Hand polishing

[adamgt80]

Hi there.

I've always taken great care in cleaning my cars and use the right products and process to do so. Buying a black car is something I swore I would never do again but alas I was seduced by my Scirocco and made the purchase. As all owners of black cars will know, this comes at a price when it comes to keeping your paintwork in order.

So, I've thought about buying a machine polisher but I'm not sure I want to go to the expense. I've seen these Hex Logic applicator pads and watched a video on YouTube and think they are a good alternative. There's no really bad scratches or issues with my paintwork, just the usual light swirls I want to get rid of, so I'm thinking these might be a good option. Does anyone have any experience of using them? Are they worth it?

http://www.juicydetailing.co.uk/hex-log ... r-pad.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks.

[Jammy]

Kinda in a similar position to you. Been pondering buying a machine polisher for a while but cant really part with the cash for it considering my paintwork really ain't that bad.

Ain't seen those hex hand pads before but might give it a try, only downside would be time taken to do a whole car.

You ask if they are worth it...surely £6.99 for one pad to try wont burst your bank balance and the polish you buy you can still use if you decide to get a machine polisher.

[adamgt80]

Just bought one of these off ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261542922929?redirect=mobile" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A copy of the hex logic ones I think but made by Flexipads which get some good recommendations on detailing world. Apparently SRP is the best polish to use if doing by hand, which I have half a bottle of so will try it out with the pad.

Will report back with results, no doubt with my arm hanging off!

[AxG]

Yeah I done my front bumper by hand and waxed it after I got it done on the cheap.

Hard work to do the full car :/


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[adamgt80]

It's only a small car. I hate washing my CRV, takes 3 times as long and I need a step ladder!

[Wiz1987]

haha - all bar 1 person replying to this thread has a black car

This is my deep clean routine say once a year if done right (all by hand)

I use a jet wash to remove all dirt and debris then fairy liquid for a deep clean with a sponge + cold water rinse to remove all wax/polish. follow with a clay bar, Autoglym high resin polish, autoglym HD wax and a butt load of elbow grease combined with a tonne of microfibre cloths = no swirles and smooth like glass paintwork

THIS WILL TAKE HOURS if done properly and expect to feel like a crab with one arm massive after all the small circular motions but it works and some!

HD wax will last forever and beads like crazy

Enjoy !

[Stu13R]

haha - all bar 1 person replying to this thread has a black car

This is my deep clean routine say once a year if done right (all by hand)

I use a jet wash to remove all dirt and debris then fairy liquid for a deep clean with a sponge + cold water rinse to remove all wax/polish. follow with a clay bar, Autoglym high resin polish, autoglym HD wax and a butt load of elbow grease combined with a tonne of microfibre cloths = no swirles and smooth like glass paintwork

THIS WILL TAKE HOURS if done properly and expect to feel like a crab with one arm massive after all the small circular motions but it works and some!

HD wax will last forever and beads like crazy

Enjoy !

Sounds like you've got some detailing experience there Wiz.

I'm not so experienced and have often gone down the lazy local valleting company on anything more than a wash and wax.

[adamgt80]

So, I've given it a good go today and the result is...If I get the money together I'll be buying a machine polisher. I dare say if you spend a couple of days working on it you will see results. However, I spent a good hour on just a small section of the car as a test. That bit has a lovely shine now but I'll need a machine polisher to remove the swirls properly and without my arm falling off. Once the paintwork is corrected I should be able to keep the finish good by hand.

The pad I bought is pretty nice to use and I'll use it for applying polish in the future. It's a lot smaller than the chemical guys one in the video though.

[AxG]

Yeah me too another toy I can't afford !


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[Stu13R]

Yeah me too another toy I can't afford !


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Totally get it, having a nice car is an open hole in the floor to throw your money in. It's an addiction for sure but we love it and that's why we are on here.

[Shaun1982]

haha - all bar 1 person replying to this thread has a black car

This is my deep clean routine say once a year if done right (all by hand)

I use a jet wash to remove all dirt and debris then fairy liquid for a deep clean with a sponge + cold water rinse to remove all wax/polish. follow with a clay bar, Autoglym high resin polish, autoglym HD wax and a butt load of elbow grease combined with a tonne of microfibre cloths = no swirles and smooth like glass paintwork

THIS WILL TAKE HOURS if done properly and expect to feel like a crab with one arm massive after all the small circular motions but it works and some!

HD wax will last forever and beads like crazy

Enjoy !

A sponge & fairy liquid [SEE-NO-EVIL MONKEY][FACE SCREAMING IN FEAR] wait til whitedevil sees this lol

[whiteDevil_170]

haha - all bar 1 person replying to this thread has a black car

This is my deep clean routine say once a year if done right (all by hand)

I use a jet wash to remove all dirt and debris then fairy liquid for a deep clean with a sponge + cold water rinse to remove all wax/polish. follow with a clay bar, Autoglym high resin polish, autoglym HD wax and a butt load of elbow grease combined with a tonne of microfibre cloths = no swirles and smooth like glass paintwork

THIS WILL TAKE HOURS if done properly and expect to feel like a crab with one arm massive after all the small circular motions but it works and some!

HD wax will last forever and beads like crazy

Enjoy !

A sponge & fairy liquid [SEE-NO-EVIL MONKEY][FACE SCREAMING IN FEAR] wait til whitedevil sees this lol

Don't worry I did see it earlier. Im not even going to coment on that lol....
with the right technique and products you can improve paintwork condition by hand . Obviously it will never be as effective or give as good results as a proper machine polish but you can still get some good results.

If it's just some light swirls you want rid of then I can highly recommend two products. Either auto finesse triple which is an all in one product. It's a polish , glaze and wax. So not only will it help remove swirls it will also fill any deeper paint defects and also add a base layer of wax protection. Between this and autoglym srp I would choose this hands down.

http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... ipple.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Other product is auto finesse ultra glaze.
Auto Finesse Ultra Glaze is a non-abrasive acrylic polymer-enriched glaze that is designed to mask minor paint defects such as wash marring and fine swirl marks.
http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... glaze.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This would also lay a perfect base to be topped with a paste wax of your choice.. I have used both and can recommend both. I have never tried hex logic pads so I can't comment on them.. I just use white microfiber pads.

I have used triple on my gfs old black clio and it certainly improved the paintwork. It removed minor defects and filled alot of deeper swirl marks. I'll have a look for the thread.

[whiteDevil_170]

This was 2 years ago.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... p?t=301829" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Roc Hopper]

I did Mrs Hoppers Mazda 3 yesterday with the Das6Pro and some CG Black Light on a black hex logic pad (speed 4 for the purists, i wanted the tamest combination on the stormy blue - as it can be a bitch) ) - first time I've used it for anything other than polishing with Megs 105/205 combo a'la the Junkman, it took about the same time as by hand - perhaps possibly little longer but the finish was spectacular - particularly with the reflection of yesterdays spring evening - beautiful ! Finished up with a spritz of (the last of my) Sonax BSD which is a product i WILL replace come payday
I've had some good results with Black Light on darker cars but Walter doesn't seem to respond to it some how - the curse of silver is it always looks good but rarely looks stunning

[Wiz1987]

haha - all bar 1 person replying to this thread has a black car

This is my deep clean routine say once a year if done right (all by hand)

I use a jet wash to remove all dirt and debris then fairy liquid for a deep clean with a sponge + cold water rinse to remove all wax/polish. follow with a clay bar, Autoglym high resin polish, autoglym HD wax and a butt load of elbow grease combined with a tonne of microfibre cloths = no swirles and smooth like glass paintwork

THIS WILL TAKE HOURS if done properly and expect to feel like a crab with one arm massive after all the small circular motions but it works and some!

HD wax will last forever and beads like crazy

Enjoy !

A sponge & fairy liquid [SEE-NO-EVIL MONKEY][FACE SCREAMING IN FEAR] wait til whitedevil sees this lol

Yes a sponge or lamb wool mitt with fairy liquid- as I mentioned this is my DEEP clean routine and you need to use a de-greaser to remove/strip off all the prior wax and crap other people have put on in the past. A normal car shampoo just washes the dirt off the top layer and as most wax is designed to stay on the car and is hydrophobic you need the fairy to take it down to the unprotected paint.

The clay bar can then be used to remove all the imperfections on your paint and you can feel/hear the difference when you run your fingers over a part that has been clay bar compared to one that hasn't. The clay bar panel will feel like glass and have no noise, the untreated will feel rough and have drag on your fingers.

After this you then need to polish and wax with your choice of products as the paintwork is effectively unprotected.

Try it - you will thank me later

Even if just on one panel the results speak for themselves

[Shaun1982]

I've been doing that for ages, but I use other products to remove the old wax residue etc

[whiteDevil_170]

When Claying your car if done correctly it will remove any wax etc already coated on the paint. So no need to use fairy liquid To give it a DEEP CLEAN ...But if it works for you and your happy then carry on by all means.

[whiteDevil_170]

And I'll just leave this here
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... p?t=360065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wiz1987]

And I'll just leave this here
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... p?t=360065" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm sure there are products out there that will have been designed to strip automotive wax etc at a premium and if you want to spend the money feel free. And of course they will strip the muck off better for all the reasons mentioned in that detailed blog.

I am not entering shows or have any real reason to have my car showroom apart from my own vanity and for the once/twice a year at most that I do this I find that fairy etc does a good enough job and as I clay bar straight away after I cant comment about it leaving a film on it or reducing gloss etc

This is purely my routine and as previously mentioned I find it works very well - I will endeavour to give my roc this treatment when I have a free morning weather permitting and upload pics

[adamgt80]

So I bought myself a DAS6 pro last week and have spent a little time working on the roof. It's not perfect but I'm pleased with the results so far. No swirls, just a few nics and scratches that I'll work on in the next few weeks.

VWs have hard Paint so it hasn't been easy and I've had to select the right products, but I'd say doing this properly by hand on hard paint would take an age!