Car Cleaning - Advice Needed

[tommo9375]

Hello everyone,

Just needing a bit of advice,i've got a 1999 classic uk turbo in mica blue and noticed the bonnet has a few surface scratches(quite a few)Whats the best product to use for this,advice would be appreciated as i like my car clean and i'm fussy!!

Cheers.

[RA Dunk]

what like swirls?

[frank c]

I'd try a clay bar first..you might be surprised with the results.

[tommo9375]

what like swirls?

Hi mate,

No it's more straight lines,they're not deep but i'm wondering if polish etc will take them out,cheers.

[RA Dunk]

a good polish with a electric polisher does a world of wonders as well, as long as you know what your doing with it, or it could end up alot worse if you dont know what to do with it

[tommo9375]

I'd try a clay bar first..you might be surprised with the results.

Hi Frank,

Thats what i tried today but it just made it look clean and shiny,but the scratches were still there.

[tommo9375]

a good polish with a electric polisher does a world of wonders as well, as long as you know what your doing with it, or it could end up alot worse if you dont know what to do with it

Whats the secrets of using a electric polisher ,never used or owned one?

[RA Dunk]

Whats the secrets of using a electric polisher ,never used or owned one?

neither have i so im saying nothing lol i know some people who do use them car remove light scratches and swirls, there are people in here who know how to use them but detailing and the likes is not my cup of tea im afraid so im pretty limited as to how to use them

[RA Dunk]

ohh aye, DONT buy the ones from halfords if your thinking about trying it your self, i almost bought one from there but the bloke behind the counter told me he ended up needing his car resprayed after using one

[RS Grant]

Pay a professional to machine your car for you mate... the proper machines are dangerous things, its really easy to burn through your paint.

Detailing World will give you all the ideas and answers that you need, I'd recommend talking to the guys at Polished Bliss in Aberdeen as they've got a massive range of products that will help you out.... and not all of them require a machine and can be applied by hand.

Cheers,

Grant

Edited March 10, 2008 by RS Grant

[tommo9375]

ohh aye, DONT buy the ones from halfords if your thinking about trying it your self, i almost bought one from there but the bloke behind the counter told me he ended up needing his car resprayed after using one

I actually thought about buying one of them a while ago ,but never as i'd be to scared to use it on my pride and joy! Cheers anyway

Tommo

[tommo9375]

Pay a professional to machine your car for you mate... the proper machines are dangerous things, its really easy to burn through your paint.

Detailing World will give you all the ideas and answers that you need, I'd recommend talking to the guys at Polished Bliss in Aberdeen as they've got a massive range of products that will help you out.... and not all of them require a machine and can be applied by hand.

Cheers,

Grant

Cheers for that Grant ,i'll give them a call tomorrow.

[RA Dunk]

I actually thought about buying one of them a while ago ,but never as i'd be to scared to use it on my pride and joy! Cheers anyway

Tommo

when your in halfords just away to hand over your cash and the guy whos selling it to you tells you not to do it you tend to listen to him lol

[tommo9375]

Yeah i know what you mean!!

[C_WRX]

I've got a Porter Cable and have just built up confidence as gone along. If you buy a machine, as noted Polished Bliss give good advice and sell one, then start off with least abrasive polish you can until the marks are out. As a test of the paint gently run your finger nail over the scratch and if it catches in the mark(s) might not polish out, although polishing might help mask it a little. I have a black car which is one of the reasons I got a bit in to the whole cleaning thing, marks show up more. Finish is superb by machine though - hard work still but it's tougher by hand.

[sczscoob]

If you really want to get swirls & scratches out PC is the way to go for beginners. But do your research on Detailing World before you attempt doing it. I've been using mine over a year now, no accidents or going through the paint!

Here's a pic of mine, beleive it or not it just came back from a full respray!

Light swirls on it

Then a bit of time with the PC all gone!

I took 2 days to get the paint just the way i want it. Swirl free!!!

[tommo9375]

If you really want to get swirls & scratches out PC is the way to go for beginners. But do your research on Detailing World before you attempt doing it. I've been using mine over a year now, no accidents or going through the paint!

Here's a pic of mine, beleive it or not it just came back from a full respray!

Light swirls on it

Then a bit of time with the PC all gone!

I took 2 days to get the paint just the way i want it. Swirl free!!!

Hi mate,

Good job on the paintwork,will i need a transformer for the PC and wheres the best place to get one? cheers

Tommo

[craig79]

No wanting to confuse ye any more mate but have heard

Meguiar's G220 machine polisher is better and more user friendly than the Porter ?

Best advice from me is phone Polished Bliss, ask for Richard and get his views.

There is polish called menzerna intensive polish that works really well by hand.

Personally would give the hand technique a go first for fear of burning and there is

always the additional expense (think the G220 is £150 alone).

Craig.

[stubaroo]

Hi mate,

Good job on the paintwork,will i need a transformer for the PC and wheres the best place to get one? cheers

Tommo

Don't go for the PC. You have to import them from the States and they require a transformer. Polished Bliss now sell a polishing machine, new on the market at the end of last year. Its very similar to the PC but does not require the transformer.

Polished Bliss Polishine Machine

They sell them them on their own or as part of a kit.

Phone them if you have any questions. They are very friendly and know what they are talking about.

They do not offer a SIDC discount as such but if you spend over £100 you will get an automatic 5% discount.

[sczscoob]

There probably right there mate. At the time i bought the PC, the UDM & the Megs wasn't available. Probably just as well with the Megs to be honest, no need for transformer either.

[tommo9375]

Thanks for the tips, wouldn't mind trying hand technique first to see how that goes. Cheers

[speech]

Check out the car care section on SNET, there's a decent ""how to" by the guys at Polished Bliss showing what to use and how to use it, covers both hand application and machine polishing.

[Spaceman]

go with a pc over a megs one my boss has a detailing company and is **** hot. he has both the pc and just bought a megs one as i have taken over his pc doesn`t like the megs says its weak compared to the pc. Mind you his wepon of choice is the dreaded rotary. can`t go wrong really with a pc and some menzera final finish with a megs yellow polishing pad. take your time not to hard going easy to get the hang of it, without the risk of burning the paint or making it worse put polish on at first with pc on 3 then once worked in a bit chnge to 5 for a quick buff then a quick go on setting 6 and hey presto a pinky white 93 scoob became bright red again.

greig

[tommo9375]

Thanks everyone,

Spoke to Clive form Polished bliss in Kemnay yesterday and he gave me some good advice ,so going to pop through and see him soon.Big thanks to everyone for their advice,cheers.

Tommo

[p1ggm]

if your stuck give me a shout if you need it polished

heres a few i done earlier

if you can get hold of an autosmart rep, they are doing a deal the now on a machine polisher and the compounds you need, think its 90 quid, dont know what its like as i use a sealey pro one and a few different compounds/waxes and polishes depending on the quality of paint.