clean & wax between ferrari letters

What is the best way to clean and wax around the Ferrari letters on the engine cover of a 328

 

A soft bristled toothbrush works great for me.

 

Wouldn't that scratch the crap out of the paint?

 

Pop the clips off and remove the script?

 

Not anymore than 99% of what's sold as car care products. A used up toothbrush is certainly softer than a new Triple Duty Detail Brush from Meguiar's.

 

Can't think of any other way than this

 

Gets my vote.

 

Q-Tips?

 

Do not use a tooth brush....especially on black paint
Q Tips are OK if urgent; better are the professional detailer Q Tips that have a foam end instead of cotton.

 

Every car in the world has wax under the letters, or scratches under the letters, unless it was just assembled after a repaint. Makes no difference who built it, dirt and wax gets under letters. If your really doing a detailing and wax job, remove all the loose trim.

 

My suggestion for using a toothbrush probably doesn't apply to the OP's question. If removing the trim is an easy method then I agree with that.

But, in other cases, some of the most experienced will use detailing brushes. Especially if removing the trim is not an option and the car hasn't received detailing on a regular basis.

 

+1!

 

+1 This way gets the best results by far, especially if you are polishing by machine.

If you don't want to remove the letters, then use a very soft bristle brush or steal one of your wife's makeup brushes. While you're washing the car, get a lot of water and suds around the letters and lightly brush them at a 45 degree angle. This is to remove any dirt and debris. Then later, use Q-tips and whatever polish and wax you'd like.

 

I use a soft brush (the kind for detailing your interior) and then also compressed air and a micro fiber rag.

Ray

 

With some of my clients I have used these q-tipshttp://www.autogeek.net/sm506.html. They are great for getting into tight places, tapered on one end and then flat on the other. Take a qd(quick detailer)of your choice and spray the q-tip pretty well. After its soaked use that to get in between the letters. They lift up a tad in the middle between the clips, slightly lift them up with the q-tip and softly clean under. Works like a charm for me. They also work great getting between the front emblem.
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I've wondered myself about this and have tried everything from q-tips to a detailing brush...still not "perfect"...

I have a 360 and see the 2 clips underneath, but what happens when I pop them out? They aren't a nut or bolt...in other words do I have to buy hardware to replace it? Does anyone have pictures of removing this (360 or not)?

 

thats what I do

 

+1

 

For detailing -- as in before selling -- pop the clips and remove the script for individual cleaning.

For "regular" cleaning --- a soft cloth and your little finger. It's not perfect.
But it's just gonna get dirty again, anyway, if you're actually driving the thing.
(And if not, why bother?)

A happy Ferrari is a driven Ferrari is a dirty Ferrari.

 

I use a small tightly bound horse hair brush. detailer freind of mine showed me, works great and will not harm the paintwork

Regards, Jim

 

This is the technical Q&A sub-forum??? Or maybe this is the wine and cheese concours sub-forum and I'm just lost.....

 

For cars this old, it's not dirt anyway, it's "patina".

 

I've never heard anyone put it that way before

The trick is to use products that don't leave anything behind. I'm not sure what products you're using, but when it comes to waxes, the higher quality products don't leave any residue behind.

As mentioned already, simply take the two pop-off caps from underneath the badge, remove the badge, clean it by polishing and waxing, then replace. Just be careful not to drop those little caps, PITA to find again

 

Use something that has less percentage of acid.

 

Good idea. I think I'll pop mine off tomorrow and soak the letters and clean the area real good.