Best wax / polish for cars ?

photome

tykesi wrote: »

It's bloody dangerous that site. I was looking yesterday and nearly bought £30 worth of products for the leather seats because of the good reviews on DW. I've only got two seats! It's a great site for reviews of products, I saw some wheel cleaner cheap at the weekend and didn't know whether it would be up to the job, quick check on DW and found out it's pretty good for the price so I picked some up.

Some of them go way too far in my opinion but each to their own, it's as much a hobby for some of them as the car itself. Personally I'd like the car to look half decent and drive it more.

:rotfl::rotfl: know what you mean.

I only use it for reviews/opinions

Richard53

Having acquired a car with nigh-on perfect bodywork earlier this year, I decided to take the cleaning and looking-after a bit more seriously. Yes, I visited the Detailing World site ... phew.


I ended up with a clay bar and lube, then AG shampoo, super resin polish and extra gloss protection. The car didn't really need claying, but I did it anyway. Then a proper detailed wash (including door shuts, bonnet and boot openings etc), polish and gloss, took me about half a day. I did the same to the Mazda MX-5, which has good paintwork but not perfect. The clay made a huge difference to this car. I love the silky feeling afterwards when you run your hand over the bodywork. Despite the odd rust spot, ding and chip here and there, it looks amazing.


Both look fantastic and, amazingly, after about two months they still look clean. The dirt seems to slide off the EGP - even living as I do in a rural area with all kinds of gloopy stuff on the roads. I reckon the time spent on the EGP is more than repaid in having less need to clean later. They will get normal washes for the summer, and than I will do it all over again for the winter. One day, two cars, under £20, well worth it.

photome

Richard53 wrote: »

Having acquired a car with nigh-on perfect bodywork earlier this year, I decided to take the cleaning and looking-after a bit more seriously. Yes, I visited the Detailing World site ... phew.


I ended up with a clay bar and lube, then AG shampoo, super resin polish and extra gloss protection. The car didn't really need claying, but I did it anyway. Then a proper detailed wash (including door shuts, bonnet and boot openings etc), polish and gloss, took me about half a day. I did the same to the Mazda MX-5, which has good paintwork but not perfect. The clay made a huge difference to this car. I love the silky feeling afterwards when you run your hand over the bodywork. Despite the odd rust spot, ding and chip here and there, it looks amazing.


Both look fantastic and, amazingly, after about two months they still look clean. The dirt seems to slide off the EGP - even living as I do in a rural area with all kinds of gloopy stuff on the roads. I reckon the time spent on the EGP is more than repaid in having less need to clean later. They will get normal washes for the summer, and than I will do it all over again for the winter. One day, two cars, under £20, well worth it.

you missed the waxing :rotfl:

Richard53

photome wrote: »

you missed the waxing :rotfl:

The impression I got from reading the Detailing World site was that the Extra Gloss Protection was a sealer, and took the place of a wax coat. Not as good, but easier to apply. Or have I misunderstood? To be honest, I wasn't taking notes and I am not @nal about this stuff. I'm just pleased to have found a routine that is reasonably easy, reasonably cheap, and has great results.


One of my least favourite memories from childhood was earning pocket money by waxing and polishing my Dad's car. Thick, stiff Simoniz wax, applied in circles and left to bake dry. Then a major upper body workout getting the damn stuff off again and polished to a shine. Five bob for that - I was exploited!

force_ten

Richard53 wrote: »

The impression I got from reading the Detailing World site was that the Extra Gloss Protection was a sealer, and took the place of a wax coat. Not as good, but easier to apply. Or have I misunderstood? To be honest, I wasn't taking notes and I am not @nal about this stuff. I'm just pleased to have found a routine that is reasonably easy, reasonably cheap, and has great results.


One of my least favourite memories from childhood was earning pocket money by waxing and polishing my Dad's car. Thick, stiff Simoniz wax, applied in circles and left to bake dry. Then a major upper body workout getting the damn stuff off again and polished to a shine. Five bob for that - I was exploited!

that is correct you do not need to wax over extra gloss protection, some do but it is not really necessary

I use a similar regime and all i add is a quick detail spray after a wash just as a top up for protection

the old school waxes were real hard work to apply and then buff off but the modern stuff is a lot easier, i think the big mistake that many people make is to apply to much product and then have a nightmare buffing it off, with some of the modern waxes costing hundreds of pounds for a tiny pot you would need it to go a long way :rotfl::rotfl:

photome

Richard53 wrote: »

The impression I got from reading the Detailing World site was that the Extra Gloss Protection was a sealer, and took the place of a wax coat. Not as good, but easier to apply. Or have I misunderstood? To be honest, I wasn't taking notes and I am not @nal about this stuff. I'm just pleased to have found a routine that is reasonably easy, reasonably cheap, and has great results.


One of my least favourite memories from childhood was earning pocket money by waxing and polishing my Dad's car. Thick, stiff Simoniz wax, applied in circles and left to bake dry. Then a major upper body workout getting the damn stuff off again and polished to a shine. Five bob for that - I was exploited!

I am also new to this detailing lark, but I thought after hours of reading that its wash, clay, wash again, polish, seal and then wax.
the poorboys nattys paste wax is relatively easy to polish off and not expensive, the finish is awesome and the car feels lovely;)

BUT it may be me thats misunderstood as that site can be very confusing to a newbie

photome

Force ten.....I have read that you can use detailing spray between washes...how does that work

neilmcl

photome wrote: »

Force ten.....I have read that you can use detailing spray between washes...how does that work

Just spray on and wipe, just use like a waterless wash. Something like AG's own detailing spray is pretty good. It can only be really used though if the car is still relatively clean in the first place. Just use it to keep the dust off.

Richard53

Does the detailing spray add any protection? I thought it was just a way of wetting the surface so that a cloth could get the dirt off. I'm using AG detailing spray, and it smells lovely.

neilmcl

Richard53 wrote: »

Does the detailing spray add any protection? I thought it was just a way of wetting the surface so that a cloth could get the dirt off. I'm using AG detailing spray, and it smells lovely.

It does add some protection, AG rapid detailer for example contains polymers which will leave a layer of protection after use. Because detailers are lubricating they can also be used as a clay lubricant.