Bit of Advice needed

[Paul K]

Hi,

I've recently bought a DA polisher and i'm itching to use it, however because of work & short days ( its gets dark at about 4:15pm ...ish in London)

so my dilemma is, i need to do the works over a number of weekends...

a number of facts

1/ the Car is parked outside
2/i have no garage to work in
3/ the car gets driven 2-3 times a weeks

So i go through the normal cleaning regime (2BW, Clay etc) ready to start the machine polsihing phase, but i'm unable to do the whole car....

do I ....

Wax the whole car, including the panels i have fixed, then the next weekend wsh and clay again, fix more, rewax etc....

or

wash whole car

deconn and clay only the panels i intend to work on, machine polish then wax the panels i have done....repeat following weekend etc.

what do you think

[GLOCKer]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

I don't know if this is possible for you or not, but...

Most car shows in my area are on Saturdays. When I can (when we aren't totally slammed at work) I take the day before the show off from work so I can do a full detail on the car. It would usually take me 12 to 14 hours. I too just got my hands on a DA and I can't wait to use it! I'm really hoping it knocks down the time it takes me to compound and polish my Mustang!

But I would suggest if you could swing it, take a vacation day from work when it looks like it's going to be nice and dedicate the time to do the whole car at once.

[Paul K]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

That would obviously be the ideal scenario, but at the moment we are only getting 6-7 hours of decent daylight in the UK

I need to have the paint sorted for an event in April...i've even considered Renting a garage for a week or two so i can work on it in evenings!!

[BillyJack]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

Nothing wrong with doing it piece by piece, just try to eliminate duplication. I'd wash and clay as much as possible first, then, after a waterless or rinseless wash a few days later on the area you intend to massage, do your correction and polishing on a panel or two, even taking it to the waxing step. Keep track of what steps you've done on what panel to avoid double work. Once you've finished, save a day for one more wipedown, wax and final detailing. I only participate in one judged show a year with my El Camino and often only have a couple hours available at a time, so I've made a list of all the body panels and just write in which steps I've completed on each. Once all steps are done, I spend the last night before the show doing a final coat of wax, cleaning glass and doing a final inspection. It works fine for me-six years, six shows, six trophies.

Bill

[Nick Winn]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

We often discuss this option often for those who are looking to split up the time it takes to do a multi step process on a vehicle. Instead of claying the entire car, compounding the entire car, etc., just complete one panel or section at a time from start to finish. For example, wash the vehicle one day, and maybe complete the hood on that day, clay if needed, compound if needed, polish, wax. If you can keep it clean with a Quik Detailer spray to remove the light dust until the next occasion you have time to work on the car, you would not have to wash it again. If the car becomes too dirty for a Quik Detailer, then the next occasion you have time work on the car, wash it again, and then complete as many panels as you would like from start to finish. Clay if needed, compound if needed, polish, wax.

[Paul K]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

Thanks all for the help

[Top Gear]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

I've found it's best not to do full corrections during Winter. However, I will do a re-waxing by machine using a cleaner-wax, which I can do fairly quickly. That holds me until the days get longer and I can put in the time for the full deal. I've tried doing sections in full and others later, but that means planning several mini-corrections over what may be several weekends with very different weather, and the finished sections get weathered and maybe washed during that time, at least for a daily driver. So, for me, it's just easier just to do washes and waterless washing, do a re-wax every month or so, then wait for that perfect weekend when I can and want to re-correct.

[CrazyVinny]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

Just a though:

In a 'one panel-a-day' scenario, would it be worth the bother to use a car cover between the work sessions?
That's assuming the car is sitting idle parked most of the time between these sessions.

Do you think it can prevent unneeded washes and waxes?


Crazy Vinny

[DasBurninator]

Re: Bit of Advice needed

Just a though:

In a 'one panel-a-day' scenario, would it be worth the bother to use a car cover between the work sessions?
That's assuming the car is sitting idle parked most of the time between these sessions.

Do you think it can prevent unneeded washes and waxes?


Crazy Vinny

If the car is sitting outside, then no. I wouldn't use a car cover period. It will just allow for dirt to get trapped underneat the cover and rub against the paint. Also outdoor covers aren't exactly soft in the first place...

Indoor use is a bit different story.


I do what OP is talking about with my own cars. I don't always have time to do a full detail in one session with them, so I do a panel a day or a few panels a day.

My process:
Full Wash on the car
Dry Car
Clay the panel I will be working on
Compound (if needed)
Polish
Apply LSP

The next day I will perform a rinseless wash or waterless wash on the next panels I am working on.
Then clay, compound, polish, LSP

And so on until the car is done.