So, I was poking around the web looking for suggestions for that Christmas present thread. One link after another led me to autogeek.com's forums, and I started reading. One of several people who has a detailing business, this one called D&D Auto Detailing.

So I got curious, and started poking around that website. So here's the question. Check this out:

http://www.dndgarage.net/detailprocessexplained.htm

About one page down, it reads (the bold was added by me for emphasis):

"After polishing is complete, the entire car is rewashed with 0 ppm water from a de- ionized water filtration system. This removes all polishing dust and ensures a spot- free finish. Then the paint receives not one, but two coats of Carnauba wax and or sealant. Before applying the wax and or sealant, the entire car receives an alcohol wipe down to allow the sealant and or wax to bond better. After the sealant cures, a wax can be applied on top of it if desired. A glaze can also be added for even more depth and wetness. This is a good addition for show cars and garage queens."

Anyone ever heard of this?

Seems to me that it flies in the face of things like zymol HD Cleanse or Swissvax Pre-Wax Cleaner being a prerequisite before using their waxes. Just wondering what folks thought of this idea. I for one had never heard of it, yet at some level, it makes sense to me...?

 

its to bring the paint "pure"-
will remove everything on the paint- keep it off of emblems and anything with glue

 

Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA): [Chemical Formula: (CH3)2 CHOH, Proper Name: Isopropanol]
Isopropyl alcohol contains approx. 70% isopropyl alcohol, is a colourless liquid with a pleasant odour. It is highly flammable and is found in alcohol sponges, cleaning agents, and rubbing alcohol (although some rubbing alcohols contain ethanol and / or oil) and is a good disinfectant.

Used in various dilutions it is used for removing adhesive residue, as a solvent for petroleum type stains. An IPA wipe-down is used after polishing to check the paint surface for any surface imperfections not removed by polishing. Fill a fine misting spray bottle with a 1:1 Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) / distilled water solution spray the paint surface, leave it to dwell for 30-45 seconds, agitate before wiping the paint surface with a clean, dry 100% cotton towel (DF Alpine

 

The goal of an alcohol wipe down (most people use diluted rubbing alcohol BTW) is to remove any fillers or oils left behind by the polish.

The benefit of this action is two fold.

1. If you're using a sealant it will bond better as sealants like to bond directly to the paint. Having oils or fillers on top of the paint in theory will affect the bonding ability of the sealant.

2. Many polishes have fillers. These fillers hide scratches and imperfections in the paint. Many times after polishing you think all the scratches are gone but after a wash or two they come back. This is because they were filled and not removed. Removing the fillers with an alcohol wipe down will give you a better idea of how you really did when you polished the car.

Personally, I don't do alcohol wipe downs. First, I feel if you get alcohol on emblems it can eat up the glue causing them to fall off. Second, if you get it on trim it could dry out the rubber/plastic. Third, I use polish with minimal fillers so the result I see is the result I get. Fourth, I almost never use a sealant so bonding is not an issue for me.