Is it just me or...

[SeanC]

The D3 was looking pretty dusty so I took it to the manual car wash to give it the once over. Now clean, I noticed a couple of patches where I had used 2000 grit sandpaper to sand out some deepish clear coat scratches and cut and polished were still a bit dull. So I decided to cut and polish a bit more. I did that then decided I would do the whole door. Hmm, there’s a bit of light pin striping on the a couple panels from the last trip. I should polish those out as well. If I’m going to that I should to the whole vehicle.

I finished and thought I really should wax it now. Did that. Looking pretty good. But the bull bar has lost it’s shine. I wonder what hitting it with some 2000 grit and then giving it a cut and polish then a wax. Tried a section. Came up a treat. But there a couple of deep scrapes which are showing some rust. So before I wax and polish the rest I’ll get some black gloss metal paint and cover the scratches. Did that. Big improvement. Just need to wait a week or so until it is hard enough to sand. Now the black plastic trims need re-blacking (if there is such a word). Done.

Hang on what happened to the weekend.

So am I the only one who can turn a 20 minute car wash into a day and a half car detailing marathon?

Oh. There’s more I can do. Haven’t even touched the interior. The weekend just wasn’t long enough.

[grey_ghost]

That’s a similar quandary that I have with some of my vehicles... How far do you go? How much do you use it? Life’s little quandaries...

[Russrobe]

I ended up buying a Ryobi Random Orbital polisher, as I already had the batteries. Cars look great again. I definitely have never had to use any form of sand paper though:O Mother deep polish brought it up like new then two coats of Zaino Clear Sealant.

I find any sort of pure wax lasts the whole of 2-3 months max, they synthetics last around 6, and best of all you don't need to polish everytime you want to add another coat, just wash the car.

[discomatt69]

Yep, I thought I would give the camper trailer a going over after a Kimberly trip, 2 days later and now all I need to do is put the water tank bash plates back on and do some final paint touch ups

I would suggest you stay clear of the sand paper though unless its getting a tart up to sell, there is not much clear on them and when its gone say goodby to any decent looking paint. A good hand polish every 6 months and leave the cut and polish until sale time.

[Eric SDV6SE]

I gave mine the Megiuars Clay bar treatment 2 weeks ago...

A full day later and tennis elbow in both arms, car looks amazing.

I finished off with a coat of Caranuba wax.

It's a lot of car to clean, but the result is worthwhile

[SeanC]

The paint work is far from pristine. She’s an off-road vehicle first and foremost as has scratches down to the primer. I wouldn’t be going anywhere near it with sand paper otherwise. Most probably go off-road next weekend and scratch it up again. But she looked pretty good for a week.

Started the cut and polish by hand, decided that was a mugs game so went to Supercheap and bought a Black and Decker random orbital polisher. Much better.

I’m between boats, so what else am I going to do with all the extra time and money?

A boat and a Land Rover. Hmm. Challenge accepted!

[SeanC]

I gave mine the Megiuars Clay bar treatment 2 weeks ago...

A full day later and tennis elbow in both arms, car looks amazing.

I finished off with a coat of Caranuba wax.

It's a lot of car to clean, but the result is worthwhile

I can still feel it in my arms and shoulders.

[DiscoJeffster]

The paint on my bonnet is ruined after salty tree sap from the trees at the caravan park in Coral Bay leaked all over my car at night. I had no idea at the time what it was. A week later after washing on my return I found the clear coat destroyed. A cut and polish and treatment makes it look good for a week but it returns to patches of etch in a week. I figure the clear coat is ruined. Should have insurance jobbed it at the time.

[Russrobe]

The paint work is far from pristine. She’s an off-road vehicle first and foremost as has scratches down to the primer. I wouldn’t be going anywhere near it with sand paper otherwise. Most probably go off-road next weekend and scratch it up again. But she looked pretty good for a week.

Started the cut and polish by hand, decided that was a mugs game so went to Supercheap and bought a Black and Decker random orbital polisher. Much better.

I’m between boats, so what else am I going to do with all the extra time and money?

A boat and a Land Rover. Hmm. Challenge accepted!

Yep, the only way i prevented having the same problem was by applying Peel n Shield before doing any 4x4ing, but it's a mission to apply and strip every time if you don't want to leave it on for city driving (I didn't bother taking it off most of the time).

The Black and Decker was faster than the Ryobi I think, after doing two cars a couple of weeks ago, i'm never doing back to hand polishing again!

[Graeme]

That’s a similar quandary that I have with some of my vehicles... How far do you go? How much do you use it? Life’s little quandaries...

Don't start - don't even wash it!