Steamer as sole detailing tool?

[BigBrad]

I have been watching a lot of videos and doing some research on steamers. I plan on buying one real soon. I watched a lot of videos on using the optima steamer to detail an entire vehicle inside and out. Seems to be an ok idea as far as water preservation goes. What's your opinion..?

[BigBrad]

Now I know that won't be the sole "tool" but, do you think it could possibly take the place of actually washing a vehicle..?

[AeroCleanse]

Originally Posted by BigBrad

Now I know that won't be the sole "tool" but, do you think it could possibly take the place of actually washing a vehicle..?

Yes I do. Might not be the fastest way.

[BigBrad]

I agree that it may not be the fastest way, but it should ultimately eliminate any chance of micro marring from washing. I would think..

[604_Snooze]

talk to ShineTimeDetail, he has an Optima steamer.

[BigBrad]

Holy shteamer!!! I just found out how much they are!

[Gurge]

I don't think I could ever see myself 'washing' an entire car with steam

But I use steam on nearly all my interior details. Exterior mainly for removing someone else's wax from the cracks / emblems

and as you've discovered, a high quality commercial continous fill steam cleaner is buck$$$

you can get cheapies for $100 range (that work ok), better stuff in the $300 range (steam is a little more dry, usually more attachments), the vx5000 is around $800 (used to be $700) and over $1000 you typically start seeing the commercial grade machines with continous fill

[oldmodman]

I have one of those cheapy steamers that Costco sells and I use it all the time. Great in the convoluted spaces around door hinges, under the hood, and around gas fillers.
And just last weekend I used it on a truck that had some awful goo around the brake calipers.

I'd love to have a real professional steamer but I can't justify the cost since I am just a hobbyist.

[AeroCleanse]

I think the Optima steamer is 5-6K

[Robert8194]

Yeah, the Optima is a great machine and can do a lot of the interior and exterior. But, it is rather expensive. I have the Dupray which is a continuous fill with 121 psi and 192 degrees C. I have used it on the exterior on several cars in conjunction with Optimum cleaner. It works well. I have not had any problem with marring but have not used it on a extremely dirty vehicle.