Detailing steps help

[wallace03]

Ive been reading and researching alot about detailing and im not sure if there are some minor steps i am missing. are you suppose wipe down or wash after compound before polishing? and than wash again before waxing? here are the steps i follow, let me know if there are any minor steps i am missing, thanks.

1.rinse,foam,rinse
2.clean tires/rims
3.iron removal,rinse
4.clay,rinse,dry
5.tape
6.D300 compound<--- wash again?
7.M205 polish<--------
8.PB EX Sealant with Carnauba

[umi000]

Where is your wash step? (It's supposed to be between 3 and 4.)

[Mike Phillips]

Ive been reading and researching alot about detailing and im not sure if there are some minor steps i am missing. are you suppose wipe down or wash after compound before polishing? and than wash again before waxing?

Some people like to wash the car after compounding and polishing to remove any compound or polish residue splatter especially in cracks and crevices.

I've done this before for really mess jobs but don't make it a habit and haven't done it for years since compound and polish technology has vastly improved.

Keep in mind, each time you stop during the process to wash and then dry the car it's going to take you at least an hour and this is going to drag out an already long process.

Instead, after buffing a section, immediately wipe the residue off. If it helps, keep a spray detailer around or a mixture of IPA and water to spritz on the panel and then wipe.

here are the steps i follow, let me know if there are any minor steps i am missing, thanks.

1.rinse,foam,rinse
2.clean tires/rims
3.iron removal,rinse
4.clay,rinse,dry
5.tape
6.D300 compound<--- wash again?
7.M205 polish<--------
8.PB EX Sealant with Carnauba

Here you go,

1. Rinse off loose dirt, foam car, wash and then final rinse

Some people will not do the first rinse because the foam from a foam gun will cling to a dry surface better then a pre-whetted surface. If there's a lot of visible loose dirt on the surface then you can blast this off with a strong spray of water first. It's all about doing whatever it takes to get the car clean but also to not grind dirt on the surface into the paint.

2.clean tires/rims

I'm a big fan of doing wheels, tires and wheel wells first and explain why in this brand new article.

How to wash your car KISS style!


3.iron removal,rinse

You can do this a couple of ways, I discuss how to do your wheels in the above article and you can do your car's paint the same way. I show using Iron X on the paint of this black Porsche on page 2 of the below thread.

1994 Porsche 964 Turbo 3.6 - Modeled by Janna and Amy


Next up... decontaminate the body panels using Iron X






After allowing the product to dwell for a few minutes I gently re-washed the paint and then rinsed all the residue off...




4.clay,rinse,dry

Just clay and wipe the residue off as you work around the car, save time.


5.tape

If you have any plastic, rubber or vinyl trim then yes, tape it off...






6.D300 compound<--- wash again?

Nope, just compound and wipe the residue off carefully as you work around the car.


7.M205 polish<--------

You're good here. Also, no need to wash the car after polishing.


8.PB EX Sealant with Carnauba

Perfect. Apply the Poorboy's and then remove and then stand back and admire the shine!


Remember, don't make things any harder than they have to be...

And yes, the Porsche above came out nice.

[Sponger8]

Great explanation Mike. I love how you can explain everything to where it makes sense to someone new like me. I've gone from someone who just washed my car with 2BM and applied wax 2x/year, to completely addicted to car detailing (my own cars) in two weeks. Thanks a lot! haha I thank you, but my wallet hates you. I wish you guys could open an Autogeek HQ on the west coast so I could attend your bootcamp.

[Mike Phillips]

I wish you guys could open an Autogeek HQ on the west coast so I could attend your bootcamp.

Now that would be cool, especially considering I spent from 2002 to 2009 doing this already for Meguiar's at their corporate headquarters. It would be nice to work both sides of the U.S. and maybe even someplace in the middle...

[cleanmycorolla]

Now that would be cool, especially considering I spent from 2002 to 2009 doing this already for Meguiar's at their corporate headquarters. It would be nice to work both sides of the U.S. and maybe even someplace in the middle...

I agree, Los Angeles needs something from AG!

[ttnguyen104]

Now that would be cool, especially considering I spent from 2002 to 2009 doing this already for Meguiar's at their corporate headquarters. It would be nice to work both sides of the U.S. and maybe even someplace in the middle...

Down south in Louisiana would be great!

Sent from my HTC One X using AG Online

[DEXTERITY]

Jersey would be wonderful as well lol

Mike where did you get the tire covers from? can't seem to find them on the site..

[wallace03]

Thanks Mike! very helpful post, just what i needed.

[sleeper]

would be fun to have a place in Montreal also.