MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Apr 30, 2007 12:20:35 GMT
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"The people to really talk to are the concours boys who many of which are still using Mer, Autoglym and Turtle Wax - because they care about having a clean car and not just defending their chosen brand on the Internet." well said that man. I bought my Sierra off a concourse competitor, a successful one too. Given the car was so well known within the scene and knowing the previous owner would be seeing it at shows I got into detailing big time - we're going back a few years when I was bright eyed, naive and thought people on the Internet all knew what they were talking about. I tried all sorts and spent quite a bit of cash, so much so my local Megs dealer gave me a free Megs exhibition banner and a Megs travel bag It wasn't just Megs I tried though, there was Autoglym and stuff too. I was told all sorts, how I needed a clay bar, how I should use Megs Gold Class or mix various Autoglym products together to make a secret super formula that for some reason they didn't already sell. I even bought one of those Autoglym drying blades, used it and put long deep scratches in the paint. I got some of that Clearkote and Poorboys stuff that's oh so fashionable, waited two years to use it while the car was in storage and was proper excited about using it. Put it on and it was terrible, oily, chalky stuff that made Mer look high tech. I even spent something like £70 on some fancy wax from America. At some point I was at Ford Fair and went over to the concourse to find the Sierra's previous owner polishing his ST200, in his hand was nothing but a small bottle of Autoglym Super Resin polish. It was at that point it all went full circle, it dawned on me that really there's no substitute for good old elbow grease, rather than getting out there cleaning my car I was spending time sat on the Internet listening to the advice of people who were also sat there on the Internet, just relaying hear say and Chinese whispers. Since then I've not looked back, I do have my own techniques and preferences and don't pretend my cars and cleaner than the next guys, the only real benefit it's brought me is I do know how to get results a lot quicker. I remember reading an Internet guide about body building, written by a successful body builder he ranted that a lot of guys getting into it go on and on about what they should eat, what muscle groups they should work and when, how they should recover but they were so anal about the details they weren't actually lifting the bar, his guide was dotted by this constant nag, just lift the bar, you wont achieve anything without lifting the bar. When people talk about washing cars I just want to scream JUST LIFT THE SPONGE! JUST LIFT THE SPONGE!
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Apr 30, 2007 12:29:49 GMT
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I even bought one of those Autoglym drying blades, used it and put long deep scratches in the paint. Sorry, but I'm chuckly a little to myself, I kinda thought that might happen. I was tempted to buy one myself and then the little thought popped into my head... Thats going to scratch hell out of your paintwork... I also love the "use these special combinations" BS stories... My favourite "detailing" quote comes from one of the top guys at PPG (the paint manufacturer) who says "my best advice is chose a wax you like, and use it frequently" Theres not a lot more to it than that is there? I do want one of those sud making lances and all that though. I'm just a child really.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Apr 30, 2007 13:02:12 GMT
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I even bought one of those Autoglym drying blades, used it and put long deep scratches in the paint. Sorry, but I'm chuckly a little to myself, I kinda thought that might happen. I was tempted to buy one myself and then the little thought popped into my head... Thats going to scratch hell out of your paintwork... One of the scratches is still there, no amount of Megs Scratch-X (Rubbing compound in a fancy tube) will buff it out. It goes back to your mention of wax for dirty cars, you've got to watch your back with these companies, they will happily sell you something that will do more harm than good. There are still people out there harping on about the old 50/50 Super Resin Polish/Gloss Finish combination like it's the secret to everlasting youth. I think what's really frustrating is when someone asks a questing about car cleaning on a forum and you chip in your experience and perhaps out the truth on a few products only to get flamed like a summer bbq sausage because you dared to question someones brand religion. I've received a few harsh defensive comments about my views on Poorboys products recently, I can't understand this, I'm not giving a poor review out of spite. I spent a lot of hard earned on this stuff, got excited about it for quite some time, why would anyone think I'd want it to be rubbish? Or even more frustrating when someone asks for cleaning advice and after you've written a small novel on the subject (again) someone else chips in with "Megs is the best, nothing is as good" and then two days later the original thread starter puts some jaunty angled digi cam pics of their pride and joy taken in broad daylight sat in a puddle ranting and raving about how "Megs is the best!" and your thinking "Dude how can you say that when you knew nothing and have tried one product." and then you swear to yourself how you'll never ever give advice on the subject again, not to them, not those that don't listen, well not for a week anyway.
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Apr 30, 2007 13:58:52 GMT
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[I think what's really frustrating is when someone asks a questing about car cleaning on a forum and you chip in your experience and perhaps out the truth on a few products only to get flamed like a summer bbq sausage because you dared to question someones brand religion. I've received a few harsh defensive comments about my views on Poorboys products recently, I can't understand this, I'm not giving a poor review out of spite. I spent a lot of hard earned on this stuff, got excited about it for quite some time, why would anyone think I'd want it to be rubbish? Or even more frustrating when someone asks for cleaning advice and after you've written a small novel on the subject (again) someone else chips in with "Megs is the best, nothing is as good" and then two days later the original thread starter puts some jaunty angled digi cam pics of their pride and joy taken in broad daylight sat in a puddle ranting and raving about how "Megs is the best!" and your thinking "Dude how can you say that when you knew nothing and have tried one product." and then you swear to yourself how you'll never ever give advice on the subject again, not to them, not those that don't listen, well not for a week anyway. Dude, LMAO, I share your pain. You are not alone.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Apr 30, 2007 17:49:18 GMT
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I think product choice is personal depending on what your needs/tastes are. Some people like a deep gloss show shine that doesn't last long, others may just want the car to be clean and protected. I'm not really loyal to any brand, I just try out different things, then stick with what I like. My choices are more biased towards what will give me nice results without me putting a great deal of effort in. I don't really get much difference in results now to when I used to be applying cheapo Triplewax from a little tin, but it takes me a lot less time and effort.
Funny how such a sedate subject can bring up furious debates, though. As well as the "brand wars", you tend to get a hardcore of people who are like "I never/rarely wash my car and nobody else should either! Cars are meant to be driven! Grr!", which to me is a bit like saying you never change your oil, because it'll just get dirty again.
Each to their own though, it's just an individual decision! It is up to you how you want to maintain your car, including paintwork. As long as we're all enjoying our cars, that's what counts.
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Apr 30, 2007 17:57:08 GMT
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I've got some ASDA own brand car shampoo and an old leather which is about as good as a piece of used kitchen roll. I'm absolutely rubbish at car cleaning. As a result of this thread though, I did have a look at www.miracledetail.co.uk and he seem to do a genuinely impressive job. His clients seem very pleased too.
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coxy
Part of things
The 4 Ring Mafia!
Posts: 525
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Apr 30, 2007 18:57:26 GMT
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That thread on Barry Boys is superb!!!
made me laugh at work today, and I run a professional detailing company!!
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Apr 30, 2007 22:02:24 GMT
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then two days later the original thread starter puts some jaunty angled digi cam pics of their pride and joy taken in broad daylight sat in a puddle ranting and raving about how "Megs is the best!" and your thinking "Dude how can you say that when you knew nothing and have tried one product." and then you swear to yourself how you'll never ever give advice on the subject again, not to them, not those that don't listen, well not for a week anyway. I'm really not into cleaning cars but this is sort of relevant (or not depending on your viewpoint as I did the post as a bit of a giggle elsewhere) This is NOT an advertisment :lol: MAY contain shocking examples of product placement Had a really good friend "Dom" to stay Sat evening so of course he had to earn his keep..... Dom quickly determined that the 7 series was a 3 bucket wash system (well he needed three buckets of hot water to clean it......) I only ever need one bucket to do the whole car so he's obviously a better washer Anyway Dom's working on a range of his own design car waxes (with typical Dom humour I hasten to add) He knows I'm not at all into "detailing" so trying them out on my car was always going to be a challenge So once it was washed and dried we tried out some of the waxes For the bonnet we decided on "Purple Haze" smells of lavender which is nice if you like lavender Wax applied easily and didn't need much buffing to bring up a nice shine For the roof and bootlid we decided on "Banana Armour" It's a hard wax and personally I reckon the ideal one for someone who likes the pot to last a long long time :lol: Smells just like banana's even when buffing it off. For the sides we tried "Rainforest rub" Now I really really liked this one much softer wax a complete doddle to apply and excellent coverage - hell you can even apply it to plastic :lol: This was probably my favorite one just for ease of application For the lower flanks and the rear quarters we went for "light fantastic" again a semi hard wax but white colour on a black car meant that it was easy to see bits you's missed at the application stage or even at the buffing stage For the filler cap we applied some of that £7000 a tub Royale wax (don't tell anyone but I can't tell the difference!!) Apparently (and I know Jack smidt about this sort of thing) but this sort of water beading on a waxed panel is good Anyway it was an entertaining morning and my car is now very very very clean and shiney So of course I took the Monza out for a drive in the afternoon to a rolling road session obviously that's in a different post!!!
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Blimey did that stuff come from body shop or Lush?! ;D
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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"WHAT!!! Banana wax on black paint? mate you are doing yourself no favours there, banana is only any good for light colours and silver due to the high concentrations of Fyffesidium 218!!! Everyone knows that. I use a 70/30 combination of Satsuma and puppy fat applied under a UV lamp while wearing a policemens helmet, anything else is just a total load of rubbish and will WRECK your paint and cause infertility etc etc etc etc"
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1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 Mazda 929 Coupé 1986 Mazda 929 Wagon 1979 Mazda 929 Hardtop 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 1989 Subaru 1800 Wagon 1982 Hyundai Pony 1200TL 2-dr 1985 Hyundai Pony 1200 GL 1986 Maserati 425 Biturbo 1992 Rover 214 SEi 5-dr 2000 Rover 45 V6 Club 1994 Peugeot 205 'Junior' Diesel 1988 Volvo 760 Turbodiesel Saloon 1992 Talbot Express Autosleeper Rambler 2003 Renault Laguna SPEARS OR REAPERS
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Blimey did that stuff come from body shop or Lush?! ;D PMSL - probably a mix of both - but hey it was a nice way to spend a sunday morning getting rid of a hangover from the previous night
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
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"WHAT!!! Banana wax on black paint? mate you are doing yourself no favours there, banana is only any good for light colours and silver due to the high concentrations of Fyffesidium 218!!! Everyone knows that. I use a 70/30 combination of Satsuma and puppy fat applied under a UV lamp while wearing a policemens helmet, anything else is just a total load of rubbish and will WRECK your paint and cause infertility etc etc etc etc" Mr B I bow to your detailing knowledge and Banana Armour will be removed tonight with 5000 wet and dry - I can only hope I am in time.... PS I thought you were a wag it up and primer man ;D
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
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I don't suppose you know where it will be sold do you?
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,937
Club RR Member Number: 71
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^ Cheers ;D Might be trying that out soon ;D
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Odin
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,406
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Just to add my contribution as to what I've found good, I got some Turtle Wax Platinum stuff from Halfords when they had their offer on, and that seems great. Nice and glossy and is lasting forever (2 months or something so far, still beading). Very nice too put on, too - it's really 'gloopy' and has Carnauba and some other wax squeezed from Bavarian shepherds in.
I wash every so often with a soft brush I found, Halfords wash and wax, and leather off with an old chamois. The car, obviously.
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