Things I learned during todays detail

T

thesacrifice

New member
So, I decided to detail my gf's 97 Legacy, which she purchased from her mom this summer. The thing was swirl city, has probably never been detailed and has been washed by.....not guys.... :LOLOL ..or to be pc, not detail people.



The steps

ONR

Clay

rinse

Started by using Optimum Compound x 2 on an Orange LC pad. Then topped with Optimum Polish x2 on a White pad. These areas looked really good but were still not perfect. This thing has/had many deep scratches..unrelated to marring and swirling. Anyhow....that was taking forever so I stepped back to OC x1 on Orange and OP x1 on a White pad. This was even less perfect but nothing really to complain about. The swirls are gone but there are still random scratches and markings to catch the reflection and piss you off.



Anyways, the whole car got Klasse AIO

then NXT paste on a Black pad

then AW



Looks pretty dang good, wish I had more before shots.



Things I learned and need

-Costco Microfibers are great general purpose MF's but suck for drying, removing wax/polish, and cleaning windows. New MF is on my to get list..I'm thinking I want something a little plusher for the ONR treatment as well.

-Crap, no tire dressing or trim restorer! It's like a cake with no frosting :(

-Neighbors asking to have their cars done was funny the first 5 times.

-This car would have benefited from a more aggresive pad and possibly Optimum Hyper Compound...which I don't own as my car needs neither. Hopefully I can stay ontop of this car from now on with polish or opti-seal....this was a very long tedious process.

-I need more tools for cleaning out those hard to get areas that wax and pastes like to get into. Time consuming and annoying.

-Don't detail a day after a new squat and leg press routine...ouch.
 
Here's one to start, before NXT and AW



legacydetail01.jpg
 
Yeah, I also have the Costco MF's but they do wheel duty. I tend to like the Vroom brand from Target for over the counter MF's. The have several types of towels at Target and I stick with the dark grey detailing towels that come in a 2 pack. They were acutally on sale the other 2 for $2.
 
hood.jpg




hood. No full car shots cause I'm embarassed by the dull wheels and trim :( next time! Plus overcast/sunset makes for some uninspiring photos with this crappy camera.
 
Looks good. I have to tell you though, that my experience with the Costo MFs was not nearly as good on my Subaru. I used AIO, SGx3, and 476, all by hand and buffed off with the yellow Costco MFs.



When I was finished and for the first week or so, I thought it looked great. But we have had a lot of sun here these last few days, and it's apparent how badly those MFs affected the paint. Lots of very fine, tight marring - not the type left by washing (I use the two bucket method and super clean chenille mitts there).



Hope your experience is better.
 
Yea, I think the Costco's are going to be used for door jams from now on. Especially followng your advice, the gf has the 97 leg and I have a 2006 wrx...two subies. I've been using Chenille on the WRX for almost a year now with great results, although the last 2 or 3 washes have been with ONR and the Costco's and I really haven't noticed any marring.



I'm thinking Pakshak Ultra Plushes are in store.
 
quick bump for a funny story



Last night I was talking with my gf and she said that the car still looked good but asked me if I put the wax on wrong. I asked her what she meant, and she said that the water beading was too small, it probably isnt working right.



:grinno: :grinno:
 
CroMag said:
Looks good. I have to tell you though, that my experience with the Costo MFs was not nearly as good on my Subaru. I used AIO, SGx3, and 476, all by hand and buffed off with the yellow Costco MFs.



When I was finished and for the first week or so, I thought it looked great. But we have had a lot of sun here these last few days, and it's apparent how badly those MFs affected the paint. Lots of very fine, tight marring - not the type left by washing (I use the two bucket method and super clean chenille mitts there).



Hope your experience is better.
Click to expand...





i can second the experience with the Costco yellow MF.. my car also gets the tight marring as well. I will reserve them for wheels, door jams, cleaning the windows. GREAT value for a 24pk, no question there but it's a shame they aren't better quality like Pakshak. Costco is right down the street!



you get what you pay for i guess.
 
The "beading" comment from your gf is indeed funny. Maybe you forgot your sore legs for a moment or two while laughing.



It looks like a great job--one to be proud of.



IMHO, a purchase of some quality MFs will make life more fun the next detail. You can find where the good ones are by searching around here.



Maybe "Santa" can bring you some good MFs ; )
 
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