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I used a local timber yard(Howarth) for all except the posts(on offer at Jewsons £10 +vat..ish) the rest came in about £160, a mixture of 8x2, 6x2 and 4x2. Tool station for all the fixings.
and please use their services
Washing Your Car!
- Thread starter R.Y.K. LEE
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Has anyone on here used a ceramic coating on their car, as it promises a lot.
http://ceramicpro.co.uk/
http://ceramicpro.co.uk/
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My understanding is that it needs to be properly applied. Poorly prepped car and slap-dash application means crap performance. But get it done properly and it does look and work amazing.
GTG
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Better off asking on detailingworld forum. It is dedicated to this sort of thing.
I remember a thread where a guy was testing dozens of ceramic coatings.
Must have spent thousands.
From memory the good stuff is from Japan and costs a fortune for a tiny bottle
GTG
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There are products called sealants. They last longer than wax. FK1000P is a very popular one for about £20 a tin.
I have seen them bead water after 6 months but you have to use non detergent car shampoo so it does not get stripped off.
Plus many people put one coat on, let it cure for many hours and then do it again.
The idea being that it lasts longer.
wack61
I've got an itchy hatch
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I bought some mr fix ceramic coating from Mr fix in China on ebay, delivery options were free or £1000 for next day delivery which I assume was 1st class travel for Mr fix himself
I only wanted it to blacken the black trim on my old range rover which it did great , seems to be lasting as well
I only wanted it to blacken the black trim on my old range rover which it did great , seems to be lasting as well
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Gave the roof a good scrub Saturday ready for treatment Sunday. Gave it 2 coats of Renovo colour and finished with a coat of Fabsil waterproofer.
Roof coloured and water proofed by Scott, on Flickr
Roof coloured and water proofed by Scott, on Flickr
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Taken all day (partly because I had to glue the velcro pad back onto the polisher), but the Civic is looking a little better. Washed, Patch corrected some swirls/scratches/miscellaneous marks then Machine polished with FK One Step Cleaner/Sealer. Then the sun came out so I could only do one side with the actual proper sealant, but that side looks good considering the generally poor state of the paint. Tomorrow I will finish off the sealant then a top coat of wax all over.
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Out at 6:45 this morning to give wife’s car a quick maintenance wash before the sun / heat hits.
Tried some new x-press spray wax - impressed, easy to use, leaves a nice slick finish to the bodywork and smells nice too
Quick update following some rain over tother day, beading extremely well and seems to be lasting well after 2 weeks - so, so far, impressed
Not had chance to wash it again this week yet, will try later on and see what's it's like after washing...
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Finding a cool part of the day is nightmare, early or late as I have zero shade. Managed 2 mx5s yesterday as I have my sister in laws on the drive while she's away and it's black.
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Oh tell me about it...not too bad if I’m just washing, but a pain if I’m wanting to do anything else...
Still could be rainy
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Well I went out this morning to finish off the Civic to find the birds had already got to it!
Still, it's now had it's sealant finished off and FK pink wax with 1000p on the wheels. I've sealed one of the wheels too as an experiment, it has a deeper gloss than the others but need to see how long it lasts!
Still, it's now had it's sealant finished off and FK pink wax with 1000p on the wheels. I've sealed one of the wheels too as an experiment, it has a deeper gloss than the others but need to see how long it lasts!
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If you're wanting a clay bar - Halfords have this Auto Finesse kit on offer with a clay bar and lub included -- https://www.halfords.com/motoring/c...ing-kits/auto-finesse-complete-protection-kit
Another option, which I prefer, is to use a clay mitt - Halfords sell the G3 mitt which is very easy to use - I tend to use a very strong car washing solution as a lubricant
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/c...iling-products/farecla-g3-body-prep-clay-mitt
DorsetDude
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Second the clay mitt. When using it for the frst time break it in on the windscreen and glass. Rinse it out and when using on the paintwork go very, very lightly on the pressure, hardly any needed. I got round my car in 20 minutes using mine the last time. When finished, give it a good rinse, hang up to dry and place back in its bag when dry to stop it attracting dust.
DorsetDude
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Yes.
Yep. I dont have a snow foam lance so I use Bilt Hamber auto foam in a 3 litre garden pump sprayer.
3, wait 5/10 minutes depending on how hot is is, how quick it might dry on. dont want that.
4, rinse.
Job done!!?!?! Now you start!
wheels clean,
iron and tar removal
claying
2 bucket wash
polish
wax etc.
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Wait, what? I was under the impression pressure washer solves all problemsJob done!!?!?! Now you start!
wheels clean,
iron and tar removal
claying
2 bucket wash
polish
wax etc.
I used to do the 2 bucket wash method about once a year when the weather is good (not too hot, not too cold, not too sunny, not too cloudy), because I'm lazy. Now I'm thinking I can do it more often because pressure wash should be easier and quicker: don't have to scrub with a sponge.
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Pressure washer doesn't really wash your car on its own.
The key to a good finish is smooth paint, and the key to that is prep.
Sounds like you already know this, but once/maybe twice a year do the full works, then you can probably get away with pressure washing it when it's grubby, but you'll still need a sponge.
Word of caution too, if your Nilfisk is anything like mine, it will take the paint off if you get too close.
The key to a good finish is smooth paint, and the key to that is prep.
Sounds like you already know this, but once/maybe twice a year do the full works, then you can probably get away with pressure washing it when it's grubby, but you'll still need a sponge.
Word of caution too, if your Nilfisk is anything like mine, it will take the paint off if you get too close.
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Yes.
Yep. I dont have a snow foam lance so I use Bilt Hamber auto foam in a 3 litre garden pump sprayer.
3, wait 5/10 minutes depending on how hot is is, how quick it might dry on. dont want that.
4, rinse.
Job done!!?!?! Now you start!
wheels clean,
iron and tar removal
claying
2 bucket wash
polish
wax etc.
As per Keith, I like to use BH Auto Foam via a pump sprayer and leave for approx 5 mins before pressure washing off.
Snow foam - AutoGlym new Polar Blast is very good and you can use BH AutoFoam via snow lance aswell
And then you can wash your motor
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User.82148
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When did car cleaning become so complicated! Snow foam, clay, spray pumps etc. What happened to soapy water, a rinse and a shammy?
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I only had a quick go, my car is black and at just under a year old as much as I have tried to be extra careful the bonnet seemed to be covered with light scratches in the lacquer. In less than half hour, all by hand, I had gone over the bonnet with Scratchout, buffed it, applied a coat of Autobrite's Cherry Glaze, buffed that, then applied a coat of Autobrite's Project 64 sealant. Just been out to the car and although the rest of the car is dirty from the bit of recent rain and the dust/sand that seemed to deposit on the car, the bonnet is gleaming. I am really impressed by Autobrites products.Oh excellent - one I've not tried yet
DorsetDude
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Oh you can still do that - but I'd recommend a drying towel over a shammy
Also bin the sponge and get a microfibre noodle mitt. TK Maxx often have them cheap, even wilkinsons have 'em. and Tesco do a simoniz one.
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This is exactly the problem with all forums. Someone comes on with an idea of what they want to use and then immediately be told "You don't that, you want XXX".
So very quickly, your bucket of soapy water, rinse and shammy becomes: two buckets, a specialised shampoo matched to your car's paint, PH balanced water and a variety of drying cloths which are discarded after every wipe.
And then you need clay bars and lubes. And snow foam. And wheel brushes. and non-acidic brake dust remover. And 3m tape and an orbital polisher. And various cutting agents in different strengths. And then multiple wash mitts which are colour coded so you have one for the top of the car, another one for the swage line to the bottom of door shuts and another for bumpers and kick plates. Then you need leather cleaners. And conditioners. And windowlene won't do. It has to be Isopropyl alcohol spray. And then you need tyre dressing that doesn't just make your tyres black, it feeds them. And then you need a duplicate set of sponges and detailing brushes for under the bonnet. And a paint depth gauge. And a sunlight light. And a hermetically sealed garage which is humidity controlled. And...and... and...
DorsetDude
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I hear ya. You dont have to go full OCD with washing the car if its not your thing. At a bare minimum though I would say get rid of the sponge and use a noodle mitt. Also bin the chamois and use a microfibre drying towel. The towel can be washed after use and re used. so can the noodle mitt but I tend to just rinse mine off and hang up to dry.This is exactly the problem with all forums. Someone comes on with an idea of what they want to use and then immediately be told "You don't that, you want XXX".
So very quickly, your bucket of soapy water, rinse and shammy becomes: two buckets, a specialised shampoo matched to your car's paint, PH balanced water and a variety of drying cloths which are discarded after every wipe.
And then you need clay bars and lubes. And snow foam. And wheel brushes. and non-acidic brake dust remover. And 3m tape and an orbital polisher. And various cutting agents in different strengths. And then multiple wash mitts which are colour coded so you have one for the top of the car, another one for the swage line to the bottom of door shuts and another for bumpers and kick plates. Then you need leather cleaners. And conditioners. And windowlene won't do. It has to be Isopropyl alcohol spray. And then you need tyre dressing that doesn't just make your tyres black, it feeds them. And then you need a duplicate set of sponges and detailing brushes for under the bonnet. And a paint depth gauge. And a sunlight light. And a hermetically sealed garage which is humidity controlled. And...and... and...
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That's the thing I'm trying to avoid. Just do the bare minimal to keep the car clean.This is exactly the problem with all forums. Someone comes on with an idea of what they want to use and then immediately be told "You don't that, you want XXX".
So very quickly, your bucket of soapy water, rinse and shammy becomes: two buckets, a specialised shampoo matched to your car's paint, PH balanced water and a variety of drying cloths which are discarded after every wipe.
And then you need clay bars and lubes. And snow foam. And wheel brushes. and non-acidic brake dust remover. And 3m tape and an orbital polisher. And various cutting agents in different strengths. And then multiple wash mitts which are colour coded so you have one for the top of the car, another one for the swage line to the bottom of door shuts and another for bumpers and kick plates. Then you need leather cleaners. And conditioners. And windowlene won't do. It has to be Isopropyl alcohol spray. And then you need tyre dressing that doesn't just make your tyres black, it feeds them. And then you need a duplicate set of sponges and detailing brushes for under the bonnet. And a paint depth gauge. And a sunlight light. And a hermetically sealed garage which is humidity controlled. And...and... and...
I used to do the "bucket of soapy water, rinse and dry" once or twice a year when I can be bothered to save £4 on carwash. Now I'm hoping by 13th wash, I'll have made back cost of my pressure washer with minimal effort (eg. no scrubbing, just rely on snow foam)
But sounds like I'll still need to do a sponge wash then wax about once a year, before winter (in the next month or so)
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After a lot of rain yesterday, this morning the bonnet was still gleaming and not a water mark or bit of dust deposited on it.Excellent, will have to have a look into these
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Just run out of Bilt Hamber wheel cleaner. Anything else I should consider before I re-up? Been happy with it but the price has gone up 10% in a year
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Just run out of Bilt Hamber wheel cleaner. Anything else I should consider before I re-up? Been happy with it but the price has gone up 10% in a year
Their auto wheel is very good, but for an everyday wheel cleaner, I’m liking Power Maxed frequent use wheel cleaner. Cheap for 5L and you dilute it down to about 30% to use - works well and cleans very well, doesn’t smell to bad either
You can buy direct from themselves or Eurocarparts / Carparts4less
AG custom wheel cleaner is nice, but not as cost effective as PM stuff.
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Wow - that's really cheap Thanks. I probably don't need something as powerful as auto wheel as the nano coating is actually holding up well. Sometimes I just use soapy water.
Thanks. I probably don't need something as powerful as auto wheel as the nano coating is actually holding up well. Sometimes I just use soapy water.
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Use a decent wheel sealer and shampoo should be enough or KKD Brakeaway, can be diluted down to 1:20.
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