Polish.... car polish

[Zak33]

I have recently taken the wheel of a swede in what I'd politely refer too as Doom Blue.

I cant stand dark blues... they look great clean.. and look rubbish 3 seconds later. But I own one (was value.. can't say no to value) and this weekend was it's first proper valet.

Having jetwashed, sponged, and rinsed twice... it got a good flunky'ing and was let to dry properly while I tidied the garage.

Then I found something I bought about 6 years ago.... Sonax Carnauba Wax.

I opened it expeting the wax to have dried but it smelled like new.. and it's a lovely smell. So I tentatively took the application pad out, spun it around in the wax a little and lovingly circled it onto the front wing..

it is LOVELY

using tiny amountd and working panels in tiny swirls the foam pad makes it a doddle.. then leaving it to dry, the only thing I suffered from alittle was excess dust build up in the mutton cloth that I buffed it off with. Will use less polish next time.

The car's smooth and glossy and it took under an hour to do the whole car. A tootbrush today to remove the edge build up round window rubbers was all I forgot to do yesterday.

Anyone else used a Carnauba wax?

[dave87]

Yup, when I have time, I do the following:

Proper wash (slightly more concentrated shampoo - remove any of the old waxes etc left on)
Rinse/Dry
AG Super Resin Polish
Collinite 915

Looks good for a while after, and if you rinse the car, a lot of the grime falls off more readily


The other thing to look into is claying the car - removes the bonded impurities which are on the paintwork

[Zak33]

Yup, when I have time, I do the following:

Proper wash (slightly more concentrated shampoo - remove any of the old waxes etc left on)
Rinse/Dry
AG Super Resin Polish
Collinite 915

Looks good for a while after, and if you rinse the car, a lot of the grime falls off more readily


The other thing to look into is claying the car - removes the bonded impurities which are on the paintwork

Dave... I've got a kid, a wife, 2 dogs, a cat, a house, garden, and an attempt at a career.. the fact I washed it and went near it with polish is a miracle...

I'm not puting a face pack on it mate

[dave87]

Dave... I've got a kid, a wife, 2 dogs, a cat, a house, garden, and an attempt at a career.. the fact I washed it and went near it with polish is a miracle...

I'm not puting a face pack on it mate

Aaah, see you missed the 'when I have time' bit. Doing it properly, by hand, took me two afternoons last time - so it gets done once/twice a year

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Is British car polish inferior??

[Konan555]

I cant stand dark blues... they look great clean.. and look rubbish 3 seconds later.

And the smallest stone chips and lightest scratches go bright white!

[0iD]

I have a faultless system. I leave the car to get dirty beyond recognition, inside & out. I borrow the wife's motor so she has to use mine. Then she has to clean it before she drives it, that's how she is

[Spank]

Needle bending on the E as well?

[Biscuit]

I have a faultless system. I leave the car to get dirty beyond recognition, inside & out. I borrow the wife's motor so she has to use mine. Then she has to clean it before she drives it, that's how she is

Hahaha, that did make me laugh.

I only tend to do mine 2 times a year and i dont use anything fancy... im not THAT proud of my car though tbh.

Wash (with turtlewax shampoo)
Dry with a soft towell
T-Cut any fixable scratches or chips
Give it a polish with whatever cheapy polish i have
Clean the excess build up off
Back to black on the plastics

Takes up most of a day to do but usually keeps it looking nice through a couple of washes. Usually have to put back to black on again

[kalniel]

I have a faultless system. I leave the car to get dirty beyond recognition, inside & out. I borrow the wife's motor so she has to use mine. Then she has to clean it before she drives it, that's how she is

Hehe.

I find if I park my dirty Audi next to the cars they're trying to sell when getting the MOT or service, it comes back all nicely valeted and polished

(Though spending a sunny afternoon doing it myself is a nice excuse to get out of the house..)

[abaxas]

Wax is not polish.

When you wax you are putting a protective layer on your car.
When you polish you are removing top laquer level of your car.

Be careful when polishing as you can do as much damage as good.

[kalniel]

Wax is not polish.

When you wax you are putting a protective layer on your car.
When you polish you are removing top laquer level of your car.

Be careful when polishing as you can do as much damage as good.

I think most of us are using 'polish' as short hand for 'wax and polish' - ie putting a layer of wax on then polishing the top surface of that wax to create a uniform finish and thus shine. We're not talking T-Cut.

[g8ina]

Its only the dirt that's holding my car together...

[scaryjim]

I have a faultless system. ...

I think mine's better - I turn up at Enterprise, and pick up a lovely clean shiny car. Then I put it through whatever hell I fancy* and give it back filthy. Not my problem

*I think the worst was one new year, I took a black Astra out, drove it to Milton Keynes, Luton, then back to Manchester. Went past about 12 gritters in the course of 3 days. The car was almost white when I took it back