New here...and scared

KyleP

KyleP

New member
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
68
Reaction score
0
Hey everybody I'm Kyle and I'm new here. You probably clicked on this because you're wondering why I'm scared. Well ill get to that in a moment, first ill tell you a little about myself.

Im 22 and was in accounting. After being laid off for over 6 months I took a minimum wage detailing job at a fairly big dealership to make a little money until I found a good job. I never even washed my car more then once every few months before I started working there.
...anywho, I quickly learned that I like detailing. Not always newly sold cars that would be in and out but when I'd get a customer car I'd get paid directly for or a showroom car I'd just pour my heart into these cars.
To clarify on the detailing job: we did not clay, polish, or truly wax.

We did however full interior detail, wash, tires/wheels/windows/engine bay/bodyshine-spray wax

Now to why I'm scared: I'm working a good job again now and recently decided with my new found enjoyment I'd take on detailing friends family and neighbors cars. I spent $100 on products mainly the beginning tools needed such as mf towels, applicator pads, mf mitts, etc.

The products I bought:
Wash and wax
Meguiars clay kit
Meguiars ultimate polish
Meguiars ultimate liquid wax

I did all this thinking with the bit of basic experience I have... it will be so easy to just jump in and do the three step clay polish wax (which I've never done.)

Since I've started this forum I've realized a few things:

Clay bar can scratch the car... I'm not sure if I should even do this now.

I have no idea what polishing is... this whole time I thought it was just to add the shine before applying a layer of protecting wax onto the shine.

In conclusion here is what I do know: I don't want to start doing this on people's cars and scratching them. However I need to learn somehow. I would like to wax my car but I cannot afford to fix any pain't on my brand new car.

I don't expect every answer in this thread but I am hoping that someone on here would take a few minutes and help direct me to a few links to make me more comfortable in being a first time clay polish or wax job.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
 
Welcome aboard . Don t be scared , you re on a good start .

Here s some vids from Mike Phillips : [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfxAesk4Po4]Part 1 - How to use detailing clay - YouTube[/video]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opfK408uIxM]Part 2 - How to use detailing clay - YouTube[/video]
 
Aggressive claying can marr the paint. However, the OTC Meg's clay kit has fine grade clay and as long as you use the sufficient lube in the kit, you should be fine in general.... I say general because there are super soft paint that will scratch if you breath on it... but that's pretty rare in my opinion.

UP has very little cut and I would not worry too much as long as you are using the correct applicator... and I am just assuming you are working by hand? Use a foam applicator and good soft MF towel to remove. Same thing with wax, foam and MF. When you are applying a finishing polish (which is what UP is) and wax, you are not really applying too much pressure. You only apply enough pressure so the applicator does not fall off. You should be really massaging it in. Only time you are applying pressure with finishing polish is when you have some correction to take care of. Use little pressure and especially by hand, it will not do any damage if used properly.

Key thing to remember is to work clean... whatever that touches the paint, check it often for dirt and debris. It is usually not the product that end up scratching, its the dirt and debris that gets on the media. If you drop it, I would just use another fresh one.
 
:welcome: to AGO!


-You need to go to a junkyard and pick up some scrap-panels to practice on.

-You also need to pick up a few more tools and products.
A DA polisher/some foam-pads will be a good investment.

:)

Bob
 
c8n said:
and I am just assuming you are working by hand? Use a foam applicator and good soft MF towel to remove. Same thing with wax, foam and MF. When you are applying a finishing polish (which is what UP is) and wax,
Click to expand...



Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
 
Sorry I don't see an edit button on mobile but this post is in reply to the above quote...
Yes I'm doing it by hand and also... it's a finishing polish? Is there another polish I'm supposed to be using before it?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using AG Online
 
Welcome to the forum. Don't be afraid. You sound like a smart guy and you're asking good questions. Keep reading here. Mike Phillips is the detailing god and any vids or articles you can read from him will be especially helpful. Good luck.
 
Don't be afraid of clay, I was too the first time I clayed. Just make sure you always have a good amount of lubrication while claying and clay only when it needs it. Use the baggie test to know when it's needed.
 
If you are serious about detailing you will need to equip yourself properly. But for now, what I would suggest is to go to youtube and subscribe to the following channels:
- Autogeek
- AMMONYCdotcom
- Junkman2000

There you will find hundreds of videos covering every aspect of detailing. Focus on the wash techniques first since this is how paint is usually damaged.

As for clay, I think the alternatives are much better. Clay is super expensive and doesn't last long. When you start to equip yourself, I strongly suggest you pick up Nanoskin (that is the company) Quick Prep Sponges or Their decontamination Mit. I went with the sponges and but after reviewing several videos I think the mit is better. Those things last a long time, they are faster to do the job and they are not ruined if you drop them. And clay can easilly be dropped, sometimes it will grab when you least expect it and it can fly out of your hand.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!
 
Wow I was not expecting all this info when I came into this thread this morning. Just to clear up though this is the exact polish I bought...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004HCOE8Q

After reading an above link if this is a finishing polish that means it's intended to abrade the paint.

Is using an abrasive polish my first time a good idea? Lol sounds like scratches waiting to happen!

By the way thank you all for such great information!
 
UP or its detailers counter part M205 Ultra Finishing Polish has very little cut to it. At best, you will need a machine to do any kind of leveling.

I use UP on my maintenance details for my car couple of times a year.
If you are concerned with the abrasives in UP, you can certainly try M07 Glaze which is a pure polish with no abrasives.

Just do note however, when it comes to paint correction, you are leveling the paint by either filling or cutting.
 
I'm doing it by hand so it seems to be unlikely. However on my 2011 patriot the paint still looks great, It may need some claying tbh but I don't really have scratch problems with most of it therefor I (think) am looking for mainly just a shiny glaze before my wax...still think UP is the product for me to use?
 
Don't be scared of clay or polishing. Yes you can mar the paint, but that's what polishes and compounds are for. Buy a DA polisher and some pads. I have never burned paint with a da. If you enjoy interior detailing, you will probably fall in love with paint correction.

Look around the forum and check out some paint correction threads. There are many absolutely outstanding detailers on this forum and they love to help anyone that wants to learn.

99% of what I know about paint polishing is from veteran posters here. Just beware... you are about to open Pandoras box. Once you learn and start doing some correction, you will want everything you touch to leave with a show car finish.
 
I think UP is fine for your purpose.
Just use enough pressure so that your foam applicator does not fall off and massage it in. UP needs to be remove while still wet. Claying can potentially cause marring if used aggressively on soft paint so if by chance you do come across those spots, UP can certainly take care of that if used with enough pressure.

Read post #17 on the following thread. Evan posted some great info on how to hold the applicator.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/65165-what-did-i-do-wrong-2.html
 
Well that's good to know at least. I did get the megs clay kit which I'm told is not an aggressive clay at all so that's comforting as well.
 
C8N...

I just read that entire thread and it brought me to something I haven't even thought about...will the pads I will be using harm my car or make it more likely? I ordered some meguiars applicator pads off Amazon its a pack of 2. I planned to use 1 for the UP and 1 for the ultimate liquid wax

Link for pads I bought:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009IQZPW/ref=ya_aw_oh_pit

Thoughts?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top