A superb Car cleaning, polishing & detailing guide

tsk13 · 24th March 2010, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sohail99

I used TurtleWax Interior1 upholstery cleaner on my dad's Accent!

It worked great!
The dash and seats were in a crappy condition!

Interior1 restored the 'like new' look, apart from the plastic chips on the dashboard!(as dad's accent is quite old)

For isolated spots you can try using a little bit of liquid detergent in water(enough to produce a lather)

you might need a brush(any old toothbrush will do if the spots are really isolated!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambuhere1

I was wondering now which would be a better dash board shiner for my swift. It shall help in shining the storage box of my activa also.

Any guidance on the same is highly appreciated !

Check Sohail's post above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjoy3

Locally - Yes, but after reading so much about the fake products being sold here, wasn't sure of you.

Hyderabad folks - Any shops(and genuine/good brand available there) that you can recommend for buying various products?.

Vijay

Look for the Xenos sticker on it. Moreover, fake Turtle Wax is practically impossible since it's new to the market and nowhere will it be too alluring to any manufacturer to produce a fake. Hardly anyone knows Turtle when compared to Formula 1.

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackasta

A polish should be non abrasive, rubbing compund highly abrasive, and swirl remover mildly abrasive.

I think Polish and Rubbing Compound mean the same. Sometimes even Waxing is referred to as Polishing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NOTORIOUS

My Verna Polished With Sonax Auto Polish

Great job Jaspreet. You're too LAZY to get a better Number Plate; come over to Lajpat Nagar.

NOTORIOUS · 24th March 2010, 17:12

Another Batch Of Pics

NOTORIOUS · 24th March 2010, 17:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk13

I think Polish and Rubbing Compound mean the same. Sometimes even Waxing is referred to as Polishing.

Rubbing compound is more abrasive then a polish.

gpa · 24th March 2010, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roy.S

Whats the latest feedback on the detailing place at Forum mall? Is it a good idea to get an interior clean up and a/c 'neutralizing' done there? Any other place that does a good job?

Roy,

The a/c neutralizing is a DIY that you can do at home and save a lot of money. Just buy one can of the Gulf A/C Neutralizer from a SPAR/Food World and follow the instructions. Its very easy and once can costs ~Rs.250-300 which is good for two uses in the car. If you were to get this job done outside, you will be looking at bill anywhere between Rs. 600-800

Do let me know if you need any further info.

Regards,
gpa

Gill · 24th March 2010, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackasta

A polish should be non abrasive, rubbing compund highly abrasive, and swirl remover mildly abrasive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk13

I think Polish and Rubbing Compound mean the same. Sometimes even Waxing is referred to as Polishing.

Should I buy Clay or rather buy something like Maguirs Ultra compound?I read polish helps in reducing the swirl marks too, so why esp swirlx or similar products?

sohail99 · 24th March 2010, 21:17

SwirlX is a less abrasive compound! as in, its meant for superficial minor swirls etc.

Ultimate compound on the other hand is a lot more abrasive than SwirlX.
Its meant for scratch removal, heavy swirlings, totally neglected paint finishes etc.

I like using UC though cuz, with the right amount of compound and rubbing time, I can remove swirls with minimum effort as compared to with swirlX

but with SwirlX, you lose minimum clear coat while working with it, results might not be as impressive though!(on heavy swirls etc.)

btw clay and UC are two entirely different steps!

Wash -> Clay -> UC/SwirlX/ScratchX --> Glazing/polishing -> Waxing

(thats what I do out when I go all the way!
Which is usually once a month if I'm able to restrain myself! lol)

Gill · 24th March 2010, 21:48

Clay reduces the impurites of the paint surface so does the compound.Do you use 105 cutting compound?

sohail99 · 24th March 2010, 22:40

Clay just lifts off dust and debris that is stuck to the clearcoat!

to make the paint surface 'smooth as glass'!

It doesn't affect the clearcoat!

Rubbing compound abrades the clearcoat to attain a uniform finish

(uneven clearcoat = scratches/swirls,

even clearcoat = perfect finish(attained by proper use of rubbing compound))

As you see in the below pic, all the scratches and swirls are un affected by the clay, these are removed with SwirlX/ScratchX/UC depending upon the severity of the defect!

-NUT-case · 24th March 2010, 22:41

@Notoroius

Good job on your car. It looks really fabulous!

tsk13 · 24th March 2010, 23:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by sohail99

Wash -> Clay -> UC/SwirlX/ScratchX --> Glazing/polishing -> Waxing

Can any one add to the list of locally available offerings in the processes mentioned above. I've added what I know:

Wash: Sonax, 3M, Formula 1

Clay: No idea

Rubbing: 3M

Polishing (Less Abrasive): No idea

Glazing/ Polishing: No idea

Waxing: Formula 1, Turtle Wax, Soft99, Motomax

Awaiting your additions. Please list the ones locally available and not the ones available online whether from India or abroad.

sohail99 · 25th March 2010, 00:24

Polishes -

Formula1 Metallic car polish,
Formula1 pearl glo auto polish,
Sonax auto polish
I think I saw some from TW, but cant remember the name exactly!

Wax -

Abel auto liquid wax(saw it at palika bhawan) (apart from the ones mentioned by you)

Glaze -

As far as I know, no glazes are available for retail!(I've seen none available for sale so far)
Dupont and others supply glazes to showrooms and bodyshops as 'professional line' products!

you can get hold of em if you happen to know someone there!

tsk13 · 25th March 2010, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by sohail99

Polishes -

Formula1 Metallic car polish,
Formula1 pearl glo auto polish,
Sonax auto polish
I think I saw some from TW, but cant remember the name exactly!

Wax -

Abel auto liquid wax(saw it at palika bhawan) (apart from the ones mentioned by you)

Glaze -

As far as I know, no glazes are available for retail!(I've seen none available for sale so far)
Dupont and others supply glazes to showrooms and bodyshops as 'professional line' products!

you can get hold of em if you happen to know someone there!

Thanks Sohail. I came across Amway's Car Wash and Silicon Glaze yesterday in their 2009 catalogue. How's it?

mkh · 25th March 2010, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk13

Thanks Sohail. I came across Amway's Car Wash and Silicon Glaze yesterday in their 2009 catalogue. How's it?

Both are excellent, the silicone glaze is a pure polish, have been using both.

Roy.S · 25th March 2010, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by gpa

Roy,

The a/c neutralizing is a DIY that you can do at home and save a lot of money.....

Thanks Gpa! Actually, I thought that they did more than just spray the neutralizer and say 'all ij well' at the detailing centers. Don't they do something else? If that is all then paying 600-700 Rs seems to be ridiculous.
I used the gulf neutralizer once with good results, except that I forgot to empty the glove box and my RC book ended up a soppy mess!

Gill · 26th March 2010, 13:43

Recommed a site to buy car care stuff, which offers the best price inc of shipping locally to US.

24th March 2010, 17:12	#1952
NOTORIOUS BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 809 Thanked: 124 Times	Another Batch Of Pics Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th March 2010, 21:17	#1956
sohail99 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,272 Thanked: 235 Times	SwirlX is a less abrasive compound! as in, its meant for superficial minor swirls etc. Ultimate compound on the other hand is a lot more abrasive than SwirlX. Its meant for scratch removal, heavy swirlings, totally neglected paint finishes etc. I like using UC though cuz, with the right amount of compound and rubbing time, I can remove swirls with minimum effort as compared to with swirlX but with SwirlX, you lose minimum clear coat while working with it, results might not be as impressive though!(on heavy swirls etc.) btw clay and UC are two entirely different steps! Wash -> Clay -> UC/SwirlX/ScratchX --> Glazing/polishing -> Waxing (thats what I do out when I go all the way! Which is usually once a month if I'm able to restrain myself! lol) Last edited by sohail99 : 24th March 2010 at 21:21.
	() Thanks

24th March 2010, 21:48	#1957
Gill BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohali Posts: 701 Thanked: 16 Times	Clay reduces the impurites of the paint surface so does the compound.Do you use 105 cutting compound?
	() Thanks

24th March 2010, 22:40	#1958
sohail99 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,272 Thanked: 235 Times	Clay just lifts off dust and debris that is stuck to the clearcoat! to make the paint surface 'smooth as glass'! It doesn't affect the clearcoat! Rubbing compound abrades the clearcoat to attain a uniform finish (uneven clearcoat = scratches/swirls, even clearcoat = perfect finish(attained by proper use of rubbing compound)) As you see in the below pic, all the scratches and swirls are un affected by the clay, these are removed with SwirlX/ScratchX/UC depending upon the severity of the defect! Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

24th March 2010, 22:41	#1959
-NUT-case BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 263 Thanked: 13 Times	@Notoroius Good job on your car. It looks really fabulous!
	() Thanks

25th March 2010, 00:24	#1961
sohail99 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 1,272 Thanked: 235 Times	Polishes - Formula1 Metallic car polish, Formula1 pearl glo auto polish, Sonax auto polish I think I saw some from TW, but cant remember the name exactly! Wax - Abel auto liquid wax(saw it at palika bhawan) (apart from the ones mentioned by you) Glaze - As far as I know, no glazes are available for retail!(I've seen none available for sale so far) Dupont and others supply glazes to showrooms and bodyshops as 'professional line' products! you can get hold of em if you happen to know someone there!
	() Thanks

26th March 2010, 13:43	#1965
Gill BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mohali Posts: 701 Thanked: 16 Times	Recommed a site to buy car care stuff, which offers the best price inc of shipping locally to US.
	() Thanks