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By Paul Gasparola & Angel Brown - 2000©
This article is designed to educate the novice on auto detailing and provide concourse quality detailing tips.
The Basics
Auto detailing is the process of making an automobile
look its best without major dismantling or repainting. But, detailing is much
more than a quick wash and vacuuming. Detailing requires careful planning and
methods. Today's car detailing is an art.
The following is an overview of proven professional tips
and some little secrets learned over the years.
- Caring for lug nuts - chrome and painted lug nuts may be scratched
while being removed and re-tightened. To prevent this, place a piece of plastic
(a heavy duty plastic freezer bag) over the lug nuts before using your wrench
of choice. A rag on a lug nut will just tear.
- All tires, dash boards, vinyl and seats must be cleaned before you
apply a coat of protection. Sealed in contaminates always attack the surface,
cloud the appearance and shorten durability.
- Cotton swabs are useful on the exterior as well as the interior.
Inside they are used to remove dust from vents, slots and grooves. Outside, you
can use them to remove wax from emblems, and to apply wax and dressings in
tight spaces.
- It is recommended that you remove the windshield wipers and detail
them as well. Moreover, you do not run the risk of snagging the buffer or
polishing rag on them.
- Do not overlook the rubber trim. Use a rubber cleaner that really
makes these semi-gloss black parts shine as well as clean.
- Use semi-gloss on door handles, side mirrors and cowl vents on new
cars, as chrome on classic cars require special care.
- Door jams and the hood and trunk lids are part of the detailing.
Judges look at these just as hard as the main body.
- Fender / Wheel wells cost points at a show. These need to be cleaned
and look new.
- Pledge furniture polish works well to shine fender wells and the
underbody.
- Use plastic polish on headlights, side markers, tail light lens and
inside gauges. Never use anything that has an abrasive in it on plastic while
cleaning and detailing.
- A treated duster will leave streaks when used in the hot sun on a hot
finish.
- Fanatical enthusiasts like everything to be in perfect order. This
means lining up screw heads so they all point in the same direction. We do this
with wheel center caps as well.
- If and when a touch up spray paining is needed to the underbody or
other areas (yes I detail the under carriage as well) - use your thumb to
operate the paint can. A lot of show detailers claim this gives them better
control of the spray and makes it easier to reach tight spaces.
- Heat paint cans in a sink of warm water to improve paint flow and
maximize pressure.
- Exhaust tips and mufflers are best cleaned with SOS pads and the
inside of the exhaust pipes can be cleaned with shop rags and SOS pads. Yes -
the judges look under the car and inside the exhaust pipes.
- After dusting interior vents, adjust the vents so they all point in
the same direction - horizontally and vertically.
- If your car is not garaged, protect it with a good car cover. But
always use a cotton cover because nylon covers can catch grime and grit in the
nylon and thus scratch the finish.
- Check your water, since well water may spot and stain. Some owners
have made the mistake of washing their cars with well water. The problem here
is iron in the water which will cause a red stain.
- If the water is high in sodium or chlorides, it can leave a white
residue on the finish.
- If the PH number is on the acid side, that could damage the finish.
- When a car gets dirt on it, nothing beats clean water to get it off.
Do not rub a dry car with a rag. You will scratch it. Use a bucket of tested
water or buy a few gallons of spring water that has been tested.
- Wax puts a barrier there to preserve the paint. Dirt spots will rinse
off easily. If you keep a car waxed, the paint's in better shape, and in the
long run, you will enjoy your daily driver, classic or show car a lot more.
This is besides the fact that its value will be maintained.
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