Recently just got into detailing, I'm doing amazing!(thanks junkman!!)
 

Hey guys so I recently just got into detailing with a PC 7424xp, hex logic pads, and using m105 and m205. The results are amazing! I clayed with chemical guys blue clay bar(light) and their clay bar luber(was only like 20 bucks for a gallon). Took me 3 days doing different panels at a time but man this baby glows!

After paying someone $90 to detail my car and it still having light swirls and imperfections I decided to get everything myself because I'm anal. So I watched a lot of Junkman videos and ordered a bunch of stuff. I spent about $280 including the porter cable, some pads, m105, m205, clay bar, clay bar luber, NXT 2.0 wax, back plate, counterweight. Overall I really enjoy detailing honestly and I'm starting to do it as a little side job.

So thanks again Junkman, you inspired me!:happydance:

No before and after pics :(

:pics::werd:

My paint wasn't in bad condition just mostly light swirls but here's a few pictures anyway

Hood before: http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...24b5c2bcdf.jpg

Hood after:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...e402000f8a.jpg

Roof before:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...1f3c2a6254.jpg

Roof after:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...007a174f6d.jpg

Another after hood:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...172be0dace.jpg


http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...333606150c.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...ae8668be0f.jpg

Looks like you paid attention. ;)

Actually just finished doing all the glass just now and I read this comment! Good way to end the night. I got a few cars to do already, I'll be posting some before and afters!

I also just picked up a little rolling stool and a fixed dual spotlight that lights up the garage like a mother!

Did a test spot on my buddy's 2011 wrx

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...e100126a35.jpg

Routed the wire around the metal beam, cant touch me!

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...1520e26f0a.jpg

Cool. Good job. You can clearly see the difference. I enjoy doing this myself but it takes forever. Wash, dry, and clay followed by 18 sections of 2 stage polish, seal, and wax. Then you do the wheels, tires, engine, mufflers and tips. Does not count the glass and the interior. That's quite a bit of workload.

Way to go! I wish I had the patience and time to do this. I also park on gravel at work and I have dust on my Z the next day after washing it so its futile for me.

But now that you have completed it, you should NEVER have to do all that work again, unless you continue to do the things that jacked up your paint in the first place. From this point forward, you should NEVER have a need for M105, unless an accident of some sort happens. Short of that, all you should have to do is touch up a few light scratches here or there with M205, apply your wax and call it a wrap. The initial investment of blood, sweat and tears is time consuming when using a polisher like the PC-7424XP. The upkeep is nothing more than preventive maintenance that when done on a timely basis, is something that can be done on a Saturday morning.

You have taken the red pill and been unplugged. Here's your jacket. Scratches will now run from you. ;)

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h..._reference.jpg

I need to get into this. Sounds like these forums are a good place to start. I've never used a clay bar but don't mind investing in some quality equipment and doing the work myself

This is where you start. CLICK

You are right about that junkman. Now it's all maintenance. Going on one year in March since I did this and the car still looks great

Yeah I'm excited to see how it holds up through winter. Probably going to do a few light passes of m205 in spring and then wax it and she will be good to go!

What you have to do to maintain it is directly related to how you touch the paint from this point forward. Anytime you touch the paint is an opportunity to damage it. Thus, touch it correctly as I demonstrate in all my videos.

Last night I did my buddy's 2013 STi and my.orange pad was producing SO MUCH dust and I'm not really sure why. I kept spraying it to make it a little damp which should help. And right when I was done with that pad it got pretty hot on the back of the backing plate and pad. I didn't know until I went to take it off. I keep having problems with these orange pads but I really like the white pad and m105.

Anyway the results came out awesome and took me 7 hours. From 9 pm to 4 am.

I did try out speed 6 a little and I think that's what messed the orange pad up maybe for some reason. Any advice guys? I never really had dust problems with either pad

Here's some pics:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...5310b080d5.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...f1d4544fd6.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...79e304f06a.jpg

Roof looks scratched but it's some stuff on the ceiling of his garage
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...f1b866cb60.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...92128ffe95.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...327a19f7e4.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...bde59fc379.jpg

Yes. Don't be Charles Barkley on the golf course and this will never happen to you. If you have watched my machine polishing videos, this will make perfect sense to you.

Of course it does! I'll stick to speed 5 I guess. I just wanted to experiment to see if I could get it done quicker but reality is detailing ISNT quick.

Not with THAT machine. You can get done a hell of a lot quicker but the trade off is it's a hell of a lot more easy to screw up your paint. Another thing, you won't have a dusting issue if you use the right amount of compound. When you use the wrong amount, you will have the experience that you had. Changing the technique only added to the problem.

So excessive dust is only because I used too much right? Using too little wouldn't cause dust would it?

I also have another question on what you would do..do every step panel by panel or clay the whole car, m105, m205 then wax the whole car?

Yes it can if you work it too fast but not as bad.

Answer me this. How are you going to keep the pad from touching the panel that is adjacent to the one that you are working on? :confused:

You are right haha. I've been working the whole car step by step. Maybe next year when I have more experience under my belt I'll get the flex 3401 vrg to speed things up a bit since I'm doing this on the side not just for myself. :)

something about those water drops...💞

Little update, just restored my headlights. Boy were they disgusting!

Before:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...dddeb5e48e.jpg

After:
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...6a778052a5.jpg

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15...6beddc61c9.jpg

If you guys want to follow my adventures, be sure to check out my instagram accounts in my signature :)

Nice what did you use for your headlights, I have been trying to figure this out for a while but no luck.

I'm just getting into this in a small way. Do I have this right...wash, clay, polish, wash, and wax? I'm just doing it by hand with mainly meguires products. If I get half as good of results as you I'll be happy

First clean it off. Then I wetsanded with 2000. You can then go to 2500 and then 3000 but I wanted to do this same-day and 2000 is all I could get.

Then I used meguiars m105 (high cut compound) with a high cut pad to get rid of sanding marks.

Then followed it up with meguiars m205 (light cut polish) with a low cut pad to get rid of the high cut marks.

3 coats of klasse paint sealant and 1 coat of wax because I'm anal. :)


Wash, clay, (some like to wash again after clay), compound if needed, polish. sealant/wax.

Doing this all by hand unfortanutely will not net you great results as far as swirl marks.

What it will do is make your still feel incredibly smooth.

Hope this helps.