one to wheels afterwards when I introduce a new mitt. Perhaps if I went with 2 body mitts and 1 lower that would be better?
 
Sorry guys...Don't mean to back track however I'm just getting started on detailing and need all the help I can get!! Can someone please explain the two bucket method and where I can purchase a grid guard.
 
The very basic two bucket setup is simply having one dedicated bucket for car wash solution and another for water to be used to rinse out the mitts ( be sure to replenish often)
 
PCH said:
Sorry guys...Don't mean to back track however I'm just getting started on detailing and need all the help I can get!! Can someone please explain the two bucket method and where I can purchase a grid guard.
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Dwayne has the Grit Guard here at Premium Auto Care:

http://store.premiumautocare.net/gritguard.html

As Bill said, the basic two bucket method involves using one bucket for the rinsing of the mitt (grit guard in this one) and one bucket with the suds.

The whole purpose is to keep the mitt perfectly clean before it touches the paint after washing each panel (or half panel). By rinsing the mitt in the rinse bucket (rubbing lightly against the grit guard) you keep the dirt out of the suds bucket and start to get the mitt clean. You can also let the mitt set in the rinse bucket and grab another mitt that has already been in the rinse bucket (this is what I do) Of course, simply rinsing in the rinse bucket is often not enough to remove all the dirt. Spraying the mitt from the inside out, and then down the outside of the mitt further insures a clean mitt before it goes in the suds bucket and then onto your paint.

Also, always use a separate mitt and buckets for the tires, wheels, wheel wells and other "grungy" areas. Use another mitt for the lower parts of the body panels where the dirt always seems to be greater. I usually use 4 mitts to wash........ 1 for the wheels, 1 for the lower body panels, and two for the majority of the paint. Sometimes I use more if the vehicle is extremely dirty. They are only mitts, and very easy to wash. Swirls are more difficult to deal with. :D

Again, I'm with Bill on this one. I strongly, strongly, strongly believe that the majority of swirls are induced by improper washing techniques and/or tools. Go to whatever extent you feel comfortable with. It's a lot more fun playing with new products and trying new LSP's than it is spending all your time removing/hiding swirls.

Hope this helps.
 
Bill D said:
The very basic two bucket setup is simply having one dedicated bucket for car wash solution and another for water to be used to rinse out the mitts ( be sure to replenish often)
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill. A few more questions. Where can I purchase a grid guard and how important do you feel a pressure washer is as part of the detail process?
 
Pressure washer is just that PRESSURE and really shouldn't be used on cars/
trucks/suv's. I own one and all it would really do is at some point pressure, some of the dirt right into the paint/finish and for engines can also create some problems also.Unless your using it for vehicle that are very old and really a mess and trying to start a process or vehicles that go off road alot, not really recommended.Heavy equiptment is a different story.Bucket guards can find them in alot of places or can make one, go to home depot/Lowes and in grille section look for 10" stainless steel grid and go home and cut with grinder two of the second slats in the middle and with pair of pliers pull each section down and those are your legs, will be four when you get done, works just fine,all it is for is that Mitt never sits in the silt that comes off while rinsing and keeps wash water cleaner. another thing you can use is in paint section of hardware store, hangs on inside 5gal bucket, put it in rinse bucket and every section of car you do with soap rinse in this bucket and rub mitt up and down this rack cleans mitt off real well and silt goes to bottom.Unless your doing a SHOW car or anything worth or above 40k,two buckets and two mitts is plenty.People are going alittle overboard with some of this.Look at what chemicals and minerals are in your water from your town, next we will have posts need water filtration on house water and sterile enviroment to detail cars in.The whole point of this is to protect your vehicles finish for years and make it look its best when possible.I'm not saying don't spend the time and energy to make your ride look great just don't get carried away with it.Twice a year should wash/clay/polish/glaze/wax and wash and periodic touch up as needed.
 
I'm sure one of the sponsors here sell the Grit Guard. I never came across it locally.

I do not use a pressure washer on finishes. I have used it on very dirt wheel wells and uncarriages. It can come quite handy there.
 
I got a flyer from the Grit Guard folks a month or so ago. I don't think I even gave it a second look.
 
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