Help me clean my shed :P

[Wizzkidd]

Hey Everyone

Ok well my 1994 mk3 golf is looking in pretty rough shape.

i wana bring the colour and shine back into it and make her new again.

If anyone can list a number of products i can buy and use (without the need of such things as electric polishers etc.

plus can anyone explain to me what claying does and how to do it?

and if anyone can give me some help on removing scratches or atleast making it look better (little thugs with keys)

Thanks for all the help

WK

[Guy]

hi

you'll be hard pushed to get a concourse shine without using a polisher but you can get somewhere near decent with elbow grease

for a newbie to 'detailing' I'd recommend starting with something like meguiars products as they are readily available from halfrauds

for anything else that is mentioned i'd use someone like elite car care for your supplies http://elitecarcare.co.uk/

for a great start get into some good habits and get yourself some decent car shampoop like megs gold class shampoo - this is the two bucket method explained - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=63672.0

you'll also find a good cleaning and polishing guide here - it also explains claying http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=66113.0

claying is by far and away the easiest and most cost effective way to start bringing your paintwork back to life - but you need to wax after you have finished

polishing and bringing colour and shine back - I haven't used it but I have heard good things about the megs 1-2-3 step cleaning process as a good start -

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=6&products_id=164&osCsid=pt0hiapcseasdorbmf66a8mmv4

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=6&products_id=165&osCsid=pt0hiapcseasdorbmf66a8mmv4

http://www.elitecarcare.co.uk/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=6&products_id=166&osCsid=pt0hiapcseasdorbmf66a8mmv4


and for a little explanation including a picture of what claying can achieve - have a look here -
mk4 detail - http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=76067.0

[Wizzkidd]

thanks alot mate.

definatley take a look at this!

you got any tips for the scratches? about 2 or 3 key scratches about a foot long each!

Cheers

[Guy]

if you ran your fingernnail across them would they 'catch'?

[Wizzkidd]

yea 1 of em is down to metal, others just removed paint

[Guy]

yea 1 of em is down to metal, others just removed paint

if it's down to bare metal i don't quite know how you're expecting to remove it by polishing? 

you'll need to sort that as it could become a problem... as i see it you have three choices

1  paintstick - use a cocktail stick or something finer... do not use the brush supplied as they are way too thick
2  rattle can spraying yourself... you can get the paint mixed by quoting your paintcode to your local friendly dealer or I think someone said halfrauds mixes it up too? needs time and patience, and then some more time and a lot more patience, it's all in the preparation, there is a sticky on it somewhere around here.
3 find a decent paintshop and see what they'll do it for... might be that for a bit of beer money they will sort you out... make sure you go to one that is recommended though

paint is always a tricky one and as far as I see it you'll get increasing results the further up this little scale you go. personally I would go for option 3, but that is just me because I have OCD and know a good paint shop so i know it will be done right first time!  and I know I would make a hash of the paintwork... but plenty of people have a crack themselves.

[Wizzkidd]

ahh right sounds good, well iv got a mate who works at a body shop. ill get him to quote me!

thanks for the help!

[dan23]

i do have a tip on how to hide deep scratches so you can see them.

some may already know it aswell

but basically what you do it get a perminant marker thats a dark colour, black will do, colour the scratch in, dont worry if you cover the body work while you do it.

once you have done that leave it to dry for around 10mins, then get some form of T-CUT and put the polish over the pen marks, let the polish dry then with a clean dry cloth remove the polish and it will take al lthe pen marks off the body work but leave it in the scratch hole.

like i say it wont get rid of the scratch but it will hide it at least