Hello everyone,
Well the past couple days I've been doing alot of reading about maintaining paint jobs. And by this I don't just mean, " what washing soap." I mean as in claying, what waxes , sealments , glazes. Another thing is how do YOU keep the damn EVIL, UGLY swirls off?

Tips and opinions would be great for everyone. Pictures too!

 

Don't drive it and keep in a plastic bubble.

 

Scroll down to the <u>Automotive Detailing</u> section.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1782269

 

i always wash my car from the top down, meaning roof and windows first so i don't wash the dirt back up.

light washing and plenty of water! swirls suck! thank god for wax and compounds!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by toyomatt84 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scroll down to the <u>Automotive Detailing</u> section.
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1782269</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, you'll find all your info in there.

 

wash that sucker with some Meguiar soap once a week / clay it once every 3 months / wax once every 3 months / buff every 7+ months. my **** is still bling bling... EJ1 = Orginal white paint...

 

Turtle Wax Ice products.

 

i work in the detail shop at the toyota dealer and wash my car 4 days a week after i get off. plus i have a garage

 

Some good articles below to go off of:

http://autopia.org/forum/guide....html

http://autopia.org/forum/guide....html

http://autopia.org/forum/guide....html

 

I start by not having clean paint, its much easier to maintain There is a lot of good stuff in the detailing section

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hondizzle! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I start by not having clean paint, its much easier to maintain There is a lot of good stuff in the detailing section </TD></TR></TABLE>

dont listen to this guy

 

Championship white doesn't get swirls

Hell most of the time I don't wash it for a month or so .

 

high speed buffer is your friend

 

jeremy great info. Thank you sir -- Alex

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sheepey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">jeremy great info. Thank you sir -- Alex</TD></TR></TABLE>

No problem.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sheepey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hello everyone,
Well the past couple days I've been doing alot of reading about maintaining paint jobs. And by this I don't just mean, " what washing soap." I mean as in claying, what waxes , sealments , glazes. Another thing is how do YOU keep the damn EVIL, UGLY swirls off?

Tips and opinions would be great for everyone. Pictures too! </TD></TR></TABLE>

regular maintenance is the key. Its alot easier to keep it clean when it isn't super dirty. I would say the biggest trick to keeping swirls off is using a 2 bucket method with grit guards and to wash/ apply product in the shade to cool paint. Also don't over use soap as it can remove the wax. Clay is your friend. What color do you have? Generally dark colors shows swirls easier and light colors show dirt better. I have detailed for years and the one piece of advice I have for you is its not the products but the process. Generally I do the following every month:

degrease motor/ dry with compressed air/ dress motor
wash and dress tires/ wheel wells
wash exterior top to bottom ( 2bucket method with gritguards)
dry exterior ( to avoid water spots from hard water)
wipe down interior and door jambs
clay exterior
light compound to exterior
sealant ( usually synthetic unless caranuba is preferred)
dress exterior rubber
dress interior

I wash the car once a week. They key is you dont have to do everything in one day, break it up into 2 or 3 day session for about 1 hour a day. Since I've been working on my new project I cant do this to my daily driver but every 2 months I do it. When the spring comes around I will post the definitive how to detail using 2 methods, hand only and machine application

 

maintain your the washes and wax it ever so often ... wax also helps clean dirt off... my dads car is not waxed @ ALL and when i go to clean it , the dirt feels so stuck on!

just wax,wash etc... as much as possible also a good buff and claybar is good once in awhile

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95whitehatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

regular maintenance is the key. Its alot easier to keep it clean when it isn't super dirty. I would say the biggest trick to keeping swirls off is using a 2 bucket method with grit guards and to wash/ apply product in the shade to cool paint. Also don't over use soap as it can remove the wax. Clay is your friend. What color do you have? Generally dark colors shows swirls easier and light colors show dirt better. I have detailed for years and the one piece of advice I have for you is its not the products but the process. Generally I do the following every month:

degrease motor/ dry with compressed air/ dress motor
wash and dress tires/ wheel wells
wash exterior top to bottom ( 2bucket method with gritguards)
dry exterior ( to avoid water spots from hard water)
wipe down interior and door jambs
clay exterior
light compound to exterior
sealant ( usually synthetic unless caranuba is preferred)
dress exterior rubber
dress interior

I wash the car once a week. They key is you dont have to do everything in one day, break it up into 2 or 3 day session for about 1 hour a day. Since I've been working on my new project I cant do this to my daily driver but every 2 months I do it. When the spring comes around I will post the definitive how to detail using 2 methods, hand only and machine application </TD></TR></TABLE>

Good info
Question for you though, after you seal do you wax? Because the links Jemery posted I just got done looking over and they wax after.

And can you explain the "2 bucket" method a little more? Thank you.

 

i just spent an hr on those links jeremy put up

added autopia as a favorite, im going to order some of their wash products, look top notch. wonder what they recommend for white paint? seems like the synthetic with carnauba top works best for dark/deep colors


as for the 2 bucket method...its 2 buckets, one with soapy water to apply onto the car, and the other to rinse the mitt out once youve used it on the car to get any dirt/debris out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by OMG THE GOGGLES &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Don't drive it and keep in a plastic bubble. </TD></TR></TABLE>



here u go

 

that is nuts!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Casey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i just spent an hr on those links jeremy put up

added autopia as a favorite, im going to order some of their wash products, look top notch. wonder what they recommend for white paint? seems like the synthetic with carnauba top works best for dark/deep colors


as for the 2 bucket method...its 2 buckets, one with soapy water to apply onto the car, and the other to rinse the mitt out once youve used it on the car to get any dirt/debris out</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yep, I just placed my order aswell. And thanks for explain the 2 bucket method

 

here u go [/QUOTE]

I need one of these for my hatch!!

 

Step 1: Shoot all your cats.

when using micro fiber towels, dont use them for everything.

Don't spray detail the whole car just to make it clean again, constantly check the towel to see if theres any little dirt in it. If there is, DONT USE IT ANYMORE. Flip it over or to a clean side, throw them through the wash.

A lot of times the dirt and crap doesnt come out in the wash either so you'll either have to pick it out with your fingers or just retire them for grease towels, and pick up new ones.

It's important to use microfiber towels sparingly. The hype will tell you that they wont scratch cars. Don't be stupid. Granted, they are better than a regular towel, the towel itself isn't scratching the car. Microfiber towels are gay for little pieces of dirt getting caught in the towel and getting stuck there.

Make sure that when you're touching up your car after wax or to remove dust, use a speed detail somewhat liberally. Don't soak the car, but don't go wiping spots without the detailer on it. Wipe LIGHTLY.

Make sure you constantly check your towel and chamoi as well when drying your car down after washing.

Have fun, keep it clean!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Presto800 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Step 1: Shoot all your cats.

when using micro fiber towels, dont use them for everything.

Don't spray detail the whole car just to make it clean again, constantly check the towel to see if theres any little dirt in it. If there is, DONT USE IT ANYMORE. Flip it over or to a clean side, throw them through the wash.

A lot of times the dirt and crap doesnt come out in the wash either so you'll either have to pick it out with your fingers or just retire them for grease towels, and pick up new ones.

It's important to use microfiber towels sparingly. The hype will tell you that they wont scratch cars. Don't be stupid. Granted, they are better than a regular towel, the towel itself isn't scratching the car. Microfiber towels are gay for little pieces of dirt getting caught in the towel and getting stuck there.

Make sure that when you're touching up your car after wax or to remove dust, use a speed detail somewhat liberally. Don't soak the car, but don't go wiping spots without the detailer on it. Wipe LIGHTLY.

Make sure you constantly check your towel and chamoi as well when drying your car down after washing.

Have fun, keep it clean!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you for the input. One thing im scared to use in the buffers.... :/