OK, so I drive a 92 Honda Accord, and been hand washing it for the past 4 years I have owned it. Anyways, it is in need of a good detailing.

Another thing is, I never had this problem before, but all these little tree sap spots are everywhere, and they are nearly impossible to get off. I scrub really hard, but nothing aside from my fingernail or a credit card gets it off. Let me get a picture, that might help some.. Oh and, as I was scrubbing, something must of gotten into my mitt, such as a rock or something, and put nice new scratches in the paint! Oh no!!!

My paint is pretty decent. I use Meguiars (SP) Cleaners Wax by hand right now, and it does a decent job, but doesnt go all the way. I am thinking I need a good buffer.

I also have swirl marks, so with that good buffer, I will need a list of some good products to use.

To recap I need:
Something to remove those little sap spots.
A good buffer.
Some products to work with the buffer to bring that good paint back up and remove some of the swirls and scratches, as best it can.
Claybar? (I dont know about this, I have heard mixed results, might work since I never used one before, and, would the claybar remove those sap spots?)


Thanks for all the help, the next few posts will be pictures, i resized them to 640by480 to help out a little.

Pic one: My car, still has some shine to it, and the paint is recoverable. Yes it is all stock right now, havent had much money untill now to put money into it.

 

Sap spots I was talking about.

 

Nice little mark made on my car when I was away and my dad lent out my car.

 

The scratches I just put into my car today (read above)

 

Final picture here. Sorry I am showing this, but its the classic 90-93 rust spot. Does anyone have any suggestions on a cheap fix for this?

Thanks to all who replies to my posts here. I didnt know what forum to put it in, if someone knows a better one, please tell me, ill send a link to this.

 

claybar should help with the tree sap.
there is way to much info on buffers to list in a post.
here is a good place to buy
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/S...0c2+1058186817
Here are some good instructions
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums...1430487&page=1
if you have any specific questions about buffers I would ask at www.autopia.org, there are some real gurus on that board.

 

If you want a buffer, what inzdale said, coastal tool, get the 7424 and put the 6" counterweight on. Then go to topoftheline.com and get the 6" contoured plates. You can get 6 for $45 (yellow=heavy cut, white=light cut, black=applying wax). Now, the buffer isn't going to do much if you don't use the right products with it. I've had good luck with Mequiars DACP, but you have to work this until it powders, so basically you do a 3x3 area verticle, horizonal, then diagonal and start over until it breaks down and powders). You may want to use a very light rubbing compound for those scratches (that one on the back you may want to read autopia.orgs touch-up guide, it works good).

To get rid of the sap, get some clay bar. Do the whole car, don't skimp--you'll be happier. Clay magic blue bar is good, and relatively cheap, $10 at autozone. Uhm, remember to rinse your mit more often.

inzdale, howdy fellow autopian :wavey:

 

I definately reccomend searching around at Autopia.org and searching around through their forums. It's the greatest detailing site on the net. You'll learn so much there.

 

that's Dinzdale or Dinzy, glad to see some autopians that own Accords. If the car isn't fast, make it shine .

 

I'm convinced that I also have the shiniest black stratus...evAr.