Perfect Detailing Tips/ Search continues

[johncarlos2003]

Hey all

Happy new year. I am posting this cause last detail post i put up a lot of you emailed me that you like the products reco'd, questions, etc.

so here's some new info.

I am continuing to learn new tips and products from two of the best detail guys in the los angeles are and, probably, the world. They are masters and I try to share little tips and products they reco to me- they do high end vehicles for shows etc and spend sometimes 20-30 hours on a car to get it perfect. true artists.

thing is, technique is huge too! they are masters with the machines and wet sanding etc and the difference is huge between the average detailer and a true pro. so product alone guarantees not everything.

a couple of highly reco'd products from the best detailer ive ever seen, by far.

1) a great new wash product that is so easy to use and you just wipe on (1 oz in 2 gallons of h20) and wipe off after a minute or two--- you do not hose the car before or after! it is awesome, not a gimmick or detail spary. it is a wash that works, shines, and does not remove much wax or sealant. doesnt' scratch- i have a soft black paint job that is very very well maintained and im picky so . . .

anyway, it's called Optimum No Rinse Wash & Shine -- i got it off pakshak.com or you can get it from autogeek and im sure others.

try it- i think you'll like it!!!!

2) Ultima Paint Guard Plus- awesome stuff $35 or so a bottle but just great.
easy to use, no buffing, great shine, great protection, long lasting- makes my black paint look sweet too- i top it off with 50/50 wax from chemicalguys.com it's a great thin show wax, best i've used. ---- the super pro detailer ive mentioned above does not like to top the sealant, says it's entirely taste though . . . i like the warmth of a nice carnuba topping!

3) Ultima Tire & Trim Guard-
Ok, I've been using Back to Black- i like it and still do but the Ultima doesn't make it so shiny and lasts really really really long-

Well, good luck keepin' them clean. Drive em hard too! I had soooo much fun on New Year's run and that's really what they're about. Nice lookin' good inbetween though!

cheers

[johncarlos2003]

[johncarlos2003]

[Bob Goding]

John-Carlos---there was a thread on PELICAN 2 or three years back on how to get the perfect finish on a black car[I think] I showed it to a friend of mine who grooms hi-end cars as a profession--Rolls/Ferrari /Porsche etc and he endorsed it as exactly what he would do.
I couldnt find it with a quick search,but perhaps someone will have it saved and chime in.
Thanks for your info

[DW SD]

If you have the patience for a good read and a lot of work about detailing this is an excellent thread about paint detailing:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=158378

[RWebb]

any financial interest in the product???

[johncarlos2003]

Believe me, I've never made a dollar from anything having to do with my Porsche or any car- I've sure spent a lot though!

Did you read the initial post?
These were reco'd to me by a local super-pro detailer.
Use whatever product you'd like- please!
I've posted several brands of great products over the past year. Some known, others new or relatively obscure. This is, as you know, a place to discuss our cars and ways that are known to make them run, run better, look better, etc..
Just pitching in what I can since I'm not a J. Walker or Grady and can't really add much detailed comment on rebuilding an engine.

[rothaus]

http://www.carmagic.com.au/







Cheers
Engelbert

[johncarlos2003]

Cool.

I totally didn't think that these new water saving washes worked, didn't scratch, etc.

they do! i am very careful with my black paint and i am totally happy with them.

of course, drying is huge too. i use waffle towells like the cobra ones or similar. i use 3 cause i don't wanna scratch-

it is almost impossible to not scratch at all on soft black paint- gotta be sooooo careful. Lucky white ones!

[deathpunk dan]

wash your car with palmolive to strip the wax
rinse
re-wet
clay bar
wash again with regular wash
3m imperial hand glaze
zymol

done

[kilodawg]

For the past two years I have never dried any of my cars with a towel, micro fiber, cotton or otherwise.

I have used an electric leaf blower. As long as the car is well waxed (Zaino, carnuba etc.) 90% of the water is removed. Perhaps most importantly the water that sits in cracks, crevices and behind seals etc is also displaced. Living a mile from the ocean in Florida makes the removal of this moisture critical..

I do follow up the blowdrying with a high quality QD like FK-425 and a soft micro fiber wipe but I would do that even if I dried by more traditional means.

I plan on trying the Optimum no rinse now as well. I figure the less water you use (without causing micro scratches) and the less you have to touch the paint with anything the better...

[johncarlos2003]

Leafblower! yeah, that's cool. I've thought about it! might do it. I like that it cleans out crevices etc which is great.

The optimum is great stuff. in places like Australia where water is really tight right now it is big time.

[rothaus]

I use that Magic style now over a year and the best thing is the time I need to wash the car. The time I would need to dry the car after it's all wet, is the time I need to wash it. I like that stuff also on the rims.

Cheers
Engelbert

[DW SD]

I don't understand how the waterless wash would not result in fine scratches. Anyone know how it works?

[3.2 CAB]

I don't know how it could clean the exterior of the car scratch free, if it was not hosed off or pressure washed before use of this product. It would seem to me that any road grime or dirt would just soften, and then be scrubbed into the paint causing scratches. I know that I am confused about this product and would actually like to see it in use to check the claims made, but not used on my car to test this.???

[kilodawg]

For Porsche info go to the Pelican forum for car detailing info go to Autopia.org

Search on ONR when you are ready to spend some time delving into the topic. When these guys consistently swear by something it works. Mind you I've yet to try it but I'm ordering some as soon as I post this. It obviously is less worrisome when using it on a relatively clean car but the results seem excellent on dirty ones as well.

Interestingly, people seem to have some difficulty getting the dirt to release from the mitts and towels they use to wash with.

[johncarlos2003]

yeah, i get more scratching with traditional soap and bucket even though i use two mitts and buckets.

the optimum chemicals somehow realease contaminents and they sink in the bucket- again, chemical, polymer magic- chemists chime in here!

Kilodawg is right, READ UP ON AUTOTOPIA- many top pros are using this product and i usually try it once i hear enough buzz.

that plus my car has better paint and less scratches than most new cars after 6 months and standard wash and waxes-

i do stay on it! good luck all.

[rothaus]

The nice thing on the stuff I'm using, is that it has no chemicals or solvents in it, it is all natural. Check out the website.




Engelbert

[kilodawg]

Unfortunately, from the independent evaluations I've been able to find this seems to be one of those cases of "better living thru chemistry"

[rothaus]

Originally Posted by kilodawg

Perhaps most importantly the water that sits in cracks, crevices and behind seals etc is also displaced. Living a mile from the ocean in Florida makes the removal of this moisture critical.....

Waterless wash is a great way to avoide the water in all the cracks, behind the seals.

Originally Posted by kilodawg

I do follow up the blowdrying with a high quality QD like FK-425 and a soft micro fiber wipe but I would do that even if I dried by more traditional means.
...

I learnd that the micro fiber towels trap the little sand pieces and that's what scratches the paint, a good quality chamois does not.