jenbooks

I just have no idea how to do it myself. But I just realized that the self car-wash is damaging my paint. I'm very upset. I am never going to one of those again. I had no idea.

So I need a really thorough detail that will restore and protect it. I don't want an inside cleaning, nor commercial "scented" shampoos for the interior. I only want them to work on the outside. By hand. If it costs, it costs. I have to protect my clearcoat.

But...when I look it up, I don't automatically see detailers doing what has been discussed on the threads here--where it takes even, several days!

Any advice so appreciated. I know, I'm naive about all this.

matt_m

The one I took mine to does do a lot of the things discussed here. He had my truck about 9 hours. Recommendations from others, a chat with the owner, and the fact they've been in business for years are the things that made me comfortable with them.

jenbooks

Matt, that's what I want. But where do I get local recommendations (I can do Atlanta, Macon, Athens, I am often in the latter two).

shazam

I don't know....There are real experienced guys who can practically bring a dead car to life. So, if you want to bring back a neglected finish, I would seek one of those guys out. Where do you find him? I'm thinking the local exotic car dealer would give you a line. Maybe the local BMW club. Expect to pay, though. 9 to 10 hours is to be expected and its not $10 per hour labor and there are considerable materials costs.

There are quite a lot of detailers who have minimum wage labor working for them. Basically they just do a hand wash and wax. If they are conscientious, they will take precautions in using clean rags, two bucket car washes. They typically will use an all-in-one product to save time. Not that there's anything wrong with that. In the old days that would be called a hand wash and wax. don't expect them to do any real paint correction or stain removal from the upholstery. The workers are on a pretty strict time quota per car.

I think I would either pay up for the really good guy or do it myself. If I paid the really good guy I would be tempted to do it myself afterwards.

If your paint is in good condition and you don't go nuts, its not that hard. This is what I do:

1. No-rinse car wash, with the "Garry Dean" method. This basically entails buying 20-30 microfiber towels cheap at Wal-mart or Sams club, soaking them in the solution and swiping them over a half or a whole panel per towel. Its easier to Youtube it than to explain. Its not particularly fast, but you can do it at night in your garage, or in inclement weather. I seem to do my car on Sunday nights. Downtime otherwise. I don't have to give up a bit of my precious weekend for cleaning the car.

2. Spray wax afterwards. I use Duragloss Aquawax which can be ordered at Napa or bought at Carquest or mail ordered. There are others. if you get the Duragloss rinseless wash with Aquawax already in it, you don't even have to do that. If the car is extra dirty, I knock some of the dirt off with a stream of plain water first before doing a rinseless wash.

A couple or three times per year, I give it what for me is the works:

1. two-bucket wash with grit-guards in the bucket and microfiber mitt.

2. Then do a Garry Dean wash. (I'm a little paranoid about getting the surface as clean as possible before waxing).

3. Then clay bar the car (Just not that big a deal for a car with paint in good condition).

4. Wax/sealant the car with something durable: Klasse, Collinite, Mizerna Powerlock, Duragloss two part sealant. I think an el cheapo dual action polisher such as Harbor Freight is a good investment for someone who does his car thoroughly two or three times per year.

You can put a glaze on before the sealant. You can put a beauty wax on top of the sealant. I do these things sometimes. Kind of a diminishing returns type thing, but it helps.

The interior is a different subject.

You could do more. You could do less. Your car is protected. It looks shinier than 99% of the cars out there, every week. It doesn't wreck your paint. It doesn't suck all your leisure time or disposable income. Even if you are willing to pay for a really good guy to do your car several times per year, there is still the problem of keeping it nice in between.

P.S. If you do a rinseless car wash on a truck, plan on using three gallons, not two. If you do a "Garry Dean" method rinseless wash, never, ever skimp on the number of towels you use. Skimp on the quality within reason--the no-name towels at Sams are fine. Just don't skimp on the number.

jenbooks

Thanks Shazzam, I've cut and pasted. I know there is a great explanation of home detailing on here...I wonder if I could learn how to do it. I have never done it at all. The classic car connection is a good idea. I will check into that. And yeah, avoid the $100 el cheapos--on minimum wage. I could do that myself. I think I started to harm my paint with the self-wash booths. I had no idea. It was heavy pollen season since March. But now I'm seeing it. So I need to totally fix it and never do self wash again.

For inside--I really need a good extractor or steam clean, the problem is I do not like their cheap fragrances. I hate that. And so I don't know what to do, as my truck will reek of it. I've been figuring on renting equipment and doing it myself. I do have a steamer but that just doesn't work well enough.

tpr676

Depending where you are located, you could join autogeek.net there are plenty of decent detailers, with any luck one could be very close to you. It's worth a try.

jenbooks

Thanks, that's what I did yesterday, joined autogeek--woohoo I found 3 in Atlanta area, one in Buford who does classic cars (some you have to leave for 3 days!) I'm sure there basic package will work great (claybar, wax etc).

F150 forum came through as always. I hope I don't get sucked into autogeek like I have on ultralight camping gear forums!! OMG

tpr676

I detail a little on the side and yes you will sucked in and it's awesome web site.
If your up to it watch some videos, junkman 2000 for example on you tube. Then roll your sleeves up it's not really that difficult. And the peeps like myself on autogeek forum will answer any questions. Happy detailing!!!

Reflections Detail

If you are looking for a top tier detailer in the Atlanta area, you need to look up Bryan at http://peachstatedetail.com There are detailers and then their are top tier highly trained ones like Bryan.

Cheers,
GREG

zx12-iowa

Were you using a power washer type self car wash? Like a power washer, if you get too close you damage things. But hey, it's not a luxury car, just a truck. Nice thing about trucks is a couple scuffs don't hurt value much, unlike a lux car...

I say have someone buff it and thereafter if it bugs you hand wash it often, waxing it every fiscal,quarter.