Really looking after your paint. Car Lovers vs Hand Wash

[matchtheclown]

MY wifes Mazda 2 got keyed recently and we took it to our local car wash cafe (lugarno) just to meet and get our cars washed.

They actually wet/dry sand papered the scratch out and polished / hand waxed that side of the car and it's basically perfect now. Lucky it wasn't a deeper keying


Anyhow we got talking to the owner about it all waxing etc. My wife is pretty average and doesn't wash her car much (I'm as bad).

He showed us the difference between the polished side and the other panels, the other panels enough washed felt like sand paper, little specs all over the paint like tree sap and whatever you pic up which driving.

He said that you really should get a proper hand wax at least 3 times a year and the just normally washed in between. Before the wax they wax block or something the car to take EVERYTHING not paint off, then hand wax it.

The good hand wax means crap doesn't stick in between washes.

He also said that the car lovers type places use a quite caustic soap which will take a hand wax finish right off and put you back at square one.

He was pretty convincing and it made sense to me. Pay for or sweat it out and do yourself a decent wash / hand wax 3 times a year and then wash in between but with a mild soap.

They actually cleaned my wheels for me, I need to put in some more effort with a scrubber but they are almost perfect.. the bronze is amazing :O

What do you think?

 

[mookers]

I always keep my car waxed. I've said before how it makes the dirt slide off with pretty much just water and an Enjo glove.

That said, I do use the carlovers type washes sometimes as they are convenient, although I try not to be excessive with the high pressure.

The "block" thing has been mentioned before as well - Dave from waxit used to post here and he mentioned clay blocks. I'm too lazy to search right now though.

 

[matchtheclown]

Yeah that's it clay blocking.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detailing-clay/cat_9.html

This is the only place I can find online that has the stuff....

Will supercheap and other car places carry it?

 

[naughtika]

i usually wash my car at the 'carlovers' then hand wax it the next morning..

 

[matchtheclown]

I was thinking of doing this naught, however a real job would involve clay blocking it then waxing from the look of things...

Where do I get a clay block... and CBF'd doing it? Doing the faull car chammis is a big job as it is

 

[dimi_108]

Hey Hugh how much did the place in Lugarno charge you?
And they even buffed out the scratch too? Whoa.

 

[matchtheclown]

Just a wash is $30. thats in and out.
$85 for the full wash + clay block / hand wax. Your car comes out looking new.

They charged $65 for the scratch, so it was $30 wash + the scratch which meant the sanding + buffing + hand wax of that side of the car.

The key scratch was down one WHOLE side, front 1/4 to rear 1/4.

 

[dimi_108]

They charged $65 for the scratch

That's really cheap bro.
Unbelievable! Everyone. Let's go down to Lugarno!!

 

[mookers]

Dave should come back and post more often here. http://waxit.com.au/

Clay stuff: http://waxit.com.au/products.asp?cat=3

I've bought a couple of things from him. Quite satisfied with the products and service.

 

[gorgath]

That's really cheap bro.
Unbelievable! Everyone. Let's go down to Lugarno!!

Well, I guess another wash meet up? And this time, the mumu will not gonna bail out.

 

[matchtheclown]

Cheers mookers, I've order some claying kit which should come with everything I need, i'll let you know how awesome it turns out.

We can organise a wahs at lugarno, it will be more having coffee and waiting for the cars however than actually doing anything

$85 is cheap but not nothing. I'll see how the claying goes myself first.

 

[dimi_108]

Haha mad. I'm just gonna go the $30 wash hehe
I've gotta be stingie for the next few weeks

 

[SiliconAngel]

Yea Dave has some fantastic products. Sadly the car-care subforum just wasn't getting any attention after the first month or so it was added, which is why Waxit is no longer a site sponsor. Not a reflection on his service or products at all though (he was very helpful with everything I or anyone else ever asked), if anything it just shows people on our site are more into 'go' than show'

 

[bratwurst_boy]

i always wash my car then use meguiars quick detailer and quick clay (can be bought from autobarn, supercheap auto, big w) its like $25 and lasts ages. it does a really good job at getting off all the extra dirty, comes up like glass really between waxing.

 

[naughtika]

Hugh, I've done an 8 hour waxing on my car previously.. so im not too worried about little crap on my car..

to think about it.. its nearly due again.. so i might do it on my next days off..

 

[Sydo]

Great advice - especially for our friends in red.

 

[Guest]

Ok You all are correct
1) The Pre-Soak part of the DIY car wash is VERY caustic and ment for lazy idiots never use this unless on painted mags then wax imedatly if not sooner.
2) Clay blocking is a must every 3 months this will remove all contaminants on the paint work but not in the paint work. I use 3M clay and it is the best I have uesd to date
3) You should wax the car after every wash or every 2nd
4) You should Polish with a good quality polish or laqure every 3 months. A wax is soft and will not seal the paint work and a polish will seal the paint work. Only polish after you have clay blocked your car.
5) Never use anything that stings your nose or smells metalic when waved under your nose.

I will do a "how to" thread when I get a day or two off (2 weeks time) if you guys want.

Great advice - especially for our friends in red.

HAHAH yeah if your car is red polish every month and use a quick wax weekly.

 

[matchtheclown]

Please do a how to mate. Cheers!