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I have gotten to the point where I dont worry about it much. I alway say "If you wash and detail your bike, youll know where very scratch is..." also if you ride it there will be scratches jus moving through the air is abrasive in a small minuscule way. The only way for it not to be scratched is to no t ride it. Ya have to pick your poison. I once saw a totally ratted out shovelhead FLH in Alaska, and the bike really had character you could tell it has been ridden and if it could talk it would have stories, saving them and keeping them nice for the next guy is futile I think. Ive done it with guitars and my sister in law once said about one of my Strats" you should play it someone else is going to get a nice vintage guitar one day...
Air is abrasive? LMAO! Riding / relative wind, will scratch your bike? Even better! Yeah, what I want is a ratted out 30k bike that looks like ****! No thanks. Hey, why not scratch my car all up so it looks cool? What planet are you from?
Last edited by sixgun95; Mar 10, 2022 at 07:15 PM.
Ive been detailing cars for 20 years and never had to use clay to get imbedded dirt off the paint
Clay does nothing for swirls except improving the chance of more. Only clay after doing the baggie test and determining that the paint needs it. If you need to clay then you need to IronX. Imbedded iron in the paint will be broken off with clay, well the iron is still there. This is why you do the baggie test, then iron x, baggie test, clay.
If you clay, you should always follow with a polish.
Clay is a prep for that removes surface contaminants. Do this so you are not wasting your time detailing - paint will be smooth as glass. Its Step 1 in a paint correction. IMO rarely needed on a motorcycle unless you leave your bike outside or simply let it go and decide to fix it. Nothing like a finely detailed bike, can be done in a few short hours.
Clay is a prep for that removes surface contaminants. Do this so you are not wasting your time detailing - paint will be smooth as glass. Its Step 1 in a paint correction. IMO rarely needed on a motorcycle unless you leave your bike outside or simply let it go and decide to fix it. Nothing like a finely detailed bike, can be done in a few short hours.
Like I said, I never clayed paint and removed dirt. Actually, washing the vehicle is step one. Iron x is step 2. Ever use Iron X???
I dont use clay anymore, a clay mitt. Much faster then clay and if Im using that, Im breaking out the 3401 on the paint
swirls are caused by washing and drying. use a good wash mitt, not a sponge, car wash soap, good quality microfiber towels, and don't press hard. I machine polish to get out the swirls, I have not had much success hand polishing.
What machine do you use, which foam pad and polish?
I've bought a lot of stuff from these guys. They have some great info and products. The product reviews and tips from the pros really help. https://www.detailedimage.com/
Just a little polish annndddd it's instantly dusty again
I use a Griot's G8 3" random orbital polisher, "Buff and Shine" yellow and white polishing pads, Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover and Wolfgang Finishing Glaze (which is a polish, not a glaze). I like Griot's 3" orange pads and gray finishing pads also, the 1" thick ones, not the thinner Boss pads. My bike is a 2020 Street Glide. The Yellow B&S pad, or Griot's orange pad with the Swirl Remover gets out the swirls with just a few passes. I keep the machine moving so it doesn't stall, speed setting 5 or just under. I move much faster than what is shown on videos on Autogeek etc.
I also have swirls. I know that I caused them by using the HD detailer to get the finger prints and dust off. I always use fresh microfiber towel that is clean. Bike would look really nice, but not perfect if you look in the direct sunlight. This year, I think I will stop doing the dry detailing spray thing.
I do use two bucket technique with grit screens in both of them and I have a microfiber mitt. Once all clean, I use leaf blower to dry the bike off.
The bike bike looks freaking awesome when super clean and polished. I love it how it looks almost like a mirror when it's freshly detailed and the sun just bounces off. Then, 30 minutes later, she is ready for a new wash again lol
I also have swirls. I know that I caused them by using the HD detailer to get the finger prints and dust off. I always use fresh microfiber towel that is clean. Bike would look really nice, but not perfect if you look in the direct sunlight. This year, I think I will stop doing the dry detailing spray thing.
I do use two bucket technique with grit screens in both of them and I have a microfiber mitt. Once all clean, I use leaf blower to dry the bike off.
The bike bike looks freaking awesome when super clean and polished. I love it how it looks almost like a mirror when it's freshly detailed and the sun just bounces off. Then, 30 minutes later, she is ready for a new wash again lol
you found it I use it as a rinseless wash at 10:1
if I use as a QD I do 15:1 .. but Ill be honest I usually just grab an already made 10:1 bottle bikes arent that big and a good grabby mf finishes it just fine
also good chems and technique dont push or press too hard when using an mf theyll mar a surface too let your chems and a grabby mf do the work
Last edited by CaffeineBuzz; Mar 13, 2022 at 08:33 AM.
if I use as a QD I do 15:1 .. but Ill be honest I usually just grab an already made 10:1 bottle bikes arent that big and a good grabby mf finishes it just fine
also good chems and technique dont push or press too hard when using an mf theyll mar a surface too let your chems and a grabby mf do the work
Great. Bought some. Thank you sir.
From what I am reading, I can use this as a wash soap and detailer too?
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