Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[Top_Ghia]

Today was about trying these new products out. I’ll deal with some protection another time.

Any tips on technique with the BlowR?

[fordomatic]

Alright, so the Rodeo detail. Plan was to just clean it up for sale. I gave myself an aim for 12 hours all up to prep it, that's for everything. I didn't want to give it a detail that made it look like I was trying to hide something. So little things, I didn't clean the tray thoroughly, I didn't black the tyres, I didn't wash the engine bay. What I did do, was clean it up to present it nicely for sale as it's a straight and honest ute. As in previous posts I had done the interior. I took the seats out and fully washed the vinyl interior, I also steamed the seats.

So the exterior, I had yesterday free so decided I would sort it out. I gave it a wash with Nova Snow +. I then used turps to get rid of heaps of tar on the bottom of the doors. I like turps, it's cheap and works the same, if not better than the more expensive product. I let it dwell for about a minute, then wipe it of, then thoroughly wash the area, don't ever let it dry on the paint. Then I dried it, I didn't use clay as besides the tar, it was pretty good and I didn't need it perfect.

Paint correction time, I used a combo of scholl S20 and The Last Cut with an orange pad. I didn't work the product hard, I wasn't chasing any big scratches. All I was doing was removing the small scratches and swirls and getting a bit more shine. The photos show how nicely it came up. Most the car had a minor yellow tinge that you couldn't really see until I started correcting it. I did the correction quickly. I spent 5 1/2 hours all up on the correction, which is bugger all, I spent over 30 hours on the P250 paint alone for comparison. I probably achieved about a 70% finish on it for defects, shine was great.

From there I then checked over the paint and then hit a few areas I knew I could fix up. I am so glad I bought the mini polisher, it cuts time down so quickly. I've only used the rotary head so far, it cuts amazingly quickly. Then I gave it a wipeover with NV clarity and gave it a coat of NV Lustre. I then attacked the plastic trim with Bowdens Mr Black.

With the car all done I went and took for sale photos. All up I spent 12 1/2 hours on the detail. I put it up for sale last night at 10pm on marketplace and also made an ad for carsales. I priced it higher than the others online as it presented much better even though it had 350,000km. I woke with 12 messages from marketplace. I filtered through them and 1 guy wanted to look at it straight away. He arrived at 9am and drove it away at 915. Quickest and easiest sale i've ever had. I thought it would sit around for a while. It's gone to a farm to be used as a runabout, perfect ute for that. I got notification at 10am the carsales link was live, what a waste of money that was.

Feel free to ask any questions as I didn't go too in depth with this post.

Ready to go


Turps to get the tar off


Can see where it wipes straight off at the bottom


Masked up


Can see the paint blemishes and marks


This shows how the paint was discoloured


Same spot all corrected
IMG_4699 by



Headlights yellowed, I didn't sand, just polished with The Last Cut and then sealed.


The plastics


A few of the for sale photos I used, came up nicely, fun little project.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Today was about trying these new products out. I’ll deal with some protection another time.

Any tips on technique with the BlowR?

It's best to work from top down, and in one direction. For example, starting on the driver's side, direct water from the roof across to the passenger side and onto the windscreens, making sure to blow water from the window roof channels and window seems.

You then drive water down the windshields and onto the wiper scuttle or boot lid. Do the same with the side glass, driving down onto the doors.

I then blow out the wing mirror, the windshield scuttle, moving down onto the hood and front quarter panel.

Drive water downwards on the doors, lightly lift the door handle to remove any trapped water, then make sure to blow out the panel gaps between the door and side skirts. Then do rear quarter and boot lid, don't forget behind the fuel door.

From here, move to the passenger side and repeat the same, making sure to not blow water back onto the roof and glass. Finally, blow out the front and rear bumpers, paying attention to around the perimeter of the lights.

For wheels/wheel aches, I do this as I move around the car.

You can also use it to blast water from the door jambs, you would do this on half speed.

Good luck.