I personally came across few detailing products so wish I could share some of my experiences here. Maintaining glossiness and out of showroom finish for a bike or a car is really a tough job, but people who are really crazy like me for their rides will definitely spend some quality time to make it look like brand new all the time. Sometimes many may prefer to take their bike or car to some car and bike detailing centers to maintain its look. It may help, but the prices are really high when its done under ASC or detailing centers like 3M car care.This ain't a tedious job if you follow these simple steps. I hope this will definitely help you to look your ride brand new without putting hole in your pocket. For normal clean and shine process everyone can do their bit.
Even I had few experiences of taking my girl to a polishing shop before getting some knowledge about the detailing process, but now I am doing it myself with few simple products.
All detailing process requires few basic things. A good pressurized water wash to remove all dust and debris, the next step is polishing and waxing, and the third one is sealing the paint.
First I used Vista wax spray polish. It was good especially removing some tough stains but it doesn't last long and prone to catch many dust and dirt again. It also creates some patches in visor and tail plastics.
Many brands are available in the market like Formula1, Automax, Vista, Motomax, Waxpol, Wruth etc. So it depends what kind of product is good for your ride. I paid nearly 400 bucks for getting a water wash and polishing in a polishing studio, which made me to get second thought for the price I paid.
First I used Vista wax spray polish. It was good especially removing some tough stains but it doesn't last long and prone to catch many dust and dirt again. It also creates some patches in visor and tail plastics.
Many brands are available in the market like Formula1, Automax, Vista, Motomax, Waxpol, Wruth etc. So it depends what kind of product is good for your ride. I paid nearly 400 bucks for getting a water wash and polishing in a polishing studio, which made me to get second thought for the price I paid.
All you have to get is a good car wash shampoo of your desired brand like Sonex, Amway car wash, which may cost some few hundreds. Don't use harsh chemical based shampoos and detergents powders as it may damage the clear coat paint.
After that get a polish like Motomax wax polish, Amway silicone glaze or as of your choice. I personally feel silicone glaze is doing good since I am using it for the past few months. The results are really amazing when compared to vista which I used previously. Then try to get a microfibre cloth.
The third thing is get a good paint sealent compound which is avaiable in motomax. You can also use carnuaba wax which is available under
different brands. It helps to protect and seal the paint and improves
UV protection and water beading abilities. By doing this you can make the polished finish to last longer for even more than a month.
Okay lets start the process,
* First a good clean water wash. Don't apply car wash shampoo directly instead dilute it and dip a cloth and apply all over your ride. Then with a help of pressurized water hose clean it well.
* If you have a nearby water wash shop, you can get it done there if you don't have a provision of pressurized water hose pipe. If its a bike make sure to use compressed air hose to remove water droplets from switch controls and connector points after water wash is done.
* After this allow your ride to dry completely, wipe with a clean dry cloth.
* After this apply the polish. Always use a microfiber cloth to prevent scratches while polishing. If you are using a spray polish spray directly over the parts or spray into a cloth and wipe it well, While using a wax polish take a desired quantity and apply evenly.
You need to buff hard with a cloth once it turns into a white haze. Hence spray polish containing silicone is easy to use when compared to wax polishes but its very slippery so don't use in steering wheel or other control levers.
You need to buff hard with a cloth once it turns into a white haze. Hence spray polish containing silicone is easy to use when compared to wax polishes but its very slippery so don't use in steering wheel or other control levers.
*After that buff wit a soft cloth or a buffing machine (if you have one) to get a glossy finish.After that use a paint sealent to maintain the finish for longer time. Dont use the same polish for the interiors too. For interiors like dashboard of cars use dashboard polish and for leathers use leather polish which is available in the market.
For tyre dressing you can use normal car shampoo if you can spend more you can get bumper black polish for black bumpers in cars and rear fenders of bikes which can be also used for tyres.
That's all folks. You need a little homework and one time investment for the products you bought which may lasts nearly a year depending on usage.
For minor scratches get a rubbing compound and apply it in scratched part buff it well wit soft cloth. Motomax rubbing compound or 3M finish compound are few good products.
Get WD40 spray and spray it on all bolts and fasteners to prevent rusting. This product is really awesome but its bit pricy. A small can costs 100 bucks but its really worthy. You can also use ordinary kerosene filled up in spray bottle if you can't afford to buy one. Be careful not to spray in painted surfaces
For bikes from Royal Enfield stable rusting of chrome parts is an usual phenomena. You can use WD 40 spray once after washing your bike. Get Brasso polish (costs 64 Rs) which polishes all chrome and metal parts easily, so that you can restore the shine back. you can also use other chrome polishes.
If you need more detailing like UV protection, paint protection coating film, under body treatment for cars, rust removal then seek the help of professional.