Newbie OTC Products-Holly Springs, NC

[mikespine]

First I would like to thank everybody for their existing and future contributions. Here is what I have and what I am considering. Open to suggestions!
Thanks-Mike

My Vehicles:

-2003 Chevy Trailblazer LTZ-Charcoal/Graphite like in color with Goldish trim (pretty common)

-2007 Mercury Milan Premier-Oxford White

Would it be useful to use clay on one or the other.

By no means do I detail, but I like to keep a clean vehicle. You can tell I do not detail by the products I use but they are OK with me at the moment.

My list includes:

-Meguiars Gold Class Car Wash: Just Purchased

-Meguiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner: Step 1, I do this after a wash. I suppose I do this to the whole vehicle..right.

-Turtle Wax Bug & Tar/Sap Remover. (It's Ok, I do not know anything different)

-Nu Finish Car Polish (is this really polish, if it says "Polish", I should follow that up with the "Wax"-like the Black Magic or the Eagle One Nanowax??)

-Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax: it was kind of hard to get off and streaky, I had to use a damp towel to get the streaks out..maybe I am doing something wrong.

-Eagle One Nanowax: just purchased at Big Lots for $3, should this also follow a polish??

-Eagle One A2Z Wheel & Tire Cleaner: stained my clear coated rims, will see if the Meg. Paint Cleaner improves the rims.

-Eagle One Wet Tire Shine

-Armor All Original Protectant: for tires and in/outside trim

***Lots of application and buffing going on here.

I am considering the Poor Boy Trim Restorer: is this only for the exterior??

Looking at getting the Porter Cable 7424 for about $119. But my wife is going to kill me when she see how quickly this stuff can add up.

Can somebody direct me on the minimum number of pads, bonnets etc..a good value?

What about the cheapy buffers/polishers (usually 7") on ebay or harbor freight? Will the pads used on the Porter cable fit on these 7" tools?



, so much information.

One other thing, is this Pinnacle XMT 360 is good as it says it is. Saw buy one, get one.

Also, Need Towels: how many, which ones etc., I just want to do a nice job on my vehicles without breaking the bank and keeping my wife happy.

Thanks-Mike

[killrwheels@autogeek]

WOW ... talk about a list and question, well here goes.

OTC products are price point products meant to sit on the local Wally World shelve and proudly display 7.99 or 9.99. In order to get to this price point, they backout advertising dollars first. Cannot sell without flashy commercials. Now the packaging, need lots of colors and that shot of a Maseratti or Ferrari gleaming. So finally they get to the ingredients and while building in bulk, as you can imagine some shortcuts are included and silicones and other items added that arent necessarily going to offer the best long term protection, but sure will look nice immediately. This is why I suggest boutique products, better ingredients and more specific to each area of prepping.

Youve got some ok OTC products, and not going to knock them here. I will however "suggest" you consider returning or replacing with others as possible.

The PC is better choice from the buffers you noted. It will do better for you as it offers speed adjustibility and most last as very long time. You will need some pads, and I suggest the kit for around 199.99 with buffer included for best value and starting from scratch.

Pinnacle 360 is a nice AIO product. You could easily replace your paint cleanser and waxes with this alone.

In closing you have far to much overlap in protection. You have Nufinish (sealant with heavy cleaners and polishes) think Poorboys Polish with Sealant, you have Nano-wax (wax/sealant hybrid) think Poorboys EX, and Black Majic Liquid Wax (wax with light cleaners) which is much to similar to both above.

[blacknblu]

mikespine - Welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place to learn about detailing. There is quite a bit of experience and knowledge in these threads, and I learn something new every day.

Would it be useful to use clay on one or the other

I would use the sandwich bag test. After washing, put your hand in a sandwich bag, and run it over the paint. If you can feel grit, then that area needs to be clayed.

Per your product list, it looks as if you've built a bit of an arsenal. I can't speak to the majority of products on your list, but will recommend purchasing the PC (or Flex) as soon as possible. If you fix the paint imperfections (opposed to covering them up), the end result is exponentially better, and results last quite a bit longer. Spending less time on your car may make your wife happy.

I can certainly understand breaking the bank and keeping the wife happy. What has worked for me is prioritizing what you want to accomplish and try using your existing arsenal to achieve your goals. If your existing arsenal isn't producing the desired results, the forum will certainly point you in the right direction. After following that procedure, my wife has been onboard with the purchases, and I haven't (completely) broken the bank. Now, she still hasn't agreed to Fuzion yet, but I'm working on it

I hope this helps.

[killrwheels@autogeek]

Oh yes ... I forgot to add that claying is a must. Only needed once a year on average and you'll be amazed at what it pulls away from the surface.

[niero]

Hi Mikespine,

Welcome! I'm new here, as well. I've been cleaning up my car for a few years, and am now getting more and more into serious detailing.
I am gradually replacing many of my OTC products with the good stuff. I haven't gotten a Porter Cable, yet, though, and need practice with DA's.
You mentioned towels. By far, get microfiber towels. You can start by picking up a pack of 8 or 12 at Target or Walmart, but microfiber is definitely important. Just a better tool than any other fabric I've yet found.

I'm going to mention glass cleaners, since no one has yet. I really like Invisible Glass, by Stoner. Diamondite is probably very good, as well. I've used Armorall glass cleaner, Windex, and several others. Invisible Glass is highly superior. I'm going to use it on my apartment windows and bathroom mirrors.

You've come to the right place. There's a lot of experience and great information here. I'm learning a lot!