MicroFiber Drying Towel

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 06:54

For years have tried to dry the car with a range of chamois - always got streaks - on way or another.
Just got my first microfiber drying cloth. What a difference - effortlessly streak free - even in the glaring sun.

They say that Waffle Weave Microfiber drying towels are even better.

Gazza · Post by **Gazza** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 09:16

And no swirl marks when you wax

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 09:52

i'mnew to this....
Does claying make a big difference?

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 10:06

BonBon wrote:i'mnew to this....
Does claying make a big difference?

Yes. It has terrific results. Paint will feel so smooth to touch and the shine will be like glass. Clay, polish then wax for best results.

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 10:13

I don't have a buffer to polish.
Can I just put on a good carnauba wax after claying?

///M_aniac · Post by **///M_aniac** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 11:20

You dont need a buffer to polish - just elbow grease.

But you can just wax after claying if you want

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 11:48

OK - advice taken - I'll polish too.
I'm not sure I'll have the energy to to it all at once - but I asume there's no issue to do different sections (the full sequence) at various times.
This is the route I hope to take:
clay
polish
3M IHG
PS21

Any comments before I bust my ass (and back....)?

nuts · Post by **nuts** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 11:53

Hi Guys,

Can someone explain the order of waxing. I have Autoglym shampoo & conditioer and then the 3 stage meguirs kit and. Where does claying fit in and what does it do?

Nuts

Kiwi · Post by **Kiwi** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 12:34

nuts wrote:Hi Guys,

Can someone explain the order of waxing. I have Autoglym shampoo & conditioer and then the 3 stage meguirs kit and. Where does claying fit in and what does it do?

Nuts

1. Wash car
2. Clay
3. Wash again to remove clay residue
4. Paint cleaner
5. Polish
6. Wax

Practically speaking, once the above has been done, and so long as the car is kept properly waxed, it will be a while before you need to use the clay or paint cleaner again (i.e. the wax layer should protect against the impurities etc that the clay/cleaner are aimed at. Obviously depends on how often you use the car, garaged or not, but I would only clay once a year or so (weekend only car, always garaged, waxed every 3 months).

And of course, when I would do the annual clay, I would first wash the car with a detergent to remove all of the existing wax (need detergent of course since car wash liquid/shampoo etc is designed not to remove wax).

Same with when you go to do a polish - unless you have removed all the wax from the car, it's obviouslya waste of time putting polish onto a layer of carnuba.

I typically would do 2 or three layers of wax - obviously leaving enough time for wax to harden in between applications.

Lot of work, but worth it for the shine

...

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Thu 24 Apr, 2008 13:18

Cheers guys for the patience to help new kids on the block.
Is Fairy liquid suitable to clean off all the old wax/gook?

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Sun 27 Apr, 2008 15:14

The Fairy liquid was a strong enough detergent which removed all the old wax/polish to prep for the clay.
Clayed today and found that while the car is 98 - it must have been resprayed recently as the clay slid like ice on the bonnet.
Polished as well.
The car looks good but I can't seem to get the "wet" look that some of you guys get.
I'll see what it's like after the IHG and the PS21 Carnauba.
(I hope the problem is not the swirl marks which can only be practically removed with a buffer)

whiteminks · Post by **whiteminks** » Sun 27 Apr, 2008 16:01

Wow Kiwi that is one MEGA-shine!

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Mon 28 Apr, 2008 13:08

Well the result is nice but not near what KIWI gets.
I suspect the difference is that I need a polish with a power tool.
(KIWI - when did you last buff the car?)
The carnauba step appears to have made the biggest difference. PS21 now have an even better product - PS21 100%.
http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-prod ... eview.html
However due to the hot climate here

I suspect I will go with the synthetic Zaino next time (I understand it lasts twice as long in the heat - say 4 weeks prolonged to 8 weeks)
Pic before the PS21
<a href="http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii11 ... CF1166.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii11 ... CF1166.jpg" border="0" alt="After3MIHG- beforePS21Carnauba"></a>
Pic after the PS21 (does it look better??)
<a href="http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii11 ... CF1168.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii11 ... CF1168.jpg" border="0" alt="AfterPS21Carnauba"></a>

Kiwi · Post by **Kiwi** » Mon 28 Apr, 2008 22:11

BonBon wrote:(KIWI - when did you last buff the car?)

Hey BonBon, that is definitely a nice deep shine you've gotten there. Should be happy with that. Very jealous of the sunshine.

My Zed had been buffed at a paint shop about a year or so before the second picture. And I spent a lot of time working on the swirls etc by hand. I'm a big believer in multiple coats of wax to really bring out some depth - possibly some experts will tell me that it is a waste of time doing multiple coats but I reckon I can see a slight improvement with a second and even third coat.

BonBon · Post by **BonBon** » Tue 29 Apr, 2008 06:23

I did not think that any significant impact can be made by hand on the swirls (aside from maintenace)
What do you for the the swirls by hand?

Justinitus · Post by **Justinitus** » Tue 29 Apr, 2008 06:58

Hi BonBon

Nice result you got there! Looks lovely!

I followed M//Maniac's and others advice for my first detailing, using a good shampoo, clay, polish then a good wax. The result was impressive too, although I have a similar swirl mark issue to you - I found that after 2 coats of Meguiars NXT wax it helped tom hide them.

There is a local detailer here who charges £50 to machine polish the car, I hope when I get around to booking him it will remove most of my swirl marks. I'm not that handy to have tohe confidence to do it myself!

The real benefit came when I washed the car again, all the dirt just slid off and the wonderful shine came straight back!

steveH · Post by **steveH** » Tue 06 May, 2008 22:48

BonBon wrote:I did not think that any significant impact can be made by hand on the swirls (aside from maintenace)
What do you for the the swirls by hand?

Try Zymol HD Cleanse. use wetted applicator pad, light pressure, small areas at a time as manuf. instructions and watch those swirls 'disappear'.

Detailing is virtually a science now with so many products etc but whilst most are in Meguiars league in terms of cost Zymol is far more expensive BUT their products are the best IMO.

Justin Time · Post by **Justin Time** » Wed 07 May, 2008 09:19

BonBon wrote:The Fairy liquid was a strong enough detergent which removed all the old wax/polish to prep for the clay.

You use fairy liquid on your car? You're braver than I am.

zroadster.net

MicroFiber Drying Towel

MicroFiber Drying Towel

clay bar

Re: clay bar

Finished for now

Re: Finished for now