Since the weather is getting nice, i am thinking about getting the cars looking nice.

I am very new to the whole detailing thing. The most i have done is wash my car, and use the turtle wax compound (and to me it looked great).

Could i get a list of the right process, and products to use. I am not going to enter any competitions or anything just want a nice shine that will last a little while. I would truely prefer to be able to do it all by hand and not use any machines if i can help it.

Most of what I know now has come from www.autopia.org Check them out, but be prepared to spend alot of time there.

Why do you not want to use a machine?

I've found that Gold class wax is REALLY nice wax. Goes on easy, comes off without to much dust, and leaves a FANTASTIC shine. And it lasts for months. I was still beading water after winter driving. You should be able to find it and most auto places like advanced auto.

Here'* the short version of my process:

-Clean inside first so you don't mess up your nicely detailed exterior while doing stuff. Use a traffic lane cleaner sprayed on the carpets, worked in with a mild brush, rinse with water and vacuum. Clean seats with a leather cleaner/conditioner. Wipe down plastics and vinyl with a protectant.
-Every so often clean the engine. I get a little nervous about this one, so I've only done it a few times, but I sprayed it with degreaser, let it sit, then lightly hosed it off while the engine is running.
-Prerinse the car
-Wash using two buckets, one for soap and one with just water to clean out the mitt before putting it back in the soap bucket. Right now I like the grout sponge for washing as it holds water well. Sheepskins are also good. Start at the top and work down. And don't use a lot of pressure.
-After I finish I take the nozzle off the hose to "sheet" the water. With a good coat of wax the water will run right off leaving less water to dry. Then I hit the car with the leaf blower to remove more water. Then blot the car with a waffle weave microfiber towel.
-Clay if needed.
-Polish if needed.
-Coat with wax or sealant twice, this includes wheels. If using a sealant you need to wait 24 hours between typically. You can use a glaze prior to waxing to help fill in scratches and add gloss, but sealants typically won't bond to a glaze.
-Clean windows.
-Dress tires and any exterior plastic.

I don't have a lot of experience yet with products, but these are the ones I'm using:
Meguiars leather cleaner/conditioner
303 Protectant (for interior plastic and vinyl)
Zep Traffic Lane Cleaner
Zep Citrus Degreaser (for any other interior cleaning and engine)
Duragloss 901 Car Wash (mmm, smells good and suds great)
P21S Wheel Gel (for really bad brake dust)
Invisible Glass for windows
Pretty much any clay though I did have a bad experience with Clay Magic on my black car the last time as it was too aggressive.
Menzerna Super Intensive Polish for heavier cutting
Menzerna Micro Polish for light polishing
Collinite 845 liquid wax (looks nice, and very durable lasting 5+ months)
Nattys Blue paste wax (good for dark colors, little durability)
XMT Glaze
Danase microfiber towels
Home Depot Grout sponge
Schmitt wash mitt
Walmart Eurow Sheepskin
Meguiars Hot Shine tire spray (looking for a better one as it only does like 6 cars)

Some new products I'll be trying:
Danase Wet Glaze (supposed to look great and able to be used under sealants)
Danase Sealant
Clearkote Carnauba Moose Wax (supposed to look great on dark cars and has good durability)

Ok, i will check it out and start really researching the subject. I guess i dont mind using a machine, it is just new to me and i dont want to mess up my paint, but i have spare parts (fenders ect) to practice on

Grimm,
That is great information and exactly what i was looking for. I kinda wasnt sure of what to do as a process (washing, polishing, waxing ect). I appriaciate the info alot, and any more info from anyone.

Products reviews and what not would be great also.

My cars i will be doing first will be red and black if that helps. I know i have read alot about people using different stuff for black cars because some stuff doesnt work as well on it

Doing more research i found a thrend and it got me thinking

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...85&highlight=A

After doing some reading do you guys think it would be a good idea to go the mothers route?

Wash it

Claybar it

Then go through the mothers 3 steps


Does that sound like a good idea? Would that give it atleast a good shine?

Never used the Mother'* 3 step hand polish but I've used Meg'*. I can recommend it. For an inexpensive OTC product, it has good results. Beware that it is physically demanding though. The results still won't touch machine results and your hand/wrist/arm will be beat for a day or two. Check out Crash'* current thread. Everything I recommended to him I would recommend to you as well. It is the process I am currently using on my car and I am very pleased. If you get a ROB(Random Orbital Buffer) you won't burn the paint so don't concern yourself with that.

Mothers probably has the best system you can buy at the auto part stores like AutoZone and such.

Most rate Mothers products at the toip of the "C" tier which basically means over the counter. Mothers is a first class system. I used them from about 1978 till 2001. Prior to Mothers I used a Blue Coral 2 step system that went off the market. It was a nice system.

When you go above Mothers you are looking at additional expense and porducts that really need to be applied by a machine to work at thier best.

If you will be at NEBF we can hook you up for a machine polish then you can apply the wax of your choice.

Alright, more good info. Thanx guys

Yea, i will be at NEBF. Sounds like a good plan.