Quick Question, Need Help Please Options

[ekcoupe]

Hey im new to cars as ive only bought my frist car, my question is: how do you cut n polish?
ive got mainly everything for the cut n polish(cutting compound, 2000 grit sandpaper, and some autoglym polish).
can you guys explain how to do this it would help me out.
i would have asked my friend but i dont want to bother him as he just hurt his back.
thanks, tim

This post has been edited by 99civic: Oct 19 2009, 12:31 PM

[that_rodeo_guy]

Just google it mate. Everyone has their own kinda way of doing it.

[dano4127]

If you have never done anything like this i recommend you put the sand paper away!

I would only use cutting compound on areas that are heavily scratched and its quite easy I would use a damp pad to rub the area and then buff off with a clean one

Clay bar as outlined below is one of the best thing you will ever buy they are amazing!!!

1: The wash

first things first never ever wash your car with a sponge, broom, or drive through car wash. these are the enemy of paint.

- you want to start with your engine bay. spray lightly with water to remove excess grime then apply a degreaser and wash off. this works the best with a high pressure wash.

- now the paint.
- get all the heavy muck off with a pre wash washdown
- you want to get a chamois in warm water with some Megiuars Soft Wash Gel (personally think this is best wash available to public, expensive though.
- now clean with the chamois in the same style as a sponge (NO SPONGES ON PAINT)
- now hose the car down using a high pressure washer or hose.
- wash your wheels lightly with a sponge. do not scrub hard.
- scub under wheel archs with a kenco handle broom or similar.

by now the cars exterior should have a nice coat of wax and a shine.


2: The After Wash

once the car is washed you can ran your hand across the paint and feel that it is not smooth, this is called fallout it is crapp that falls out of the sky, such as brake dust, train dust, sap, etc. this can be removed by claying the car. this is using a process with a 3M perfect III or the better one (SOFTER) the eraser bar for your car by clay magic. apply water in a spray bottle keeping the surface damp then rub lighty DO NOT press hard as it may scracth. another point you drop a clay bar you throuh it out.

This stage you will need 4 chamois, the euka-fill ones are the best (the big big ones.) 1 for the paint, 1 for the wheels, 1 for the door jams and 1 for under the hood.

This is simple chamois down, different chamois for different areas.



3: Polish

there are many ways in which to polish a car and many polishes. the way i do my own car is with a Megiuars applicater pad.

- once you have chamois down the car time to apply the polish.
- you cant go past the Megiuars polishes that are unreal compared to that of turtle wax, kitten etc,
- you can follow there step by step method but i just use the carnuba based polish. this is real thick and yellow and smells awesome. it is also a cleaner polish so it cleans your paint as you work.
- apply the polish in an even circular motion trying not to miss pacthes.
- allow to sit for a 10 - 15 minutes so it can set.
- now comes the hard bit getting the stuff off, but once its done its soooo worth it. using an Aquatouch microfibre polishing cloth (this are awesome because they never scratch) or similar microfibre cloths, if you cant get these you get a real soft nappy (RAG) and take the polish off, concentrating on panel by panel.

you should have a nicely clean polished machine now with your paint sparkling.

i forgot to mentioned the area in which you work, under fluroes or under the sun light, different types of light portray different aspects of your paint work so its up to you, but this isnt a major issue because you can see most things.

jacked from here: http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/Ca...l&hl=polish

[Hoon]

Pretty much what dano said - don't be using 2000 grit wet n dry sandpaper... If I'm not mistaken, that's for getting a standard paint job, removing a fine layer to get rid of the "orange peel" effect. If you really wanna do that - get a pro to do it. Paint is microinches thick - too much rubbing in 1 location and hey presto, you've fucked it.

Some extra tips -
Wash the car outside, possibly on grass (be nice to the grass). Do it late in the arvo or early in the morning.
Move car inside to dry with chamois.
Wait until the surface of your car is cool to do any clay bar/polish/waxing.

[Rookie ROX]

First this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...ing-drying.html

Then this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...x-cleaning.html

Followed by this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...perfection.html

Finish with this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...x-your-car.html

Enjoy learning that there's significantly more to proper detailing then what the back of a bottle says.

ROCK ON
R~R

[NOR011]

Does your car have a clear coat finish?

[ekcoupe]

Does your car have a clear coat finish?

yeah it does also its a metallic paint

[ekcoupe]

First this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...ing-drying.html

Then this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...x-cleaning.html

Followed by this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...perfection.html

Finish with this - http://www.autopia.org/forum/guide-detaili...x-your-car.html

Enjoy learning that there's significantly more to proper detailing then what the back of a bottle says.

ROCK ON
R~R

By The way thanks heaps for that, thats gonna help me out alot