So i have been detailing my car in sections over the past couple weeks, i have finished about 75% of the car. still need to do the roof, the rear corner panels and the section above the doors. just wanted to show you guys some pics and thank you guys for all the help and questions you answered. Cant forget about Excel either, thanks for all the products and help.

Wash:
Megs Gold class car wash
Clay:
Mothers Clay and Mothers Instant detailer
Machine:
UDM
Polish:
Optimum Compound @ speed 5 on orange pad
Optimum Polish @ speed 5 on white pad
Optimum Poliseal @ speed 4 on white pad
Sealant:
Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection @ speed 3 on red pad

Before:






After















I removed about 90% of the defects. I am very happy with the results, i can clearly see the flakes in the paint now and they shimmer like a diamond. Almost have a completely swirl free car, will post more pics when 100% complete.

 

Nice job correcting your paint. I have yet to tackle a detail job using the UDM. All of mine have been by hand which will not cure swirls.

 

Nice job!

I'm surprised to see you're using Optimum Compound with an orange pad though! Based on your before pictures, it seems like Optimum Polish and a white pad would suffice (or maybe Optimum Polish with an orange pad).

Regardless, looks like it turned out well.

 

what has been the reaction from the people that you know?? Results look very good so far, I bet you are very satisfied. I can't wait to get my PC

 

great jobb, def. looks like a pro did the detail

 

Great job, hats off to you..........Really looks sharp, and a super improvement!

 

Excel, shouldn't you be on vacation?

 

The paint looks great!!!

 

Looks great! I didnt know you can use UPP on a pad? Do you just spray it all over the pad and then do one pass? How did you divide the work like what did you do on day 1, day 2, etc. ?

 

Spent a day up at the sand dunes (Pismo/Oceano) riding ATV's, now headed to the coast with the travel trailer!

 

UPP comes in a liquid form also. put a dime size amount on a finishing pad and just cover the area.

Week 1
Spent 2 days detailing the front (i work slow, and first time)
-washed entire car
-clayed , polish and seal; Hood, fenders, trunk and rear bumper

Week 2
Spent 2 days
-washed entire car
-clayed, polish and seal; all 4 doors, and side skirts

When i have time
-wash entire car
-clayed, polish and seal; rear quater panels, Trim above the doors and roof

 

when claying, if you use the soap suds from the car wash, you don't need the Mothers Instant detailer right?

 

Make sure that you are in a shaded area. Soap suds dry too quickly for me. The clay can cause marring if you are not careful. I would just use a QD. The car does not have to be completely dry.

 

ya i didn't waste my time drying the car, just moved it into the garage. i agree with jazz QD is easy and will prevent unnecessary marring.

 

Not sure how you can call yourself an amateur when you spent 4 days detailing your car.

 

i think if a snail did it he could do it in 3...

first time and didn't have a light to work with so i had to use the sun which was time consuming

 

bo0sty,

where did you learn which pad to use for which compound at which part of the polishing process?

and is the red pad the only thing needed to wax/seal?

 

uhh, i kinda guessed haha. like stated above i might have been able to get away with a white pad and polish.

what i did is match the cutting power of the pad to the cutting power of the polish, will use optimum as an example.

Optimum Compound(medieum cut), used with an orange pad(medium cut)
-used to take out swirls and minor scratches.

Optimum Polish(light cut), used with white pad(light cut)
-used to remove minor marring left by a more aggressive polish and bring the shine

the red pad has no cut so it want do anything to your clear coat. when sealing with a machine its way faster then by hand. you don't need to use a machine. you could just apply by hand and get the same results.