Advice for my first detail

[Trah]

going to order some stuff and do my first detail. so far my car has had two laser touchless carwashes and one waterless wash from a local detailer using chemical guys products.

This is what i have planned so far:

1. Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine using the method of soaking MF towels in a bucket.
2. Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay using Optimum No Rinse as a Clay lube.
3. BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal Paint Sealant

One question I have is should i hand polish the car between steps 2 and 3? I live in a condo complex so power is out of the question as far as machine polishing. I've only seen a few faint scratch marks here and there, but wasn't sure if it is necessary to polish before using a Sealant.

Also, would you use the sealant on things like the grille, emblems, diffuser, and taillight trim? How about the windows/windshield?

[Trah]

also another question. is the no rinse wash/clay enough to remove whatever wax might be on the car? I think when i had it detailed a few weeks ago, he used some WW with a wax in it. Should i also wash it one more time after the clay?

wash
clay
wash?
polish?
seal

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by Trah

going to order some stuff and do my first detail. so far my car has had two laser touchless carwashes and one waterless wash from a local detailer using chemical guys products.

This is what i have planned so far:

1. Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine using the method of soaking MF towels in a bucket.
2. Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay using Optimum No Rinse as a Clay lube.
3. BLACKFIRE Crystal Seal Paint Sealant

One question I have is should i hand polish the car between steps 2 and 3? I live in a condo complex so power is out of the question as far as machine polishing. I've only seen a few faint scratch marks here and there, but wasn't sure if it is necessary to polish before using a Sealant.

Also, would you use the sealant on things like the grille, emblems, diffuser, and taillight trim? How about the windows/windshield?

It's highly unlikely that hand polish will remove any imperfections in the paint. I'd skip it if you can't use power.

And as for the trim and stuff, it depends on the particular sealant you're using. I haven't used that one specifically, so I can't tell you with 100% certainty, but I'm guessing it would be fine on emblems and taillight trim, but you probably don't want to get it on the black plastic diffuser and grille.

Originally Posted by Trah

also another question. is the no rinse wash/clay enough to remove whatever wax might be on the car? I think when i had it detailed a few weeks ago, he used some WW with a wax in it. Should i also wash it one more time after the clay?

wash
clay
wash?
polish?
seal

The no rinse will not remove any wax. I'd recommend a strip wash first. Clay will remove the wax, but that's not necessarily the best/most advisable way.

As far as the post-clay wash, I would at least do a rinseless wash since you're not polishing.

[Trah]

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams07

It's highly unlikely that hand polish will remove any imperfections in the paint. I'd skip it if you can't use power.

And as for the trim and stuff, it depends on the particular sealant you're using. I haven't used that one specifically, so I can't tell you with 100% certainty, but I'm guessing it would be fine on emblems and taillight trim, but you probably don't want to get it on the black plastic diffuser and grille.



The no rinse will not remove any wax. I'd recommend a strip wash first. Clay will remove the wax, but that's not necessarily the best/most advisable way.

As far as the post-clay wash, I would at least do a rinseless wash since you're not polishing.

Thanks, i knew the polishing probably wouldn't remove any of the fine scratches, but i wasn't sure if i needed to do it to give it a little shine before the sealant.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by Trah

Thanks, i knew the polishing probably wouldn't remove any of the fine scratches, but i wasn't sure if i needed to do it to give it a little shine before the sealant.

My humble opinion is that hand polishing is primarily wasted time and effort. There was one product that Phil from DD did a review on that looked really promising by hand, but I can't think of it right now.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Trah]

awesome, that will save me a bunch of time, money, and frustration. think i'm ready to put in my order, AG is having a nice sale for their last "12 days of christmas" special.

[Trah]

do you have any suggestions for an interior cleaner/protectant for my leather/vinyl/plastic stuff from AG? i'm going to put in an order tonight and thought i should pick some up.

[CamaroDreams07]

Not from ag. I use Werkstat satin prot exclusively, but they only have one American importer.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Trah]

ok thanks. i think i'm going to give poorboy's natural look dressing a shot.

[CamaroDreams07]

Originally Posted by Trah

ok thanks. i think i'm going to give poorboy's natural look dressing a shot.

Do they sell einszett? That's a great one too.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[Trah]

Originally Posted by CamaroDreams07

Do they sell einszett? That's a great one too.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

They do, and looking at the 1Z Einszett ****pit Premium Interior Plastic Cleaner and Z Einszett Plastic Vinyl Deep Cleaner Plastik Reiniger neither of them offer any UV protection.