Self Detailing

ja786 said:

I have a lp560 in metallic black and was curious as to what I would need to get a good detail, clay bars for the wax, tire dressing, etc. Its something I want to do for more of meditation purposes and was curious what products would be good to use and that would not wear down on the leather interior etc. Any help you guys can give would be great!

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The clay bar is mainly used to remove surface defects from the paint (like tree sap) and is one of the methods to create a smooth/slick finish, and we follow clay bar application with a machine polish (Menzerna PO106FA) and wax, to create a defect free finish with maximum depth. You don't want to apply any pressure on the clay bar with the lubricant, as the clay itself will pick up the contaminants, and the clay bar can introduce light scratches on the clear coat when rubbing the contaminants against the paint. Fold the clay bar over itself constantly, to keep the trash inside, and immediately discard the bar if you drop it. If you maintain your paint, you won't see too much need to use it.

A two bucket wash method with grit guard is encouraged, and make sure you have plenty of lather to help carry away the dirt from the paint. A black paintjob is the most unforgiving, so extra care needs to be taken when touching the paint (washing and drying). Here at the shop, we use a blower to dry the cars after washing, and follow up with a finishing spray/microfiber combo to remove the last bit of water.

I'm partial to the Pinnacle Souveran and Wolfgang Fuzion waxes, and we do machine polishing when necessary on our shop car, to create a defect free finish. We aren't too keen on using tire dressing, as it will fling off and stick to the paint, so if we apply any, it's very light, and it is wiped off completely afterwards, just to give the sidewall that newer look.

We have heard great things about Leatherique, but we haven't used it yet, so I can't comment on it. I would recommend doing a test spot regardless of what you decide, as the dyes may react differently.

Here are a few links to the products we recommend:

Grit Guard:
Professional Grit Guard, grit guard insert, car wash grid

Fuzion Wax (sometimes on sale for under $100):
Wolfgang Fuzion Estate Car Wax contains real carnauba wax and paint sealant polymers to protect paint. ultimate show car wax, auto wax, paste wax,

Menzerna Polish for use with a buffer, if you have the experience to do it:
Menzerna Nano Polish, Mernzerna 106FF, Menzerna po106, Mernzerna polish

There are a ton of detail oriented sites, that should help you achieve the results you are looking for. Good luck!