Product choices for detailing by hand

[Harooshum]

Hello all, these are the 3 products I’m about to buy after doing much detailing research (and trying to be cost-effective).

- Wash
- Clay (then sanding)
- G3 Farecla scratch remover
- Autoglym Super Resin Polish
- Collinite 915

BLACK Mk4 GTI and absolutely full of swirl marks!  A couple of big deep scratches so after claying I'll use a few swipes of 1500 wet n dry then a few swipes over that using 2000 then a few swipes of 2500 (so it's easier to polish out with G3 and SRP BY HAND!).  I've seen other black cars detailed to a literally mirror finish!

I'm happy with comments about the Farecla G3 and AG SRP, I'm only doing one more stage after that for wax/finishing and I've narrowed this down to Collinite 915 (which I've heard only good things about).  Pro detailers tend to use 2/3 more products at this stage so I want to simplify this into one good all-rounder.  Maybe there’s a better one than 915 for my final finishing stage?  Bearing in mind that price and ease of hand-application is important to me.

One more thing:  If I ever borrow an electric polisher from a friend, each of my product choices should still work well, right? 

Any advice before I buy is appreciated      Detailing products are too expensive for trial and error.

Harry.

[Guy]

i wouldn't really be trying to polish out sanding marks by hand... you'll be there forever and a day and won't really get a perfect result.

when you say electric polisher... what kind is it? one of those 12v jobbies from halfords?

[Harooshum]

haha nooo way!  tbh my friends and I are not big fans of Halfords, but a mate has a proper DA one with pads etc and I hope to borrow it one day.  Don't get me wrong I would absolutely love to have one, but I'm keeping an eye on funds.

I'm only looking to have like 3 polish/wax products to keep in my carwash bucket.  You're absolutely right I shouldn't do any sanding unless a DA is used afterwards.

Another mate just advised me NOT to do any of this at all as it's too much sweat and work by hand, instead I should go to a pro detailer to cut the scratches/swirls using his DA in one stage so I've got a nice even canvas to work with, then I can do the rest of polishing on my own by hand.

I would've thought that hand-applying G3 scratch, AG SRP, then a good finishing wax all by hand should still give great results shouldn't it?  As long as i can get rid of 80 - 90% of fine scratches and swirls I'd be pretty happy!

Harry.

[Dan J]

G3 scratch remover is good by hand if your technique is good, I don't use srp so can't comment, I use blackmax glaze which is a good base for the wax.
Tbh I think you are going to struggle doing it by hand, you will (with good technique) get a reasonable result with the said products but machining (especially on black) will give you a much more refined finish, you will also find that after using the scratch remover you will need to refine that down more before putting srp on as it will to a point just fill.

[Harooshum]

Britemax blackmax glaze - thanks for telling me about this, it's hard to find decent products with so many around.

In my situation I think blackmax glaze can replace the G3 and SRP as I've heard it's a good scratch remover and good base for final waxing, plus it's good for black cars.

'tis the reason I posted on here before buying anything lol

h.