My never ending post - How-Tos/Info/Reviews

[MDetail]

Alright, so after being on this forum for a couple years now, I figured I wanted to try to contribute something useful, since I have all of 8 posts. Within the last couple months I have been stocking up on various detailing items. I love doing things the right way, but I don't always have the time or patience to do things perfect every time. I figured I would start working on my year old car, and do only a few things at a time so I don't get burned out. So here I plan to take a picture diary of what I have completed, include how-tos, items used, and links with where I purchased the item. I thought this would make it easier for some people. I know sometimes when a particular part comes out nice, others want to know how the final results were achieved , and hopefully I can do just that. You may read this on other forums but I will be slightly changing the posts to adapt to the forum it is on. Thanks for looking.
At the top of the posts when I post "items used" I will put in bold the wording I will be referring to in the rest of the post. In the post when I talk about that item I will refer to it by the bold word or letters I posted above. Example:

Items Used
something
something else
Meguiars Last Touch Detail Spray LTD
Meguiar's m205 Ultra Finishing Polish

Then lower in the post i will talk about how I completed that project. Blah blah blah blah blah m205 and then some LTD

m205 would then refer to Meguiars Ultra Finish Polish also known as m205.
LTD would refer back to Meguiars Last Touch Detail Spray

Hope you enjoy!

[MDetail]

Items Used: (You can use this as a shortcut to find products used, and as a refrence page incase you don't know what something means in one of my posts.)
- Meguiar's Last Touch Detail Spray (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiar-s-last-touch-spray.html)LTD (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiar-s-last-touch-spray.html) ($20.99 1gal)
- Meguiar's Hard Water Spot Remover #47 (http://www.autogeek.net/hard-water-spot.html) ($14.99 16oz)
- Microfiber Towel MF (About $1 ea.) You want something inexpensive, these will be for dirty areas.
- Meguiar's Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel SSMF (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-microfiber-towel.html) ($5.99)
- Meguiar's Hyper Dressing HD (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-hyper-dressing.html) (44.99 1gal) I use 4:1 check link for dilution rates
- Meguiar's APC+ (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-all-purpose-cleaner-plus-d103.html) ($15.99 1gal)
- Microfiber Wash Mitt (http://www.autogeek.net/sponwasmit.html) ($5.99-9.99)



I will be updating this post as I add more posts for reference.

[MDetail]

This is what I had to start with. I know its hard to tell that its dirty, but it is.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_139.jpg
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_137.jpg
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_140.jpg
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_141.jpg

[MDetail]

I first started by trying to remove the water spots in the molding and trim.

Items Used:
Meguiar's Hard Water Spot Remover #47
Meguiar's Last Touch Detail Spray LTD in a reused NXT Quick Detailer Bottle (this gives a better mist)
Cheapy Microfiber Towels MF

Here is what it looked like before I started removing the water spots.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_101.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_102.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_150.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_147.jpg

When I remove water spots with this method I always just clean the area first with LTD because after I am done, I go back over the car with a good wash.

1. Spray the area where you want to remover water spotting with your LTD and wipe the area down with your MF towel.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_148.jpg

2. Spray the water spot infected areas with your #47
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_103.jpg

3. Let #47 set for 30-60 seconds to work properly. I let it set for about 2-3 minutes, just don't let the product dry.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_158.jpg

4. Wipe #47 with your MF towel off and inspect your results. If you're not happy try a second application. In this case I did 3 applications.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_105.jpg

5. Reapply if necessary

6. Once you are happy give your car a through wash.

7. Enjoy that new look. - After Pictures.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_108.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/FD_159.jpg

Unfortunately I am not able to remove the water spots from the wiper arms with this method, but I think I may have something else that will work. More on that later.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_112.jpg
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_111.jpg

Review
#47 - Great for removing water spots from things that you can't use polish to remove them from. It does not tend work on glass, or paint, but none the less, it is useful. As you can see great results can be accomplished from this item.

LTD - Great in every way. I am sure I will have a better write up for this later.

[MDetail]

Shortly after I took care of my engine bay. Although the car is not that old, I drive 18k a year, and a lot of that is in Palmdale (Desert.)

Items Used:
Meguiars APC+ 4:1 in a Foaming Bottle
H2O in Walmart Bottle H2O
Meguiars Hyper Dressing 4:1 HD
Meguiars Last Touch Detail Spray 1:1 LTD
Toothbrush
Paintbrush
Cheapy Microfiber Towels MF

I personally do not cover any engine parts, but I do all of this by hand, even dirtier engines I do by hand. I think that you get alot more detailed when working by hand. This is why I put water in a spray bottle.
Here is what it looks like before:
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_114.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_118.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_117.jpg

1. Let your engine warm up for about 1 minute.

2. If you have bad aim, line your surrounding car body parts with plastic (like the drop mats for painting). Then spray APC+ degreaser around your engine. I use a foaming sprayer because I think it tends to work better for me.

3. As you are letting the degreaser set, work on the bottom of your hood, and top of the bumper. Use your LTD spray to get that grime off the bottom of the hood and top of your bumper. Here is some of my progression.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_119.jpg

4. Go back to your engine, and work by sections. Agitate the APC+ you already sprayed. Clean it with H2O, then respray if necessary. I use the toothbrush and paintbrush for hard to reach areas. Use your MF towel to reach the easy areas.

5. Once you have finished cleaning all the areas of your engine bay, make sure you rinse it with H2O in a spray bottle. (I never use the water hose to rinse the engine.) Let the engine dry. This is a good chance to look back over the engine to find any spots you missed.

6. Make sure your engine has cooled down. Spray your diluted HD liberally in the engine compartment. I found that Hyper dressing 3:1 gives you that OEM clean look. (I can't remember what goes first, product or water, but I use 4 parts water 1 part Megs HD.)

7. Let the HD set for 3-5 Minutes. Come back and wipe it down with a MF towel.

8. Enjoy!! HD is so great, you can come back later and give the engine bay a quick wipe down with just a MF towel to bring back that bling bling look. This stuff lasts quite a while.

After Shots.
http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_123.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_125.jpg

http://www.schotography.com/photos/albums/uploads/Auto%20Detailing/08HondaFit/Fit-Detail_124.jpg