My detailing Tips...
09-01-2010, 08:44 AM
#1
Moderator
Thread Starter
My detailing Tips...
I have been noticing that there are a lot of posts and talk about detailing. While I am not a professional, I have spent countless hours, and the last 10 years of my life doing all my own work. I have tried numerous products and techniques, and have eventually developed my own process based on what the industry tends to use. A lot of people have seen my most recent detailing of my own car, and have had nothing but great things to say. I think my car looks better than it did when it was brand new! I never new a silver car could look so good 
If there is enough interest, I would be willing to make a long DIY writeup on my thoughts, processes, and products that I have used over the years. Again, I am not a professional, but consider myself to be better than the average person when it comes to detailing cars. After the last couple car meets, I have been fielding a lot of questions about process and products, and I love to share with other enthusiasts what I did. So if there is interest, I will do a little writeup over the next few days. It could even be as simple as posting up links to other sites that have some great information.
I learned a lot from the following articles, and I will def admit to doing it wrong all these years. Follow the link to some good basics on washing and drying. I will be going out of my way now to making sure I follow these procedures from here on out. They don't really cost any more money or time, but will prevent you from ruining your freshly detailed car!
Make sure to click on each link after the article to read on.
Proper washing and drying techniques
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/the...ing-techniques/
I am bored, so here you go. This comes from the nerd in me!
Results = Time + Products
Sorry to bore you, but I first must state my philosophy. It is a simple equation, and I will dive into each part separately. Hopefully by breaking down the equation into different parts, it can help you get the results you want. This formula is very general and basic.
Results = Time + Products
This can be a very basic, and a very complicated formula.
Basic
Paint protection from sun/weather = Saturday morning (1-2hours) + [Car wash + Wax ($10-$20 at local auto parts store)]
Some people look at waxing a car as simply a means to keep the paint protected. There is nothing wrong with this line of thought, and at the end of the day, that is what we are all trying to do. It can however be so much more than just a way to protect the paint!
Complicated
Show car shine, reflection, gloss and depth. Ultra slick and smooth surface, no swirls or scratches = 10+ hours (depending on paint condition) + [(Car wash + Clay bar + Car wash) + (Rubbing Compound + Swirl Remover (multiple coats)) + (Polishing (multiple coats) + Sealants) = $100+]
As you can see, to get the results that you want, you have to increase the amount of products and steps to the equation. That in turns increases the money you need to spend, and the time is also increased. Sorry I am an engineer, so I like equations!!
It is important to decide how much time you are willing to spend first. Based off of time, you will select your products and the results will come. It is just not possible to say I will spend 3 hours Saturday morning, and spend $200 on products, and get show car quality results. That is not feasible. If you only have a few hours, then stick to some basic easy to use products that can be bought off the shelf at a local store. If you are willing to spend 1 full day or more, than to me the obvious choice is to spend the money on the good stuff. No sense buying cheap products.
There is a direct ratio between products and time required to apply and remove them.
The more expensive products and kits, are more expensive for two reasons. First is the quality of ingredients, and second is the sheer number of products that go into making that kit. For instance a lot of starter kits cost upwards of $100, but they include 4+ steps, all using different products. All those steps add time to the equation. If you don’t want to spend the time on your car, then limit the steps and complexity, but don’t expect stunning results.
For example in the last 2 months, I followed my process and equation on 2 different vehicles. I wanted the same results, and had the same time available to me. When I say same results, you still need to scale the results. There are different levels of achievable shine, reflection, gloss, depth, surface finish etc. The first car was my GF’s 2007 Honda Accord. I wanted it to look better than new, but was not concerned with having a super glossy and ultra slick and reflective finish. I also wanted to get rid of the scratches and swirl marks. The second car was my 2004 Honda S2000, and I wanted the best results I could get, for the money I was willing to spend.
I used different products on both cars. I got the same general results, but the car with the better products has more shine, more reflections, more gloss and depth. Certain products are better than others because of their ability to give those exact characteristics to cars paint! For the Accord I used more general off the shelf products, got great results. For my S2000 I used the best I was willing to buy, and got amazing results! Only difference in my process (equation) was the products. Got the same overall results, but the results were on a different level. I hope that makes sense. If not, let me know and I can break it down further
In summary, you need to decide what you want your car to look like. While considering that, also consider how much time are you willing to sacrifice to do it, and that will help you choose your products. Keep in mind it is possible to get a great looking car without spending a lot of money, but don’t expect people to stand back in awe and be amazed by your paint.
That is it for now. Next time I will list my favorite products and why. Then I will talk about process. For now I am only doing a write up on exterior paint. I will list my favorite interior products eventually….
My Favorite Products
Soft Top
Raggtopp Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner – use with a semi coarse brush
Aerospace 303 Vinyl Protectant or Raggtopp Vinyl Protectant – Apply with a micro fiber sponge to prevent over applying.
http://www.amazon.com/Raggtopp-Convertible...f=pd_sim_auto_7
Windows/Glass
Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass
Interior
Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl and Rubber Conditioner and Meguiar’s #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner
Always clean the vinyl first, and then apply the conditioner. I swear by these products!!! Offers UV protection, and a long lasting shine (if you don’t like shiny interior, this is not for you). The best thing about the product is it makes the car smell like its brand new! I use micro fiber sponges, or old t-shirts to apply.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Vinyl-Rubbe...83536169&sr=1-5
Lexol and Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich leather Spray for the seats and leather
Again, use the cleaner first, than the conditioner. Really softens up the leather, and it seems to help with the wear. I also use Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich Leather Spray. The Lexol does a great job treating and protecting the leather, but leaves it dull looking. After using the Lexol’s, I then go over them again with the Meguiar’s. It really makes the seats look clean and shiny (again if you don’t like shine, then don’t use it)
http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1015-Leather-C...75&sr=1-3-spell
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G10916-Clas...83536479&sr=1-1
Exterior
Griot’s waterless carwash and Griot’s quick detailer for the in between car washes
I use the waterless car wash mainly to remove dust. Or I use the quick detailer depending on how much dust is on the car. Buy Griot’s Cloths as well!
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...car+wash+kit.do
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...maintain+kit.do
I used to use Simple Green on my wheels, but I need to find something new that won’t ruin my new wheels. I would recommend using Sonax wheel cleaner.
http://www.detailersdomain.com/sonax-fulle...eelcleaner.aspx
For a detail job, I will start off using the two bucket method with grit guards as mentioned in my first post. There was a link to follow that went into great detail about that method.
After the wash, I use The Mothers Clay bar Kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-07240-Califo...83537071&sr=1-1
Then I wash the car again to remove all contaminants.
Then I move onto using 3M rubbing compound for any deep scratches, or I go straight to using a swirl removing product. I have been using the Meguiar’s #09 for years, and love it. Typically two coats of this are sufficient to remove light scratches. If you have a lot of deep scratches, you may want to look into a product that offers a deeper cut.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Swirl-Mark-...83537157&sr=1-1
Then it is on to the next step. Zaino Z-5. This is also a swirl remover and car polish. I use two coats.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=8
In between each coat of Zaino, I use their Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...vc?Screen=PROD&
Product_Code=Z-8&Category_Code=Zaino&Product_Count=11
After the two or more coats of the Z-5, again dependent upon the condition of your paint, I move on to the Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish for Clear Coats. I use two coats of this as well.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=6
For tire shine I use Meguiar’s Hot Shine, High Gloss, and I apply it with a sponge. I have been using this stuff for a number of years, mainly because it seems to not fly off onto the rest of the car as bad as most other products. It also offers a very long shine. I find the trick is to apply it when you aren’t going to be driving the car for a couple hours after wards. It is also good to apply, let sit for awhile, then gently wipe the access off with a rag.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G-12024-Shi...83537483&sr=1-1
For super shiny exhaust tips, I use the Griot’s Metal Polish. Just a little dab goes a very long way.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...Arrivals&page=1
For all the black trim around the windshield wipers, fender liners, front grill, and engine bay, I use Adam’s In and Out Spray. Very easy to apply, and wipe off overspray!
http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolish...outspray-1.aspx
If there is still interest, I can go into more depth about how I actually detail the car, mainly the paint. I can break it down into more of a step by step process. There is actually a way to apply the Zaino to get better shine and reflections.
I do own all of these products, and then some! I have a small fortune in car care products….
If there is enough interest, I would be willing to make a long DIY writeup on my thoughts, processes, and products that I have used over the years. Again, I am not a professional, but consider myself to be better than the average person when it comes to detailing cars. After the last couple car meets, I have been fielding a lot of questions about process and products, and I love to share with other enthusiasts what I did. So if there is interest, I will do a little writeup over the next few days. It could even be as simple as posting up links to other sites that have some great information.I learned a lot from the following articles, and I will def admit to doing it wrong all these years. Follow the link to some good basics on washing and drying. I will be going out of my way now to making sure I follow these procedures from here on out. They don't really cost any more money or time, but will prevent you from ruining your freshly detailed car!
Make sure to click on each link after the article to read on.
Proper washing and drying techniques
http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/the...ing-techniques/
I am bored, so here you go. This comes from the nerd in me!
Results = Time + Products
Sorry to bore you, but I first must state my philosophy. It is a simple equation, and I will dive into each part separately. Hopefully by breaking down the equation into different parts, it can help you get the results you want. This formula is very general and basic.
Results = Time + Products
This can be a very basic, and a very complicated formula.
Basic
Paint protection from sun/weather = Saturday morning (1-2hours) + [Car wash + Wax ($10-$20 at local auto parts store)]
Some people look at waxing a car as simply a means to keep the paint protected. There is nothing wrong with this line of thought, and at the end of the day, that is what we are all trying to do. It can however be so much more than just a way to protect the paint!
Complicated
Show car shine, reflection, gloss and depth. Ultra slick and smooth surface, no swirls or scratches = 10+ hours (depending on paint condition) + [(Car wash + Clay bar + Car wash) + (Rubbing Compound + Swirl Remover (multiple coats)) + (Polishing (multiple coats) + Sealants) = $100+]
As you can see, to get the results that you want, you have to increase the amount of products and steps to the equation. That in turns increases the money you need to spend, and the time is also increased. Sorry I am an engineer, so I like equations!!
It is important to decide how much time you are willing to spend first. Based off of time, you will select your products and the results will come. It is just not possible to say I will spend 3 hours Saturday morning, and spend $200 on products, and get show car quality results. That is not feasible. If you only have a few hours, then stick to some basic easy to use products that can be bought off the shelf at a local store. If you are willing to spend 1 full day or more, than to me the obvious choice is to spend the money on the good stuff. No sense buying cheap products.
There is a direct ratio between products and time required to apply and remove them.
The more expensive products and kits, are more expensive for two reasons. First is the quality of ingredients, and second is the sheer number of products that go into making that kit. For instance a lot of starter kits cost upwards of $100, but they include 4+ steps, all using different products. All those steps add time to the equation. If you don’t want to spend the time on your car, then limit the steps and complexity, but don’t expect stunning results.
For example in the last 2 months, I followed my process and equation on 2 different vehicles. I wanted the same results, and had the same time available to me. When I say same results, you still need to scale the results. There are different levels of achievable shine, reflection, gloss, depth, surface finish etc. The first car was my GF’s 2007 Honda Accord. I wanted it to look better than new, but was not concerned with having a super glossy and ultra slick and reflective finish. I also wanted to get rid of the scratches and swirl marks. The second car was my 2004 Honda S2000, and I wanted the best results I could get, for the money I was willing to spend.
I used different products on both cars. I got the same general results, but the car with the better products has more shine, more reflections, more gloss and depth. Certain products are better than others because of their ability to give those exact characteristics to cars paint! For the Accord I used more general off the shelf products, got great results. For my S2000 I used the best I was willing to buy, and got amazing results! Only difference in my process (equation) was the products. Got the same overall results, but the results were on a different level. I hope that makes sense. If not, let me know and I can break it down further
In summary, you need to decide what you want your car to look like. While considering that, also consider how much time are you willing to sacrifice to do it, and that will help you choose your products. Keep in mind it is possible to get a great looking car without spending a lot of money, but don’t expect people to stand back in awe and be amazed by your paint.
That is it for now. Next time I will list my favorite products and why. Then I will talk about process. For now I am only doing a write up on exterior paint. I will list my favorite interior products eventually….
My Favorite Products
Soft Top
Raggtopp Fabric/Vinyl Cleaner – use with a semi coarse brush
Aerospace 303 Vinyl Protectant or Raggtopp Vinyl Protectant – Apply with a micro fiber sponge to prevent over applying.
http://www.amazon.com/Raggtopp-Convertible...f=pd_sim_auto_7
Windows/Glass
Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass, Invisible Glass
Interior
Meguiar’s #40 Vinyl and Rubber Conditioner and Meguiar’s #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner
Always clean the vinyl first, and then apply the conditioner. I swear by these products!!! Offers UV protection, and a long lasting shine (if you don’t like shiny interior, this is not for you). The best thing about the product is it makes the car smell like its brand new! I use micro fiber sponges, or old t-shirts to apply.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Vinyl-Rubbe...83536169&sr=1-5
Lexol and Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich leather Spray for the seats and leather
Again, use the cleaner first, than the conditioner. Really softens up the leather, and it seems to help with the wear. I also use Meguiar’s Gold Class Rich Leather Spray. The Lexol does a great job treating and protecting the leather, but leaves it dull looking. After using the Lexol’s, I then go over them again with the Meguiar’s. It really makes the seats look clean and shiny (again if you don’t like shine, then don’t use it)
http://www.amazon.com/Lexol-1015-Leather-C...75&sr=1-3-spell
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G10916-Clas...83536479&sr=1-1
Exterior
Griot’s waterless carwash and Griot’s quick detailer for the in between car washes
I use the waterless car wash mainly to remove dust. Or I use the quick detailer depending on how much dust is on the car. Buy Griot’s Cloths as well!
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...car+wash+kit.do
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...maintain+kit.do
I used to use Simple Green on my wheels, but I need to find something new that won’t ruin my new wheels. I would recommend using Sonax wheel cleaner.
http://www.detailersdomain.com/sonax-fulle...eelcleaner.aspx
For a detail job, I will start off using the two bucket method with grit guards as mentioned in my first post. There was a link to follow that went into great detail about that method.
After the wash, I use The Mothers Clay bar Kit.
http://www.amazon.com/Mothers-07240-Califo...83537071&sr=1-1
Then I wash the car again to remove all contaminants.
Then I move onto using 3M rubbing compound for any deep scratches, or I go straight to using a swirl removing product. I have been using the Meguiar’s #09 for years, and love it. Typically two coats of this are sufficient to remove light scratches. If you have a lot of deep scratches, you may want to look into a product that offers a deeper cut.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-Swirl-Mark-...83537157&sr=1-1
Then it is on to the next step. Zaino Z-5. This is also a swirl remover and car polish. I use two coats.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=8
In between each coat of Zaino, I use their Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...vc?Screen=PROD&
Product_Code=Z-8&Category_Code=Zaino&Product_Count=11
After the two or more coats of the Z-5, again dependent upon the condition of your paint, I move on to the Zaino Z-2 PRO Show Car Polish for Clear Coats. I use two coats of this as well.
http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/mercha...Product_Count=6
For tire shine I use Meguiar’s Hot Shine, High Gloss, and I apply it with a sponge. I have been using this stuff for a number of years, mainly because it seems to not fly off onto the rest of the car as bad as most other products. It also offers a very long shine. I find the trick is to apply it when you aren’t going to be driving the car for a couple hours after wards. It is also good to apply, let sit for awhile, then gently wipe the access off with a rag.
http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G-12024-Shi...83537483&sr=1-1
For super shiny exhaust tips, I use the Griot’s Metal Polish. Just a little dab goes a very long way.
http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+ca...Arrivals&page=1
For all the black trim around the windshield wipers, fender liners, front grill, and engine bay, I use Adam’s In and Out Spray. Very easy to apply, and wipe off overspray!
http://www.detailersdomain.com/adamspolish...outspray-1.aspx
If there is still interest, I can go into more depth about how I actually detail the car, mainly the paint. I can break it down into more of a step by step process. There is actually a way to apply the Zaino to get better shine and reflections.
I do own all of these products, and then some! I have a small fortune in car care products….
09-01-2010, 01:53 PM
#7
Moderator
Thread Starter
Ok I did my first little write up, hope you don't think its dumb! I promise the next write up will be more about actual detailing
Trending Topics
09-03-2010, 10:25 AM
#9
Moderator
Thread Starter
Updated with all of my favorite products!
I have been considering doing detailing jobs for money on the side. PM for details.
I have been considering doing detailing jobs for money on the side. PM for details.
