Is it worth getting the car detailed now or wait?

[andre3k]

What products were used on the detail?

Jeffs Prime as Pre-Wax cleaner and base layer then Blackfire Sealant and Blackfire Carnuba wax topper if I remember correctly from original thread.

Is a winner combo IMO on the darker colours

Blackfire, should've guessed

[steve_70]

What products were used on the detail?

Jeffs Prime as Pre-Wax cleaner and base layer then Blackfire Sealant and Blackfire Carnuba wax topper if I remember correctly from original thread.

Is a winner combo IMO on the darker colours

Blackfire, should've guessed

It was a winner when I had a black Scoob 5 years ago and still top of the game on black IMO, epecially on Pearl/ metallics due to the flake pop offered by the sealant.

On par IMO also is Jeffs Acryllic/ Optiseal, as there is not a lot of difference in the finish offered by all the current sealants available....A lot is down to durability, ease of use, cost etc and a lot is personal pref.

[MSLRS5]

Steve,

You have PM.

Thanks.

[steve_70]

Steve,

You have PM.

Thanks.

PM Replied too

Got myself all geared up over xmas....new nilfisk jet washer, AutoBrite Foam Lance, several litres of snowfoam, cleaners, dressings, waxes etc.

[DuncS3]

Steve (resident detailer )- for snow foam - what product do you use and is it a different product to the actual shampoo you use?

[steve_70]

Phew, had to sit in a comfy chair to read all that

If you were closer I'd take you up on the offer, Steve, but you're probably about 3hrs away . If you need any help on the business side (accounts, tax, insurance, website) I can probably help.

Got myself some hosting and a domain sorted out now

...I wanted to use 'SMart Detail' as in Steve Miles but there is allready someone trading as that (and that as a user name on one of the other forums) and also Smart Valeting, and there's a range of detailing products called smart also

...so the Mrs came up with an idea that I ahve gone with 'SMiles Detail' and being thats my name, works quite well

More info coming soon

[Phil3103]

I've often wondered (although not too hard) whether there's a difference between normal shampoo (the AG stuff not l'oreal) and snow foam? I've got the attachment for my Karcher but I just fill it up with neat AG shampoo. I never really seems to shift the dirt too well without really agitating it. However, on the odd occasion when I get it done at my local drive by place, they get it all pretty just using their foam and jet washer.

Can someone explain? I realise we're perhaps overlapping with a detailing forum here. But I'm interested so I thought I'd ask while I remembered.

[HYFR]

** Warning - impending risk of you falling asleep if you manage to read all this post

[WAFFLE]

Hi all,

wanted to broach this subject before I risk running into trouble with the forum mods or traders/prodeatilers etc on here, I know this is not the best thread to post on possibly and needs to be on one of its own, but just wanted it to be said if thats ok....

I am concious that I am not a Pro and not a trader so I may be stepping on peoples toes if I go about this the wrong way and is totally unintentional; and on other forums you have to advertise as a trader and pay fees to offer services to members etc. which is only fair I guess, I dont want to be seen to pitch on somebody elses turf. However it does seem that there are no real site sponsors or pro detailers on here that i have noticed, but would stilllike to go about everything correctly. My only motive is to offer to members (and maybe qualify as friends over time) a genuine and quality service from a fellow RS4 owner, a genuine enthusiast who has been doing this for several years now across a range of performance cars I have owned, enjoys doing this and is passionate about it and not a wholly money making venture or a trade/ business venture.

So with that said, its really important I build a reputation and trust of users on here and word of mouth; which is more important to me at the moment than just taking peoples money and draggging a skanky sponge across your bonnet and rubbing a bit of cheapo wax into the paint and calling it detailing... thats just valeting and a hand wash etc that you can get from the friendly eastern europeans at the local supermarket/ DIY store etc.

For any services that I offer will be on a non trade basis and friendly member agreement, am thinking for now basing on a bit of my time/ petrol costs and cost of products, which I believe is fair. I would ideally like to devote more time into this, get a website, get some traders liability insurance etc and offer a proper pro/ trader service once I have established myself and proved myself maybe on the forums and the RS community... but for nowmy day job requires more hours than there are in a day and so this is very much a hobby and a passion and helpd me switch off from day job.. when i can.

For any details I would like the permission to take some pics and use it for a bit of publicity please and add the pics to some detailing threads; we all get a win/win as you get a detailing service cheap (very very different from a cheap detailingservice)from an enthusiast who knows these cars and appreciates them and I get to build some trust and reputation please.

Anybody know who the site admins are please so I can drop them a message please, make sure I am notbreaking any forum rules, and if I am how do i resolve.

So now have bored you with all that, thanks

[/WAFFLE]


and happy detailing, whoever does it for you

count me in Steve ... when can we do it !

[steve_70]

Steve (resident detailer )- for snow foam - what product do you use and is it a different product to the actual shampoo you use?

Resident .... like the ring to that

Without a shadow of a doubt it has to be 'Magifoam' by Autobrite, it is a new product just released and it is amazing... I have sold my other stuff and just bought 10 litres of this

Read my thread here where I tested it out
http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/detailing/ ... -foam.html

You will need a proper Foam Lance to get the most out of it... but I tried with the std bottle that came with the Nilfisk and it still did the job admirably.

http://shop.autobritedirect.co.uk/magif ... 2725-p.asp

In general yes, there are different formulations for products you put through a lance and for bucket wash.

One is really a pre-wash and is almost a form of TFR (Traffic Film Remover).. so its touchless (through gun) and one is bucket wash with hand.

So one you want high foaming, like shaving foam that has plenty of cling and plenty of pre-wash and soak action and one you wanted plenty of lube and suds so glides over paintwork, minimising the sandpaper and scoring pad effect (I now use a Polymer based one, ONR (Optimum No Rinse) http://www.motorgeek.co.uk/optimum-rins ... p-242.html)

But with that said, you can put most bucket shampoos through a foamer, but it is best to have one for foaming and one for bucket wash IMO

My favourite Bucket wash shampoos are ONR, Duragloss 901, or Megs Shampoo Plus.

My favourite through Lance is AutoBrite Magifoam or Megs Hyperwash.

I like the Espuma stuff also.

When it comes to shampoos, there is a retail version (off the shelf from Halfords/ Motor Fcators etc) and the larger 5litre trade versions of lots of products

...so a little known fact is that Meguiars Shampoo Plus is the trade version of Gold Class Shampoo, and it also contains the same 'optical brighteners' as Gold Class Shampoo. Hyperwash is the trade version of Meg's NXT Shampoo.

So if you want to save some money buy the 5 litre trade versions, thats if you want to do that much washing of course

Foam Wash: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... -cat2.html
Bucket wash: http://www.polishedbliss.co.uk/acatalog ... -cat3.html

Get some of the AutoBrite Foam and trust me, you will never look back.

Hope that helps.

[steve_70]

I've often wondered (although not too hard) whether there's a difference between normal shampoo (the AG stuff not l'oreal) and snow foam? I've got the attachment for my Karcher but I just fill it up with neat AG shampoo. I never really seems to shift the dirt too well without really agitating it. However, on the odd occasion when I get it done at my local drive by place, they get it all pretty just using their foam and jet washer.

Can someone explain? I realise we're perhaps overlapping with a detailing forum here. But I'm interested so I thought I'd ask while I remembered.

Saw this after posted mine above... so guess a lot maybe answered above, but to add....

So, a normal shampoo wont work so well through a power washer or through a foam gun (Gilmour) through a hose pipe as the formula wont be correct, it wont have foaming agents and whilst many you can put through, the action and effectiveness will be reduced. Many people put ion say 2 inches of foam and then say a inch or two of bucket shampoo then rest top up with water and you get best of both worlds... as above Hyperwash (Gold Glass) is a good pressure wash and Bucket wash and has quite good foaming action... so is probably the one to go for if you want a universal product and not buy two.

The reason why the local drive by places get it shifted is that they use non-ph neutral traffic film removers that are not chemically not friendly to your car and say goodbye to any wax or protection you had on their as it will strip it all, along with the dirt.

Perfect if you want a really good back to clean finish that you can then polish seal/wax but too harsh for regular wash.

The trick is seal/wax the car then use a PH neutral snowfoam... the key here is clinging foam and dwell time (as above I used Magifoam and in tne post I got an almost touchless wash with it) then rinse, then bucket wash, if dirty enough to warrant it.

The aim is to touch the paint as little as possible, as that is where majority of swirls come from... poor wash technique.

If you have this layer of protection on the car, a good blast with just water form the PW will get it normally mostly clean, you cpuld then mop up any odd bits with a QD ior waterless wash spray if not too dirty.. I use Optimum No Rinse following a snow foam.

Hope that helps

[steve_70]

count me in Steve ... when can we do it !

Thanks

Where abouts are you, I dont mind travelling if petrol cost can be covered and bring all the kit with me, I just need a hosepipe for the washer and power

I can only do weekends at the moment, possibly not this weekend (doing Sevys and jap car meet )but following Saturday possibly. PM me we can discuss some details, what your looking for

Steve

[DuncS3]

Thanks Steve - I have the PA foam lance from polished Bliss on my karcher - I have megs gold class as my normal shampoo. I might try some hyperwash or the magifoam

[steve_70]

Thanks Steve - I have the PA foam lance from polished Bliss on my karcher - I have megs gold class as my normal shampoo. I might try some hyperwash or the magifoam

Get the Magifoam if you buy anything and its dilution means it goes a long way, about 200 ml I use each time.

I like it as it gives me a much quicker finish (often dont need to follow with bucket wash - priceless in this weather and crap you get on the car)

But if you are going to bucket wash anyway, then there may not be much in it with Hyperwash.... my money is on MagiFoam... as I hate to bucket wash in this waether....but each to their own

[Steve_C]

Got myself some hosting and a domain sorted out now

...I wanted to use 'SMart Detail' as in Steve Miles but there is allready someone trading as that (and that as a user name on one of the other forums) and also Smart Valeting, and there's a range of detailing products called smart also

...so the Mrs came up with an idea that I ahve gone with 'SMiles Detail' and being thats my name, works quite well

More info coming soon

What about 'Miles Better Detailing'?

[steve_70]

Got myself some hosting and a domain sorted out now

...I wanted to use 'SMart Detail' as in Steve Miles but there is allready someone trading as that (and that as a user name on one of the other forums) and also Smart Valeting, and there's a range of detailing products called smart also

...so the Mrs came up with an idea that I ahve gone with 'SMiles Detail' and being thats my name, works quite well

More info coming soon

What about 'Miles Better Detailing'?

..I will give you a cut when I make my first million