I would try a clay bar first. It should be less invasive than rubbing compound/ 'cut' polishes etc.
Unless you know what you are doing.... STAY AWAY FROM RUBBING COMPOUND!!!!!
It will F$$CK up yopur paint... ( I know...)
Here are some things to consider:
If you were to go into some of the top detailing shops around town you would see that they use different products for different applications. My opinion is that preperation before applying the wax or sealant is the key to the finished product. where have you heard that before?
Products to consider:
1. Car Brite --located in Coquitlam Rob 604-309-5446
2. 3M products Lordco
3. Pro Products/BASF (B&C Auto Detail Supply #113-20530 Langley By-Pass 604-533-1300)
4. Meguires/Mothers Products--Lordco
Some steps to consider
1. Never, never wash your car in the sun (cold water on hot metal--Science 9)
2. Use a two bucket system (preferablly tall buckets)
- 1 is a rinse bucket
- 1 is the wash bucket
4. Rinse of the car first (hose)
- this removes any large chunks of sand/dirt/barf etc.
5. Use a cotton or wool wash mitt
A. Mitt goes to wash bucket then clean a part of da car
B. Mitt goes to rinse bucket, dip it in and out a few times do not wring it out (as this embeds the dirt in to the mitt)
C. Nearly all of the grit and dirt will fall to the bottom of the rinse bucket
D. At the end you should have a near empty wash bucket and a very dirty rinse bucket
6. Start from the roof-all the windows-hood-trunk (always work in quadrants)
rinse as you go
7. The sides of the car/below the leading edge of the door are the second to last parts to do
- use the rinse bucket more often at this point
8. Do your wheel rims and tires last
- use a stiff nylon brush and a strong bio-degradable cleaner for the tires.
Never, never cut or wax your car in the sun, or on an extremely warm day. Try and work in a controlled envioronment (garage/carport out of the sun)
Polish: Is for the cut; usually is a chemical base; be careful of a grit base( rubbing compound)--very,very aggresive
Wax: Use 100% Carnuba ( Its what the purest use)
I prefer using paint sealant--lasts longer, I then apply 3-5 thin coats of 100% Carnuba Brazilian Wax
Polish/Wax/sealant--always apply in thin coats ( do small quadrants )
Stay away from Turtle Wax--It actually has a cut polish in it.
PREPERATION IS THE KEY
- Black & dark cars add an extra hour for prep--Some of the higher end products have special polishes that are formulated for a dark surface.
- Find someone who has a variable speed cut polisher/foam pads work the best least likely to burn the paint, although the old-timers /more experianced detailers use wool pads
- never lean into the cut.
- let the polisher do the work.
- never over work a pad, clogged pads make more work
- work in small quadrants
Hope this helps,
Unfortunately I am presently a 'GIMP' and unable to do any work for awhile
I owned and operated a mobile car detailing co a few years ago, working out of Kits/West side of Vancouver.
'immaculate CAR-ception
