admin - Part 25

Washing Equipment Advice for When Storing Your Car

So you would like to wash your car but you would like to do this ‘properly’. Finding that old sponge or chamois may not be the only things you need to replace. Here we look at finding that balance between what the professionals can afford and what equipment makes good practice to use at home. The final finish product of Fineshinedetailing.com.au car paint protection Melbourne is the same from the start you bought your car.

Car Wash Equipment:

1 x Pressure washer is strongly advisable but not essential, if you are keen about washing your car. These enable loose debris to be rinsed from the vehicle effectively under pressure before washing by hand. Machines can be either ‘cold’ pressurising water at the same temperature as the intake, or ‘hot’ where the water is heated in a boiler within the machine before being pressurised. Like washing your dishes at home a little warmth in the water not only makes the cleaning task much more effective it makes it a more pleasurable task. Hot washers can heat water to well over 100 degC, however we recommend that 45 degC is a good, safe temperature. This is warm enough to soften grime and remove debris safely, any warmer than this and there is the risk of damaging the paint finish on your pride and joy. You have been warned! In terms of price cold are relatively cheap at 100 – 500 and hot washers are usually 1000 – 2000.

2 x Lambs wool wash mitts. A typical yellow sponge can trap dirt and grit between the paintwork and sponge, scratching your paintwork in the process. We use and recommend using a Lambs wool wash mitt. These allow dirt particles to be drawn into the deep pile away from the painted surfaces being washed. Since this is not matted wool, the dirt easily rinses out of the mitt. The thick pile holds a tremendous amount of soapy water to lubricate and protect the paint from potential swirls. Used with any high lubricity car wash, a genuine Lambs wool wash mitt will provide a safe, gentle wash on any vehicle. A product we use on a daily basis. They can come in all different manner of materials from cotton and synthetic blends to lambs wool and beyond. We would recommend Lambs wool. We recommend using two mitts, one purely for the upper body and the second only for the really grimy/gritty jobs such as sills and lower sections of the vehicle.

2 x Good sized, deep buckets. One for wash suds and the second for rinse. Rinsing the wash mitt in the second ‘rinse’ bucket will remove any grit particles which have been drawn into the deep pile of your wash mitt, rather than simply dragging it all over your vehicle – try it and you will surprised at the difference in water colour of the two buckets at the end! Translucent buckets are best so that any dirt can be easily seen in the rinse bucket. Grit guards are for the real connoisseur where a specialist ‘mesh’ can be inserted in the bottom of both buckets to allow any grit to sink into a baffled section, thus preventing it being drawn back onto the wash mitt.

2 x Wheel brushes (1 x large, 1 x small). Most cars nowadays have alloy wheels making the car look great when clean. They can provide a slight nuisance when removing brake dust but it is not impossible. Two good quality wheel brushes in varied sizes will achieve good results, a large one for the main face and a smaller thinner type for between the spokes and back of the wheel. Do not be tempted to use your wash mitt on your wheels, unless you buy a dedicated one to only use on your wheels. My advised approach is to use four wheel brushes to achieve the best results as all of them have their uniqueness in size, shape and softness depending on the wheel type you are working with.

1 x Good quality drying towel. Drying your car after washing will leave it with a beautifully smear and spot free finish. Soft and ultra-deep pile are far more absorbent than a traditional leather, capable of absorbing many times their own weight in water. The ultra-soft fibers significantly reduce the risk of causing surface marring when a drying towel is drawn across painted surfaces, allowing any particles to be pulled away from the surface safely into the towel. A generous sized drying towel will allow you to dry most cars without needing to wring it out even once. These are machine washable for use safely time and time again.

Consumables

A good quality car wash ‘shampoo’ is the best thing for the paintwork. Do not be tempted to use household detergents as these will strip any protective coating from the paintwork and leave the bodywork unprotected. Most good car product brands will sell shampoo and conditioner; this is car shampoo with a simple rinse aid. These are safe to use on the bodywork, cleaning the surfaces gently without stripping wax or paint sealant.

Alloy wheel cleaner. If you regularly wash your vehicle a separate alloy wheel cleaner can be avoided altogether as any dirt on your wheels can be safely washed with car shampoo. However if your wheels have been left for a while between washes it may be time to invest in a good quality, dedicated wheel cleaner. These are better suited for removing baked on brake dust than car shampoo. The strongest wheel cleaners contain acid and whilst these do a great job at cleaning your wheels, as you can imagine are not going to be ‘good’ for your wheels in the long run. If you do decide to use a wheel cleaner look for a non-acid type which will be kinder to the surfaces of your wheels. Always read the label to ensure the product can be used with your wheel type.

Summary

All of the tools and products outlined above should be carried out by a car storage company on a daily basis. So many people simply don’t spend enough time or money investing the right tools for the job and believe a bucket, sponge and chamois are all they need. Whilst yes you can wash you car with these it will be hard work, not half as enjoyable and most importantly not ‘good’ for your car.

A car storage company should carefully wash and dry every car which comes into the car storage facility. This should ensure that any contaminants have been removed from the vehicle during the wash process and also gives us a good opportunity to inspect the condition of the vehicle fully.

Windrush Car Storage – http://www.windrushcarstorage.co.uk

Based in the heart of the Cotswolds, Windrush Car Storage specialise in the storage of all types of luxury and classic cars. As car enthusiasts ourselves who also have a great level of engineering expertise, we understand what is required to maintain and store a vehicle to the highest standards.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tim_Earnshaw/607930

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Benefits of Window Tinting – What You Should Know

A thin, sheet of film that is transparent is applied to your car’s windows in this simple procedure. There are many benefits of having your car or truck windows. The thickness of the film ranges from 0.001 to 0.004 inches and made of a different. Window tinting can also create hazards, especially for drivers at night. To ensure safety, many jurisdictions have enforced laws that are based on the darkness of the tinting films. For example, in Arkansas, the tint limit is twenty-five percent but in New Jersey, it is seventy-percent.

The three ways of window tinting include

• Film tinting-this is an inexpensive and simple way to tint your windows. The film applied to your window glass is found in different tints like metallic, mirrored, and flat. Some experts in the automotive field say this type of window tinting can help prevent the shattering of window glass in an auto accident. Although this may be true, it is generally helpful during the first months of applications. This is because the window tinting file can easily peel or crack.
• OEM tinted glass-with this type of window tinting the tint is added when the glass is prepared instead of applying it to the window. This type has a tint that is lighter and to replace it can be expensive.
• Coated tinting-in this technique a distinctive solution is applied to the window surface. It is often used as a spray. When tinting your windows this is the most effective way. It should only be done by an expert, as it is a difficult process to apply.

Benefits of window tinting

• Better driving-if the sun is in your face when driving it can be an annoyance but it can also be deadly. Having your windshield tinted will prevent glare from extreme sunlight and helps to shield your eyes.
• Privacy-not only does it offer some protection by preventing people from seeing in your car and it also protects things inside your car from being seen by others when you are not around. You will not need to store your valuables in the trunk to protect them from being stolen.
• Protects your car upholstery-UV rays and the heat from direct sunlight can help to keep the interior of your car from getting so hot that it cracks, fades, or warps your plastic dash and other plastic in your car. It also blocks as much as 90% of the harmful UV rays.
• Keeping cool—if you have the right window tinting you can help to reduce the heat inside of your car in the summer up to 60%.
• Staying healthy-window tinting can reduce the number of UV rays, which can cause skin cancer.

Car Body and Paint Repairs

Whether its ownership or the intention of boosting your car’s morale, one can make repairs to body and paint. For instance, a cracked or leaking window, a door does not close properly, the car’s fender was attacked by the garage, the car was whacked by a rock or a boulder or the interior has a tear or a cigarette burn. These and many others body and paint problems can be fixed by DIY style. New car paint protection process is not time consuming right now especially if the one working with your car is well experienced.

Tips for Your Car
– Here are some tips and guidelines for troubleshooting paint problems and automotive body;
– If the car was parked overnight in a violent neighborhood, it would probably need paint and body works.
– Prior to spending huge amount on a new paint, a little money can be spent on cleaners, polishes and rubbing compound just for seeing if grease are of any help to solve the problem.
– Anti-rust products such as naval jelly are really useful for removing and stopping rust. The manufacturer’s recommendations can be followed.
– The auto parts dealer has a lot of aftermarket car care products which are designed to give a good look to the car. In such cases, they can be availed and used on the car to give it a better look.

Knowing the kind of a Crack
Car windows are really superb. They are helpful in seeing ahead without the wind mussing your hair. They also keep the rain and snow from getting in the car. So the question is what one can do if the car window is leaked or cracked. They can be easily repaired by using products that can be bought auto parts dealers and even many super stores. Depending on what is being intended to be done, there also might be a need for one or two glass suction cups for lifting and positioning larger glass pieces.

For repairing a car window with simple tools, these simple steps can be followed:

1. First, the damage to the window has to be identified. In case it’s a small crack or chip, it can be repaired by using an automotive window repair kit. It is possible then the damage can be checked over a few days to know if it’s even or if it’s spreading. In case its spreading, then the repair kit might not be able to help in stopping the spread. A new glass would be required.

2. For repairing the glass, the instructions on the package of different window repair kits should be read. Some are for chips, some for cracks while others are for both. Look for the one that seems best to solve the problem. The manufacturer’s instructions can be followed. Some kits require the removal of rough corners from the chip, installing the retaining cup and then installing the filler into the chip. In case of glass scratches, a glass abrasive and cleaner can be applied, it is available from bigger auto retailers or glass shops.

3. For replacing the glass, it has to be figured first how it will be taken out. Even though it is shattered into countless pieces, the glass would have to be removed from the edges before installing a new one. For a door glass, the door panel has to be removed to access the mechanism that moves the window up and down. The glass is attached below. The front and rear window glass requires the trim and the rubber gasket to be removed. The rubber gasket has to be replaced with a new one as the new one is installed. The car manual will be of help for removing and replacing the glass.

4. For repairing a leaking window gasket, pour water on it for identifying how it is getting it. If it is penetrating through the gasket, a putty knife can be used to lift the gasket away from the glass and a little window sealer can be applied. The excess can be cleaned and dried and then retest and repeat as required.

Sagging Doors gives an Old Look to the Car
Few things are more frustrating than standing by the car door in rain and banging it close tightly.

For adjusting doors using the car care toolbox, follow the simple steps below:

1. Look for the door sag. Open the door and close it slowly just stopping as it is about to touch the latch. In case the door is too high or too low for the opening then lift the door from the bottom below the handle. In case the door moves too much before it moves, then open the door completely and check the hinges for loose bolts or noticeable movement in hinges. For moving the door up, down, forward and backward, the hinge bolts on the body has to be slightly loosen, the door has to be moved to the correct position and then the bolts have to be tightened. For moving the door in and out, the hinge bolts on the door has to be slightly loosened, the door has to be moved to the correct position and then the bolts have to be tightened.

2. Once the door the correctly aligned, the door latching has to be checked. The door has to be carefully closed to see how it catches. Either the latch or striker bolt on the door can be adjusted. By opening and closing the door carefully few times, it can be estimated how much adjustment is needed. For guidance, the relative positions of the latch and striker on the opposite door can be checked. Once the door is adjusted, small changes can be done in the alignment by adjusting the screws at the bottom and top but not both of them at the same time. Once the door latches well, the screws can be tightened well so that the latch stays in alignment.

3. The rubber seal around the door can be inspected for presence of cracks

Un-Denting Unavoidable Dents
Here is what one can do to remove body dents. Some specialized body tools might be needed for the following job. Follow these steps:

Look closely to observe the nature of the scratch, in case of deep damage, some metals might have to be moved.

Tools for body repair can be bought form an auto retailer. They can be slide, pick and bumping hammers, and a variety of dolleys.

To hammer a dent, hold the dolley on the back side of the dent and bang on the front side with hammer.

For pulling out a dent, a hole has to be drilled, screw the slide hammer into the hole and move the handle back and forth for pulling it out.

For filling holes and finishing the repairing dent, a grinder or file can be used for removing the paint from that part and then filler can be used to shape. Filler can be of plastic or lead, the brand name of a popular plastic filler product is called Banda.

Permanent Makeup
Once everything is done, you can choose your desired color to give your car a good makeup. Sprays and paint cans can be used for this purpose, they can be easily bought from the market and easily used on the car.

Also learn other methods of car body and paint repairs and car body and interior maintenance.

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