Dan's Quick Product Guide

[bambo2888]

Hey guys,

This is just a quick rundown of the products that I use on a daily basis. Nothing special, but maybe this will provide some insight to the new detailers who are looking for some suggestions and opinions from the "Senior" members (lol, I don't know if that's an accurate description of me). Nevertheless, ENJOY!

Oh, any and all suggestions for improvements to this would be appreciated.

Wash

Washing is very important. Bad habits will lead to bad results and the potential for causing more harm than good. Use the SchMitt wash mit to prevent swirls and scratches in addition to a 5gal. bucket with a grit guard. The guard will prevent the mit from settling in the dirt that is released from the mit while rinsing.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1943_7641143http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/autogeek/crossview.jpg

A significant upgrade to consider is the foam gun. Its pretty self explanatory, but I will add that this products significatnly speeds up the washing process and is the best counter-attack to swirls and scratches.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/autogeek/h2foam.jpg

The soap to use is important, you dont want to strip previous coats of the waxes, especially the ones I have outlined below. An inexpensive soap that does its job is the DP Auto Bath, which can also be purchased in bulk, like all of the AG products.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_108368222

Dry

There are different methods to use; drive around the block, gas powered leaf blower, or the Guzzler MF towel. I suggest drive around the block slowly and finish with the guzzler.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_116012690


POLISH

The XMT line is a great polish line with room for a lot of customizing with pads and abrasives.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1941_35024150

Glaze

If you want to follow this step up with a sealant, consider the DP and WG Finishing Glazes. These do not contain any carnauba, so the sealant I speak of below will adhere to these two glazes. If you want to skip the selant step, go ahead and use the XMT Glaze that comes with the kit, it's a great product.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_130451729



Sealant

If you choose this route, which I highly suggest, stick with the WG Deep Gloss Paint Sealant. General consensus concludes that this is among the best. The ease of application, shine, and durability are this product's highlights.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_112040665



Wax

Perhaps the most important decision is the pure carnauba wax you choose. Topping out the best, in my opinion, will be Pinnacle Souveran. It is made with 100% pure yellow carnauba and for the $80, you will be able to wax 25 cars, which goes even further when it lasts 6 weeks (even longer if you decided to use a sealant and the below quick detailer) in FL weather.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_96044782


The next wax to consider is the Pinnacle Signature Series II. Generally recommended for lighter colored cars, this wax has less carnauba (and is half the price) of Souveran, but it contains polymers designed to make the pearl, metal flakes, and metallics really show through, or "pop", as it is referred to.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_95956071

Other very good waxes, on the cheaper side, are DP's MaxWax, P12s, PoorBoys' Natty's Paste wax (blue), and a few others.
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_107171220http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_123868410http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_73600796

Quick Detailer

This step is what is used after the car was waxed a few days ago, or even the very next day after you drove around or it sat and accumulated dust. This step provides that "just waxxed" look and can NEVER be overused. I suggest Pinnacle's Spray Souveran. It's the best, hands down. I personally use the Spray Souveran, but I also LOVE the Crystal Mist spray. I use this everyday, religiously, before I head off for classes. Both of these make my coat of wax last much longer than it would without the use of a quick detailer.

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1942_21585298http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1942_21662321



Thank you to AG, which is where I got all of these pictures and to the forum, where I got all of my knowledge on the products and the help I needed to get going!

[TjMonsen5]

you use crystal mist every day? wow! that is some serious dedication to keeping your car clean! nice info too!

[Mike T]

Nice write-up. My only concern with the foam gun is the soap drying on the surface before I can get to it. I always wash outside in direct sunlight.

[nick19]

Nice write-up. My only concern with the foam gun is the soap drying on the surface before I can get to it. I always wash outside in direct sunlight.


Work faster ;)

I have the same problem, but I also hold the foam gun in my other hand, and load up the mitt with foam before applying to a panel.

[bambo2888]

you use crystal mist every day? wow! that is some serious dedication to keeping your car clean! nice info too!

Haha, yea! Having a white car sucks. Dusts sits on it over night and any moisture in the air collects on the car and when you start driving, it turns into dirt and gets all over the trunk lid and back bumper.

As for the foam drying, just adjust the ratio of soap to water to have it be more water than soap. This usually gives me a little more time, for I too wash in direct sunlght.

[TjMonsen5]

so you park your car outside then? i guess you probably would have some dust on it each night then. I like having a garage, keeps the car clean for muchhhh longer.

[Jimmie]

Good one. That will be a real good reference for folks getting started. It can also be expanded to Wheels/Tires; Interior; etc later. Excellent.

[bambo2888]

Good one. That will be a real good reference for folks getting started. It can also be expanded to Wheels/Tires; Interior; etc later. Excellent.

ah yes! thank you, i kept thinking that I missing something, I'll expand in a little while.


so you park your car outside then? i guess you probably would have some dust on it each night then. I like having a garage, keeps the car clean for muchhhh longer.

Yep, unfortunately, being in colleg doesn't yield much income, so a carport is all I get. And even that, I had to argue with roommates for, hehe. :p

[bambo2888]

Wheel Cleaning

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_123897867http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_75163549

Poorboy's Spray and Rinse is the most awesome product. It truly is Spray on and rinse off. If you are more anal retentive, like me, and insist on brushing anyway, P12s's Wheel Cleaner is a very nice alternative. P12s comes with a very effective sponge that is very useful in cleaning indentions and intricate wheels (like the 05' Carrera S I had to do, whew!)

[Nuke33]

Nice write up! Im sure it will help some people just starting out

[supercharged]

Wheel Cleaning

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_123897867http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/autogeek_1940_75163549

Poorboy's Spray and Rinse is the most awesome product. It truly is Spray on and rinse off. If you are more anal retentive, like me, and insist on brushing anyway, P12s's Wheel Cleaner is a very nice alternative. P12s comes with a very effective sponge that is very useful in cleaning indentions and intricate wheels (like the 05' Carrera S I had to do, whew!)
No wheel sealant? ;)

[bambo2888]

No wheel sealant? ;)

hehe, I have a container of Wheel Glaze on mental note for the next order or visit to The Driver's Seat...

[klumzypinoy]

Nice writeup. I'm sure this will really help the new comers (didn't wanna be mean n call them noobies :p).

[ORC]

Hello, I'm new to this detail stuff. Why do you suggest drive around the block slowly and finish with the guzzler? Guzzler, is it the same thing as a bath towel? Driving around the block, would that not get dust all over the water spots on my paint? What do you think about ICE by Turtle wax? I talk to the sale person at autozone, he told me that Zymol is the same company as Turtle Wax and it's just a different label but the same stuff. I could not fine Turtle wax or Zymol on autogeek.net. Do they sale it. Thanks

[bambo2888]

First and foremost, in MY opinion, Turtle Wax is trash. I'm not bashing their product (the Platinum Tire Gel is OK), but from personal experience, I highly dislike it.

When driving around the block, it is not enough to gather any real potential problems. I like this method because all of the water in the cracks and between the panels seep out and make it an easy cleanup with the Guzzler, which is Cobra's microfiber drying towel. We on the forum refer to it as the "guzzler" because it never seems to get filled with water. It truly is a great product that provides a safe and effective method for drying. An alternative to driving around the block would be using a powered blower, like a leaf blower, to blow the water out of the crevices. In essence, this is the exact same thing. Driving around the block, however, also dries the tires and wheels. Side note: the guzzler is NOT just a towel. Never use 100% cotton towels for car care, for the fibers become very stiff once washed and become embedded with softeners and detergents that will mar and swirl the paint's clear coat.

As far as the connection between Zymol and Turtle Wax, I am not sure so I cannot speak intelligently. As far as the chemicals, they are two completely different compositions. The high end Zymol waxes are very god, in fact, they have more carnauba per volume than Souveran. On the same token, though, its over $150 for the same size and it yields only a small percentage more carnauba.

If you get one thing out of this, let it me STICK AWAY FROM TURTLE WAX, if you care about your car, that it. I hope this helps. Please, ASK MORE QUESTIONS if you need!

Dan.