Getting started - Need product advice

[veeko]

**my apologies for the repost in a different forum, i believe i may have previously posted in the incorrect forum**

Hey everyone, I've been lurking around for a while now trying absorb as much as possible and the time has finally come to further advance my detailing abilities and pull the trigger on some new product.

I'm an avid VW/Audi enthusiast and have been detailing my vehicles by hand for years now. I've decided it's time for a Porter Cable 7424XP DA polisher and some new product.

I'm going to purchase the AG Porter Cable 7424XP - XL Pad Kit. I've gone ahead and picked out some products I've chosen to start with and I'm looking for your feedback to ensure I've made the right starting decisions.

Please also keep in mind that with enough seat time using and becoming comfortable with the PC 7424 I would like to start detailing part-time.

Products

Clay Bar - Undecided - I've always used the Meguiar's kit in the past.

Optimum Polish - General polishing for use with yellow, orange, white, grey pads (been using this by hand for a couple of years)

Optimum Compound II - Corrective multi-step polishing to be followed up with Optimum Polish. Yellow, orange, white pads.

Sealant - Undecided - Looking for a good all around quick curing sealant for time sensitive applications

Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 - Going to use this on my personal vehicle and applications that aren't so time sensitive where I can than layer a carnauba wax after the sealant has fully cured. Blue pad.

Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Car Wax and/or Pinnacle XMT 180 High Gloss Carnauba Paste Wax - Going to be used to layer on top of either of the above mentioned sealants or used on it's own. Finishing pads.

Pinnacle XMT 360 - Going to use this for the single step all-in-one type of applications. I've also been looking at Optimum Poli-Seal. Green pad.

Poorboys Trim Restore - Going to use this to dress and protect exterior grained trims. bumpers etc.

Engine degreaser and conditioner - Looking for recommendations.

Pinnacle XMT Foam Pad Cleaner and Conditioner - These come with the kit I am purchasing however I would like to know if anything else is necessary to clean and properly maintain the pads.

Microfiber detergent - Looking for recommendations.

I think that just about covers everything I've been looking at and once again I am completely open suggestions and product feedback regarding anything above.

Here's a couple of pics for clicks - My Jetta.

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/veeko_81/vagkraft2010_294.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/veeko_81/dsc0023copy.jpg

Thanks for your time and assistance :xyxthumbs:

[lowdown89]

I dot have much to add as far as help with your products, but I just wanted to say beautiful ride!

[Mike Phillips]

I've decided it's time for a Porter Cable 7424XP DA polisher and some new product.

I'm going to purchase the AG Porter Cable 7424XP - XL Pad Kit. I've gone ahead and picked out some products I've chosen to start with and I'm looking for your feedback to ensure I've made the right starting decisions.

Please also keep in mind that with enough seat time using and becoming comfortable with the PC 7424 I would like to start detailing part-time.

Products

Clay Bar - Undecided - I've always used the Meguiar's kit in the past.


Meguiar's Clay Kit works great, as do most clay kits, best thing to do is find something you like and use it...





Optimum Polish - General polishing for use with yellow, orange, white, grey pads (been using this by hand for a couple of years)

Optimum Compound II - Corrective multi-step polishing to be followed up with Optimum Polish. Yellow, orange, white pads.



Both are very good and capable products, if you like Optimum products maybe take a look at the new Hyper Spray Polish and Hyper Spray Compound.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mOUCmCqQPk]YouTube - Part 1 - Autogeek's New Product Showcase - Optimum Hyper Polish Spray[/video]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG-T6iH3ei8]YouTube - Part 2 - Autogeek's New Product Showcase - Optimum Hyper Polish Spray[/video]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhkBAhXDk8Q]YouTube - Optimum Hyper Compound at Autogeek's Show Car Garage![/video]






Sealant - Undecided - Looking for a good all around quick curing sealant for time sensitive applications


Optimum Spray Wax, I demonstrate it i this video and it's as easy as it looks... interesting product, not watery but a substantial coating even though it's a spray.




Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 - Going to use this on my personal vehicle and applications that aren't so time sensitive where I can than layer a carnauba wax after the sealant has fully cured. Blue pad.


Great paint sealant, try to apply thin coats...




Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Car Wax and/or Pinnacle XMT 180 High Gloss Carnauba Paste Wax - Going to be used to layer on top of either of the above mentioned sealants or used on it's own. Finishing pads.


Great hybrid... again, focus on applying thin coats, it smells really good but don't try to drink it.



Pinnacle XMT 360 - Going to use this for the single step all-in-one type of applications. I've also been looking at Optimum Poli-Seal. Green pad.


XMT 360 is a good cleaner/wax, it has plenty of cleaning power and leaves a nice, high gloss finish.



Poorboys Trim Restore - Going to use this to dress and protect exterior grained trims. bumpers etc.




Have not used it but here's the brand new Poorboy's Bright and Bold product which can be used on Rubber, Leather, Vinyl and Plastic.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr1zTm8bkEk]YouTube - Mike Phillips Introduces 3 Brand New Products from Poorboy's World[/video]




Engine degreaser and conditioner - Looking for recommendations.


Lots of good products in this catagory... I'm sure others will chime in... here's a few though...

DP Engine Degreaser (http://www.autogeek.net/128-dp-engine-degreaser.html)
Amazing Roll-Off (http://www.autogeek.net/amazingrolloff.html)
Meguiars All Purpose Cleaner Plus (http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-all-purpose-cleaner-plus-d103.html)




Pinnacle XMT Foam Pad Cleaner and Conditioner - These come with the kit I am purchasing however I would like to know if anything else is necessary to clean and properly maintain the pads.


A bucket and/or some rinse water.



Microfiber detergent - Looking for recommendations.



Pinnacle Micro Rejuvenator Microfiber Detergent Concentrate (http://www.autogeek.net/pin620.html)


Just to note... you'll find that you'll get better quality answers and more of them if you only ask one or two questions... you can always start a new thread and ask more questions.

When you ask a lot of question in a single post it becomes a tad more difficult for others to answer you and you'll miss out on a lot of great input...

It's just hard to reply in formatted way that makes it easy to follow the questions and answers.

I switched to "Editor Mode"and sliced up you post into separate quotes but a lot of people don't know how to do this or will simply move on to a thread with easier to answer questions...

Just typing this to help anyone reading this help themselves...


:dblthumb2:

[veeko]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my inquiry Mike! Once again greatly appreciated.

Are the spray sealants such as Opti-seal just as good as say Meguairs #20 polymer sealant or #21 synthetic sealant 2.0? The reason I ask is because I'm looking for a sealant that is very durable and can set in no more than 30 minutes or so where I can then layer a carnuba wax such as Pinnacle XMT 180 paste wax or similar. Suggestions?