help newbie

[deep]

i have a 2011 pilot. thinking about buying the forum fav. kit. are there any step by step instructions from prep to finish available. I took it to the pro detail shop. It was waste of money. I decided to do this myself. if anyone can point me in the right direction i would appreciate it.

[2old2change]

Welcome to the forum deep. Kits will save you some cash if it contains the products you were going to buy anyway. Some members prefer to purchase ala-carte so to say and target certain products they deem important to their needs. The search feature is your friend and offers a ton of info pertaining to your individual questions. The members here are more then willing to help when you address particular subjects or problems. Mike Phillips offers on line classes with a lot of general info on a wide variety of subjects. Other then these hints I would read,read and read some more. Again welcome to AG.

[deep]

just one more question. my pilot has some plastic trim. do i apply the klasse aio and any kind of wax to the trim also.

[S2K]

just one more question. my pilot has some plastic trim. do i apply the klasse aio and any kind of wax to the trim also.
Is the trim painted? or just unfinished black?

[deep]

Is the trim painted? or just unfinished black?
am pretty sure its unfinished black.

[S2K]

am pretty sure its unfinished black.

Then you don't want to use an AIO or wax on it. Wax can turn it white and is really hard to remove. You should use a product designed for trim such as:

Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant, rubber protectant, metal protectant, exterior trim protectant, exterior trim sealer (http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-exterior-trim-sealant.html)
Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus, tire & trim protectant, tire dressing, rubber protectant (http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-tire-trim-guard.html)

I know these are kind of pricey but if you read reviews on them they are the best and their durability pays for itself.

Here's something else cheaper but works pretty good:
Poorboy's Trim Restorer: Touching up the trim with Poorboy’s Trim Restorer provides the final polishing step in your quest for the perfect finish. (http://www.autogeek.net/pbtr16.html)

There are a lot of products out there for trim so just find something you like.

[S2K]

Maybe Jenn can chime in with what she uses on the trim of her Pilot.

[deep]

Then you don't want to use an AIO or wax on it. Wax can turn it white and is really hard to remove. You should use a product designed for trim such as:

Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant, rubber protectant, metal protectant, exterior trim protectant, exterior trim sealer (http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-exterior-trim-sealant.html)
Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus, tire & trim protectant, tire dressing, rubber protectant (http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-tire-trim-guard.html)

I know these are kind of pricey but if you read reviews on them they are the best and their durability pays for itself.

Here's something else cheaper but works pretty good:
Poorboy's Trim Restorer: Touching up the trim with Poorboy’s Trim Restorer provides the final polishing step in your quest for the perfect finish. (http://www.autogeek.net/pbtr16.html)

There are a lot of products out there for trim so just find something you like.
would these products work on the chrome plastic parts.

[S2K]

would these products work on the chrome plastic parts.
Hmmm I'm not sure about that one. Hey Corey... need some help here.....

[BobbyG]

:welcome: To Autogeek Online!

Once you begin to do your own detailing you'll begin to understand what the proper steps are to make your car look great. your learnings will allow you to tackle greater challenges raising the bar of your skills.

Kit Page

Car Care Kits, Car Care Cleaning Kits, Complete Detailing Kits (http://www.autogeek.net/kitspecials.html)

Decent kit


Menzerna Porter Cable XP Maximum Shine Kit FREE BONUS (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-porter-cable-maximum-shine.html)

Porter Cable 7424xp Ceramic Kit

Menzerna kit, 5.5 lake country pads, porter cable menzerna kit, ceramic clear polishing kit, Mercedes polishing kit (http://www.autogeek.net/pc7424-menzerna-ceramic-kit.html)

Flex Kit

If I were in the market for a kit this would be the one I'd choose.


Menzerna polishes for ceramic clear coat paint, Flex buffer, Nano polish, super intensive, Lake Country pads, Show car kit (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-flex-xc3401-ceramic-show-car-kit.html)


Porter Cable style machines

Porter cable 7424xp, 7424xp, Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher, Porter Cable polisher, car polisher, buffer, sander-polisher (http://www.autogeek.net/porter-cable-7424xp.html)

The 6 1/2" diameter pads a Porter Cable 7424 in my opinion pushes the limit of the machine and this could be part of the problem.

I have the Porter Cable 7424 and found a world of difference when I decided to try Lake Country 5 1/2 diameter pads.

The Porter Cable 7424 style dual action polisher should come standard with 5 1/2 inch pads and corresponding backing plate.

Pads & Friction

The size or surface area does not directly affect the frictional force between two surfaces until downward force or pressure is applied. Reducing the pad size will only improve the mechanical efficiency of the machine.

The motor of your polisher produces some amount of power. The larger the pad surface area the harder the motor must work. Now, most will say "it's only 1 extra inch", but when it comes to surface area and friction your really talking about an additional 10 square inches. Now take a look at the difference between the 5 1/2", 6 1/2" and 7" pad...........Size does matter!

Surface Area - 5 1/2 pad = 23.75 in²

Surface Area - 6 1/2 pad = 33.18 in²

Surface Area - 7 pad = 38.484 in²

There is a direct relationship between the pad surface area and the polishers ability to transfer adequate power to the pad improving it's overall performance.

Lake Country Pads

Lake Country 5 1/2 x 7/8 inch Beveled Edge Pads 6 Pack, foam pad kit, build a kit, buffing pads, curved edge pads (http://www.autogeek.net/lake-country-beveled-pad-kit.html)

Backing Plate

lake country 5 inch backing plate, 5 inch backin plate, 5 inch hook and loop backing plate (http://www.autogeek.net/lc43125.html)

Paint Perfection

Menzerna Bundle

Menzerna Power Gloss, Power Finish & Super Finish Bundle, Menzerna Polishes Combo, Nano Polish, Power Finish Polish, Power Gloss Compound (http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-polish-bundle3.html)

Many really like the new Meguiar's Microfiber Dual Action Correction System

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System 5 Inch Starter Kit, paint correction kit, dual action polishing kit (http://www.autogeek.net/da-microfiber-starter-kit-5in.html) __________________

[S2K]

Ok I think I found Corey's opinion:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-101/37805-newb-question-can-you-wax-seal-exterior-chrome-trim.html

This might help and read post #13.

[deep]

thanks

[Flash Gordon]

Welcome to the party newb