Lots of questions from wash to sealant

[xoulu]

Hi!

I am a new member and been doing research and found products I would like to use to detail my car. If anyone can please help answer my questions that would be great!

I want to detail my cars along with friends and family's cars with the best. All the colors I will be detailing are white, black, grey and red.

I have not brought any items yet as I am still researching on what to get and still looking for recommendations.

Tools that I have now are:
DIC-20 High Output Rolling System Spotless Rinse
Optima Steamer COMBY 3000

(A car body shop business was going out of business so I was able to get them at a decent price.)

Pre-Rinse/Wash Questions

I will be using/getting a Karcher power wash. Can anyone recommend me the best Karcher power washer if they tried all. I was planning to get the Karcher K 5.540 as it seem the one with most PSI and weight less. I am open to other brands to.

My questions is, do you all just pre-rinse with just water? Is it best to rinse with cold or hot water? Does it matter? Will pre-rinse with soap help? My plan was to pre-rinse with Iron X Snow Soap with a 1:8 Dilution. I was thinking that the Iron X Snow Soap pre rinse will help remove some of the iron and remove dirt etc before snow foam wash.

After pre-rinse with soap if you all think it's a good idea, should I rinse it off with water or go straight to foaming the car? What soap is the best for foam and cleaning? I was recommended Lusso Auto bathe and Pinnacle Shampoo. Which other ones do you guys recommend. For the guys that used both which one do you guys prefer or if you used all sorts of and settle on another brand what is it? Any reasons why?

After the snow foam should I rinse it off? Or should I go straight to washing it with the two bucket method and then rinse after?

Drying Questions

Since I will be using the DIC-20 for all my rinse, is it best to use a leaf blower or get a Metro Master Blaster to get water off the car? If I use either, I will use a MF cloth to go over teh car to make sure I get all water off. Anyone recommend a MF cloth for just drying?

Iron X

After the car is dried off, I want to spray on Iron X. I haven't used Iron X before, so please correct me if I'm wrong. Will I just spray on Iron X to the car and let it sit until it turns purple/red and then rinse? Or will I need to spray and go over it with a MF Cloth?

Clay

After I Iron X or if I skip that step; I will be claying. I was recommended Clay Magic clay as I was was told it owns the patent and everyone gets their clay from them? Will any clay do or is there really a difference in clay from other company? If so which is the best one you used? Which lubricant detail spray do you use with your clay?

Has anyone worked with Nano Skin Scrubber? If you have would you prefer this over clay? Does it really save more time and clean better then clay?

One Step Polish

After my clay if the paint is not in bad condition I was planing to do a one step polish with a Flex 3401. I heard many great things about the Flex 3401. I had people suggest me the PC7424 but I think I will go with the Flex3401 unless someone else can convince me why I should go with other ones.

I plan to use Menzerna Power Finish as my one step polish and top it off with Menzerna Powerlock. Any other one step polish people would suggest over the Power Finish? Any other Sealant people would suggest over powerlock?

Wax

I wanted to apply wax to the car after the powerlock has been cure which I was told about 12 hours? If that is wrong can anyone give me a better time to let it cure? Will any wax work on top of the powerlock? Only wax that I was recommended for the best is Fuzion. Will Fuzion work on top of the powerlock with no issue? Should I skip wax and just apply another coat of powerlock?

Compound/Polish

My BMW X3 has lots of scratches that I know I will need to compound it out. If needed I will wet sand with grit 1500 paper. Here was what I planned, if anyone can suggest something else or comment what I will be using that would be great.

Compound - M105 with D300 (2 dots each on the pad)
What pad is best for M105/D300 combo? Will a 5.5 surbuf pad do? Any other compound recommendation?

Polish - Menzerna Power Finish
Which pad will be best? Any other Polish recommendation?

Finishing Polish - Menzerna SF4500 (85rd)
Which pad will be best? Any other Finishing Polish recommendation?

Sealant - Menzerna Powerlock
Which pad will be best? Any other sealant recommendation?

Again colors I will mostly detail are white, grey, black and red.


After the car has been compounded and polish, do you guys wash the car again or just spray the car over with detail spray? Which detail spray has worked best for you? Which MF cloth do you use with your detail spray?

Interior

Leather cleaner/conditioner
Which interior leather cleaner/conditioner do you guys use? I heard many great things about 1Z. Anyone suggestion anything else?

Carpet shampoo
Anyone suggestion any shampoo for carpets? I will be using the COMBY to vac and steam carpets and it has the option to steam with shampoo. Which shampoo have you used and worked best with carpets?

Dash

I will be using 1Z cockpit. Anyone suggest anything else?


Thanks! Any input would be great!

[FUNX725]

to AGO!

Good intro posting.

However, if you would...
-Break it down into different/selective detailing segments.

Accordingly...IMO...
You'll receive many more definitive answers to the myriad questions you have posed.



Bob

[vegas911gts]

What kind of cars will you be working on?

[smack]

Welcome to AGO.

Wow what a first post...

[xoulu]

@ FUNX725 I will clear up the questions when I get home

@vegas911gts I will be working on my GTR, X3, Camry, 335, X5, Juke, Rogue, Highlander, A4, Integra, and IS250

@smack haha

[xoulu]

Cleaned up questions

Power washer
-What's a good power washer? I was looking to get the Karcher K 5.540. Anyone worked with this model or other model?

Pre-wash/rinse
-Do you all do a Pre-wash/rinse with just water?
-When you wash a car do you wash with cold or hot water?
-Does it make a difference?
-Will Pre-wash/rinse be better with soap added?
-Do you think Pre-wash/rinsewith Iron X snow Soap with a 1:8 dilution be a good idea?
-If you Pre-wash/rinse with soap, do you foam car right away or do you give it another rinse then foam?
-What's a good foam soap? I was recommended Lusso Auto bathe and Pinnacle Shampoo. If you used both which one did you settle with? I'm open to other brands and soap.

Drying
-Should I use a leaf blower or should I get a metro master blaster?
-What MF Cloth do you recommend for drying?

Iron X
-Do you just spray Iron X to the car and let it sit until it turns purple/red?
-Do you go over Iron X with a cloth or just rinse?

Clay
-Are all clay the same? Which is a good clay? I was recommended Clay Magic.
-Has anyone used Nano Skin Scrubber before? How does this do vs clay?
-Does it save more time and clean better?

One Step Polish
-Will you recommend using Menzerna Power Finish on a Flex3401 or PC?
-What other one step polish is out there that is better then Menzerna Power Finish?
-Any sealant you would use over the power finish? I planned to use Menzerna Powerlock.
-Any other sealant suggestion?

Wax
-What is the cure time for a sealant such as the powerlock before applying wax?
-What are good wax to put on sealants? That won't have any bond issue.
-I was advised Fuzion, but anyone has any other wax that is better than Fuzion?

Compound/Polish
-Will doing a M105 with D300 (2 dots each on the pad) work best as compound?
-What pad is best for this combo?
-If not what compound should I just go with?
-After the compound will a power finish be a good polish?
-What pad is best to use with power finish polish?
-Finishing polish will be Menzerna 85rd. Any other finishing polish?
-Which pad is best for 85rd? Or any finishing compound?
-Which pad is best for sealant such as powerlock?

Leather
-Which is a good leather cleaner? I heard many things about 1Z any other good ones out there?
-The leathers I will be working with is tan, black, red, and gray.
-Which is a good conditioner?

Carpet
-Which is a good carpet shampoo that will clean and restore it's color?

Thanks!

[vegas911gts]

Originally Posted by xoulu

@ FUNX725 I will clear up the questions when I get home

@vegas911gts I will be working on my GTR, X3, Camry, 335, X5, Juke, Rogue, Highlander, A4, Integra, and IS250

@smack haha

Now you just need someone who is familiar with the types of paint of those cars. I'm sure some are hard and some are soft. Then you can match product to each type of paint.

[Hoytman]

Wow...question overload!

Try breaking those posts down into single threads with no more than 3-4 (usually 3) questions per thread in your opening posts. As each thread moves along with other people posting you can then ask more questions in each thread.

That's typically how this forum operates and you'll likely get more replies from folks that way, and it's good netiquette. Just sayin'...

Welcome to the forum!!!

[mwoolfso]

Originally Posted by xoulu

Cleaned up questions

I'll answer this only because I want to wake up and start my day. :-)

Power washer
-What's a good power washer? I was looking to get the Karcher K 5.540. Anyone worked with this model or other model? Do some forum searches and you will get a feel for what models have been discussed recently.

Pre-wash/rinse
-Do you all do a Pre-wash/rinse with just water? Some people do regardless. With a foam cannon or a foam gun when you apply the stream to the car (and wait some minutes), you are effectively doing a pre-wash. If you do not have a foam xxxx, then yes I would do a rinse.
-When you wash a car do you wash with cold or hot water? If it is under 70 degrees I will use warm water, otherwise I fill the bucket and wait 30 min.
-Does it make a difference? Scientifically speaking, it should make a difference. Practically speaking, have never thought about testing the value of warm water.
-Will Pre-wash/rinse be better with soap added? Yes
-Do you think Pre-wash/rinsewith Iron X snow Soap with a 1:8 dilution be a good idea? Yes it is a good idea.
-If you Pre-wash/rinse with soap, do you foam car right away or do you give it another rinse then foam? answered already
-What's a good foam soap? I was recommended Lusso Auto bathe and Pinnacle Shampoo. If you used both which one did you settle with? I'm open to other brands and soap. Let me say that there are no bad soaps. The odds of you picking the wrong soap are pretty low already. Detailers Pro line has some good soap IMO. With my foam gun I use Mother's, Duragloss, and Pinnacle XMT

Drying
-Should I use a leaf blower or should I get a metro master blaster? Try the leaf blower and see if it works for you. If it doesn't then consider upgrading.
-What MF Cloth do you recommend for drying? I use Cobra Guzzler Waffle Weaves (green).

Iron X
-Do you just spray Iron X to the car and let it sit until it turns purple/red? Yes, and you do not let the product dry.
-Do you go over Iron X with a cloth or just rinse? I'll go over it with a jeweling pad just to spread the product out so I can use "just enough" product.

Clay
-Are all clay the same? Which is a good clay? I was recommended Clay Magic. Any clay in AGO will do the job. For soft paint you want a very mild clay so as not to introduce any marring (which wouldn't be a huge deal if your next step was polishing). I have Wolfgang and Meguiars right now; have used Mother's before as well. No complaints with any of them.
-Has anyone used Nano Skin Scrubber before? How does this do vs clay? I haven't used this before but I am watching others experience it.
-Does it save more time and clean better?

One Step Polish
-Will you recommend using Menzerna Power Finish on a Flex3401 or PC? I haven't used it but I don't recall many people *not* liking it.
-What other one step polish is out there that is better then Menzerna Power Finish? I don't know about "better" per se. I use Megs D151, XMT 360 and some cleaner/waxes and cleaner/sealants from Mothers.
-Any sealant you would use over the power finish? I planned to use Menzerna Powerlock. I don't think you can go wrong with that mix.
-Any other sealant suggestion? If I am pressed for time I will use a sealant that does not need to cure. I like Mothers Micro Polish and Glaze (their Step 2) for that purpose, and also have BFWD.

Wax
-What is the cure time for a sealant such as the powerlock before applying wax? 12 hours
-What are good wax to put on sealants? That won't have any bond issue. Waxes bond to sealants by design so there shouldn't be many issues. There is the notion of synergistic compatibility where you maximize the benefits of lower-layer products by using the same manufacturers product line for the upper layer. That said, many people mix and match other products. Last year Collinite 845 over BFWD was downright popular. This year I have seen a lot of BFMS over BFWD. Read through this article.... it should help...

The Difference Between a Cleaner/Wax and a Finishing Wax

-I was advised Fuzion, but anyone has any other wax that is better than Fuzion? "The best" wax thread exists by the dozens in this forum. It all depends on what qualities you believe would be "best". If price matters, Fuzion may not be ideal (for instance).

Compound/Polish
-Will doing a M105 with D300 (2 dots each on the pad) work best as compound? Why not just M105 straight? I haven't seen a situation where M105 didn't do what it was supposed to do.
-What pad is best for this combo? For DAT polishes flat pads are usually best. For SMAT polishes flat or textures pads will work just fine.
-If not what compound should I just go with? Use this as a guide.

Autogeek Swirl Removers & Compounds Comparison Chart

-After the compound will a power finish be a good polish? It could work. The right pad and product combinations you put together will change based on experience level and paint characteristics and condition. Technique is more of a deciding factor than product choice.
-What pad is best to use with power finish polish? Usually a polishing pad (e.g. - LC white).
-Finishing polish will be Menzerna 85rd. Any other finishing polish? M205 is popular here. Wolfgang and Pinnincle Finishing polishes are also popular.
-Which pad is best for 85rd? Or any finishing compound? Menzerna's area in the store has a chart that you can use as a guide.
-Which pad is best for sealant such as powerlock?

Leather
-Which is a good leather cleaner? I heard many things about 1Z any other good ones out there? Pick your poison, not any bad products here in AGO.
-The leathers I will be working with is tan, black, red, and gray.
-Which is a good conditioner?

Carpet
-Which is a good carpet shampoo that will clean and restore it's color? I'll let others answer this. I can clean carpets but others easily have more experience than I do with interiors.

Thanks!

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