Topic: Exterior/Interior Detailing Products, Tips and Tricks.

[thetallone]

Since the spring season is upon us I figured I would make a thread where people could share / small chat about the products they use for detailing their ride.

Some products are easier to use than others and some provide better results based on the color of the car.

Soap, clay, polish, glaze, wax, etc..

Feel free to post pictures of your results as long as you list the products that the result.




Up until last fall I was at a condo so I didn't have the space luxury to do any major detailing. Typical cleaning was done at the self serve car wash followed by a spray on wax. Hoping to step up my game this year now that I have a garage and give my ride the loving it deserves.

Current products (But looking to switch it up)

Soap - Going to try Meguiar's gold class as it seems to get good reviews and is easy to find
Clay  (Once a year in the spring)-  Riccardo Yellow Detailing Clay
Clay lube - Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine (Diluted to lube concentration)
Glaze - Still haven't decided what I am going to try this year. Eyeing up Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
Wax - Might try toping the WDGP with Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax (No. 845) as some people says it gives a good shine for SWP and has a durable finish.

Touch up detailing during normal weekly/biweekly washing will be done with Duragloss #951 Aqua Wax to help maintain the other products.

[Asstuna]

Good man. Subscribing

[Brianmachinist]

Good thread,  patiently listening

[e13tankbuster]

Diddo. Having moved from a shiity town house to a house proper with a garage, I'll be willing to subscribe to this.

I used meguiars gold class for shampoo, but also at Hughes.. I was the prick that would bucket wash my car there and take two hours.
Gold class was satisfactory shampoo.

Picked up a second bucket (both with gutter guard), and sonax 2 in 1 car shampoo for this year. Supposed to be a new product to minimize water spots. Damned yet gorgeous black car and all..


I also picked up this Menzerna Sealant. I asked the dude at Auto Obsessed what he recommended for a protectant for new carbon fiber body pieces, and this was what he suggested.


I also asked if there was some sort of a prep product for the new cf items, and was pointed to this. Apparently it's like isopropyl alcohol/stripper.. Apply first, then apply Sealant..



The next item that's on my list to combat water spots is this :
http://autoobsessed.com/shop/griots-garage-inline-water-softner-filter-37244-p-792.html
An inline water filter.


Sent from my beer goggles..

[SpdDmn]

Subscribed. My Aspen white has a disgusting perma-dirt from (I'm guessing) rich exhaust + dirt over the winter. The only thing that gets it off is claying and I've never had to put this much effort into clay. I haven't had access to a porter cable polisher since I moved here, so haven't sealed in a couple years. Gone are the days of handwashing and applying various products in the comfort of my own driveway/ garage...... What a retarded no-washing bylaw...

Also interested to hear WHERE you buy your products. Eshine? Carzilla? Anywhere less boutique?

[jvd]

Hey bros.

This interests me.

I'll post some general stuff in here as it comes to mind.

In the mean time, here's some of my stuffs.



Car wash day tomorrow.

[Asstuna]

I found this website as part of my self education process:
http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html

Question for the pros: which paint sealant?

[KennyB]

which paint sealant?

I haven't experimented much but my detailer at work gave me a bottle of this to use and I like it. And if he uses/recommends it has to be decent. I've always been a fan of Chemical Guys products, well priced, works good, unique scents and cool names for their product, if nothing else it's at least marketed well.

[jvd]

I found this website as part of my self education process:
http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html

Question for the pros: which paint sealant?

That's a great chart to show the general work flow!

Between all of the sealants I've tried I'm really loving Sonax Polymer Net Shield. It's incredibly easy to apply, beads like crazy, looks great and lasts a long time. If you're looking into something more permanent you could look into nano coatings. Carzilla has CarPro products now which offers some great coatings.

I have a vial of Exo V2 but I haven't applied it yet. Might be because I enjoy trying new stuff and feel it will prevent me from doing so. Not sure.

Just finished my weekly wash. Here's my usual routine:

1. Rinse entire vehicle of loose dirt. Pressure washer not necessary if your car is well kept.
2. Spray wheels and tires with an APC of choice and let dwell. I do not use wheel cleaners most of the time because of the cost. I like to use it liberally so a bottle doesn't last long.
3. Fill bucket with shampoo of choice to fully submerge assorted wheel brushes.
4. Clean wheel faces and tires with a soft brush. Clean spokes/barrels with Speed Master Wheel Brush.
5. Rinse. Again, pressure washing is not necessary. Most of the time I have my nozzle on shower.
6. Rinse car again. If the car is drying in areas while doing the wheels I'll spray it down to prevent water spots.
7. Two bucket wash with Grit Guards. I use a microfiber chenille wash sponge as I've found it cleans well with very little pressure applied to the bodywork and it releases dirt easily in the rinse bucket. I always start with the roof and work my way down. Rinse your mitt or sponge after every panel. Leave the rear of the car and lower rockers to the end as those are usually the dirtiest areas. You don't want to be dragging all of that across the paint. I apply very little pressure when washing. The weight of the saturated sponge is enough to clean properly. If you're applying pressure and scrubbing you WILL put swirls/scratches in the paint.
8. Rinse. Again, if the car was drying on it's own between panels rinse it down again to prevent water spots. When I do a final rinse I take the nozzle off of the hose and flood the panel. If your car has some protection on it this will expedite the drying process. Water should sheet right off the panels and leave very little water droplets when done. Rinse door sills as well so a bunch of dirt water doesn't come out the second you drive away.
9. Dry the car. I use a large waffle weave microfiber drying towel. Just like washing use as little pressure as possible. I fold my towel in half and just drag it across the panels by pulling on two corners. If I rinsed the car by sheeting my towel will not need to by rung out for the entire vehicle.
10. Wipe door jams and little areas where water accumulates.
11. Quick detailer if needed.
12. Wheels and tires... I usually just wipe the wheels down with a QD on a MF towel and then apply a tire dressing of choice. Having clean tires is the key to them looking nice. If you put a dressing over a dirty tire it will look bad.

Some other random thoughts:
- If you drop a towel, mitt, sponge, etc. DISCARD. Wait till you can run it through the wash. Depending on where I may just throw the towel in the garbage. Not worth risking dragging a rock across the paint.
- Do not towel dry a car after using a pay-n-spray. Your paint is not clean from just spraying it off. You are going to be dragging dirt all over the car and putting scratches in it. If you can't do a proper wash just rinse and leave it at that. Another option would be spraying the majority of the grime off and then doing a rinseless wash. At least then you have some lubricity when washing.
- Keep real dirty stuff out of your wash bucket that's being used on the paint. Never use water or towels you used on your wheels on your paint.
- If there is stubborn dirt, tar, iron deposits, etc. do not try to scrub them off during the wash. Come back with clay.

That's just some basic stuff that comes to mind now.

I'll post up thoughts on some products I've used sometime soon.

[jvd]

Results! Went out for brunch and a beer.

[joe_mar]

Subscribed.

[e13tankbuster]

Anybody know of a good way to clean out your hvac vents?

[jvd]

Anybody know of a good way to clean out your hvac vents?

In what way? The actual outlets or the whole system?

Depends on the vent but a popsicle stick or something similar with a microfiber towel wrapped around the end works well. Depends how dirty.

[Asstuna]

Anybody know of a good way to clean out your hvac vents?

I just use a long bristle brush to reach the dusty stuff. I put a bit of Aerospace 303 on the bristles to make them damp.

Like this:

[Asstuna]

Oh, and while I'm here (and half cut)...

Someone suggested using lemon pledge to spruce up the engine bay... just don't. It's a pain in the arse as you have to chase it with a cloth.

Go straight to Chemical Guys "Black on Black" and admire the shine with minimum effort. The end.

[KennyB]

Anybody know of a good way to clean out your hvac vents?

I just use a long bristle brush to reach the dusty stuff. I put a bit of Aerospace 303 on the bristles to make them damp.

Like this:

That is the best way but these are pretty awesome too if you want to go all out, they spray a pressurized  spinning mist and blows dirt out of every nook and cranny. They are called "Tornadors"

[NuTypeR]

when summer hits, this is usually my annual routine:
claybar (i used the meguairs kit but i sometimes i go mothers as well)
i use a meguiar's dual action polisher with these compounds before putting in sealant and wax:
-meguiar's swirl remover
-meguiar's machine glaze
after compounding, i use wolfgang paint sealant.....apply it on like liquid wax, and after buffing it off it has to cure for 10 hours, so i let the car sit for that amount of time
finally, i use meguiar's ultimate paste wax to finish it off (i went from liquid to paste because paste lasts a little longer, but i was using NXT tech wax before)

for every car wash, i rinse it down first to get off excess dirt, and then i use meguiar's wash and wax (spray bottle, smells like pinapples), and then a layer of autoglym aqua wax (which you can also apply to windows, just dont put it on the front one because it will streak when you use your wipers. for the front, i use rain-x 2-in-1 glass cleaner)

as for the exhaust, i use mother's mag and aluminum polish

just to get an idea of what it looks like after its detailed:



it's so shiney i can see my own pores 

[LilDrunkenSmurf]

Good, you can do my car.

[e13tankbuster]

In what way? The actual outlets or the whole system?

The whole system. I can do the vents with a brush like posted above by tuna, but there's a ton of dust down in the whole tract.

Where do you get that toronado thingy?

[Cagare]

Two Products I know of for vent/duct cleaning.  Probably can pick them up locally too:

http://www.eshine.ca/1z_einszett_klima_cleaner_air_conditioner_treatment_85oz-115.php?cat=310

http://www.eshine.ca/1z_einszett_klima_cleaner_etu_easy_to_use_6oz-125.php?cat=31

[Arcturus]

Is there anywhere in Edmonton where one can get Sonax or Wolfgang products? Google's failed me.

[e13tankbuster]

Is there anywhere in Edmonton where one can get Sonax or Wolfgang products? Google's failed me.

Auto obsessed carries sonax, not sure bout the Wolfgang stuff..

[rex 123]

I have always wanted to try a full clay to wax detailing on my car. This thread has given me inspiration to leave the wash bay's and do the work at home. Here's hopping I can find the time! 

[NuTypeR]

we could arrange a detail day when it gets nice and warm with no melting snow left

[Cagare]

we could arrange a detail day when it gets nice and warm with no melting snow left

I don't like to polish in large groups...