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Post by floog on Apr 5, 2006 6:51:50 GMT
I am a sad old git who often spends long periods in the garage with a cup of tea, an array of soft dusters and the inclination to polish my Rex to within an inch of her life! Have tried numerous polish products and love AutoGlym but......for the past several years I've found, for me, the perfect polish. My bikes always look pristine and shiny and always get remarks even from non bikers, neighbors people at petrol stations ..... VASELINE or WHITE PETROLEUM JELLY B.P :hmm: Can be purchased in 225G TUBS in pound shops, ASDA, Boots etc. You don't need to buy the more expensive brands . I bought loads in a pound shop for 50p a pop and it works brilliantly :win: Easy to use....the secret is in using lots of very soft dusters, the yellow ones that again can be easily purchased in three packs from supermarkets. HOW TO USE :thick: --------------- Dip a clean duster into the Petroleum Jelly. Just enough that you can see a covering over the duster, and tackle one area of the bike at a time. Gently cover that area in circular strokes over and over and it spreads on nicely. Too much applied?....lift some off and apply on a another panel, it won't be wasted. Then, using A new clean duster, gently do circular motions again until it's gone all bar a few misty patches. Now use a THIRD clean duster and buff. Honestly, you'll never see a shine like it. It looks absolutely amazing as if there is a lacquer on the paint surface :rockon: I use it all over the bike, the paintwork, (the tank looks utterly amazing), plastic mudguards, wheels, fork legs, bikini fairing, hugger and under tray, swingarm, side covers, handlebars and top yoke, outer shell of the brake calipers, radiator shrouds....It looks stunning, costs next to nothing and the tubs last for weeks/months, and the shine lasts. Wash your dusters regularly in your machine, using fabric softener and they will stay soft, ready for their liaison with the Petroleum Jelly It isn't as quick as Autoglym, but it,s a fraction of the cost, and in my opinion looks and lasts much better. My secret is out. You may point and laugh at me now :agreed: :shoot:
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Post by phoenix on Apr 5, 2006 7:22:21 GMT
Might give it a go, how long does the shine last?
:hmm: It reminds me a bit of a trick used in the car trade to make really dull cars look shiney - put some parrafin in the washing water & the car shines llike new. Only problem is it only lasts untill it next gets rained on & then it all goes dull again.
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Post by floog on Apr 5, 2006 8:21:41 GMT
Might give it a go, how long does the shine last? :hmm: It reminds me a bit of a trick used in the car trade to make really dull cars look shiney - put some parrafin in the washing water & the car shines llike new. Only problem is it only lasts untill it next gets rained on & then it all goes dull again. Actually, that's a fair and valid point. I am a self confessed, mamby-pampy fair weather rider and my Rex only see's rain if I am caught in a shower :storm: .....so I can't honestly say if it 'spots' in the rain etc...... What I can say is that if you have a garage, and tend to use your Rex for dry weather, then the results are amazing. The shine looks stunning, like a lacquer and it lasts and lasts (it is absorbed onto paintwork/plastic and seems to offer a barrier against dirt and minor scuffs from gloves and boots etc) . I am pedantic and most probably anally retentive and tend to re-apply a splash of Petroleum Jelly every now and then, but it just sits's there gleaming!! Any dullness or dust can just be wiped off with a clean duster. I have tried every polish under the sun from cheap to expensive, and always found Autoglym to be my favourite.....but this....for me, is the best. :win: For about 50p, I say it's worth a try If you don't like the results you may slap me hard several times with a wet Kipper :knock2: :surrender:
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Post by wardourdrive on Apr 5, 2006 8:43:28 GMT
How about a pic to show off the shine???
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Post by floog on Apr 5, 2006 9:32:53 GMT
How about a pic to show off the shine??? Here you go......luckily it's a sunny day today.... :sunny: I picked up the tip of using Petroleum Jelly way back in my murky past when, as a motorcyle salesman, my boss had the MOST immaculate Fireblade, and let me in on his secret. I use it on the black brake hoses, engine cases, alternator cover, side airbox covers, brake disc gold sections, it smartens up furred up banjo bolts and other bolts and metal surfaces, in the under seat sections to smarten the black plastic, the tool box, on the metal clamp that holds the front brake line, on my tubular rack and Givi plate. It also cleans up hard Givi panniers and top boxes like new etc....it buffs to a shine and seems to protect everything, even bolt heads/engine bolts, banjo bolts and clips.
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Post by phoenix on Apr 5, 2006 11:47:39 GMT
:hmm: looks like somebody else with a Diggers seat. Getting a bit common them now
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Post by wardourdrive on Apr 5, 2006 11:54:22 GMT
a very nice shine that is too. Think I will try it next time I wash the REX S. Great tip
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Post by phoenix on Apr 5, 2006 17:21:20 GMT
Couldn't resist any longer, just tried it, works very well especially on the plastic bits. Thanks for the tip
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Apr 5, 2006 17:49:29 GMT
:ten: Top tip FLOOG. Gonna give that a try sometime. I'd already heard that Baby Oil is good on plastics (amongst other things ) so I see no reason why Vaseline shouldn't be a suitable, if not better alternative. Something also tells me that Vaseline won't wash off as easily as Baby Oil but I could be wrong.
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Post by wardourdrive on Apr 5, 2006 18:19:37 GMT
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Post by BADGER on Apr 7, 2006 6:44:57 GMT
I ride my bike every day to work, we have just had two days of sun, which happened to be my days off . So did some riding and some polishing, the last and longist polish yesterday afternoon. To day iam at work, and bugger me its going to rain, so all my hard work for nowt. But thanks FLOOG i am going to give this a try. My only thought, isnt Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly made from a oil/petrol by product? will it be safe on your paint work
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Post by floog on Apr 7, 2006 7:17:29 GMT
But thanks FLOOG i am going to give this a try. My only thought, isnt Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly made from a oil/petrol by product? will it be safe on your paint work I am SAD/LUCKY enough (delete as applicable), not to have to ride my Rex to work every day, and am certainly sad enough to only ride by choice on dry days, :sunny: plus she is garaged.....so I can't say whether rain will leave spots in reglar rain soaked commuting trips. :storm: ......(that's my disclaimer out of the way!!), BUT....Michael, regarding your valid point...... Speaking from first hand experience, I have used it now continuously since 2001 on two different bikes and it not only looks stunning, imparts an almost lacquer like layer, outshines every other polish I have ever tried, costs next to nowt, and leaves a protective gloss coat that I think helps build a barrier against minor scuffs. . :corn: ......but for me... it has proved totally safe and long lasting You are gently applying a tiny amount to the surface of the paintwork/plastic with circular motions and, unlike some polish, it does not remove any paint colour so it is not at all abrasive. Once you have removed most of it with a second clean duster and then buffed with a third duster, :tumbleweed: there is no residue, no coating, just the shine. My paintwork has always been tip-top, and I have never had any problems or signs of abrasion/ cracking/damaged paintwork, in fact I think it has helped cover and improve imperfections and lessen deep scratches :win: . You never have to bring your skin into contact with the jelly either if you do not wish to (like all bike jobs with cleaning, maintenance and oils, you always wash your hands afterwoulds). AND, if you try it and don't like it, :redcard: you can just polish it off again with your regular favourite polish.....plus there is that offer of slapping me with a wet Kipper if not satisfied...... :hmm: How's that for an endorsement ******VASELINE is more expensive, but works just the same (I have tried), and that can be used on your face and body, so that might be an option if you prefer******
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Post by BADGER on Apr 7, 2006 11:47:36 GMT
The thought of slapping you with a wet kipper, has a certain appeal, plus if i'd dipped it in the Vasiline as well.
But iam still going to try it, now where did i put that jelly???
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Post by floog on Apr 7, 2006 11:54:42 GMT
The thought of slapping you with a wet kipper, has a certain appeal, plus if i'd dipped it in the Vasiline as well. But iam still going to try it, now where did i put that jelly??? Ha ha, me thinks I may have made a rod for my own back here.....I could be in for some kipper dodging......... Tell you what, ignore what I said, I had done some bad acid and my brain was muddled......Petroleum Jelly is rubbish and does not work, in fact....WHAT IS Petroleum Jelly?? I have never heard of it!! :agreed: I was lying.....I really use chip fat, it's much better and tastes nice too. It saves you fuel money as well, because when out for a ride, the smell of those lovely greasy shop chips, smeared all over your bike's delicates, makes you hungry and you return home to eat sooner than planned!! :slobr: :slobr: Yeah that's it, CHIP FAT rocks....... :agreed:
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Post by BADGER on Apr 7, 2006 20:50:47 GMT
That reminds me , last week on my way home from work, it was cold and id thought i'll call in the chippy for a £ worth. Stuffed the bag up the front of me jacket mmmmm loverly n warm for the rest of the trip.....
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