Auto Cleaning/Waxing

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

I am going with a Sealant because as I have read it is superior protection and duration. If I am so inclined I could throw some actual Wax over the sealant for a superior shine.

--Kelly, if you seal it well when new would you need to Polish it?

--Any good resources for 100% cotton towels? Or are there other drying options?

The sealant and/or wax doesn't really protect the paint from mechanical abrasion only environmental hazards (bird poo, acid rain, etc.). Even if you don't wash your car right you can scratch it resulting in the need to polish. Most dealers have NO idea how to wash a car and most new cars are delivered with their finish scratched to heck. The dealer then uses a glaze loaded with fillers to temporarily hide the scratches.

Also, re: cotton towels. No one uses cotton anymore. Sometimes, I use my old cotton towels on my leather interior but that's about it. Microfiber towels are more effective and less abrasive.

Read this auto detailing guide I wrote a number of years back:

http://www.thedetailinghandbook.com

Originally Posted by MikeyC

The sealant and/or wax doesn't really protect the paint from mechanical abrasion only environmental hazards (bird poo, acid rain, etc.). Even if you don't wash your car right you can scratch it resulting in the need to polish. Most dealers have NO idea how to wash a car and most new cars are delivered with their finish scratched to heck. The dealer then uses a glaze loaded with fillers to temporarily hide the scratches.

Also, re: cotton towels. No one uses cotton anymore. Sometimes, I use my old cotton towels on my leather interior but that's about it. Microfiber towels are more effective and less abrasive.

Read this auto detailing guide I wrote a number of years back:

http://www.thedetailinghandbook.com

I've seen your chart around, but it seems autogeek has expanded on it with newer products.

http://www.auto-geek.net/charts/wax-...art-master.htm

Also there's been a lot of talk about whether polishing your glass via a PC doesn't cause distortion from the heat buildup. It's not as hard as one would think to warp glass.

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by Mindflux

I've seen your chart around, but it seems autogeek has expanded on it with newer products.

http://www.auto-geek.net/charts/wax-...art-master.htm

Also there's been a lot of talk about whether polishing your glass via a PC doesn't cause distortion from the heat buildup. It's not as hard as one would think to warp glass.

There's always a lot of debate in detailing just like there is in cigars. I've polished glass 100 times and never distorted it. It's pretty hard to develop any heat with a PC and a 5"+ pad.

Also, I can't full credit for the chart. Like Autogeek expanded the chart, I expanded it based on one I had found done by someone else.

[tsolomon]

I have a Porter 7424 and will spend a whole weekend detailing the car. I have used Medzerma with good results but recently switched to the Blackfire products. I finish with the Midnight Sun Ivory Carnauba Paste Wax as my final coat and I'm real happy with the results. I have a friend who uses the Zaino products and I was impressed with the results she got. If I'm short on time I'll use the Klasse All-in-One product.

I'd echo Zaino and Autopia as everyone else has. Though you'll find a lot of other great sealants other than Zaino. If you think cigar buying addiction is bad, wait until you get sealant/wax/polish/car care stuff addiction. Woo-Wee.


Other popular sealants are: Blackfire Wet Diamond, Four Star Ultimate Paint Protection, Wolfgang Deep Gloss, Menzerna Power Lock to name a few. The latest craze is the Wipe On, Walk Away sealants such as Optimum Opti-Seal, Zaino Clear-Seal, Ultima Paint Guard Plus, etc. Literally spread it on evenly and let it dry. No buffing off.

But with anything, preparation for your last step product (known as "LSP" on Autopia) is a KEY ingredient to a nice shiny/slick paint surface.

auto magic seems to work just fine for me and 3m based products. i use to work for a autobody shop thats all we used some of the guys used meguiars quick detail but that was about it.

You may also have luck in picking up DuraGloss locally. If you can get the DuraGloss TPP #105 or their #111 sealant. Along with their #901 soap (16oz?) or #902 (Gallon) and AquaWax #951 QD/Spray "wax" you have a good start for stuff you can procure locally.

If for some reason you can't find it locally but want to try it, duragloss.com ships any size order for just $5 in shipping fees. They have tons of good products and there's a LOT of speculation that Zaino and Duragloss are 'eerily' similar. Though nobody knows for sure.

[kenstogie]

So as my order from Amazon arrives with all the wax n such I went rummaging through that shelf of chemicals many of us seem to have and found the following products. They probably have been sitting there for a decade or so...

-Black majic car wash (smells good)
-Simoniz (has Carnuba wax and a bunch of other stuff I can't pronounce)
-Meguiars cleaner wax

I don't think I will be using any of it.
I was pretty sure there's a reason I never used it.
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by kenstogie

So as my order from Amazon arrives with all the wax n such I went rummaging through that shelf of chemicals many of us seem to have and found the following products. They probably have been sitting there for a decade or so...

-Black majic car wash (smells good)
-Simoniz (has Carnuba wax and a bunch of other stuff I can't pronounce)
-Meguiars cleaner wax

I don't think I will be using any of it.
I was pretty sure there's a reason I never used it.
Posted via Mobile Device

What did you pick up from Amazon? Who was the 'real' seller?

[MikeyC]

Originally Posted by Mindflux

What did you pick up from Amazon? Who was the 'real' seller?

I bet Autogeek.

Originally Posted by MikeyC

I bet Autogeek.

I'd bet so too. That's a shame if so, they have a 10% off coupon (always) or a free shipping coupon over $95 (always).. so you figure which does you better price wise and use the appropriate code.

They also ship free for 3-6 hours after a two guys garage airs on speed channel all this month.

July 4th weekend I got 20% off my order with a coupon they offered and waited for the free shipping offer to pop up after the show aired on speed channel. So I got 20% off AND free shipping.

[kenstogie]

I got macguiars soap, Klasse sealant and some micro fiber towels. Also I guess I need a clay bar but I am unsure if there's a difference so I haven't gotten that. If it's a new car is it even needed? I would have to check the actual seller.
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Originally Posted by kenstogie

I got macguiars soap, Klasse sealant and some micro fiber towels. Also I guess I need a clay bar but I am unsure if there's a difference so I haven't gotten that. If it's a new car is it even needed? I would have to check the actual seller.
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New cars can benefit from claying to remove any imbedded rail dust on your paint. If you've ever seen little tiny flecks of what look like rust on your cars finish you'll understand what I mean.

You can go down to AutoZone and get a Clay Magic kit for about $17 dollars that has a clay bar and a QD spray or spend about $20 and get the Meguiar's kit with clay, spray and a microfiber towel. (If I remember right).

Both are reasonable deals for OTC. There's also a Mothers clay bar kit you'll find at Target.. again it's in the 15-20 dollar range and is fine.

Split the clay bar up into several pieces and flatten a piece out and start claying your car and using the QD spray as lubricant, turning and kneading the clay to keep the surface of the clay 'clean' every panel or two. When it's too dirty to knead a clean surface out of it chuck that piece, but on a new car that's not very likely.

Keep all of the claybar in a ziploc baggy with a couple squirts of qd spray to keep it from drying out.


Here's a picture of rail dust on a tundra.




Also just to be clear: Claybars can be abrasive and leave tracer marks on your paint! Make sure the car is washed THOROUGHLY and do not apply any downward pressure on the claybar when claying! Make sure to use PLENTY of claybar lubricant. (or a 16oz spray bottle full of tap water with a capful of car wash soap works great for this duty too)

If you get some tracers, don't get too worked up.. you can probably polish them out by hand since you won't have invested in a buffer at this stage. You'll just need something with a mild abrasive action in it like Meguiars Scratch X.

[kenstogie]

That's some great info Mindflux. Thanks!
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[kenstogie]

Just thought I'd mention that big lots has a 5 piece car cleaning kit for 7.00. Includes MF wash mitt, Mf glass towel, MF finishing towel, mf dusting towel and 3x3 foot MF drying towel. Also there is 20pct off coupon on sunday. I bought two and am returning some stuff to Target. A penny saved...
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[kenstogie]

It does have the original wax from the dealer (I have only had the car a week) and it's not in bad shape but Wouldn't the new sealant (klasse) adhere to clean paint and thus be better?
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[kenstogie]

Done. Wow that takes some time.
Wash, rinse. Dry.
Wash with dawn (to strip) rinse, dry.
Clay bar
Wash, rinse, dry.
Wax,( I got some Meguires NXT in the interim) buff, wipe down with a MF cloth, done. Took about 4 hours. I can see where a buffer would come in handy. I also got a telscoping handle eith MF attachement. That helped the washing go quicker. If I am feeling ambitious I throw another coat of wax on tomorrow.
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[RGD.]

Originally Posted by kenstogie

Done. Wow that takes some time.
Wash, rinse. Dry.
Wash with dawn (to strip) rinse, dry.
Clay bar
Wash, rinse, dry.
Wax,( I got some Meguires NXT in the interim) buff, wipe down with a MF cloth, done. Took about 4 hours. I can see where a buffer would come in handy. I also got a telscoping handle eith MF attachement. That helped the washing go quicker. If I am feeling ambitious I throw another coat of wax on tomorrow.
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No polish huh?

Looks good in the picture -

Ron

[kenstogie]

So here's the result.....

[kenstogie]

Hey Ron With anew Car does it need to be polished? After the clay it felt like glass and looked good. If so when would you?
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