novice at detailing

[dam088888]

As above normally just wash then polish with mer not sure if its any good lol. Can any one give me a run down on a nice way to start and finish and do a good job ie with a clay bar if these are any good and what products to use and how to keep it clean after a journy with detailing spray and a microfiber cloth not really sure lol.

[Seanl]

Depends what your budget is, but if you just want basics and your doing it by hand then -

Rinse
Wash (2 bucket method)
Dry
Clay
Rinse
Polish/Sealant
Wax
Dressings (tyres and trim)

So many products its unreal. You can get a few decent things in halfrauds (a couple of Megs or Auto Glym things) but if your starting off from scratch and dont have anything yet, have a look on the Waxamomo website (forum sponsor). You can message him too and he will bung a load of stuff together, or recommend a set for a good price. Also have a look in the stickys at the top of this page for faqs and guides etc. 

[Guy]

Depends what your budget is, but if you just want basics and your doing it by hand then -

Rinse
Wash (2 bucket method)
Dry
Clay
Rinse
Polish/Sealant
Wax
Dressings (tyres and trim)

So many products its unreal. You can get a few decent things in halfrauds (a couple of Megs or Auto Glym things) but if your starting off from scratch and dont have anything yet, have a look on the Waxamomo website (forum sponsor). You can message him too and he will bung a load of stuff together, or recommend a set for a good price. Also have a look in the stickys at the top of this page for faqs and guides etc. 

i'd use the following procedure... no point drying before you clay... insert a 2nd wash after you clay and then dry

Rinse
Traffic Film Remover
Wash (2 bucket method)
Clay
Wash (2 bucket method)
Dry
Polish
Glaze (if using)
Sealant (if using)
Wax
Dressings (arches, tyres and trim)

[scarr89]

As above.

A solid polish with a 'average' polish will really give you some good results if you have never done so before. A clay treatment will make your paintwork feel smooth as glass and then the polish will make it shine!

As mentioned waxamomo is a great site and has some good 'beginner' products and packages.

Let us know what you go for and put pics up 

[jp123]

Iv got some spare time this week and fancy giving the car a good clean, so just a couple of questions what's the 2 bucket method and i wondered what the clay part of this check list is?

[Jimble]

Claying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD9Qc84vSyY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The 2 bucket method is having 1 bucket for your soap solution and 1 bucket for rinsing your mit so your not putting the dirt from the car back in your soapy water, both buckets should ideally have grit guards in the bottom (grids that stop you touching the bottom).

[jp123]

Ah okay thanks, any recommendations of clay?

[mumbles]

Lots of useful advice and info in here mate 

I use meguiar's clay but have used dodo juice clay too, both worked perfectly well for what i was doing.

Something like this has everything you need: http://www.waxamomo.co.uk/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=mrssc