Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John

On 16/01/17 10:01, Another John wrote:
Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.


Meguires seems to have displaced Autoglym as the "ultimate" products on
several car forums I read.

Halfords stock it.

In article ,
Another John wrote:
SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

I have one of those complete polishers. It's more like a random orbit
sander - rather than a direct rotary drive. Works well for that final buff
up - but of course applying the polish still need effort.

It's well worth using a clay bar to remove any surface film before
polishing. If you've not used one you'd be surprised how smooth it leaves
the surface without apparently removing a layer of paint, like T-cut. When
I use it on my black car, the gunge it removes is brown.

I'm not convinced those super expensive polishes are worth the money. I
stick with Turtle wax.

BTW, just because your paint is a solid colour doesn't mean it won't have
a clear coat like metallic.

--
*It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article ,
"Dave Plowman (News)" writes:
In article ,
Another John wrote:
SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

I have one of those complete polishers. It's more like a random orbit
sander - rather than a direct rotary drive. Works well for that final buff
up - but of course applying the polish still need effort.

It's well worth using a clay bar to remove any surface film before
polishing. If you've not used one you'd be surprised how smooth it leaves
the surface without apparently removing a layer of paint, like T-cut. When
I use it on my black car, the gunge it removes is brown.

I'm not convinced those super expensive polishes are worth the money. I
stick with Turtle wax.

+1.

A polish with turtle wax lasts about a year on my car, but I only
ever wash my car with plain water and a soft brush (probably wouldn't
last that long if washed with detergent).

Must admit, I stopped waxing it after about 5 years old (it's 9 now).

The other option seemed to be to wash it with a wax additive in the
wash, but that lasted no time at all, and seemed pretty pointless.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:01:02 +0000, Another John
wrote:

Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Polishing is only part of the process, you need to wash it correctly
first. I'd wager that many cars though they are washed clean of the
noticeable muck such as mud suffer damage to the paintwork while this
is done as the clothes and sponges used are not rinsed correctly
therefore gouging the paintwork with small grit particles which create
small scratches in the paint. The car will look nice and clean
especially as being newish the paint will not have faded but it is the
presence of those small swirly scratches that make the difference
between how it came out of the showroom and how it looks a year or
two later.
Polish can disguise them to an extent but if they are not their in the
first place it helps with the shine.


Plenty of descriptions of the two bucket method on the WWW and keep
dedicated buckets preferably ones with grit filters for the task.
If you find the missus using them for gardening purposes shoot her or
at least give her the buckets and get new ones and tell her that in
future you will be keeping herbicide in yours.

G.Harman

"Another John" wrote in message
...
Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?

I washed and waxed my new car using Meguires Gold Class and Colinite 476.
Looks like showroom but after a couple of years ICBA. I still wax it but let
the local terrorists wash it.

SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Dave is correct about clay bars.

On Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:01:02 +0000, Another John
wrote:

Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John


I never clean my car, the dirt is called patina, and will protect your
investment. Wash it just before trading it in for a showroom gleam.


--

Graham.

%Profound_observation%

On 16/01/17 12:44, Graham. wrote:
On Mon, 16 Jan 2017 10:01:02 +0000, Another John
wrote:

Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John


I never clean my car, the dirt is called patina, and will protect your
investment. Wash it just before trading it in for a showroom gleam.

+1 (more or less)

The most important thing to clean is the windows mirrors, and lights. As
for the paintwork, I might give the car a quick wash once or twice a
year, particularly after the roads have been gritted. But polish? What a
waste of time and effort. I wish car manufacturers would give you the
option of a matt finish for a reduction in selling price, but not much
chance of that.

--

Jeff

In article ,
Graham. wrote:
I never clean my car, the dirt is called patina, and will protect your
investment. Wash it just before trading it in for a showroom gleam.

You must have different birds to round here. Some of their **** eats into
the paint.

But you've likely got a different standard for a 'shine' than most.

Oh - please keep away from here if you drive a car where the windows have
never been cleaned. Stick to running down your own.

--
*How does Moses make his tea? Hebrews it.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 16/01/2017 10:01, Another John wrote:
Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John

Take a look at http://www.bilthamber.com/. They have a range of
polishes, waxes and clay bars that regularly win product tests. As Dave
suggested, using a clay bar once in a while is worthwhile.


Personally, I'd steer clear of any machines: they're only really worth
the bother (and risk of damage) if the paint is in very poor condition IMO.

I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly lost
its lustre?
Brian

--
----- -
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Chris Bartram" wrote in message
news
On 16/01/2017 10:01, Another John wrote:
Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John

Take a look at http://www.bilthamber.com/. They have a range of polishes,
waxes and clay bars that regularly win product tests. As Dave suggested,
using a clay bar once in a while is worthwhile.


Personally, I'd steer clear of any machines: they're only really worth the
bother (and risk of damage) if the paint is in very poor condition IMO.

On 16/01/17 18:37, Brian Gaff wrote:
I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly lost
its lustre?
Brian

A bit dangerous to get in and out of after, if it's a combined
polish/was, but something like Farecla G3, maybe?

http://www.g3pro.com/product/g3-perm...ratch-remover/

On 16/01/17 18:37, Brian Gaff wrote:
I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly lost
its lustre?
Brian


T-Cut would be better. You don't want anything that will make the bather
slippery.

T-Cut would polish, in the abrasive sense, the surface. But it's mild so
it's really hard to do much harm with it.

On 16/01/2017 22:08, Tim Watts wrote:
On 16/01/17 18:37, Brian Gaff wrote:
I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly
lost
its lustre?
Brian


T-Cut would be better. You don't want anything that will make the bather
slippery.

T-Cut would polish, in the abrasive sense, the surface. But it's mild so
it's really hard to do much harm with it.

I tried that, on a restored (epoxy powder coated?) cast-iron roll-top
bath to no effect.

Cheers
--
Clive

On 17/01/17 09:25, Clive Arthur wrote:
On 16/01/2017 22:08, Tim Watts wrote:
On 16/01/17 18:37, Brian Gaff wrote:
I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly
lost
its lustre?
Brian


T-Cut would be better. You don't want anything that will make the bather
slippery.

T-Cut would polish, in the abrasive sense, the surface. But it's mild so
it's really hard to do much harm with it.

I tried that, on a restored (epoxy powder coated?) cast-iron roll-top
bath to no effect.

Cheers

If it was restored, could it not have been enamelled and refired? (I
don't know) - T-Cut would not touch enamel, but should make a difference
to an acrylic coating.

Brian Gaff wrote

I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly lost
its lustre?

Depends on how much farting in the bath you've been doing.

That irretrievably ****s the lustre.

"Chris Bartram" wrote in message
news
On 16/01/2017 10:01, Another John wrote:
Another RFI from the assembled Experience here ...

I recently acquired a 'new' (63 reg) car, and would like to keep it
looking shiny for a while at least. It's a solid colour, btw, not
metallic.

Of course I've polished my cars, now and then, over the years, but the
plethora of polishes available always makes me wonder if there's
"something better" than what I'm using.

Some people go on about Autoglym products, but the price premium is very
high; I tried their glass polish once, and was not impressed. I also
have something in my garage called "MER - the Ultimate Car Polish",
which I inherited from an old(er) friend after he popped off.

Any recommendations? Or is one as good as another?


SECONDLY: are those polishing machines (either drill attachments, or
complete tools), such as Aldi sell every now and again, any good? I
have a bad dose of tennis elbow, which gets steadily worse as the years
go by, and wonder if a polishing machine would be a good investment ...
or just another gimmick, soon to be consigned to the back shelf of the
cupboard at the back of the garage ...

Cheers
John

Take a look at http://www.bilthamber.com/. They have a range of polishes,
waxes and clay bars that regularly win product tests. As Dave suggested,
using a clay bar once in a while is worthwhile.


Personally, I'd steer clear of any machines: they're only really worth
the bother (and risk of damage) if the paint is in very poor condition
IMO.

In article ,
Brian Gaff wrote:
I wonder if car polish would be any good on a bath which has slightly
lost its lustre?

What is the bath made of? I assume plastic - but acrylic or fibreglass?

--
*On the other hand, you have different fingers*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

OP here -- thanks for all the responses -- very useful! (until Brian
swerved the thread into baths! I wouldn't polish a bath with car polish
Brian! Surely there are "proprietary products" for this?)

John

Another John wrote in news:lalaw44-
:

OP here -- thanks for all the responses -- very useful! (until Brian
swerved the thread into baths! I wouldn't polish a bath with car polish
Brian! Surely there are "proprietary products" for this?)

John


Bath is probably micro-pitted