First time detailing

[dakarwu]

I am going to tackle my first try detailing this weekend and want to know if these steps are correct. Also what do I do about rock chips? Do I tape them off, avoid them, or just polish over it? Do I treat the carbon roof the same as the rest of the car? My steps are below and using a torq22d:

Wash
Ironx
Clay
Ultimate compound - orange hex pad
Ultimate polish - black hex pad
Carpro Eraser
Cquartz UK
Carpro Reload

[dparm]

Originally Posted by dakarwu

Do I treat the carbon roof the same as the rest of the car?

Yeah, pretty much. It's clearcoated so you care for it the same way as paint.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dakarwu

I am going to tackle my first try detailing this weekend and want to know if these steps are correct. Also what do I do about rock chips? Do I tape them off, avoid them, or just polish over it? Do I treat the carbon roof the same as the rest of the car? My steps are below and using a torq22d:

Wash
Ironx
Clay
Ultimate compound - orange hex pad
Ultimate polish - black hex pad
Carpro Eraser
Cquartz UK
Carpro Reload

Just polish over the chips, though fixing them first, letting them cure for a few months, then doing all this might be a better idea.

Do you have a lot of RIDS (randomly induced deep scratches)? If no, you may just want to polish and see if that's enough. Always use the mildest polish possible to fix the issue.

I like Cquartz. Just watch the vids online so you know what to do prior to putting it on the car.

Is car pro eraser an oil remover? I just use isopropyl alcohol to take the fillers and oils from the polish off prior to putting the ceramic coating on.

Reload is a refresher for the coating. Not sure you'll need it right after the coating is installed.

[dakarwu]

Originally Posted by admranger

Just polish over the chips, though fixing them first, letting them cure for a few months, then doing all this might be a better idea.

Do you have a lot of RIDS (randomly induced deep scratches)? If no, you may just want to polish and see if that's enough. Always use the mildest polish possible to fix the issue.

I like Cquartz. Just watch the vids online so you know what to do prior to putting it on the car.

Is car pro eraser an oil remover? I just use isopropyl alcohol to take the fillers and oils from the polish off prior to putting the ceramic coating on.

Reload is a refresher for the coating. Not sure you'll need it right after the coating is installed.

I don't have any RIDS that I have noticed and the rock chips are small. I just read on the forums about white specs forming over the rock chips and I want to avoid that.

I can see a lot of micro scratches and swirls on the hood and want to get rid of all of it. Maybe I should skip the compound or maybe just use swirlx?

[admranger]

Originally Posted by dakarwu

I don't have any RIDS that I have noticed and the rock chips are small. I just read on the forums about white specs forming over the rock chips and I want to avoid that.

I can see a lot of micro scratches and swirls on the hood and want to get rid of all of it. Maybe I should skip the compound or maybe just use swirlx?

Try the mildest polish you have on a section and see if the results are good. might take two attempts but if it takes less paint off the car then that's better than taking more paint.

[Detailers Domain]

get some photos of those imperfections up. it would be much easier to help you out.