Detailing sucks!

[TravisT]

Do any of you spend the better part of a day detailing your ride, and see improvements while you're working, then step back and not be able to tell much of a difference? More times than not, I feel like this each and every time I detail my cars. I am by no means an expert detailer (obviously), but I think I can hold my own.

Hopefully I'm not the only one that feels this way. With that said, I like my ride looking good, so I'm sure I'll keep at it.

 

[2Dragons]

I don't feel like there is no improvement but after I detailed my car and it rains the next day---now that really sucks!

 

[TravisT]

Yea that sucks too. I can't say there's no improvement, but I always see something that was missed when I'm done

 

[K.C.]

Sometimes you won't notice it...but you will in the long run.

Because you are protecting the paint & prolonging the shine.

Whereas old cars have faded paint.

 

[Uneek]

Dark colors will look the best. If you apply products like 303 Aerospace the black trim parts, it will look a lot better.

I prefer to go with long lasting sealants for the paint, so this way I only need to go with an all out detail twice year.

The other best part of wasting your entire day on the detail is birds will only poop on your car when it's all clean and parking in an area with trees, it'll last all of two days before it looks like crap again.

 

[99blackSE]

Sometimes you have to look at it in the proper light...

Or if looking at the exterior try and look at differences in sharpness, depth, colour, etc.

Below was one pass on the hood an Olds Eighty Eight with Menzerna IP and an orange pad. Notice the change in sharpness and depth?

What part of the vehicle is there no perceived difference in?

 

[TravisT]

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions. I guess my expectations are unrealistic. I wish I could have a show quality car, but I realize that won't happen with something that my wife and I haul the kids around in.

@99blackse: Nice work on the black car with swirl marks. I just always see more imperfections when I'm done (even if I've made improvements overall). Just seems like a waste sometimes when I spend the better part of a day detailing and then see swirl marks or scratches when I step back to admire my work.

Maybe I need to invest in some better lighting. Most of the time I'm working outside, but I have pretty good lighting in my garage. I may try detailing inside next time.

The other best part of wasting your entire day on the detail is birds will only poop on your car when it's all clean and parking in an area with trees, it'll last all of two days before it looks like crap again.

So true, but I will wash my car before it rains. It will still be less dirty after it rains than before.

Even though I feel like I waste my day sometimes, I know that I'm doing some good, and I'll keep at it because of this.

 

[Mpac1]

What did you use in the top photos to remove the scratches? (99blackSE)

Got a surface just like that on another car I need to remove.

Thanks

 

[99blackSE]

What did you use in the top photos to remove the scratches? (99blackSE)

Got a surface just like that on another car I need to remove.

Thanks

A lot of time, Porter Cable 7424 with 4 inch LC pads (yellow for cutting, white for polishing) and some Menzerna SIP mixed with Optimum Compound and Menzerna 106FF. Nowadays I'd just use M105 and M205.

 

[Mpac1]

Many thanks....know what lies ahead of me!