Steam cleaners for wrap prep ?

[Peter Normington]

Steam cleaners for vehicle use are very expensive, and mainly only used for commercial vehicles nowadays, engine and chassis cleaning.
Pressure washers have generally replaced steam cleaners, but only really effective if used with the correct chemicals, and even then not any better than a bucket of hot water, soap, soft brush or sponge and a hose pipe.

Peter

[Derek Heron]

i agree with peter
we have a large pressure washer and even then you have to use a brush or sponge even with hot soapy water people think its like a magic wand.
we have also a small steam unit with attachments for cloth heads. for cleaning upholstery and have tried it for softening vinyl for removal.
with limited success.
for wrap prep we ask customers to have the vehicle washed prior to delivery . 👿
normally needs re washing so as peter comments hot soapy water no waxes and rinsed thoroughly with cold water.
we also finish with ipa.

derek

[Richard Martin]

If you want a perfectly clean area on bodywork you can try claying, it will remove all particles from the bodywork and even road tar leaving a perfectly clean area. Once washed takes around 10-15 to give a car a good going over with the clay. As for using sponges and brushes, that maybe ok on a commercial van/lorry but not on a pristine car as brushes and sponges trap grit which is a great way to leave someones car with swirl marks.

[Peter Normington]

quote Richard Martin:

If you want a perfectly clean area on bodywork you can try claying, it will remove all particles from the bodywork and even road tar leaving a perfectly clean area. Once washed takes around 10-15 to give a car a good going over with the clay. As for using sponges and brushes, that maybe ok on a commercial van/lorry but not on a pristine car as brushes and sponges trap grit which is a great way to leave someones car with swirl marks.

Richard, you have my attention, what is claying?
You mention swirl marks, my local BMW dealer prep cars, and black ones perfectly, after washing them, the polishing process is separate from washing, which removes all the "swirl marks"
if wrapping a car, the surface needs to be clean, not necessarily a mirror finish.

Peter

[Richard Martin]

I understand what your saying about polishing out the swirl marks but as they say prevention is better than cure, using a lambs wool mitt/microfirbe cloth is supposedly less harmful to the paintwork as it won’t hold grit on its surface like a sponge.

As for claying here is a guide that explains it better than I could. You’ll probably think what aload of old rubbish as it does sound far fetched, I thought the same, tried and I use it all the time now. When you wash a car and rub your palm over the bodywork you will still fell little bumps (bonded particles IIRC) once you clay and then run your hand over again its perfectly smooth. The clay goes a long way as well. I would also suggest you mix your fluid so you can make sure there is no wax in it, as long as the body work is well lubricated it goes well.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s … php?t=4829

[Peter Normington]

sounds like marketing bullsh1t to me, sorry but we are talking about prepping a surface for wrapping, not for appearance, clay cannot remove scratches that are already present in the paintwork, perhaps it just fills them in? explaining why it feels smooth?
there are a few experts on the boards regarding automotive finishes, who maybe can elaborate, better than I.
I am open to any suggested methods that cleans a surface quickly and economically, for applying vinyl to, if "claying" is the way to go I would welcome comments from others who have tried it

Mirofibre? most of the time it turns static after a few rubs, so attracts grit, well the stuff I have used does. most detailers would not use it

Peter

[Richard Martin]

Claying has nothing to do with removing scratches, it removes contaminates that have bonded with the paintwork. Surely the whole purpose to prepping for a wrap is to remove everything except the paint itself leaving a smooth, clean and contaminate free surface.
As for marketing bull maybe you should re-read that link I gave you as its on car detailing forum not a website selling automotive clay. It was posted by a user, no different to anyone posting on here telling you and explaining to you about a product they have used.

[Nicola McIntosh]

i have not tried claying but being a member of a mini club, the owners of the cars swear by it, best cleaning method around, and no doubt would give a perfect finish/solution to making sure the car was perfectly clean and ready for applying the graphics, just another clever cleaning product 😉

[Richard Martin]

quote Nicola McIntosh:

i have not tried claying but being a member of a mini club, the owners of the cars swear by it, best cleaning method around, and no doubt would give a perfect finish/solution to making sure the car was perfectly clean and ready for applying the graphics, just another proved method 😉

Claying is generally used in detailing cars and is used after washing and before waxing. I was merely suggesting using it for vehicle prep of vinyl graphics as it is one of the best methods to ensure a completely clean surface.

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote Richard Martin:

I was merely suggesting using it for vehicle prep of vinyl graphics as it is one of the best methods to ensure a completely clean surface.

me too 😀

[Peter Normington]

Sorry Martin
you did say prevention was better than cure for swirl marks,
having read the article you posted, it does sound like an advertisment for maguires products, but..
What is "clay" it sounds very similar to a product that has been used for years for prepping glass before applying gold leaf, name eludes me just now, but I’m sure someone will remind me,

Would it be cost, and time effective to prep a car for wrap this way?

Peter

[Peter Normington]

quote Nicola McIntosh:

i have not tried claying but being a member of a mini club, the owners of the cars swear by it, best cleaning method around, and no doubt would give a perfect finish/solution to making sure the car was perfectly clean and ready for applying the graphics, just another clever cleaning product 😉

give it a go then Nik, you Mini owners are all mad anyway 😀
let me know if it works

Peter

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote Peter Normington:

give it a go then Nik, you Mini owners are all mad anyway 😀
let me know if it works
Peter

oh don’t worry I will when I get my new porsche boxster *hair*

nik

[Peter Normington]

quote Nicola McIntosh:

quote Peter Normington:

give it a go then Nik, you Mini owners are all mad anyway 😀
let me know if it works
Peter

oh don’t worry I will when I get my new porsche boxster *hair*

nik

Nik Boxters are for girls….

Peter

[Richard Martin]

For that article they do use the megs products as a reference but you can buy other makes, as for the clay search on ebay for detailing clay and you can get it for under a tenner. A 50g bar has given me at least 10 uses, and if you store it in a clean bag it can be re-used. The detailing fluid they use can be bought but for prepping for graphics I wouldn’t use it as it may contain a wax. You can make your own solution using water and washing up liquid / IPA. Once you get used to using it and making sure you keep the car well lubricated you can do a car in under 15 mins as it is quick to use.

The glass stuff you mentioned is it jewelers Rouge?

As for swirl marks, again this product will not remove swirls, nor will cause them if used correctly. Its purely for cleaning in prep for waxing. My prevention better than cure comment is merely down to the fact that if I had a brand new car I would rather take care in the cleaning to avoid swirl marks rather than spend time covering them. I would have thought some people who have their cars wrapped are also expecting a bit of protection to the paint.

[Nicola McIntosh]

quote Peter Normington:

Nik Boxters are for girls….

exactly 😉

[Peter Normington]

No not Rouge,
its a form of soap, hard to get hold of nowadays, but does they same job as the "clay " you are talking about, Jill Beans will remind us, or one of the other traditional brushies on here
Peter

[Richard Martin]

It’ll be interesting to know and see how similar it is. If you get a chance though, next time you decide to give your car a good clean, give the clay ago i’m sure you’ll be surprised.

[Andy Gorman]

I have used clay on cars before. It removes any oxidised layer from the surface, as well as all the bonded bits and bobs of crud that accumulate. As has been said, if you run your hand over even a well washed car you will feel loads of tiny rough particles. Claying leaves it perfectly flat and smooth.

That said, I don’t think it is really necessary to clay a vehicle before wrapping. We are talking about the sort of contaminants that won’t be noticeable under a wrap.

[Lynn Normington]

Peter clean his own car 😛

Lynn

[Peter Normington]

so is "claying" a bit like using a fine compound? does it come in a tin, or can I just dig it up from my garden?
Peter

[Andy Gorman]

It’s like a big lump of blu-tak. You spray the lubricant onto the bodywork and then polish it with the clay.

[Gwaredd Steele]

Another vote for clay here. It’s amazing the amount of crud that comes off a freshly cleaned car.

It’s only any use prior to a good wax though – making the waxing job easier & making the finished job deeper. shinier & longer lasting.

For general vinyl work or wrapping, I’d say it was an unnecessary waste of time, effort & money – unless you’re wrapping a Bugatti Veyron in chrome that is.

[OwenTaylor]

I have recently done a few stripe kits for a local car parts shop. I designed the stripes to run along the bottom of the doors, just above the sills. This area is prone to being covered in road tar, which was present even after a good washing (with my lambswool mit) and wiping down with IPA. The lumps of tar will be clearly visible as bumps in the final finish of the vinyl stripes, so I chose to remove it.

I went and bought half a litre of meguiars bug and tar remover. Spray it on, leave for 5 mins then wash off with soapy water. The tar spots simply disintegrate. I think this would be more than adequate for vehicle wrap preparation.

[Andrew Bennett]

Coincidence?
Within hours of this thread starting Spandex sent me an e-mail for their Image Perfect Fluid Kit.

Try the new ImagePerfectTM Fluid Kit for only …..
Our environmentally friendly ImagePerfectTM fluids are perfect to prepare surfaces, remove adhesive residue, clean vinyl (car wrapping) & banners and facillitate the wet application of vinyl. All in one kit with 4 handy spray bottles, we can’t make it easier!

[Jason Xuereb]

Were like Owen. We use Autoglym Power max 3. Spray it on for 5 minutes wash it off. Gets most stuff off the car.

[Neil Davey]

quote OwenTaylor:

I went and bought half a litre of meguiars bug and tar remover. Spray it on, leave for 5 mins then wash off with soapy water. The tar spots simply disintegrate. I think this would be more than adequate for vehicle wrap preparation.

White Spirit will remove / dissolve tar spots.

Much cheaper than Meguiars whatchamacallit. 😀

[OwenTaylor]

Thanks I might use that tip – although I doubt my customers would be happy watching me rub their vehicles down with white spirit! I’ll have to remove the label 🙂

[Steve McAdie]

I use Autosmart tardis removes tar and glue, diesel will also remove tar.

Steve