[fireballer44]

Well it was suggested I make another thread...

As I said in the other, and I get the idea the answer is no....if I clay bar can I use a non-machine polish? I've used clay once before and it did ok, the real problem was the faded paint so clay won't help that. I've always considered machine polishing but for a while it was cost-prohibitive back when I was in school, and then you read warning all over the place about how you will destroy your finish. Being that I don't have extra cars lying around I've always been afraid to try. I may look into that a more later, I've not researched it lately.

I still wouldn't call my self far from any experience detailing, I've typically focused more on things other than paint. Most paint I've had the opportunity to deal with was either far beyond the help of any polish or in decent shape and I would just keep it clean and waxed.

Here's pics of my old car near the best I had it, did get the interior a little better at one point and have given up on the over-shiny tire stuff nowadays. http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k64/fireballer44/ These pics were probably 2-3 years ago, car had about 170k mi then iirc.


Looking for any suggestions/things I should know to take my paint detailing to the next level....

 

[needvoglights]

I haven't read the other thread. Did anyone recommend a dual action buffer for your oxidation? With the right pad/polish combo, you can have a fairly safe experience polishing your car. I started detailing using that kind of buffer on my new car a couple years back. The dealer left swirls and I took at least 90% of it off. It took a lot of practice and pad/polish combination attempts but it seemed to work. Just remember to protect the paint by applying sealant afterwards.

You can try hand polish, buy you might be working for days.

 

[RTexasF]

Car looks good in the pics. As suggested above look into a simple machine such as the Porter Cable 7224 or 7336. There is also a new model that is supposedly more powerful. These are goof proof buffers that are remakably easy to use and produce good results without fear of burning a painted surface.

 

[fireballer44]

I'll have to look into one of those, the porter cable ones are the nnes I always see. I didn't figure they were THAT hard to use, just always been afraid to burn a hole in the paint or something :lmao:

I've hand polished cars before, and yes it was a pain for the most part, but really I don't expect it did as good a job anyway.


Going to try this out in a few weeks and will see then, just started wondering when I read about clay bars damaging paint surface...

 

[SatinSilver]

Usually the Rotary buffers are the ones that can burn the paint much easier than Random Orbital polishers. www.autopia.org is a great place to read up on detailing.

It seems clay can vary from one manufacturer to another. Its been reported that the clay by Megiars and Mothers isn't very soft and the results are so so. I recently used some Clay Magic(Autozone) blue clay..its soft and yields good results. Probably the best clay is Riccardo clay but you have to go to Canada to buy it or know someone. aranoid:

 

[RTexasF]

In answer to the clay bar......It is possible to mar a surface with it but not extremely common. Clay can go from fine to aggressive in terms of abrasiveness. Like Motor City Honda says it's kinda silly to use it if you're not going to machine polish afterward but if the finish is rough then it should be done regardless.

 

[RTexasF]

NOTE:

If you want to take the plunge here is the way:

http://www.autogeek.net/members-only.html

You'll still need pads & polishes but this is a great start!

 

[fireballer44]

Wow that's an incredible price, thanks!

 

[bok269]

In answer to the clay bar......It is possible to mar a surface with it but not extremely common. Clay can go from fine to aggressive in terms of abrasiveness. Like Motor City Honda says it's kinda silly to use it if you're not going to machine polish afterward but if the finish is rough then it should be done regardless.

I normally Wash then clay then wax (my thinking being that I'm preventing the wax from trapping contaminants in the paint). Am I wasting my time?

 

[J30A5Refined]

Looking for any suggestions/things I should know to take my paint detailing to the next level....

All I can say is keep busting your butt and that should affirm success alone. Noone else is.

 

[Aviography]

Probably the best clay is Riccardo clay but you have to go to Canada to buy it or know someone. aranoid:

Why is Riccardo clay the best? And where can these be found in Canada?

(this has my curiosity piqued!)

 

[SatinSilver]

Why is Riccardo clay the best? And where can these be found in Canada?

(this has my curiosity piqued!)

I'll tell you if you ship me some. j/k I've noticed some of the best detailers use it. Its very soft(unlike the plastic feel of some others), pliable, and stretches like crazy without breaking apart.

Online retailers have it in Canada but won't ship it to the US because of some trade patents held here. Www.autopia.org is a good place to locate a retailer.

The clay is yellow but the company has come out with a new version which is red.