Hi all - I am taking delivery of a 1976 Auto tomorrow - in wonderful condition. I was wondering what the best products and techniques were for cleaning and polishing the bodywork? Chrome? Wheels etc. There's a lot of "classic car" products out there but I am not sure if they are good or not or where to start to be honest. Any good cleaning/polishing practice or experience you have had would be gratefully received. Thanks so much.
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Best practice for cleaning/polishing bodywork/chrome
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I fully expect loads of opinions to this thread, firstly decide on the results you want, amount of time and elbow grease you wish to put in, your budget for products and materials and if you can carry out valeting under cover. Lots of product manufacturers provide free detailing tuition online these cover techniques, materials and schedules of work. Be prepared to try different products to find those that suit you and your budget. Do research and try the suggestions you will get on here. My biggest suggestion is you get out the effort you put in.
Niall
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depends on what it is like when you start out.
if the chrome is starting to look tired and rust spots are starting to come through then not a lot beats a very fine steel wool.
Bodywork, you can go absolutely berserk and spend a small fortune on clays, cleansers and polishers.
However if like me - who hates washing cars - take it to some one who does or use a basic wax with the car wash bucket and sponge.Stags and Range Rover Classics - I must be a loony
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Two products (polish and wax) that I found to be really good, after using every thing under the Sun. Read the reviews for Halfords polish under " which polish " websites it came out tops.
I was really surprised that such a budget product could produce such excellent results. For wax, I found Meguiares Ultimate wax very easy to apply and buff off, almost too easy and the results were fantastic.
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Rather depends on the condition of the paint to start off with. A good test to see if it has gone slightly matt, or whether it's just general grime is a clay bar. I find they're really magic - steer well away from polishes with some abrasives in which claim all sorts to get the surface shiny again.
I find all the Meguiars products are really good and are now readily available (10 years or more ago it was rather a specialist stuff). I've got a cupboard fuill of AutoGlym stuff which I never touch anymore - exception is their vinyl/rubber care and car shampoo.
For the wax, I'm probably going to be hoo hah'd here, but after deeping deep into my pocket I bought wax from Swissvax. The shine is incredible, and it lasts really so long. I just washed the Stag after it's been stood in what is really a building site for 6 months as the house gets finished, and the shine after washing was still incredible. It is, however, really expensive.
If you have any real leather in the car from a previous upholstery upgrade, then Liquid Leather products are also fantastic - their leather cleaner works wonders.
DrewThe answer isn't 42, it's 1/137
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+1 for Meguiars products; much better than Autoglym.
If your chrome isn't rusty or pitted, steer clear of so-called chrome polish; it's far too abrasive. Wash the chrome bits as normal, then use the same wax or polish that you'd use on your paintwork. It also removes the 'bloom' from the areas around the exhaust pipes.
For crystal clear window glass, wipe both sides down with methylated spirits before using glass polish.
Dave
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Meths (Ethanol, ethyl alcohol) is really good for cleaning glass - especially greasy marks or fingerprints from people looking in to the car to see what a Stag looks like inside. Newspaper was the classic method, but different printing and paper manufacturing processes mean that it's sometimes hit and miss nowadays. Paper kitchen roll does the job well. To get the inside "fog" (Plastic chemicals leaching out) a good optical quality microfibre cloth is perfect (not the 5-for-the-price of 1 rags!) - especially needed in "moderns" due to the loads of plastic in the interior.The answer isn't 42, it's 1/137
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I have used Simoniz hard wax polish for many, many years. Put it on in a small area (1/4 to 1/2 the bonnet for example) using a very damp cloth and immediately polish it off again using a microfibre cloth. Once you get the technique of applying it, it is really easy and doesn't leave white residue. It is also good for protecting chrome. If chrome is tarnished rub it with scrumpled up aluminium kitchen foil then apply the hard wax. Stand back when it rains and watch the water just roll off! A couple of very old but well tried polishing methods!
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Originally posted by dasadrew View PostMeths (Ethanol, ethyl alcohol) is really good for cleaning glassRichard
Mabel is a white 1972 Mk1½, TV8, Mo/d.
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Something you did get in the 70s that you don't need to worry about now is loads of flies getting squashed on the windscreen. I seem to remember a cleaning product that specifically mentioned that it was good with squashed flies! Actually that is maybe something we should be worried about.
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Originally posted by dasadrew View PostMeths (Ethanol, ethyl alcohol) is really good for cleaning glass - especially greasy marks or fingerprints from people looking in to the car to see what a Stag looks like inside. Newspaper was the classic method, but different printing and paper manufacturing processes mean that it's sometimes hit and miss nowadays. Paper kitchen roll does the job well. To get the inside "fog" (Plastic chemicals leaching out) a good optical quality microfibre cloth is perfect (not the 5-for-the-price of 1 rags!) - especially needed in "moderns" due to the loads of plastic in the interior.
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Originally posted by Paulfrazer View PostSomething you did get in the 70s that you don't need to worry about now is loads of flies getting squashed on the windscreen.
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