New to detailing

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Jamiehancock

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Hi everyone!

So, my order has been placed for my new A3 S-Line. I would like to start detailing my cars myself rather than using the local guy. Please can you point my in the direction of some decent you-tube video's so that I can start to learning the craft?

By the way, reading through some of the posts on here I am blown away by the amount of effort that goes into it. My learning curve is on the increase!

Jamie.
 
Have a look on the polished bliss website, there is a really good guide on detailing a new car
 
It really depends on the depth you want to go into here. A good place to start is the Detailing World forums. Youtube wise I'd look at Chemical Guys. They're quite long and in-depth. They recently done a ten minute video on which sprayer head to use on your bottles! I also subscribe to AMMO NYC and Auto Fetish detail, amongst others.
 
Detailing world has pretty much covered every question there is on detailing. Make sure you stick to the 2 bucket method, never go to a car wash and always invest your money in a good wax and sealant. In the long run they will protect your car and make it easier to keep clean and swirl free.
 
there is no craft and nothing to learn... "detailing" is just cleaning a car after all...don't get caught up in all the BS and hype...

be very careful of places like detailing world, where they have people who pretend to make products, and get their fanbois to shout from the heavens that every product is great, it used to be a great place... it's a shame what's it's become.

truth is, there are very few detailing manufacturers out there, most of the companies simply rebrand, or water down product and sell them at a great mark up - it's great fun watching 2 idiots fight that their 'product' is better, when they have no idea it's actually the same...

but oh... they tell you it's a 'special blend just for them, and months of work has went into the development'

so for you OP.... enjoy your new car, get a bucket and some shampoo from Hellfrauds and maybe a little wax... and also, some tar remover just in case.... don't spend more than £100 on products and enjoy a lovely clean car.

100% no need for 2 buckets, or grit guards, or any wax costing more than £20.

my honest advice to you is get down to the local Hellfrauds, get some Autogylm 3 for 2 on offer and work with some good quailty, simple products... do not fall for the hype and scams out there...
 
Wow. So removing orange peel from paintwork is not a 'craft' and doesn't require you to learn anything? Or restoring a single stage painted Ferrari that's some fifty years old and a man's pride and joy? I'd love to see you tell the companies that charge £2k plus for a detail that.

Yes, Halfords stuff is fine and some of the products are a rip off and there really is no need for the average person to spend more than £20 on a wax. Completely agree. However, the two bucket and grit guard method is proven time and time again to make a huge difference. I got two labelled buckets with grit guards and lids for £25 delivered off eBay and they're marvelous. This obviously coincides with using a half decent wash mitt and not a cheap sponge.

I could go on all day about this but fear you just think all of it is 'hype' and '********'. Shame.
 
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I remove orange peel myself without any training... so it's not that hard... actually it's easier than using a rotary polisher... so you're showing your lack of knowledge right away.

I've been doing this for many decades, long before it was called "detailing" so I know what's complete BS and hype and what's good honest advice.

I use a bucket that cost £1... it holds water just as well as yours, I'm sure of that, grit guards are completely pointless, an utter waste.

please, try to go on all day... but remember... I am very much into "detailing" hence why I can give my honest, unbiased, knowledgable advice... so watch where your going... ;)
 
Last edited:
Typical forum hostility and offence. This isn't a ******* contest buddy, I'm stating that you're offending a profession.
 
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offending a profession?!?!?! hahahaha

I'm only here to help out the OP and his question about looking after his car.

at the end of the day, keeping a car clean doesn't need to be hard, time consuming, or expensive.

you my friend, are the one that came on here with an attitude like I don't know what I'm talking about... so don't now turn it about like you are sticking up for a whole profession!!

so I'll stand by my original post and recommendations to the OP, especially staying away from fanbois and people that have clearly spent more time buying "the next big thing" than actually working and understanding how to 'detail' a car...
 
So why do you have tens of thousands of posts on Detailing World if at the same time you recommend staying away from all the hype? I'm not stupid, I've also been detailing for a long time and have viewed plenty of your 'projects' on DW. That's why I was disappointed to see you display this attitude on another forum.

Anyway, enough of that. We're just arguing here.
 
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that's the exact reason I can say and recommend the way I do... because I've been there and done it..

I've got the £8k wax, I've wet sanded several cars, I've painted my own wheels and repaired leather.... I've got the machines that measure gloss levels and have paint microscopes..I've got machines that clean this, that and the next thing!! lol

I've done numerous product tests and know what works and what doesn't...everything for every stage of a detail.

I WAS on detailing world... search for my last post (not a showroom one), I haven't been on there for a long time due to the BS and hype it projects with lies and fanbois..

I'm actually one of the few people that called them out, and I'm also able to prove who is and who isn't a real manufacturer of products.. which means a lot to me. I'm also still waiting on one of the more 'loved' ones sueing me as their PM threatened.. about 3 years now.... still waiting... lol

so please don't be disapointed with me, I'm only trying to help someone out... and don't worry.. .we aren't argueing.. just talking... :D
 
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QB where you been? ;) :laugh::laugh::laugh:

the_cueball said:
I'm actually one of the few people that called them out, and I'm also able to prove who is and who isn't a real manufacturer of products.. which means a lot to me. I'm also still waiting on one of the more 'loved' ones sueing me as their PM threatened.. about 3 years now.... still waiting... lol
Click to expand...

In the same vane. Without the aid of a chemical analysis, I'm convinced that Auto Finesse Tough Coat is the same product as Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
 
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Bristle Hound said:
In the same vane. Without the aid of a chemical analysis, I'm convinced that Auto Finesse Tough Coat is the same product as Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Click to expand...

Interesting, as I've got a bottle of EGP sitting around and have been considering getting tough coat. Should I not bother?
 
Luke2.0tdi2010 said:
Surely using 2bm will reduce the chance of swirls, it's just common sense?
Click to expand...

I now only use 1 bucket on my cars and I don't get swirls... but I hear some people are up to 3/4 buckets!

There is no right or wrong in detailing... it's not a science...as I said... it's only cleaning a car after all...I still use a toilet brush to clean my alloys (for example) some people use very expensive sheep on a stick (wheel woolies), as its a "must have".

the problem for me is when ideas become "the rules you MUST follow" type of thing.... so if 2 buckets are good for you, if 500 buckets are good for someone else... it's just personal preference... but it isn't a must that you NEED 2 buckets to detail a car.

Bristle Hound said:
QB where you been? ;) :laugh::laugh::laugh:

In the same vane. Without the aid of a chemical analysis, I'm convinced that Auto Finesse Tough Coat is the same product as Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection
Click to expand...

ah you know me... here there and everywhere! lol :D

the "tough coat" type spray sealant is one of the easier ones to spot actually... IIRC 4 different companies all brought out their version all within a month or 2, all claiming it was their own product...

amazing how they can do all that on their own, and come up with the same look, colour, smell, behaviour...etc etc etc.... :think::think::keule:
 
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All you need to know and do is avoid rubbing the grit and grime that collects on your car from usage or storage around and around on the paint surface. Avoid anything that can affect the paint surface and reduce the surface finish.

There's many ways to do this and two buckets and a good wash mitt will help, use a good quality wax and not a polish as all of those are abrasive.
Whatever cueballs says the use of two buckets will help to avoid swirls as will a quality mitt.

There's no need to buy expensive wax but I have found there are some that last up to six months and some that last a couple of weeks. The same as some car shampoos will remove all your wax the first time you use them and some will allow you to retain the wax on your paintwork.

I agree there's no need to spend hundreds let alone thousands to get an acceptable finish, it's as much about the way you do things.

Good luck and don't take you car to the car wash...............
 
So come on qb who are the manufacturers and what's replicated?

I use 3 buckets
1 for the wheels and 2bm for the car itself

That's my preference
 
Never used companies house so no idea what I'm looking at tbh
 
Can we try and create a list of cheap but good products to help the OP and others. I know we all want different things but let's try. I'll go first:

Product - B&Q buckets
Cost - £1
Why? - big, cheap, well made. If you want to label then use a sharpie

Product - poor boys natty blue wax
Cost - £15ish
Why? - very easy to work with, leaves a good finish, you don't have to use much so one pot should last well over a year.
 
I'm rly liking chemical guys used for paint correction, v32,34,36,38

Can get the sample pack for 21 quid and there's plenty in there.

I don't like the autofinesse paint correction stuff as it's very dusty

Love gtechniq I1 L1 the glass pack of G4 g1 and g2
And their ipa panel wipe
 
Stardrops apc, £1.
36 decent microfibers from Costco, £10.
Farecla clay mitt, £13. Apparently lasts a lot longer than clay bars and definitely much easier to use.
 
I'm using Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer.

After a wash and dry, spray on and microfibre off. Its a bit thicker than usual quick detailer sprays, but seems to work well and it beads water like crazy.

£8 to £12 ish. Works well.
 
And now after a recommendation by someone on here via another thread (possibly Cueball, if so, cheers), Finish Kare 1000p wax.

Cheap at under £20 and really seems to work well. Adds a nice extra depth of shine to the paint and rumoured to last well. I usually use Zymol Carbon, but supplies running low so thought i'd try a different wax.

Glad i did. Great results.
 
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FK1000p is great stuff. Had it on my old car and with FK425 top ups it was still beading well 9 months later when I sold the car.
 
Junk Man videos on You Tube are very informative
 
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