First a little background on this detail. This Tahoe belonged to a girl I went to high school with. She was married to a co-worker of mine, they were currenty split up although amicably. She recently passed away from cancer. The Tahoe had been really neglected while she had been sick and some of the before pics don't really show it (it was wet from a heavy dew fall so it looks better). Well my co-worker wanted to give the vehicle to their daughter but wanted it looking better than it did so he asked me to detail it. Well I did a lot to the Tahoe but I must admit it was a very satisfying detail. Seeing the looks on their faces when I took it back to them was worth more than any amount I have been paid so far for a detail. I had a few things that I used for the first time that I will review, like the Ultimitt wheel mitt and 1z Einsett High Gloss Polish.
Well I had always used the black wheel Shmitt but they seemed to wear out pretty fast especially at the finger tip area. I was about to order another one as my second one was getting holes when I saw the Ultimitt wheel mitt and decided to give it a try. All I can say is I LOVE this thing. It is really thick and padded especially around the fingertip area. It's cleaning ability was above all things I have used on tires/wheels. I liked it so much that when my white/yellow Shmitt goes I think I will order the red Ultimitt. My only complaint is something that most people like about the Ultimitt ~ it is almost too big. I have small hands, alright alright keep the jokes to yourself, so it took some getting used to but I adapted and when I switch back to my Shmitt to clean the wheel wells it does seem rather tight so I see what a lot of you were saying about it.
The Tahoe was really swirled up and was a faded black color. He didn't ask me to do paint correction but I thought I would do my best even though he didn't ask for it. On my previous order (where I also bought the Ultimitt) I ordered some 1z High Gloss Polish. The price was great at 19.99 for 32 oz. so I figured I couldn't go wrong. I really got great results from the 1z as you can see from the before and after pics of some swirled up areas:
My only complaint was that it did dust a good bit but for the results and the price I can deal with it. I think this could very well be the poor man's Menzerna 106. It finished up LSP ready but I did add another step.
Well on to the detail:
Tires/Wheels: The wheels got DP Gel Wheel Cleaner and the tires and wheel wells got Majestic Solutions Super Green Stuff. The wheel and tire were cleaned with the awesome wheel Ultimitt and the wells with the black Shmitt. The wheels were dressed with Stoners Trim Shine and the tires with my favorite Surf City Beyond Black. Put the SC in a spray bottle and spray onto a Cobra Foam Flex applicator and you are cooking with Crisco! The wheels got a final wipedown with DG 951/AW combo.
Glass: Finally restocked and back to using my all-time favorite Surf City Clearly Better glass cleaner. Applied with a Cobra MF and removed with WW.
Engine: Engine got a rinse followed with MS APC followed by another rinse and dressed with MS Quick Details.
Wash: Used 2oz of DG 901 and 1oz of DP Xtreme foam in my AG foam gun, White/Yellow Shmitt, and rinse bucket. All lower panels were pre-treated with Stoners Tarminator, which made removal of road grime so much easier. Bugs got the usual Poorboys Bug Squash and Pinnacle Safe Scrub. While on the topic of bugs I have a question. I did absolutely everything I could think of on the side mirrors but the bug splatter looked to be etched into it and would not come off. This is the second car I have encountered like this and wondered if there was anything that would remove this:
Interior: This was an absolute wreck! One of the worst I have done. I used DP Total Interior Cleaner/ DP Interior Surface Protectant combo on all plastics and vinyl. The carpet got DP TIC with the PC and the Aqua Brush then vacuumed with shop vac. The leather was cleaned with DP TIC and conditioned with Surf City Voodoo Leather Rejuvenator. I really like the SC Voodoo and it leaves a great leather smell. The door jambs got DG 951/AW combo.
Trim: Got the usual Poorboys Trim Restorer and bumpers got Stoners Trim Shine
Paint: I started with the 1z Einszett High Gloss Polish with an orange lo pro 5.5" pad via the PC on speed 5.5. This did an awesome job of correcting and it was LSP ready when I finished. Like I did say it did dust a bit but I just pulled it back out of the garage and rinsed with the power washer, dried with the leaf blower and guzzler and pulled it back in. Next up was XMT finishing glaze. I have obtained so many different products over the last few months that this had almost gotten forgotten. Couple that with so many people wanting sealants instead of wax that I really couldn't use it. Well this black was getting wax so I decided to amp up the shine a bit and use it. Like I said he didn't ask for paint correction but I did a good deal of it and figured the glaze would really finish it off. I applied it with a gray LC CCS pad via the PC at speed 3. Next up was a little gift from my man Dust2Glory who swore it was the deal on black so I pulled out the Liquid Souveran. Man was he right after using it the black was deep and dripping wet. Thanks D2G I love this stuff! I applied it with a red LC CCS pad via the PC at speed 3. Everything was removed with a Cobra Deluxe Jr. or Cobra Indigo.
He and his daughter were pleased and I must say I walked away feeling great after this detail. Well here are the pics and as always all advice, tips, etc. are welcome.
The Signature Shot
Linear Mode
