Keeping It Clean

[fastbob72]

It was another one of those warm dry nights when i got home from work so hosed the car doen, chamoised her dry,,couple layers of polish then working on a section a time, tonight it's the rear quarter and bumper...... it's like the Forth Road Bridge by the time u get it finished it's time to start again.

Have been using original T cut, G3,G,10,Meg Liquid Class, generic polish can't remember the brand and working it in by hand and machine buff layer after layer :)

[crofter]

Not sure if you are not satisfied with the result after all your hard work or not,Bob

Maybe using a clay bar is needed to get the deep shine that you want.

Del

[Mike169]

Hi Bob.

Your car looks amazing and i am guessing you want it as good as you can get it.

Like Derek mentioned using a clay bar is good, it gets all the imputities out, the ground in dirt, but your car looks more than 'good' anyway, if you do use a clay bar you will be stripping off all the polish you have put into your car and you will need to build up the gloss again.....either way your car shines much more than mine lol.

Good luck mate, Mike.

[fastbob72]

Hi there am an ex valeter so probably nevee going to be fully happy with it lol.

Have never tried a clay bar but been wanting to for a while now, expect i will at some point.

Haven't had an entire day to do the whole car at once since its been back on the road so been general wash and polish then spending more time doing. one panel. at. a. time.

Thanks for. the compliments on it's shine, it's the colour and the paintwork am trying to restore fully, it's not all. as shiny as the photos lol

[Mike169]

Hi Bob.

I just hope you don't feel insulted that i suggested a clay bar, that was not my intension at all.

I applaud you for getting the finish on the car you have already, if you lived close to me i would pay you with gratitude in the right way for making my Rav4 shine like your car does.

Top man and keep you enthutiasm for getting your car as good as you can get it.

(Autoglym do a good clay bar kit, certainly worth a try)

Keep posting, Mike.

[fastbob72]

Hi there Mike I wasn't insulted at all besides I've curious about trying a clay bar for a while now.

Talking about Autoglym, they definitely do my favourite product for all your black plastics and tyres that I've tried so far anyway. There's allsorts of different ones out there and I think I've tried most of them,the majority are spray on and look great for all of 30 mins then it seem to fade back to what it was before you sprayed it om but this stuff is a thick green gel, easily applied by cloth and still visible after days or even a week.

Of course, the secret to all of it is first of all getting the car scrupulously clean before any treatment and this is the area the clay bar seems to excel from everything I've read and heard but secondly it'ss continously working at it and applying, reapplying and reapplying week after week polish, wax, bumoer gels etc, etc to get the built up accumulative effect that really stands out and lasts.

Not working in a valet bay anymore but back driving trucks I don't get the chance to wash n polish it everyday nor the opportunity to stay late and put the work in on it. The cars been back on the road for almost 2 months and I've only had a handful of occasions to put the time in, I've only got a drivewau to work in now which is far from ideal because of the weather obviously but maybe even more so the lack of bright, even, consistent lighting which is essential for detailed work on a car but I do my best lol

Here's a few photos 1.Autoglym bumper n tyre gel (no, i don't work for autoglym at all n for the sake of fairness their window polish is s****e lol) 2,3 before n after plus general effect 4.The state of my boot with tools n cleaning stuff (don't tell my boss i nicked one of his precious tote boxes though haha) am. probably carrying the weight of a fat american around with me n i wonder why i'm only getting 37 mpg [emoji16] [emoji16] [emoji16] [emoji16] [emoji16]

[Mike169]

Hi Bob.

I admire the enthuasim you ave in detailing your car and yes Autoglym's white dusty window cleaner is not very good. I use a cheap one called Astonish, i just find it the best, doesn't streak some cleaning ladies at a school put me onto it. I'm impressed with that bumper gel, seems much better than Back to Black whick easily comes off on your clothes in my opinion. I have started using a Meguires polish which i find very good, just finding the motivation to keep doing it is the hard part, lol, lazyitus i think they call it, ok it's arthritis really very disabling at times.

Incidentally i used to drive a truck, a 44 ton Scania artic and did container work getting them out of the docks. Getting a bit old now, lol, so i have settled for a slower life but i do miss some of the experiences i had and the places i went to, all in the UK but saw some amazing places. Took the wife out with me once, she could believe the size/width of it and she tought reversing between the poles at the docks to get a box was tight to say the least, haha!

All the best mate, Mike.

[speedwaydthom]

Hi Bob

Really impressed with your handywork. The car looks immaculate. Like you, I use Autoglym products (not a salesman either) on my Avensis Tourer and am always impressed with the gloss lustre when finished. I use coconut sheen on tyres which I sourced on eBay and have found that really finishes off the showroom appearance.

If I may make one comment withourt being critical, I would replace the number plate bolts as they detract from the beautiful appearance.

When cars are maintained like this, I always think it does a lot to maintain the brand image.

Keep it up

[fastbob72]

Hi Bob

Really impressed with your handywork. The car looks immaculate. Like you, I use Autoglym products (not a salesman either) on my Avensis Tourer and am always impressed with the gloss lustre when finished. I use coconut sheen on tyres which I sourced on ebay and have found that really finishes off the showroom appearance.

If I may make one comment withourt being critical, I would replace the number plate bolts as they detract from the beautiful appearance.

When cars are maintained like this, I always think it does a lot to maintain the brand image.

Keep it up

Thanks for the kind comments. I've bought some Autoglym Super Resin Polish to try out. Have only tried it on about a third of the bonnet as I bonnet as I haven't had either time or the weather at the same time to really try it out but it seems good.

Coconut Sheen ???

Now, that interests me a lot. I agree it's amazing for tyres , I used to use it regularly when I worked as a valeter but haven't found anywhere that sells it since, although I haven't done more than have a check out all the local car stores and a quick look online. Will have to look a bit harder then because it's still the best thing I've come across for tyres. We cut the side out of an old 5 litre container and pour it in till there was about an inch depth or so of it and paint it on with a paintbrush..... Was great for those horrible grey/black plastic bumpers you got on entry level escorts, Cavs, Sierras etc[emoji3] [emoji3]