What is your favorite wax?
#17
Buck- its basically a little bar of clay that is pliable in your hands. You spray a little soapy water (or Meguires quick detail solution) on your paint, then get to rubbing. You can get a Meguires Clay Kit from Walmart for about $15 (comes 2 clay bars, spray and a microfiber cloth). The clay flattens perfectly to your painted surface and picks up the contaminants that are stuck to your clearcoat. Try this- after washing your truck, run your hand accross your hood. Feel all the microscopic barbs? Clay bar it. Then run your hand accross it again. Smooth as a baby's butt. This a huge help to your wax job- giving your paint an almost wet look. Try it and let everyone know what you think.
#19
Detailing is my thing!
I spend an honest 5 hrs every Sunday tweaking out my F150's paint, plastics, engine bay, Cabin, and sometimes my undercarriage. I go to about 120hrs of clinics a year on complete auto detailing. TRY TO ONLY USE MICROFIBER CLOTHS!!
NEVER USE DRIVE THROUGH AS THE "SPOT FREE" RINSE DESTORYS SHINE OVER TIME!
Meguiar's Paint Cleaner Wax - is not to be used regularly. You may not notice now but you are eating away at your clear coat. It may say clear coat safe, but after using it for 6 years now I have seen some badly worn paint or "sunburning." Especially if you do it by hand due to non even spreading. Once a season (or 4 times a year) is safe use for this product.
Clay Bar - IS THE BEST THING THAT WAS MADE FOR AUTO DETAILING TO REMOVE oxidation, tree sap, etc. Only the pressure about the weight of an orange should be used as to not leave swirls in your paint. Be sure to also have enough lubrication between the paint and clay. DO NOT USE WATER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Water has minerals that will leave swirls.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE: Stay in the shade, and work on cool to the touch paint. If possible work under a carport or even better a garage to ensure as little dirt on your freshly clayed paint surface as possible. A TREE isn't shade. Most trees let out airborne sap that will give you "specks" in the paint.
ARMOR-ALL CONSUMER/Detailers Choice Products- They are petroleum based products that will "bake" your plastics/vynls and in turn dry them out over time. These products do the worst damage to any custom truck (FX4, KR, LAR) not to mention why you have alot of film on the INSIDE of the windshield.
PROPER DRESSINGS (plastic and Vynl conditioners)- Are those that are synthetic or water based. All major brands including Armor All have a professional line of dressings. Look for these online, Meguairs Direct for example offers HUGE saving when you buy gallons of product.
Well now that I'm done with my $.02 on prep....
I believe the best protection you can put on your car is that of Synthetic. I personally use a Dual Action Polisher by PorterCable with mutiple pads of "cutting or polishing power" to layer KLASSE All-in-one as a base,KLASSE Sealant Glaze as a Mid Protectant, and Meguairs NXT as a top Coat. As for the interrior I use the Meg. Prof. Rubber/Vynl Cleaner/Conditioner. Doesn't look greasy and leaves a clean matte finish; its safe to use and doesnt streak even on your guages plastic.(more apps can be applied for gloss) Exterior Plastics is protected by Meg. Pro. All Season Dressing.
Done for now but if you guys want to look up more info or view "how to" guides my resources are as follows:
Autopia - Autopia Home
Car Care, Car Waxes, Car Polishes, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers, Car Covers, Car Accessories from Classic Motoring Accessories
NEVER USE DRIVE THROUGH AS THE "SPOT FREE" RINSE DESTORYS SHINE OVER TIME!
Meguiar's Paint Cleaner Wax - is not to be used regularly. You may not notice now but you are eating away at your clear coat. It may say clear coat safe, but after using it for 6 years now I have seen some badly worn paint or "sunburning." Especially if you do it by hand due to non even spreading. Once a season (or 4 times a year) is safe use for this product.
Clay Bar - IS THE BEST THING THAT WAS MADE FOR AUTO DETAILING TO REMOVE oxidation, tree sap, etc. Only the pressure about the weight of an orange should be used as to not leave swirls in your paint. Be sure to also have enough lubrication between the paint and clay. DO NOT USE WATER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. Water has minerals that will leave swirls.
COMMON KNOWLEDGE: Stay in the shade, and work on cool to the touch paint. If possible work under a carport or even better a garage to ensure as little dirt on your freshly clayed paint surface as possible. A TREE isn't shade. Most trees let out airborne sap that will give you "specks" in the paint.
ARMOR-ALL CONSUMER/Detailers Choice Products- They are petroleum based products that will "bake" your plastics/vynls and in turn dry them out over time. These products do the worst damage to any custom truck (FX4, KR, LAR) not to mention why you have alot of film on the INSIDE of the windshield.
PROPER DRESSINGS (plastic and Vynl conditioners)- Are those that are synthetic or water based. All major brands including Armor All have a professional line of dressings. Look for these online, Meguairs Direct for example offers HUGE saving when you buy gallons of product.
Well now that I'm done with my $.02 on prep....
I believe the best protection you can put on your car is that of Synthetic. I personally use a Dual Action Polisher by PorterCable with mutiple pads of "cutting or polishing power" to layer KLASSE All-in-one as a base,KLASSE Sealant Glaze as a Mid Protectant, and Meguairs NXT as a top Coat. As for the interrior I use the Meg. Prof. Rubber/Vynl Cleaner/Conditioner. Doesn't look greasy and leaves a clean matte finish; its safe to use and doesnt streak even on your guages plastic.(more apps can be applied for gloss) Exterior Plastics is protected by Meg. Pro. All Season Dressing.
Done for now but if you guys want to look up more info or view "how to" guides my resources are as follows:
Autopia - Autopia Home
Car Care, Car Waxes, Car Polishes, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers, Car Covers, Car Accessories from Classic Motoring Accessories
#21
Im not doubting your knowledge on Armor-All products, but i use the regular armor all protectant and the wheel cleaner on a regular basis and over the past 15 years of detailing cars ive never seen a bad effect that the product has had on vinyl and plastic. I have see glass cleaner with amonia in it dry out plastic and vinyl in a heartbeat.
I have a set of Goodyear Eagle 1 Nascar on my camaro that i put on in 2003. I go to many car shows a year and use the tire foam on the tires (not the rims) as soon as i get to each one. I probably apply the tire foam to those tires once a week from May to October, and that is over the past 6 years, and to this day the tires still look like i just had them put on.
As for glass cleaning, i have found that the Napa Glass cleaner made by MAC's in the aerosol form is great for cleaning the inside and out of windows with no streaks.
I have a set of Goodyear Eagle 1 Nascar on my camaro that i put on in 2003. I go to many car shows a year and use the tire foam on the tires (not the rims) as soon as i get to each one. I probably apply the tire foam to those tires once a week from May to October, and that is over the past 6 years, and to this day the tires still look like i just had them put on.
As for glass cleaning, i have found that the Napa Glass cleaner made by MAC's in the aerosol form is great for cleaning the inside and out of windows with no streaks.
#23
#24
#27
Buck- its basically a little bar of clay that is pliable in your hands. You spray a little soapy water (or Meguires quick detail solution) on your paint, then get to rubbing. You can get a Meguires Clay Kit from Walmart for about $15 (comes 2 clay bars, spray and a microfiber cloth). The clay flattens perfectly to your painted surface and picks up the contaminants that are stuck to your clearcoat. Try this- after washing your truck, run your hand accross your hood. Feel all the microscopic barbs? Clay bar it. Then run your hand accross it again. Smooth as a baby's butt. This a huge help to your wax job- giving your paint an almost wet look. Try it and let everyone know what you think.
#28
#29
#30
(I prefer the NXT 2.0), you may have a total of 4+ hours. I guarantee after its done, you be glad.