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Nabster -> Finally got a nearly full detail done today (4/19/2008 9:16:44 PM)
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Hand wash, some claybar work, polish and 2 coats of wax.
For the clay bar, it didn't work very well for me. It took off the small bits of whatever that were stuck on the paint, but not the older sap bubbles that have yellowed with age. I went at them for a long time and they didn't want to come up. What it did take off was only stuff I could have got off with a detailer and some elbow grease. Perhaps I was going at it wrong, but it doesn't seem like it should take much more than a few sprays of detailer for lubricant and then some medium pressure rubbing. Disappointed with the clay bar to the point I only did the roof. I feel I could have just gone with the Tarminator and let it sit for a few minutes to get all that off as I've done in the past.
On to the polish, the PC is quite amazing for the work it does for the time and effort you put in. I had gotten some practice in with it on my white Grand Prix GTP yesterday, I got that car used and the PO didn't do much to keep up with care on the paint, but it still turned out well. Still minor swirls and spiderwebs on it, but I believe that's from the fact I only used the OD light polish then followed with Mother's Caranuba wax since that was the best wax I had on hand.
Anyway, a few questions on the polish. I apply the polish right onto the PC pad, then start it and onto the paint, what I want to know is how long I should keep it going? Should I just go over the area a few times to work it in good and then leave it with most of the polish still on the paint to be wiped off later, or should I continue until the PC starts to lift off the polish some on its own and leaves just a slight transparent haze and lets off a little dust instead of a thinker purple haze?
Then to the wax. I wasn't really sure the best way to go about this, and since I couldn't see an easy way to get the wax directly onto the pad from the can, I just used a microfiber applicator pad and liberally applied wax to the panel on the car, then went over it a few times with the PC to work it on nicely, went on to the next panel the same way then came back and buffed it off by hand with a microfiber towel. What other ways to go about this are there?
For cleaning the pads, I just used some simple green and let it sit on the pad for a bit, then took a toothbrush to it so scrub it off, rinsed it out and repeated, seemed to get most of the wax out of the pad. Is that the safe way to do it or will that damage the pads?
Finish looks great as it is now, alot better and I would think will last alot longer than my previous attempts done by hand. Overall, very happy with the PC, I'll definitely want to look into getting another couple pads and some other products from Justin when my current list of things I have to spend money on is all crossed off. Things I'm going to have to think about for the next time: more PC pads, better wax and maybe a sealant, and some sort of canopy or tent to do this in, having to wait on the sun to move so the tree over the driveway shaded it took too long.
Unfortunately in my infinite wisdom I forgot to take pictures tonight, so I'll get those up tomorrow when I vacuum out the interior and wipe out the dust from winter for those of you who may be curious. And a final word of advise for anyone planning a first adventure with a porter cable, don't do it with other people around- now I have to do my mom's *dirty* truck.
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