so i am new to the whole detailing part of cars (i do all my own mechanics but always hear horror stories of "burning paint" etc) so i have been nervous to do this but i think it is time now!!

so my question: any links that can help someone with basically minimal "outside" of car detailing experience?

i need info on how to wetsand paint,i want to do a good job on it, but not go to crazy i want it to shine and am not afraid to put some hours into it but i am just looking for a good idea of were to start and what products/tools i should buy ?

also steps to wax, wash, products, how to's..... etc

any help is much appreciated
especially "HOW-TO's"

thanks

 

Hi! I wouldn't reccomend wet sanding if you haven't ever tried it first. Try it on a friends crappy Ford Tempo or something first to get the hang of it. Detailing at that level is more art than science. I would reccomend doing everything by hand, and using a more aggressive cutter/polish first (meguires step 2 - 8). Go to an auto wrecker and practice on a few hoods with a buffer if you think you really need to use one. better than ruining your own car.

 

High speed buffing is not for the inexperienced. It takes a lot of practice before you mess with a nice new model car. Also a decent high speed buffer is not cheap. It is far different from using an orbital. Too much info on products to use, different pads, techniques, speed, to list online. If you really want to learn you need to do what jbelosic said but also have someone with you that knows how to wet sand and buff to teach you on site.

Wet sanding can be dangerous and expensive. And even just normal cutting a polishing takes skill. Its not really a matter of burning paint... you are just going to make the car look like crap if you dont know what you are doing. Swirl marks anyone???

BTW... not trying to sound like a know it all but im talking from experience, have detailed for most of my life, was the manager of a shop for 4 years and have tought numerous people how to high speed buff.

 

i dont want to get into that stuff either, i just hand washed mine today and used one of those plug-in electric random orbit buffers. I know they suck but it was all i wanted to pay for when i got it lol i used car wash, then dried it and used meguiars deep crystal paint cleaner then im not sure what im doing yet, i only did a few panels. some i used deep crystal system polish and some i used mothers california gold caranuba cleaner wax, both look pretty good but i want to claybar before i do anything else