This weekend I detailed my Camry - For the exterior I decided to use a Mothers Clay Bar kit. Washed the car, clayed the car, and washed it again. Then I applied some Liquid Glass to it, and after buffing it off, it honestly feels like the car never left the showroom. It was the first time I clayed the car, and it certainly won't be my last. I was afraid of scratching up the surface of the car, or worse, because I had never used it before.
Not sure how many of you are familiar with Liquid Glass, but it is something I used to use about 10 years ago. I lost track of the product and it became difficult to get for some reason. I have since bought another can to test its longevity. I remember it being used by quite a few people when I was much younger. People swore by it. I am sure there are many other products that are better, but I wanted to test it out.
I used Stoners Invisible Glass for the windows. The front windshield still has lots of life left in the Aquapel I put on it a month ago. For the tires I used a Simoniz tire spray that you just leave on - looks good too.
For the interior, I used a shop-vac to remove any sand, dirt, etc. I used a Little Mean Green Machine made by the Bissel company and cleaned all the upholstry. Talk about a nice little unit! With the doors opened, and a nice breeze, it dried fairly quickly. I was looking into getting a professional grade unit like pro detailers use, but at the end of the day, that Green Machine cost me less that $100, and I used a $5 container of cleaner with it.
Did the inside windows with Stoners, and I just wiped the dash and all the plastic with a damp cloth. Some people use Armour-all - I chose not to because I don't like the glare it gives off, especially onto the inside of the windshield from the dash.
The car looks sharp, and if it wasn't pitch black outside right now, I would have taken a few pics to post.
The only downside to all of this is that now the g/f wants me to clean her SUV the same way - but it's all good.
Detailed my last weekend. And like you, the hubby wants his rolla done too. After the winter, I plan on claying my car and using the buffer. I got my old Gen 3 to shine like crazy.
I prefer Zymol's waxes. Doesn't last as long as the other brands, but it deepens the color.
And yes, PICS!!!
__________________
I am the kind of woman that when
my feet hit the floor each
morning the Devil says,
"Oh shit, She's Up!" http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3389758
I have microchips and bugs embedded into my clear coat on my front bumper and front of the hood. The body shop says 1200 to claybar it =; I'm not paying that. I bought a hand held buffer to use for it. As long as I don't go into the paint past the clear coat it should be good. I am scared to do it though, because I don't know what the fuck I am doing
I have microchips and bugs embedded into my clear coat on my front bumper and front of the hood. The body shop says 1200 to claybar it =; I'm not paying that. I bought a hand held buffer to use for it. As long as I don't go into the clear coat it should be good. I am scared to do it though, because I don't know what the fuck I am doing
1200 to claybar??? they are trying to rip you off... go to the detailing section and start reading up on how to detail..
I have microchips and bugs embedded into my clear coat on my front bumper and front of the hood. The body shop says 1200 to claybar it =; I'm not paying that. I bought a hand held buffer to use for it. As long as I don't go into the paint past the clear coat it should be good. I am scared to do it though, because I don't know what the fuck I am doing
If you're scared to use the buffer, just make sure you keep the area you work on small and wet. I use a spray bottle (I have a nifty pink one I bought at the local drugstore, you can find them with the ladies hair stuff) and I mist the buffer pad, apply the wax/cleaner wax and then buff. When it feels sticky, I just take a quick spay of the water bottle. Repeat this for different areas. And go lightly, don't press hard with the buffer. When you are more comfortable with it, you'll know the exact pressure it needs. Pressing too hard and too much heat caused from friction is what damages your clear coat.
Just go slow and careful and you will be fine.
__________________
I am the kind of woman that when
my feet hit the floor each
morning the Devil says,
"Oh shit, She's Up!" http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3389758
I will post pics when I get a chance - I should have taken them before I posted .
I used a claybar because I read and heard that they made the surface of the car really slick by taking out any impurities (bugs, road tar, etc). I was hesitant to use it because I heard it can also scratch the surface if not done properly.
I am glad I used it, and will use it as part of my detailing schedule. Probably won't do it again until next year.
$1500 for a claybar detailing? No way. There HAS to be a mistake on that. The clay bar kit I bought was about $30, and came with two clay bars and one bottle of detailer. I still have one and half clay bars left, and some spray left. (I broke one bar in two in case I dropped one).
Should have bought the clay kit much earlier, not because my car needs it, but because the outcome is really, really amazing.
This weekend I detailed my Camry - For the exterior I decided to use a Mothers Clay Bar kit. Washed the car, clayed the car, and washed it again. Then I applied some Liquid Glass to it, and after buffing it off, it honestly feels like the car never left the showroom. It was the first time I clayed the car, and it certainly won't be my last. I was afraid of scratching up the surface of the car, or worse, because I had never used it before.
Not sure how many of you are familiar with Liquid Glass, but it is something I used to use about 10 years ago. I lost track of the product and it became difficult to get for some reason. I have since bought another can to test its longevity. I remember it being used by quite a few people when I was much younger. People swore by it. I am sure there are many other products that are better, but I wanted to test it out.
I used Stoners Invisible Glass for the windows. The front windshield still has lots of life left in the Aquapel I put on it a month ago. For the tires I used a Simoniz tire spray that you just leave on - looks good too.
For the interior, I used a shop-vac to remove any sand, dirt, etc. I used a Little Mean Green Machine made by the Bissel company and cleaned all the upholstry. Talk about a nice little unit! With the doors opened, and a nice breeze, it dried fairly quickly. I was looking into getting a professional grade unit like pro detailers use, but at the end of the day, that Green Machine cost me less that $100, and I used a $5 container of cleaner with it.
Did the inside windows with Stoners, and I just wiped the dash and all the plastic with a damp cloth. Some people use Armour-all - I chose not to because I don't like the glare it gives off, especially onto the inside of the windshield from the dash.
The car looks sharp, and if it wasn't pitch black outside right now, I would have taken a few pics to post.
The only downside to all of this is that now the g/f wants me to clean her SUV the same way - but it's all good.
Anyone else detail theirs this weekend?
I am a big fan of liquid glass, I have been using their products for 20 years,
IMO its the best product on the planet.
And a pic of my Camry after wash and buffed with Liquid Glass
Glenn
__________________
2009 Camry SE MODS:
Blacked Out Headlights with MDX D2S Retrofit,TSX-R Clear Lens, 85122+D2S Bulbs, G2 Red Painted Calipers, W.T.Floor Liners, Rosen Navi. GEN6.5 Chrome Wheels, XD Digital 35 watt ballasts, H11 Wire Harness, Megan fstb.
__________________
09 Toyota Highlander Sport 4wd - Black on Black leather, Moonroof, XM, Integrated iPhone/iPod, backup camera, Phillips Extreme Power bulbs, Painted mudguards, All-weather floormats
09 Toyota Corolla S -Moonroof, JBL, XM, Integrated iPhone/iPod
06 MINI Cooper S
I have microchips and bugs embedded into my clear coat on my front bumper and front of the hood. The body shop says 1200 to claybar it =; I'm not paying that. I bought a hand held buffer to use for it. As long as I don't go into the paint past the clear coat it should be good. I am scared to do it though, because I don't know what the fuck I am doing
They must have meant color sand was $1200.
Detailing clay such as Mothers is $25 or less.
Pep Boys currently has a special, at least out here in Southern California for $14 and change.
A random-orbital buffer does not get up to speed to do any damage unless you have one with bonnets that bunch-up. Apply with a random-orbital and remove by hand.
I actually use the PowerBall 4Paint to apply my polishes and waxes -- easy as pie and completely safe. If I have serious polishing, I do have a Porter-Cable, but it mostly collects dust.
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Detailed My Camry This Weekend
Lou
2009 Toyota Camry
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