New car detailing
Discussion
Have a new car coming into the Tuftie household, a mid size SUV and I’ve decided to clay the car and then add a ceramic coating. It’s been a few years since I took on this sort of work, the last time I used Nanolex and it seemed ok, but just wondering what people would recommend for long lasting protection.
The car is dark metallic blue and won’t be garaged, so I’m resigned to reapplying at regular intervals. Thanks in advance.
The car is dark metallic blue and won’t be garaged, so I’m resigned to reapplying at regular intervals. Thanks in advance.
Depends if you want a full on ceramic, I'm not really into them so can't advise much but an easy to apply product is something like gyeon cancoat.
Most of their products are top notch to be fair.
I'm trying fusso coat wax at the moment, need to buy some detailing spray soon to use as a topper and sonax bsd may be my choice as its still such a great product.
The market is flooded with products and it's a tough choice.
Most of their products are top notch to be fair.
I'm trying fusso coat wax at the moment, need to buy some detailing spray soon to use as a topper and sonax bsd may be my choice as its still such a great product.
The market is flooded with products and it's a tough choice.
Your biggest challenge on a metallic dark blue car is going to be swirls and holograms in the paint. It's the worst colour after black. Most modern cars have very soft paint so you only have to look at it and it swirls. Here's what I'd do personally:
- Instruct the dealer not to wash it at all, less chance of a poor wash with a dirty sponge inflicting marks.
- Don't clay it - it shouldn't need it unless you're going for absolute concourse perfection and you're more likely to inflict further holograms.
- If you really want to, you could use an iron fallout remover and/or a tar remover as these are spray on, rinse off and will do a similar job to clay on a new car without touching the paint by hand.
- At this stage a full detail would involve some stage of machine polishing but if you don't have one you could hand polish - you probably won't get rid of many swirls or holograms by hand but it will add a bit of gloss.
- Wax / Ceramic coating
To keep it looking its best your washes should be with two buckets - one for soapy water and one for clear water to rinse the sponse after each contact with the car.
- Instruct the dealer not to wash it at all, less chance of a poor wash with a dirty sponge inflicting marks.
- Don't clay it - it shouldn't need it unless you're going for absolute concourse perfection and you're more likely to inflict further holograms.
- If you really want to, you could use an iron fallout remover and/or a tar remover as these are spray on, rinse off and will do a similar job to clay on a new car without touching the paint by hand.
- At this stage a full detail would involve some stage of machine polishing but if you don't have one you could hand polish - you probably won't get rid of many swirls or holograms by hand but it will add a bit of gloss.
- Wax / Ceramic coating
To keep it looking its best your washes should be with two buckets - one for soapy water and one for clear water to rinse the sponse after each contact with the car.
I wouldn't clay it either.
You don't need to spend serious money on ceramic coats, i've used Car Plan No1 Supergloss on our various cars to good effect.
Where it really proved itself was when i coated the cab of my then new tractor unit, which had several washes a week every week with hot water pressure washer industrial quality TFR and general purpose washing brushes for agitation, the coating would last around 6 months at a time covering the sort of mileages in all weathers in 6 months that many cars never accomplish.
Best of all its as easy to apply as Mr Sheening your dining table, 20 minutes and the whole vehicle is done, 1 bottle will be enough for around half a dozen treatments.
Project Farm on Youtube has done several ceramic coat comparison videos, unsurprisingly spending 10x the money doesn't necessarily mean 10x the product, the one i use wasn't included in his videos maybe its not widely available in the US.
You don't need to spend serious money on ceramic coats, i've used Car Plan No1 Supergloss on our various cars to good effect.
Where it really proved itself was when i coated the cab of my then new tractor unit, which had several washes a week every week with hot water pressure washer industrial quality TFR and general purpose washing brushes for agitation, the coating would last around 6 months at a time covering the sort of mileages in all weathers in 6 months that many cars never accomplish.
Best of all its as easy to apply as Mr Sheening your dining table, 20 minutes and the whole vehicle is done, 1 bottle will be enough for around half a dozen treatments.
Project Farm on Youtube has done several ceramic coat comparison videos, unsurprisingly spending 10x the money doesn't necessarily mean 10x the product, the one i use wasn't included in his videos maybe its not widely available in the US.
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