Time for me to learn and get some results

[CarlW]

Sorted myself a shopping list out on CleanYourCar;

3M 3434 Masking Tape
Snow Foam Lance Connection Type Karcher fitting
Bilt Hamber - Auto Clay Medium (200g)
DAS-6 PRO - Meguiars & Chemical Guys Kit - Comes with one orange and white pad along with M105 & M205
Collinite 476s - Super Double Coat Wax - 18fl.oz
Chemical Guys - Black 5.5" Hex-Logic Pad
Kleen Freaks Shampoo
Monster Microfiber Borderless - Purple Monster Pkg/3
Envy Detail Brushes
EZ Wheel Brush
Tyre Shine Gel
Microfiber Applicators X2
Valet Pro - Citrus Pre Wash
Zaino Z-6 Detail / Enhancer Spray

Things I'm waiting for them to restock:
CarPro Eraser - Intense Oil and Polish Cleanser 500ml Bottle - Out of order at the moment
Iron-X - Out of order at the moment
Lambswool Wash Mitt X2 - Out of order at the moment
AutoSmart Tardis

This has now been edited and is pretty much a full list of what any other beginners are gong to need to do a full detail as explained and shown in XJay1337's Guide.
You may buy the same products as i have or you may swap out some products for other products or you may not buy everything i have but i'd say this is a good list for anyone and everyone to work off. It's a little over £300 but if you can think of it as £300 well spent then great .get it ordered

[xjay1337]

Buy some wheel woolies or an E Z Detail Brush for doing the barrels of the wheel.

[CarlW]

Will add that to my list

[CarlW]

Right chaps.

i was a bit stuck about the whole "Pre-wash", "Snowfoam", "Shampoo" part of the washing your car as many people often do and ask. I didn't know what was before what and was slightly thrown off and confused by all the terms and names as in a lot of places i've read the term "snow foam" tends to cover all three terms above so i asked "StealthWolf" to make sure i was thinking right and this was his answer below;

Pre-wash = something to soak the car before washing it. Think of it like soaking dishes in the sink overnight so it's easier to clean in the morning. The entire idea of detailing is to minimise the damage you inflict on the paintwork through washing.

You can have citrus degreasers and the like as a pre-wash and can be sprayed on to the car manually (eg weedkiller sprayer). Or you can have snowfoam (via a lance). Do either one and do it on a dry car. Leave for say 5 mins (longer in winter, shorter in summer). Then rinse off using a lance. Some people aim for the perfect "touchless" wash using this method. It doesn't exist. There will always be some dirt on the car that can only be removed by the mechanical action of a wash mitt etc.

So if your a beginner like me and you've started collecting a shopping list together and your not sure what the difference between pre-wash and snow foam and shampooing is.. this is basically it in short, simple terms:

1. Cover car with your pre wash solution (so this would be your Valet Pro - Citrus Pre-Wash or something along them lines) and then leave for 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Then rinse the car
3. Then wash your car using your choice of shampoo (Autoglym Shampoo & Conditioner or likewise) and the 2 bucket method.
4. Rinse car.
5. Whatever you had planned next; Refer to XJay1337's helpful guide for further steps if you don't already know..

Hope this helps anyone else that has had slight trouble understanding this part of washing your car.

[Chris92]

Then for step 5 I'd quickly dry then use iron x, rinse then clay the car before you start polishing. You don't use a clay bar and iron x every time you wash just do it say twice a year (depending where you live). Eg. I'm looking to polish and wax twice a year (il see how it goes maybes more as I'm new to this to kind of) then inbetween just snow foam and 2bm and sometimes a spray to top the wax up, every time I polish and wax I will use iron x and a clay bar before polishing.

I haven't read all of this thread but I didn't see iron x in your shopping list so throught I would add and try and spend more of your money   hope this helps if you haven't covered it  

[CarlW]

It's there Just underneath the shopping list you will see:

Things I'm waiting for them to restock:
CarPro Eraser - Intense Oil and Polish Cleanser 500ml Bottle - Out of order at the moment
Iron-X - Out of order at the moment
Lambswool Wash Mitt X2 - Out of order at the moment
AutoSmart Tardis

[Chris92]

So it is haha sorry about that 

[CarlW]

Am i right in saying that CarPro - TRIX Iron and Tar Remover is a replacement or a newer model of Iron-X? Been waiting for a re-stock but it doesn't seem to be happening.

Thanks

[Harz]

Am i right in saying that CarPro - TRIX Iron and Tar Remover is a replacement or a newer model of Iron-X? Been waiting for a re-stock but it doesn't seem to be happening.

Thanks

I haven't used it, but it's a 2 in 1 product. Heard that it isn't as good as using 2 dedicated products, but as I say I haven't tried it...

[Chris92]

No it's not a replacement just a 2in 1 product. Are you buying your gear from cleanyourcar? If so I'm to wanting some iron x and I'm sick of waiting I've ran out, they never seem to have any stock of the 1 litre iron x either

[CarlW]

Yes haha.. I've been waiting ever since i posted this thread and keep looking and looking but they must be waiting for stock or just slow maybe? Who knows? i'll just wait until they have in stock what i need then hopefully stick my order in.. Wouldn't mind a little discount or something like.. Bill is towards £350! so far after getting everything

[CarlW]

Right guys,

Instead of waiting for the Iron-X product to be restocked i've kind of gave up on waiting and tempted to go for the Valet Pro Dragons Breath product as it seems to be or do exactly the same as what Iron-X would do.

Correct me if I'm wrong..

Just wondered if any of you guys had used this along side the Iron-X and just after some opinions.. Is it safe to use on the body paint of the car like you would do with Iron-X?

[xjay1337]

Iron X is the original and best product to use for Iron Contamination removal.

I would, to be honest, buy the essentials to get by. "all the gear and no idea" springs to mind - not an insult at all but trying to help you by now learning to run before you can walk

Any iron fall out removal product for the car market is safe to use on paint...this is usually stated on the product descriptoin.
Trix is crap. Buy Tardis for Tar and iron x for iron.

[stealthwolf]

I bought Trix and wished I hadn't. Not as effective as tardis and iron-x separately.

Although at the moment I need something stronger than iron-x. It's taken three rounds and the front wheels are still mucky (ran around with worn inner brake pads).