Full Focus Exterior Detail

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:10

I'm sure you all by now know my Mum's Focus LX. Anyway another few months have passed without me touching it. So she took my car to work and I started on her car.
So 9.30 and the car looks like this...

So got my prewash sorted...
Mix of all sorts in there, snow foam, APC, Shampoo plus, Bilberry, DG901 and I think thats it

Then I soaked the wheels in bilberry...

And carried on with the Pre-Wash...
All the nooks and crannies were scrubbed with a soft paint brush and a shaving brush...

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:11

After several attempts at the alloys, even with neat bilberry, wonder wheels and Autoglym engine and machine cleaner I had to give up with the alloys looking like this...

Felling abit down about the alloys I mixed up some shampoo, braved myself up and carried on...

So washed off the prewash, scrubbed the tyres in APC and it left the car looking like this...

So car was washed with TBM and I decided to try Carplan Demon Shine as a rinse aid ...

Thats about 700ml in a 15l watering can and the product just run off the car like it had fresh wax on it leaving the car almost completly dry :doublesho

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:11

After being rinsed...

Anyway I got on with claying, I havent really given the car a good clay since I had it and you could tell!

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:12

So I got the PC out and a Megs Polishing, Finishing and Cutting pad along with #83 and #80. The main defects on the car come out with #80 on a polishing pad but some needed #83 on a polishing pad and one or two areas needed wet sanding so I used #83 on a cutting pad. The car was then refined with #80 on a finishing pad...

Now there was lots of little random scratches like this...

So they were sanded down...

And polished up

...

The finish after #80...

Another scratch...

Sanded the lower part of the door with 1000 grit, 2000 and then 4000...

And polished...

Another 'finish' Picture after #80...

I turned my attention to the panio black door pillar covers and the scratches on them...

#80 on a polishing pad and out...

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:12

Another random 'finish' picture

My Mums car as you can see has had it's fair share of bumps but I decided to try tidy this one up abit...

Wet sanded...

Polished with #83 on a cutting pad (still looks hazy cause I didnt buff the product off properly...

I then polished the car with Autoglym SRP on an Autoglym finishing pad to further refine the finish and cleanse the paint leaving the car like this...

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:13

I then give the car a coat of Duragloss 601, waited for it to evaporate a little and gave it a coat of Duragloss 111...

Then the car was given a wipedown with Duragloss 921
(Which has been confirmed by 3 people I know to be Zaino Z6)...

Tyres and black plastics dressed, glass had carlack twins treatment and finished...

Ta for reading :thumb:
Bailes.

**t5 pete** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:25

when do you want to come and do myne i wish i know how to do all of that to mine its lucky if it gets polished never mind the stuff you have been using well done

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:48

Originally Posted by t5 pete

when do you want to come and do myne i wish i know how to do all of that to mine its lucky if it gets polished never mind the stuff you have been using well done

When do you want to pay me?

Saying that, how far are you from Holmfirth/Huddersfield?
Providing I pass my test on March 5th I'l be going to stay with my Uncle over easter in Holmfirth W.Yorks (I used to live there and got quite a few friends up that way). And I'd be up for a visit if you fancied it and quick detail of your car?

If theres a few more members your area could make a smell meet out of it?

**t5 pete** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 20:59

yeah deffinatly huddersfield isnt far at all i would like to know what to use as ive got a few scratches on myne but havent got a clue when it comes to detailing

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 21:02

I'd be up for it. I'l make a thread about it closer to the time. I work in a detailing shop (Glossmax, we offer VPCUK a 5% discount) so could always pick up a few things if you wanted. But yeh, could pop round wiht my machine polisher and show you a few things and products no problem

**t5 pete** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 21:03

brilliant i look forward to it and when ive finally learnt what i need to use ill get a order in

**Al115** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 21:06

Where do you live??? The S could really do with that treatment! Not for the scratches (it doesn't have any) but more for the paint...

That looks like a great job!

**bailes1992** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 21:10

I live in South Wales mate. Where you based? If I'm close or ever about your way I'd gladly do it for a few tokens (Not much, just enough to cover my own products etc)

**Al115** · Tuesday 16th February 2010, 21:13

Near St Albans, just North of London - so absolutely nowhere near you!!!

Mind you, we all travel about, so the chance of me being near you or you being near me isn't so remote!

Tokens would be forthcoming...

**Libra** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 17:20

Fantastic job there on that what was a poor looking Focus. Looks brand new now. I am good at car cleaning, just not that good. I really do need to purchase a DA polisher.

**t5 pete** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 17:24

Originally Posted by Libra

Fantastic job there on that what was a poor looking Focus. Looks brand new now. I am good at car cleaning, just not that good. I really do need to purchase a DA polisher.

im lost allready whats a DA polisher

**Libra** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 17:28

Originally Posted by t5 pete

im lost allready whats a DA polisher

DA = Dual action.

There are two types of machine polisher. Type 1 Rotary. these are usually sanders that have been converted into a polisher. These move in a circular motion. OK if you know what you are doing and are good at it - Professional use these. If like you or I wanted a machine polisher, get a DA type like the Megs G220 which moves in orbits rather than circles, thus being safer to use.

**t5 pete** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 17:32

brill cheers now i just need to find out what pads i need, what compound stuff, polish,ETC,ETC,ETC lol its something ive always fancied doing but just havent got a clue where to start hopefully some one can do me a list lol.

**Libra** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 17:39

Originally Posted by t5 pete

brill cheers now i just need to find out what pads i need, what compound stuff, polish,ETC,ETC,ETC lol its something ive always fancied doing but just havent got a clue where to start hopefully some one can do me a list lol.

This might help you out...http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...ishing-do.html

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acata...-polisher.html

**t5 pete** · Wednesday 17th February 2010, 18:39

right then my car does look nice when washed etc but it does have a few light scratches and swirls also where the sills areit seem there a film cover probley road film which doesnt look too nice as its spreading up the bottom part o the door now.
So what do i need ive been looking at 3m fast cut plus compund is this any good for me also once ive use a cutting compund what polish/wax will i need to use also what do you find best to dot he black trims on our cars as ive used a few for example autoglym bumper care and i didnt like it very much at all.
Any help would be much apperciated.
Cheers pete