Author Topic: What detailing have you done today?  (Read 529511 times)

Offline ne0star

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1780 on: 12 June 2018, 11:09 »
As always thanks for the tips everyone.  I think your probably right on the too much wax.  I'm definitely leaving it too long though from the advice.  I wax the whole car then buff it off so it will be well over 10 minutes.

Your right though Watts, I love the deep black pearl, but it is a Labour of love.  I'm also not convinced paint jobs are quite as robust as they used to be.

Thanks again

Dan
2018 Golf GTI DSG in Deep Pearl Black

Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1781 on: 12 June 2018, 12:46 »
As always thanks for the tips everyone.  I think your probably right on the too much wax.  I'm definitely leaving it too long though from the advice.  I wax the whole car then buff it off so it will be well over 10 minutes.

Your right though Watts, I love the deep black pearl, but it is a Labour of love.  I'm also not convinced paint jobs are quite as robust as they used to be.

Thanks again

Dan

There are very very few waxes you can wax the entire car with and then buff off (some Swissvax waxes).  Most waxes will have a hazing time of 5-15 mins so you need to wax a panel then move onto the next panel and go back and buff off when the earlier panels have had the right hazing time.  You do the panels in sequence, wax and buff, working your way around the car.  And you’ll get to know how many you can wax before going back to buff off. Waxing the whole car means the first panels wax will have been on ages!  If that happens and it’s hard to buff off hardened wax, then just apply another thin layer of wax on top and buff off almost immediately and it will bring off the first semi-hardened first layer with the uppermost layer.  But best to avoid that by getting your hazing and buffing times right in the first place. And remember, temps and humidity play a part in hazing time.  So in warmer weather the hazing time needs to be reduced to avoid wax baking on.  Winter time you have more leeway.
« Last Edit: 12 June 2018, 12:47 by Booth11 »
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline ne0star

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1782 on: 12 June 2018, 16:59 »
Cool thank you, I will come up with a bit of a system to get round the car methodically.  The other problem is the last couple of times I have washed the car it has been blazing sunshine which makes it even more complicated.
2018 Golf GTI DSG in Deep Pearl Black

Offline SRGTD

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1783 on: 12 June 2018, 17:33 »
Cool thank you, I will come up with a bit of a system to get round the car methodically.  The other problem is the last couple of times I have washed the car it has been blazing sunshine which makes it even more complicated.

If it’s sunny and I can’t get my car into the shade, I don’t wash it. If you’ve got a dark coloured car, it’ll get very hot in the full sun and the water you’re using to wash it with will dry and leave water marks and steaks.

I’ll wait until the weather conditions are more suitable for car washing - ideally cloudy or overcast and dry. Or alternatively, if we’re having a spell of hot, sunny weather, I’ll either get up early and clean it before the sun’s reaches it’s full strength, or wait until later in the day when the sun’s lower in the sky and casting some shadow.
2020 Polo GTI Plus; Pure White, DSG (because they all are)
Gone but not forgotten;
2016 Polo GTI; Blue Silk
2011 mk6 Golf GTD; Carbon Grey
2007 mk5 Golf GT (2.0 170bhp TDI version); Deep Black Pearl
2002  mk4 Golf GTI (the 150 bhp diesel version); Deep Black Pearl

Offline Watts

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1784 on: 12 June 2018, 17:34 »
Cool thank you, I will come up with a bit of a system to get round the car methodically.  The other problem is the last couple of times I have washed the car it has been blazing sunshine which makes it even more complicated.

And a few pictures of your pride and joy if you can, always goes down well :smiley:
2019 Oryx White 5dr TCR.

Was - 2015 Tornado Red 3dr GTI PP, manual, Santiagos, Audi short shifter.

Offline ne0star

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1785 on: 13 June 2018, 12:03 »
I think I'm best off washing my car in the evening if the weather is really nice.  The problem is my drive and garage are at the back of the house at the bottom of the garden and my Garden is south facing which means it gets the Sun pretty much all day.  Thats great when you want to sit in it and have a beer, but not so much when you want to wash a jet black car.

Here are some photos from when I washed it Saturday just gone.  Fortunately it was cloudy which made it a lot easier.  The photos make the finish look better than it is.  When the sun shines on it you can see my shoddy wax work  :smiley:

https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0667.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0668.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0669.png
2018 Golf GTI DSG in Deep Pearl Black

Offline Jeff Wood

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1786 on: 13 June 2018, 12:15 »
that looks fantastic, I really like Black 3 door GTI's, my equal favourite colour with Red  :grin:

(I've had to change those wheels though  :smiley:)
2018 Golf GTI. 3 Door. DSG. Tornado Red.
Eibach Pro Kit. OZ Hyper GT HLT Wheels. (18x8, ET50).
Forge 11mm spacers on rear wheels. 5mm on fronts.

Offline Watts

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1787 on: 13 June 2018, 14:41 »
I think I'm best off washing my car in the evening if the weather is really nice.  The problem is my drive and garage are at the back of the house at the bottom of the garden and my Garden is south facing which means it gets the Sun pretty much all day.  Thats great when you want to sit in it and have a beer, but not so much when you want to wash a jet black car.

Here are some photos from when I washed it Saturday just gone.  Fortunately it was cloudy which made it a lot easier.  The photos make the finish look better than it is.  When the sun shines on it you can see my shoddy wax work  :smiley:

https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0667.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0668.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0669.png

I think you are doing yourself down there it looks fantastic! We are all our own worst critics. But at least it gives us the impetus to improve both technique and finish, afterall if we didn't, it would be the washing section rather than detailing :laugh:
2019 Oryx White 5dr TCR.

Was - 2015 Tornado Red 3dr GTI PP, manual, Santiagos, Audi short shifter.

Offline Booth11

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1788 on: 13 June 2018, 16:51 »
I think I'm best off washing my car in the evening if the weather is really nice.  The problem is my drive and garage are at the back of the house at the bottom of the garden and my Garden is south facing which means it gets the Sun pretty much all day.  Thats great when you want to sit in it and have a beer, but not so much when you want to wash a jet black car.

Here are some photos from when I washed it Saturday just gone.  Fortunately it was cloudy which made it a lot easier.  The photos make the finish look better than it is.  When the sun shines on it you can see my shoddy wax work  :smiley:

https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0667.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0668.png
https://imagestore.orecat.net/IMG_0669.png


That looks superb!   Beautiful Deep Black Pearl.    :cool:
Black Beauty: MK7 R 5dr DSG, DBP, 19" Pretoria, DCC, Vienna leather, Keyless, Dynaudio, DNS Pro, Rear camera, HBA
2012 MK6 GTI DSG
2008 MK5 GTI DSG
2005 MK5 GTI Manual

https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11

Offline ne0star

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Re: What detailing have you done today?
« Reply #1789 on: 14 June 2018, 10:12 »
Thanks for the kind comments everyone.  I genuinely love my car.  I have always tried to keep my cars well maintained, but this is the first brand new car I have bought so I'm keen to go that extra mile.

I have learned loads from this forum, so hopefully things will continue to improve  :smiley:
2018 Golf GTI DSG in Deep Pearl Black