Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

https://i.postimg.cc/C1L6Q2Hj/sep158.jpg
.

Off topic but I notice the door protection on the wall. It's this just stick on? Looking for options for when the wife gets her new car. Needs to stick to bricks.

I wrapped a central brick pillar with carpet using wall plugs, screws and big washers.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

Off topic but I notice the door protection on the wall. It's this just stick on? Looking for options for when the wife gets her new car. Needs to stick to bricks.

I wrapped a central brick pillar with carpet using wall plugs, screws and big washers.

These have saved my bacon countless times. They are adhesive.

https://www.clarkrubber.com.au/produ...trip-twin-pack

[prydey]

This crappy pic doesn't really belong in here but I was pretty happy with the bowdens products. Ended up being a rush job as it was 6pm by the time I'd finished my lawns etc.

The wash suds up substantially more than autoglym with a lot less product.

The wet dream application was all a bit new so I'm sure with more practice that will improve. I believe that doesn't need doing every wash but I might do it again next time after watching the bowdens video again.

Same with the dry off using boss gloss with the big green sucker. I think it was too late in the night to be drying a car but it still ended up pretty good. Will see better in the morning.

[fiestaz]

Originally Posted by prydey

This crappy pic doesn't really belong in here but I was pretty happy with the bowdens products. Ended up being a rush job as it was 6pm by the time I'd finished my lawns etc.

The wash suds up substantially more than autoglym with a lot less product.

The wet dream application was all a bit new so I'm sure with more practice that will improve. I believe that doesn't need doing every wash but I might do it again next time after watching the bowdens video again.

Same with the dry off using boss gloss with the big green sucker. I think it was too late in the night to be drying a car but it still ended up pretty good. Will see better in the morning.

image

Next time you hose it or it rains you should see a big difference with beading and how the water from the hose reacts on the paint. That will give you an indication if anywhere was missed in the application of wet dreams.

But it looks really good to me

[prydey]

Originally Posted by fiestaz

Next time you hose it or it rains you should see a big difference with beading and how the water from the hose reacts on the paint. That will give you an indication if anywhere was missed in the application of wet dreams.

But it looks really good to me

At 188cm even I struggle to reach the middle of the roof from either side. I was running out of daylight fast and after starting with the roof on 1 side, I decided to skip that on the other side and just do the rest of the car, so only half the roof got done. In theory I should notice that next time i hose the car down I guess.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by prydey

$80 later...

image

No tyre dressing applicators left so didn't get them. Tempted by the snow cannon but resisted.

Your conforming lol.....
Note the word "tempted"...it does become a drug once you start seeing the benefits using suitable product.
TBH you can live without the snow cannon BUT again all these great offerings is like seeing a good menu, you want it all lol.....funnily unlike looking to spend so much on a menu with the Mrs's for you can only eat so much I end up buying more on the waxit site thankfully she is not sitting near me whilst looking through he waxit menu

One big tip, far more benefit buying larger qty of exterior car wash, lets face it its the main go to product used.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by FTE217

Your conforming lol.....

Note the word "tempted"...it does become a drug once you start seeing the benefits using suitable product.

TBH you can live without the snow cannon BUT again all these great offerings is like seeing a good menu, you want it all lol.....funnily unlike looking to spend so much on a menu with the Mrs's for you can only eat so much I end up buying more on the waxit site thankfully she is not sitting near me whilst looking through he waxit menu



One big tip, far more benefit buying larger qty of exterior car wash, lets face it its the main go to product used.

15% off store wide Easter sale at Waxit. Yew.

[FTE217]

yep - got the email yesterday lol omg.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

15% off store wide Easter sale at Waxit. Yew.

Oooohhhh noooooo! Last time Waxit had a 15% off sale, it cost me over $1000!

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Oooohhhh noooooo! Last time Waxit had a 15% off sale, it cost me over $1000!

[Top_Ghia]

So after I spent all night polishing the Mustang bonnet last night I had paint protection film applied to the front of it today. They scratches the s@$t out of it presumably where they ran their scraper back and forth along the bonnet. Not happy.
The car was also tinted and there’s big bubbles everywhere. Hopefully they clear up. The rear screen looks terrible.
I wish I hadn’t bothered.

[fiestaz]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

So after I spent all night polishing the Mustang bonnet last night I had paint protection film applied to the front of it today. They scratches the s@$t out of it presumably where they ran their scraper back and forth along the bonnet. Not happy.
The car was also tinted and there’s big bubbles everywhere. Hopefully they clear up. The rear screen looks terrible.
I wish I hadn’t bothered.

Doesn’t tint take a bit of time to settle as such? Shame about the film.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by fiestaz

Doesn’t tint take a bit of time to settle as such? Shame about the film.

Yeah I’ll see how the tint goes. I know the moisture in the tint will clear up but there seems to be some large bubbles or almost creases I’m not sure will.

Detailing cars is a curse. The better you get the more you find wrong with the car. I don’t believe there is such a thing as detailing perfection.

[DFB FGXR6]

Repco have a 30% off sale on Meguiars till April 6th.

https://www.repco.com.au/en/search/?...ORUDp7_8HOw3I#

[Top_Ghia]

Has anyone mentioned Autobarn have 30% off Bowdens Own gear? I think it ends today.
So I stocked up a little on snow foam, another drop bear, big blue softie, green sucker and some wheel cleaner.

[DFB FGXR6]

Scored a jug of Meguiar's Last Touch at 35% off from Repco's Easter sales.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Wow that's some serious tools for some window cleaning

Yeh I've noticed some newspapers have changed, they seem to be a bit more waxy, but some are still ok. I find they give the best results, but you have to give it a final wipe (with newspaper again) after the initial clean. Its the microfibre towels that seems to give smudges or leave marks on there where it becomes visible at night.

Also noticed that windex will leave marks on your dashboard if you don't cover the dash. So now I put a layer of newspaper on the dash before I start cleaning.

I bought a pack of those alcohol based window wipes from one of the auto stores, but they still leave marks or spread the smudge .

Will give stoner a crack.

Just thinking back to this topic, can I ask where the car is parked when you are cleaning your glass?

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Just thinking back to this topic, can I ask where the car is parked when you are cleaning your glass?

Outside.

Today I was just browsing at bunnings during my lunch break. I saw one of those triangular window cleaning thing, except it wasn't described as a window cleaner, it was one of those sabco dusters. I bought it anyway ($6 ) and tried it. The mop like material it came with just spread all the smudge around LOL.

Ended up having to go through the whole windscreen twice with newspaper and windex, to get it crystal clear again. I need to get a bottle of stoner and give it a shot.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Outside.

Today I was just browsing at bunnings during my lunch break. I saw one of those triangular window cleaning thing, except it wasn't described as a window cleaner, it was one of those sabco dusters. I bought it anyway ($6 ) and tried it. The mop like material it came with just spread all the smudge around LOL.

Ended up having to go through the whole windscreen twice with newspaper and windex, to get it crystal clear again. I need to get a bottle of stoner and give it a shot.

So by outside I'm assuming in the sun?

If so, no matter what product or towel you use, streaking will be the result. Warm to hot glass drys the product before it has a chance to clean and then evaporate off. Windex is more prone to this as well.

As I said above, I used to struggle with glass. A large percentage of that struggle was trying to clean glass when it was too hot. Changing that, with an alcohol based cleaner and using two dedicated glass towels transformed my results.

[CyberWasp]

Is the Vacuum extension hose working out?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

Is the Vacuum extension hose working out?

As you said, that kit really transform the Vacuum.





The extended hose just makes the job so much easier and keeps the machine away from the car. And I really like the longer crevice tool which makes getting between the seats a simple job.





Thanks for the advice.

[prydey]

Caring for your cloths. Probably already been discussed plenty.

My big green sucker doesn't get washed after each use. I normally just hang it on the line to dry before putting it back in its container. Now that I've started using boss gloss with it I probably should get in the habit of cleaning it more regularly? Yes? No?

Do people buy special washing product for microfibre cloths or just use normal washing powder but no fabric softener. Can that be purchased just from the supermarket or do people get the auto specific one like bowdens?

When buying cloths, how do you know which ones are good. I have a big green sucker and a big softie but the name brand ones are quite expensive after a while. If buying generic cloths, how do you know which size 'pile' (if that's the right word) to get for each task you want to use it for?

Sorry for noob questions that have probably been asked a lot already. Wife got her new car last week so want to start off doing my best to keep it looking new. Thought I'd start by having separate cloths for each task. Drying, windows, door jambs, interior etc.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

Caring for your cloths. Probably already been discussed plenty.

My big green sucker doesn't get washed after each use. I normally just hang it on the line to dry before putting it back in its container. Now that I've started using boss gloss with it I probably should get in the habit of cleaning it more regularly? Yes? No?

Do people buy special washing product for microfibre cloths or just use normal washing powder but no fabric softener. Can that be purchased just from the supermarket or do people get the auto specific one like bowdens?

When buying cloths, how do you know which ones are good. I have a big green sucker and a big softie but the name brand ones are quite expensive after a while. If buying generic cloths, how do you know which size 'pile' (if that's the right word) to get for each task you want to use it for?

Sorry for noob questions that have probably been asked a lot already. Wife got her new car last week so want to start off doing my best to keep it looking new. Thought I'd start by having separate cloths for each task. Drying, windows, door jambs, interior etc.

Ideally you would be washing the Big Green Sucker after using a product. If you intend to use supermarket bought detergent, don't use powder and chose a liquid. You don't want any undissolved powder rubbing against your paint.

If you intend to buy some more microfibre, grab a bottle of Bowdens Microfibre Wash to keep them in good condition.
https://www.bowdensown.com.au/produc...icrofibre-wash

The choices in microfibre are endless, frankly confusing and expensive when purchased through the "name brands". If you give me a bit and I'll put together something to get you started.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

The choices in microfibre are endless, frankly confusing and expensive when purchased through the "name brands". If you give me a bit and I'll put together something to get you started.

Agree, and thanks, much appreciated.

I get buckets easy enough from work (after thoroughly cleaning the ink out) so I've already gone from a 2 bucket method to 3 buckets, with a wash, rinse and now wheels bucket. Might need a 4th for the cloths as I finish using them, then chuck them all in the wash.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

If you give me a bit and I'll put together something to get you started.

Here are a couple to get you started. I'm assuming you have your drying towel sorted so have not included an example here. It's also important to note that GSM doesn't always determine the quality of the towel, a low (but still high quality) GSM towel can be more desirable for certain tasks.

Also, buying towels online from the linked companies means not paying for packaging and fancy labels that are common from the likes of Bowdens, Meguiars ect, so per unit prices are much more economical.

I love these Rag Company "Creature" towels. They are a dual sided towel that make them versatile, one side is plush, the other side has a shorter pile. Get a couple in each colour and assign them to different tasks. For example, Black for wheels, Green for interior, Blue for drying and Grey for wax/polishing. Two of each colour would set you back about $40 and you would have yourself a very high quality set of towels.
https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...rofiber-towel/

The Rag Company “Car Wash” towels are cheap but still excellent quality. I use these for interior cleaning but again, get a couple of colours and assign them to tasks.
https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...l-41cm-x-69cm/

These "Dry Me A River" are excellent glass towels. Get two, one for the initial wipe, one for follow up wipe.
https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...l-40cm-x-60cm/



Another way to go would be to get a sample pack of towels, try them out and see what you like. You could then start to buy more once you find a favorite, preferred GSM or weave.

This one from Waxit gives you variety of towel types and is excellent value.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...ch-sample-pack

This one from Detailing Shed is expensive but sets you up very well! If nothing else, it gives you an idea on what sort of towels are considered "essential".
https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...ntials-package



This doesn't even scratch the surface of microfibre but hopefully gets you on the right track. If it were me, I would be getting a selection of the "Creature" towels, mainly because they are so versatile.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

This doesn't even scratch the surface of microfibre but hopefully gets you on the right track. If it were me, I would be getting a selection of the "Creature" towels, mainly because they are so versatile.

Thanks a lot.

I'm get some of those ones. I guess the thickness (pile) is just personal preference or do some products work better with less or more plush towels?

Care instructions just say use a mild liquid detergent so that's pretty simple.

[CyberWasp]

Just going back to the vacuum, I also find it handy if the car is fairly clean, it gives you enough reach to sit in one seat and quickly do the floor on the other side ect.
Would also be handy if you had a people mover or larger suv also to cover large areas without having to move the vacuum around.

[Top_Ghia]

I put in some led “fluros” in the garage to help with detailing.


I’m also in the market for a vacuum. I have enough points at work to get a Cartier watch so might get the Karcher wd6 to match my K7 washer. I’d then add the car kit to it.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

image

I put in some led “fluros” in the garage to help with detailing.
image

I’m also in the market for a vacuum. I have enough points at work to get a Cartier watch so might get the Karcher wd6 to match my K7 washer. I’d then add the car kit to it.

Wow, you have really been infected by the "disease".

At least this disease has a treatment, there is always something else to buy.............

[DFB FGXR6]

And on the note of something else............