Detailing is harder than it looks

[kdiz]

Well today I attempted a full detail and just didnt realise how long everything took...

Started off with a pre-rinse, then moved onto a 2 bucket method, another rinse then started to clay the car.  Claying took me about 2 hours to do, I really didnt expect it to take this long as a result my time left to clean the car was cut short but I contined on.

After another wash and rinse and dry to get it clean for polish started taping the car up. This wasnt too bad as I got somebody to help.

I then began to polish the car, as I am new to this I started off with the softest pad for the g220 and the lightest menzerna polish, used the usual method of slower speed until polish has been broken down then used a higher rpm to de-swirl followed by a slower pass, then wiped any remaning residue off with a cloth.

After 4 passes and not removing barley any swirls i decided to go in with a harder pad and a more abrasive polish. This worked better on the 1st pass.

By this time how-ever 5 hours had passed and I had only done the bonet with the polish. I decided to call it a day as I still needed to clean the wheels and dress the bumpers [this took another 2 hours].

First time unsucessfull but atleast if I do the polish/wax within a week or so I wont bother re-claying will just do the wash, skip the wheels and bumpers to save time.

On a plus note, I didnt f**k my paint by going into too heavy to start off with and my bonet is looking much better probably about 70% less swirls.

Words of advise to people doing the first detail, try and start as early as possible like 9am and pick a day where there is any risk of showers.

[Dan J]

yep your not wrong mate people think our job is a 5 min wonder and its not by a long shot, theres more involved with detailing and valeting than people give us credit for tbh, nice to see someone has posted up the reality of it.

[Steve30]

yep your not wrong mate people think our job is a 5 min wonder and its not by a long shot, theres more involved with detailing and valeting than people give us credit for tbh, nice to see someone has posted up the reality of it.

Its a very difficult job detailing no doubt about that, its like painters & decoraters thats a difficult job too all that rubbing down??

Its a solid days graft to do a single car and getting looking nice!!

[stevengeelan]

I've got this to look forward to next weekend. I've done a full detail on my car before but never used a machine polisher.
I've Just ordered this

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/polishing-machines/das-6-pro-dual-action-polisher/das-6-pro-dual-action-polisher-menzerna-kit/prod_675.html

(along with plenty other stuff)

Luckily I've blagged the use of a nice big garage for next weekend too

[JonnyG]

Well today I attempted a full detail and just didnt realise how long everything took...

That's VW paint for you     Hard as nails 

Beware if doing other cars (such as Hondas) as they are much easier / quicker to de-swirl

[VWKev]

I detailed for most of the day on Sat, about 7 + hrs and I could have kept going but ran out of daylight.

For me its very rewarding and satisfying. I also find it kinda theraputic and relaxing. 

I love doing it to be honest.

[kdiz]

I detailed for most of the day on Sat, about 7 + hrs and I could have kept going but ran out of daylight.

For me its very rewarding and satisfying. I also find it kinda theraputic and relaxing. 

I love doing it to be honest.

I don't mind it but it was pretty cold when I was doing it and my neighbours can be a bit funny about using the shared drive for long periods incase they want to use it.

Hopefully next weekend or weekend after the weather will be a bit better and i can properly finish it. It's pretty good condition to most mk2s iv seen as it is, but it could be better and that's all that matters 

[VWKev]

I detailed for most of the day on Sat, about 7 + hrs and I could have kept going but ran out of daylight.

For me its very rewarding and satisfying. I also find it kinda theraputic and relaxing. 

I love doing it to be honest.

I don't mind it but it was pretty cold when I was doing it and my neighbours can be a bit funny about using the shared drive for long periods incase they want to use it.

Hopefully next weekend or weekend after the weather will be a bit better and i can properly finish it. It's pretty good condition to most mk2s iv seen as it is, but it could be better and that's all that matters 

I'm the same, I dont have a garage to put the car in to work away at my own leisure regardless of the weather either so I'm limited when I can detail the car. Thats what annoys me most. Misses says its just as well we dont have a garage as she would never see me. 

[stealthwolf]

My first ever detail on the GTI took 7 hours.

All I did was wash twice, dry, clay, clean wheels, egp and collinite.


my most recent detail had more steps but took me only four hours. It's quicker and easier if you plan everything and have your equipment ready.

The one day I did a full detail including workup took something like twelve hours. Thankfully it was summer so long days. To save time I do interiors either the following day or the next week.