Beginner Detailing Tools

[GVegas]

I am new to detailing and recently purchased the Meguiar's Dual Action Power System. I figured I would make a post, because this is a inexpensive tool great for learning how to detail. I purchased everything from Amazon.







This system attaches to a drill. I recommend a corded drill. The drill I purchased has 1500 RPM which falls under the recommended 1200-3500 RPM. My car only has about 600 miles on it, but there are some swirl marks and scratches from improper washing at dealership. I want to learn how to properly wash and maintain my car/protect the paint.




Before I began detailing. Paint doesn't need much correction, but I can see the swirls in the sun.

Step taken:
1. Hand wash/dry two bucket method
2. Clay Bar
3. Hand wash/dry two bucket method
4. Polish
5. Wax




Completed

The entire process took me about 6 hours. Polishing took the longest. After completing this a larger buffer would have speed up the process, but the smaller buffer was great to get the harder to reach places and smaller surface areas. I think once I become more experienced this will compliment a full sized buffer very nicely. The polish gave the car a nice glossy look almost like glass or wet paint. Not all swirl marks were removed so next time I do this I think I will add a swirl remover step. Like I said I am new to detailing and any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has any questions please let me know. I hope this will help anyone looking to get in to detailing.








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[WhiteFRS69]

if you can learn to compound and polish right the first time, you wont need to add a "Swirl removing step"
what will help too is hand movement, try to slow your hand movement over the surface you are working in,
try to keep it to a 2x2 field and make sure your working the product long enough,

look like this thing got some good reviews lol

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...er-system.html

kinda suprising

[GVegas]

I got the compound but didn't use it. From what I read I thought that polishing would be enough seeing as the I have only had the car for a little more than a month. Maybe I'll use the compound next time. I did 12 by 12 inch squares moving the buffer about one inch per second.


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[Chad11491]

I know most harbor freight stuff is junk, but I've had their DA polisher (the $50 ish one) for about two years and have done 4-5 cars with it. It works excellently. Their pads aren't the best, but the polisher itself I'm super happy with.

What I like to do to get the best shine I've ever seen, which I found this method online, and it really works:

Wash, then clay, then wash. If the car needs it I like meguiars ultimate compound , and then I use about two coats of Klasse all in one, then two to three of Klasse sealant glaze, and THEN a pure carnauba wax with no additives. I like P21S. I swear its like a deep mirror after that.

Best part is Klasse lasts about half a year in good conditions so I just wash and wax after that.

The car looks incredible after you were done with it!

[Packofcrows]

Hand polish for 3hrs> 15-45min machine spin imo lol

[Ec1990]

Hand polish over machine? Why? You'll never be able to mimic a polisher by hand or anything close to it.

[dentalprodigy]

Originally Posted by GVegas

I am new to detailing and recently purchased the Meguiar's Dual Action Power System. I figured I would make a post, because this is a inexpensive tool great for learning how to detail. I purchased everything from Amazon.

Attachment 105282
Attachment 105283
Attachment 105284
Attachment 105285
Attachment 105286

This system attaches to a drill. I recommend a corded drill. The drill I purchased has 1500 RPM which falls under the recommended 1200-3500 RPM. My car only has about 600 miles on it, but there are some swirl marks and scratches from improper washing at dealership. I want to learn how to properly wash and maintain my car/protect the paint.

Attachment 105287
Attachment 105288

Before I began detailing. Paint doesn't need much correction, but I can see the swirls in the sun.

Step taken:
1. Hand wash/dry two bucket method
2. Clay Bar
3. Hand wash/dry two bucket method
4. Polish
5. Wax

Attachment 105290
Attachment 105291

Completed

The entire process took me about 6 hours. Polishing took the longest. After completing this a larger buffer would have speed up the process, but the smaller buffer was great to get the harder to reach places and smaller surface areas. I think once I become more experienced this will compliment a full sized buffer very nicely. The polish gave the car a nice glossy look almost like glass or wet paint. Not all swirl marks were removed so next time I do this I think I will add a swirl remover step. Like I said I am new to detailing and any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. If anyone has any questions please let me know. I hope this will help anyone looking to get in to detailing.








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Thanks for recommending this op. On amazon, they have a $40 (attachment only) and a $90 bundle. What do you recommend? Buying the $40 attachment and buying the sprays/bottles separately or go with the bundle?

[GVegas]

I believe I added up the price of the bundle and it was actually a little more expensive than purchasing separately. The bundle does come with the cloths, but I already had those so I didn't add that in to the price. The packs only come with a small bottle of wax, Polish, or compound and the associated pad. It is Enough to do at least one vehicle.


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[bakerr6]

Get the gg 6in orbital polisher for $90 from advance auto. You'll thank me later

[Tgionet]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Hand polish for 3hrs> 15-45min machine spin imo lol

Shit, it takes me 6++ hours to do a car properly with a machine. And that's not counting glass, interior, or wheels. Hand polishing would probably take 20-30x as long and produce worse results.

Rinse with pressure washer
Foam gun
Rinse
Hand Wash
Rinse
Clay
Rinse
Compound
Polish
Rinse
Sealant
Wax
Trim

[Poodles]

Originally Posted by Chad11491

I know most harbor freight stuff is junk, but I've had their DA polisher (the $50 ish one) for about two years and have done 4-5 cars with it. It works excellently. Their pads aren't the best, but the polisher itself I'm super happy with.

What I like to do to get the best shine I've ever seen, which I found this method online, and it really works:

Wash, then clay, then wash. If the car needs it I like meguiars ultimate compound , and then I use about two coats of Klasse all in one, then two to three of Klasse sealant glaze, and THEN a pure carnauba wax with no additives. I like P21S. I swear its like a deep mirror after that.

Best part is Klasse lasts about half a year in good conditions so I just wash and wax after that.

The car looks incredible after you were done with it!

Glaze can be used to cover up a hell of a lot... I'm not fond of carnauba wax as in the Texas sun it will easily boil off. It's nice to put on as a spray wax over a polymer wax though to add that extra shine.

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Hand polish for 3hrs> 15-45min machine spin imo lol

Do you also like digging ditches with spoons?

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by Poodles

Do you also like digging ditches with spoons?

@Poodles, Nope. Spoons are for chumps.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geFwh7mafSg"]This[/ame].

[adamg]

Originally Posted by Packofcrows

Hand polish for 3hrs> 15-45min machine spin imo lol

lol ignorance

[Packofcrows]

Originally Posted by adamg

lol ignorance

LoL,


I know that machine will provide better even-ess, and use less product, but I will remain stubborn and still prefer hand waxing. Sure, swirls and even-ess might be an issue, but even so, hand wax is the one thing I will not change.

Polishing on he other hand, sure, I'll use a machine. So, there you go bro. It's just a matter of preference.