GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => Detailing => Topic started by: ajmoir36 on 06 January 2015, 21:44
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My parents bought me a Karcher snow foamer to go with my k2 compact. But no foam so... what's good?
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Try detailing world.co.uk :smiley:
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Valet Pro Advanced neutral PH Snow foam, very effective. Valet Pro gves a thinner foam than some but shifts the most muck, especially all the salty filth you get in these winter months, best I've used by far. Bilt Hamber Auto Foam Also a good choice. Both the VP and BH are miles better than Meguiars Hyper Wash imo.
Valet Pro used in a recent wash, dealt with the winter grime really well.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/16153127091_40ef700865_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/16153127091/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7568/15988440209_fcd998b19a_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/15988440209/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15554967603_8be733d63d_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/15554967603/)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8653/15988766219_083ebb2cbe_z.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/15988766219/)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7565/15987327930_d552bcf748_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/15987327930/)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8567/16153219896_a5b05da360_c.jpg) (https://www.flickr.com/photos/booth11/16153219896/)
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Looks good thanks.
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Valet Pro Advanced neutral PH Snow foam, very effective. Valet Pro gves a thinner foam than some but shifts the most muck, especially all the salty filth you get in these winter months, best I've used by far. Bilt Hamber Auto Foam Also a good choice. Both the VP and BH are miles better than Meguiars Hyper Wash imo.
These are both good foams. Just don't expect the car to be 100% clean just by foaming and rinsing.
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Valet Pro Advanced neutral PH Snow foam, very effective. Valet Pro gves a thinner foam than some but shifts the most muck, especially all the salty filth you get in these winter months, best I've used by far. Bilt Hamber Auto Foam Also a good choice. Both the VP and BH are miles better than Meguiars Hyper Wash imo.
These are both good foams. Just don't expect the car to be 100% clean just by foaming and rinsing.
True. Snow foam will only get you part of the way, so snow foam first and follow with a proper 2 bucket wash, rinse etc for optimal results.
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What ever product you go for let it dwell on your paint long enough. I usually cover the cars in foam and then go and run my buckets, then rinse the foam off. But bear in mind that this may be too long in really hot weather.
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So choices so far:
Valet Pro Advanced Neutral PH
Billet Hamber Auto Foam
Always the two bucket method. totally agree then get out the clay bars followed by another wash and then the dual action polisher for some action, if you get really excited.
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I'm a big fan of valet pro. I've heard good things about chemical guys no touch snow foam recently though so think I'll try that next.
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Magifoam: http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/index.php/magifoam.html or Angel Wax fast foam: http://www.angelwax.co.uk/?wpsc-product=fast-foam
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Autobrite Magifoam
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Slightly off topic but what do you use to wax and polish as that shine is awesome
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Slightly off topic but what do you use to wax and polish as that shine is awesome
If you mean my pics?? they were taken just after a simple snow foam (Valet Pro Advanced) and usual 2 bucket wash (DJ Supernatural shampoo), and a quick rub of Mothers Mag and Aluminium Polish on tailpipes.
Previously, back in Sept, I waxed using Dodo Juice Blue Velvet Pro which seems to be going strong and is still beading nicely. Prior to that I did a full decontamination - tar remover, iron remover, clayed, and then polished with a DA using Poorboys SSR1 and SSR2 on CG hex logic pads. Finally sealed with Poorboys Ex-P and then the blue velvet wax.
To be fair my car has been pampered since new and only ever washed/detailed by me, so have tried to keep paintwork looking good and swirls to a minimum.
I'm a bit of a detailing product junkie and have tried all sorts but trusted favourite waxes/polishes include:
Wax:
DJ Blue Velvet Pro
Collinite 915
DJ Supernatural hybrid
Chemical Guys Butter Wet Wax
Polish:
PB SSR polishes
Lime Prime and lime prime lite
Sealant:
Poorboys Ex-P sealant
Poorboys Black Hole Glaze
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I ran out of snow foam so gave AG shampoo a try just to see what it would do. I was very impressed with the results. I'd say it shifted much more than the Valet Pro snow foam that I usually use.
It can be expensive if you buy it in the shops at around £9 per litre, but if you are able to catch one of the vans delivering to the trade, you ought to be able to buy 25 litres for £40.
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I ran out of snow foam so gave AG shampoo a try just to see what it would do. I was very impressed with the results. I'd say it shifted much more than the Valet Pro snow foam that I usually use.
It can be expensive if you buy it in the shops at around £9 per litre, but if you are able to catch one of the vans delivering to the trade, you ought to be able to buy 25 litres for £40.
Interesting. Was the AG just a normal shampoo or a concentrate?
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The regular shampoo and conditioner.
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I ran out of snow foam so gave AG shampoo a try just to see what it would do. I was very impressed with the results. I'd say it shifted much more than the Valet Pro snow foam that I usually use.
It can be expensive if you buy it in the shops at around £9 per litre, but if you are able to catch one of the vans delivering to the trade, you ought to be able to buy 25 litres for £40.
Was looking at £20 online for 5 litres I'll take the 25 litres at £40 please.
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Booth, I'm always toying with the idea of getting a DA. Is it hard to get it to look good without the paint being full of swirls? Do you also need a garage ideally? Mine isn't big enough to do a full polish in.
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Booth, I'm always toying with the idea of getting a DA. Is it hard to get it to look good without the paint being full of swirls? Do you also need a garage ideally? Mine isn't big enough to do a full polish in.
Kyle, it's pretty straightforward with a DA really, once you get over the initial trepidation, lol, and so long as you take it slowly, don't rush and prepare properly. A DA is well worth the initial outlay imo, especially for a darker colour car that shows up the slightest swirling :angry:
A garage or workshop is preferable, especially one with a good light source. You can do it outside but light needs to be good and you're at the mercy of the weather. If doing it outside and over more than a day, Definitely garage the car overnight. I don't have use of my garage (it got turned into a gym!) but luckily have use of an industrial unit.
I'm by no means an expert but here's a few tips:
- Assess the condition of the paintwork and level of switling / marring, so you know what level of correction is required
- Prepare the paintwork prior to polishing - tar remover, iron remover, claying etc, to ensure it's free of all bonded contaminants.
- Tape up all trim.
- Take it slowly and split panels up into manageable areas.
- Start with the least abrasive pad and polish combo and step up to more abrasive polish / pad as necessary.
- Stop and inspect at regular intervals to see how you are progressing.
- Use a small LED torch to check for swirls.
- Once you've primed the pad with polish make sure you place it flat on the paintwork before switching on DA, otherwise the polish will fling off everywhere.
- You might need to do several passes.
There's plenty of good guides on sites like detailing world and how to videos on youtube. Worth checking a few out before you begin.
Oh, and finally, prepare to have aching arms! :laugh: :smiley:[/list]
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I have a Maguire's DA and was nervous at first, its not hard to remove swirls really (time and patience and prep). I think just take caution on the abrasive you use I went for the lightest Poorboys SSR 1 to start with on my mk6 GTD, I have just ordered the SSR2 for the mk7 R as the swirls were terrible looking as its VW washed car over and over it will needs some work.
Also gone for Valet Pro Ph Neutral Snow Foam in 5 litre form and some Poorboys Nattys Paste Blue as I have the red and its great on the Tornado Red GTD so going for the blue on the R.
Plan is
Snow Foam
Double Bucket Wash
Clay
Wash again...
Tape up
SSR2 remove the swirls with DA
Poorboys EX-P Sealant
Followed by the Nattys Blue Wax.
Along with poorboys wheel sealant on the wheels.
This combo seemed to work well on the GTD just need the warmer weather bring on march.
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Ajmoir, sounds like a good plan for your new R, bet the Lapis Blue looks amazing after a good polish.
Like you, polish wise, I start with PB SSR1 and then step up to SSR2 where required, on a variety of Chemical Guys Hex Logic pads. Also got some SSR 2.5 just in case :laugh:
I used the Natty's Blue paste on mine a few times but wasn't that impressed. Nothing wrong with it as such but found the DoDo Juice Pro Blue Velvet to give far superior gloss and longevity on deep black pearl. Honestly if you don't like the Nattys, try the DJ pro range.
Post some pics up when you've done it :smiley:
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Thanks
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Thanks Booth. Might be a bit difficult in my garage. Might put a bigger garage as a requirement when we moved.
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My three go to snow foams are Auto Finesse Avalanche, VP Advanced Neutral or CG No-Touch. That being said, I think snow foam is far overrated so am tending to go more with a pre wash now - just as effective and less mess. VP Citrus Pre Wash is ace!
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Fingers crossed that the Pro Valet Neutral Snow Foam turns up before Sat when I collect the R and the weather holds.
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- Stop and inspect at regular intervals to see how you are progressing.
- Use a small LED torch to check for swirls.
If you are able to work inside, turn off all the lights then use the torch, shining it in all directions at the paintwork to show up every last swirl mark.
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Would suggest having a look at Orchard Autocare's Cotton Candy Snow Foam. Really good snow foam, infact full range is awesome.
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I ran out of snow foam so gave AG shampoo a try just to see what it would do. I was very impressed with the results. I'd say it shifted much more than the Valet Pro snow foam that I usually use.
It can be expensive if you buy it in the shops at around £9 per litre, but if you are able to catch one of the vans delivering to the trade, you ought to be able to buy 25 litres for £40.
Was looking at £20 online for 5 litres I'll take the 25 litres at £40 please.
It must have been a long time since I bought some, as I got another 25 litres last week and was charged £45.60. It's still only £1.82 per litre tho'.
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I ran out of snow foam so gave AG shampoo a try just to see what it would do. I was very impressed with the results. I'd say it shifted much more than the Valet Pro snow foam that I usually use.
It can be expensive if you buy it in the shops at around £9 per litre, but if you are able to catch one of the vans delivering to the trade, you ought to be able to buy 25 litres for £40.
Was looking at £20 online for 5 litres I'll take the 25 litres at £40 please.
It must have been a long time since I bought some, as I got another 25 litres last week and was charged £45.60. It's still only £1.82 per litre tho'.
Dubber, do you lie in wait outside Halfords ready to hijack the Autoglym rep??
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I have two trade contacts. One is a valeter at a local Vauxhall dealership who has the Auto Glym van call on them once a fortnight, the other is my cousin that lives down the road from the man that has this areas trade supplies franchise. He often gets a phone call if I'm running low on products.