Detailing Tight Spaces

[eddie926]

OK. I recently bought myself a Porter Cable 7424. I'm just getting started with detailing my 3 vehicles (2 '95 Camrys, and an '02 Sequoia). Started with one of the Camrys. All 3 had relatively neglected paint, so I'm doing the Pinnacle XMT thing with #3 followed by #1 followed by XMT Glaze followed by Liquid Souveran.

I love the PC for wide open spaces, but I'm wondering, what do you really experienced folks do for tight spaces, i.e. inside of door handles, and other places that the PC won't fit. I assume you do the same process that you're doing with the PC only by hand, but what do you use for application? Sponge applicator pads? Cotton cloths? Microfiber towels?

Also, in general, what do you do around those areas where you don't want to get a bunch of polish/wax, etc., like the grooves around the rub strips on the doors and such? Do you get as close as you can with the PC but avoid the grooves, or do you just polish over them and then clean them out with a brush, etc.? My rub strips need to be polished out too, but I don't want to spend hours cleaning polish and wax out of the grooves if I can avoid it.

Just starting to learn as I go. Got some good tips on the high level stuff from autogeek and autopia but they mostly cover detailing the big open areas.

Thanks for any tips.

[DietoRemain]

Cyclo pads on a 3 inch backing plate are great if you wanna invest... haha otherwise just get a meguiars foam pad at kragen or alot of auto stores and work in your product in that area with some passion behind the pad.

[Shelbrain]

I would put some protectant on the trim and rubber -before- you use the PC, that way it won't leave a wax residue. I usually tape off the trim w/ painter's tape if you want to be extra cautious.

[eddie926]

Originally Posted by DietoRemain

Cyclo pads on a 3 inch backing plate are great if you wanna invest... haha otherwise just get a meguiars foam pad at kragen or alot of auto stores and work in your product in that area with some passion behind the pad.

I'm using 6.5" Lake Country CCS pads with a 6" flex backing plate initially, but can easily see the need for some smaller pads/plates in the future. I think for this go around on my personal vehicles, I'll just do what you said and get some foam pads and do the smaller areas by hand. Thanks for the advice.

Originally Posted by Shelbrain

I would put some protectant on the trim and rubber -before- you use the PC, that way it won't leave a wax residue. I usually tape off the trim w/ painter's tape if you want to be extra cautious.

Thanks for the tips. I had thought about masking tape but hadn't tried it. Good tip on the trim too. I guess the protectant prevents the wax/polish from adhering to the rubber?