Car Detailing - What products are your go to?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by jgmdat

I have tried the Motorplast and I believe its almost identical to Hyper Dressing. Value for money goes to Hyper dressing as you get 946ml for the same price as 500ml of Motorplast. On another note I have some Carpro Reset to try on the weekend.

I suspected as much. I really like Hyper Dressing, it's one of Meg's best products. Curiosity got the better of me in regards to Motorplast though.

As for Reset, you will love it. I have seen some suggestion that it can degrade wax's and sealants though. Despite being pH neutral, whatever Carpro put in it apparently seems to shorten the life of older styles of paint protection. I don't know how true that is, I have used Reset on waxed cars a lot over the years and have not noticed ill affects from it. Perhaps the fact I tend to top wax's with an Si02 drying aid might be protecting the wax underneath?

[DFB FGXR6]

Waxit have just launched the new NV Foam Cannon.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...nnon-snowstorm





This sits alongside the Waxit Foam Cannon.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...oam-cannon-kit



I'm not entirely sure why the NV version costs $20 more, however I do think the clear bottle is a plus compared to the white opaque that nearly all foam cannons come with.

[jgmdat]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

I suspected as much. I really like Hyper Dressing, it's one of Meg's best products. Curiosity got the better of me in regards to Motorplast though.

As for Reset, you will love it. I have seen some suggestion that it can degrade wax's and sealants though. Despite being pH neutral, whatever Carpro put in it apparently seems to shorten the life of older styles of paint protection. I don't know how true that is, I have used Reset on waxed cars a lot over the years and have not noticed ill affects from it. Perhaps the fact I tend to top wax's with an Si02 drying aid might be protecting the wax underneath?

Very happy with the Carpro Reset, now I have it, Koch and NV Snow to choose from. First use of NV Onyx also, it and Perl are my two favourites now.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by jgmdat

Very happy with the Carpro Reset, now I have it, Koch and NV Snow to choose from. First use of NV Onyx also, it and Perl are my two favourites now.

CarPro Reset is a great product!

[prydey]

My last waxit purchase included reset. Currently using NV snow which itself is one of the best.
Keen to try reset but yet to get the opportunity with the weather and sciatica. Had epidural steroid injection yesterday but still bed ridden now that the anaesthetic has worn off. Enough about my sob story.

Thanks to this thread, even though I have only recently purchased a 1L bottle of carpro perl, I'm now tempted to buy some NV Onyx purely due to DFB ranking it the best.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by jgmdat

Very happy with the Carpro Reset, now I have it, Koch and NV Snow to choose from. First use of NV Onyx also, it and Perl are my two favourites now.

Those are the three best soaps on the market!

1st. Carpro Reset
2nd. NV Snow
3rd. Koch Chemie GSF

Wildcard - Carpro Descale.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by prydey

My last waxit purchase included reset. Currently using NV snow which itself is one of the best.
Keen to try reset but yet to get the opportunity with the weather and sciatica. Had epidural steroid injection yesterday but still bed ridden now that the anaesthetic has worn off. Enough about my sob story.

Thanks to this thread, even though I have only recently purchased a 1L bottle of carpro perl, I'm now tempted to buy some NV Onyx purely due to DFB ranking it the best.

You don't have to apologize for the "sob story", it's real life. Chronic pain has robbed me of my prime, have been living with it for 8 years now.

As for Onyx, I'll just leave these here..................

[bangm001]

What an absolutely amazing thread! I'm a little fussy about keeping my car looking its best but many here are another level! HAHA!
After having my car professionally colour corrected and polished costing $450.00 (after i did decontamination and clay prior and numerous light hand polishes prior), and have now just used the Meguiars "ceramic" products mentioned a few pages ago. It did really make a huge difference in the appearance of the car and was probably the easiest to use products i have ever used. Car has all original ford paint that's now 10 years old except on the front bar. I also did a brake caliper resto last year as the clear coat on the brembos gave way.
Anyway attached are a few pics of all the hard work!

[T3rminator]

What automotive paper towels do people use? Something that is relatively strong, lint free and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

What automotive paper towels do people use? Something that is relatively strong, lint free and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

If I use paper towel, it's the stuff from the kitchen, either Viva or Handy Ultra.

I otherwise use these which work out at $0.42 each -
https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...penser-50-pack

I'm guessing you mean something like this though?

https://www.repco.com.au/en/safety-w...375/p/A9430332
https://www.nisbets.com.au/jantex-ce...iABEgJ4S_D_BwE

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

If I use paper towel, it's the stuff from the kitchen, either Viva or Handy Ultra.

I otherwise use these which work out at $0.42 each -
https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...penser-50-pack

I'm guessing you mean something like this though?

https://www.repco.com.au/en/safety-w...375/p/A9430332
https://www.nisbets.com.au/jantex-ce...iABEgJ4S_D_BwE

Yes, something like the Nisbet. The problem with kitchen towels is its not as strong, its rougher in texture, and sometimes it comes with lint. I found a roll of automotive paper towel (feels almost more like a cloth) in the garage, not sure what brand or where it came from, its brilliant but I'm about to run out.

Its great for getting rid of grime without leaving traces of the paper towel. Its also softer, I use it to wipe the steering wheel. If I use anything else, its too rough and risk taking layers off the old steering wheel.

I managed to clean the weber grill with a couple of automotive paper towels this afternoon, worked a treat . If you use a kitchen power towel, it will disintegrate after a couple of strokes.

[DFB FGXR6]

My two favorite applicators for tyre dressing have been the Maxshine/Bowden's foam applicator pads and the RaceGlaze XL brush.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...ter-applicator
https://www.bowdensown.com.au/all-sorts

https://www.obsessedgarage.com/colle...iling-brush-xl
https://raceglaze.com.au/five-detailing-brush-set/









Today, I think I found a new favorite!

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...etailing-brush







These little Maxshine brushes are awesome at applying tyre dressings! I have had two of these sitting in the cabinet for over a month now, mainly because I kept forgetting about them. They were designed for interior cleaning, but taking inspiration from OG using the new Detail Factory Curveball brush on tyres, I thought these would offer a similar effect until those Curveball's are offered locally. And.........WOW!

I applied some Onyx directly to the bristles, dabbed over the sidewall and then went about working it in.







Also good for getting the large lip PS4S's have without smearing onto the freshly cleaned wheels.





The high density of soft bristles makes this tiny little brush so very good at this task. Probably best suited to low profile tyres though, where it can be used very precisely. I'm in love with it................buy one, you can thank me later!

[GTP534]

I believe Waxit have an offer at the moment - spend over $100 and receive the 500ml ONYX free.

Valid till midnight tomorrow.

I'm ordering some Scholl applicator pucks tonight.

[hackney]

Picking up my Honda HRV Hybrid tomorrow.Still have a stack of CarPro CQ.UK 3.0 ceramic quartz paint protection left.Used it in my Fiesta last year, it came up a treat.The Honda should look terrific, especially with colour being Premium Crystal Red.Looking forward to doing it.Quite a good product to work with.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by hackney

Picking up my Honda HRV Hybrid tomorrow.Still have a stack of CarPro CQ.UK 3.0 ceramic quartz paint protection left.Used it in my Fiesta last year, it came up a treat.The Honda should look terrific, especially with colour being Premium Crystal Red.Looking forward to doing it.Quite a good product to work with.

Just make sure the CQ is still in date

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I believe Waxit have an offer at the moment - spend over $100 and receive the 500ml ONYX free.

Valid till midnight tomorrow.

I'm ordering some Scholl applicator pucks tonight.

BUGGER!! I put an order in on Monday to re-stock my pad collection, I sort of needed some more Onyx too.

Considering the price I paid for 23 assorted pads, I would hope they send me a bottle too.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by hackney

Picking up my Honda HRV Hybrid tomorrow.Still have a stack of CarPro CQ.UK 3.0 ceramic quartz paint protection left.Used it in my Fiesta last year, it came up a treat.The Honda should look terrific, especially with colour being Premium Crystal Red.Looking forward to doing it.Quite a good product to work with.

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Just make sure the CQ is still in date

Agreed. fordomatic you would be better answering this as I don't use many coatings, but I think you would also hold it up to the light and make sure it doesn't have solids floating in it.

[hackney]

Posted in error.

[hackney]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

Just make sure the CQ is still in date

Thx for that.I have checked it, & it is ok.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

BUGGER!! I put an order in on Monday to re-stock my pad collection, I sort of needed some more Onyx too.

Considering the price I paid for 23 assorted pads, I would hope they send me a bottle too.

Double Bugger! My order arrived today, no Onyx included. I thought maybe I had earned a little extra considering my spending habits at Waxit.





By the way, that's what $300 worth of pads looks like!

[prydey]

Mr Waxit - if you're reading this forum, send Mr DFB his bottle of Onyx. He's earned it 10x over!

[DFB FGXR6]

Trim Dressings and Coatings.

For a long time, unpainted black plastic trim on car generally meant you bought the base model. At some stage in the last 10 – 15 years, blacked out trim become the norm on most cars, from SUV’s to sports cars. Gloss black seems to be the predominant accent trim on cars, and unpainted black on SUV’s.

Gloss trim is a nightmare to deal with. This sort of finish can be polished and corrected much the same as paint, but they are so soft that while the polish will remove defects, the towel used to wipe off the polish residue will re-introduce what you had just removed. The only true way to protect them is apply PPF.

Unpainted trim can be dealt with in a few different ways. It’s important to protect this trim from UV to help prevent or treat discoloration. That is what this post will focus on.

Dressings -
The cheapest and easiest way to deal with unpainted plastic trim is to dress it with an appropriate product. These dressings if applied from new will prevent or minimize UV damage in the longer term. There are thousands of these products available and in general they will need to be re-applied regularly.

My favorite in this category is 303 Aerospace Protectant. Compared to similar products, I have found 303 to easier to get smooth, even coverage. I also like how this doesn’t make trim glossy or greasy. Other similar products to consider here would be Carpro Perl or Meguiar’s Hyper Dressing.





You can also use a gel or paste type liquid product for dressing as well. Think Chemical Guys VRP, Autoglym Bumper & Trim Gel or Meguiar’s Gold Class Trim Detailer. I would say though that I find the runnier products like 303 easier to work with on trim, they just seem easier to distribute and require less rubbing to work in. Gels also tend to have a greasier look and feel.







https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/598936.html
https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...l&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.repco.com.au/en/car-care...032/p/A5576809

https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/383925.html
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...96ml/2667.html
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/623674.html

Pro – Easy to apply, cost effective, night and day result.
Con – Short durability, especially if it rains or you wash your car a lot………think weeks.

Spray Sealants –
These products are generally designed for paint but can also be used to good effect on black plastic trim. The finish from these is subtle so best suited to new or already well-maintained trim. Think P&S Bead Maker, Carpro Reload, Bowden’s Bead Machine or Meguiar’s Hybrid Ceramic Detailer.





https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...07d98e06&_ss=r
https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...l&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/593526.html
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/599353.html

Pro – Easy and convenient to use, subtle transformation, durability of 3 – 5 months.
Con – Subtle transformation, not suited to restorative needs.

Trim Restoration –
These products soak into the trim rather than sitting on top of the surface like a dressing. Trim restorers need more thought and effort put into preparation prior to application but they will last considerably longer. Think Bowden’s Mr. Black, Mothers Naturally Black Aerosol, Solution Finish and Cerakote Trim Coat. Longevity and the ability revive already faded plastic are where these come in. Solution Finish tout their product does without the “wet look” and that it “dries quickly with no greasy residue”.







https://www.waxit.com.au/products/so...h&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...=en_AU&start=3
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...PO8093645.html
https://mymotorcar.com.au/products/c...-trim-coat-kit

Pro – Ability to restore already faded trim, longevity.
Con – More work in terms of preparation.

Ceramic Coatings -
These are another long-term solution that can be used on new/well maintained trims as well as the ability to restore already faded plastic. Think Carpro DLUX, Gyeon Q2 Trim and Gtechniq C4. Again, these products need good preparation to ensure a successful bond but on the other hand, they can last years not weeks or months.

(Carpro DLUX)











https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...l&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...874ea778&_ss=r
https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...40d94181&_ss=r

Pro – Ability to restore, longevity, OE finish.
Con – More work in terms of preparation.

Application Tips –
Dressings -
-For liquid/gel type trim dressings, microfiber applicator pads are ideal for this task.
-Apply the product to the pad rather than the trim itself.
-Use a clean towel and some quick detailer or waterless wash to remove dressing residue from surrounding paintwork or glass.
-Preparation for these products is minimal, just make sure to clean beforehand.

https://carcareco.com.au/product/pea...icator-sponge/



Coatings & Restorers -
-Most Ceramic Coating will come with an applicator supplied in the box.
-You will need to thoroughly clean these surfaces first, use an APC for a deep clean. Follow up with a prep-spray like Carpro Eraser or Bowden’s Flash Prep prior to coating.
-You will need a supply of dedicated towels for this task. They don’t need to be high end towels, there is no risk of inflicting swirls here. Depending on the car, you will need 2 – 6 towels, which are then discarded after use.

https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...rofibre-towel/
https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...r&_ss=e&_v=1.0
https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...ml/599354.html

[DFB FGXR6]

I notice Detailing Shed have added a de-ionizing water filtering system to their store in the last week.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...-system-bundle



The only other place I have seen something similar offered in Australia is Detail Central.

https://detailcentral.com.au/deioniz...r-di-tank-tds/

I have never really felt the need for these systems myself, mainly because as soon as I have washed a car I'm putting it into the garage to dry off out of the sun, but I do see the appeal.

[hackney]

I have just ceramic coated my new Honda HRV Hybrid.Had a bottle of CQ UK 3.0.Two coats came up brilliantly.Just keep the appearance up with a soft wax every six months or so.Did ‘Freddy’ the Fiesta last year, still looking fantastic!

[T3rminator]

Anyone else buff their windscreen?

Recently saw a vid on YT where someone suggested you could remove light scratches from glass with a mixture of turtle rubbing compound and the fast orange hand cleaner, which has pumice mixed in. I will need to try get the scratches out of my side windows.

But whilst waiting for the fast orange to arrive, I thought I'd try buffing the front windscreen with the turtle rubbing compound just to see what it might do. Did one half only.

First thing I noticed was that the wipers do a much better job. Crystal clear, no more streaks and marks.

Then I noticed this. Leaving the car out in the rain, you can see which side has been buffed. Interesting result, wasn't expecting it. Think I'll go do all the front and back.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Anyone else buff their windscreen?

Recently saw a vid on YT where someone suggested you could remove light scratches from glass with a mixture of turtle rubbing compound and the fast orange hand cleaner, which has pumice mixed in. I will need to try get the scratches out of my side windows.

But whilst waiting for the fast orange to arrive, I thought I'd try buffing the front windscreen with the turtle rubbing compound just to see what it might do. Did one half only.

First thing I noticed was that the wipers do a much better job. Crystal clear, no more streaks and marks.

Then I noticed this. Leaving the car out in the rain, you can see which side has been buffed. Interesting result, wasn't expecting it. Think I'll go do all the front and back.

image

image

image

Polished glass is amazing, it's almost like the windscreen isn't there at all.

Don't expect to remove moderate to deep scratches though, glass is just too hard to properly correct. Polishing acts as a deep cleaning of the glass. Also, be sure not to focus on one spot for too long, keep the pad moving to prevent heat build up.

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Polished glass is amazing, it's almost like the windscreen isn't there at all.

Didn't even know it was thing people did!

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

Polished glass is amazing, it's almost like the windscreen isn't there at all.

Don't expect to remove moderate to deep scratches though, glass is just too hard to properly correct. Polishing acts as a deep cleaning of the glass. Also, be sure not to focus on one spot for too long, keep the pad moving to prevent heat build up.

image

Hey DFB, do you need special pads to polish the glass? Or can you just use any cutting pad?

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Hey DFB, do you need special pads to polish the glass? Or can you just use any cutting pad?

It's desirable, but not completely necessary.

I use Carpro Glass Polishing Pads (Rayon), these are said to manage heat better. They are also very thin and can be used on dual-action and rotary machines -

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...-velcro-75-130
https://detailingshed.com.au/product...d80dbd8a&_ss=r







Otherwise use a foam cutting pad, which you can be more aggressive with your choice here. Think Shine Mate blue or green.

I did actually try using Sonax Perfect Finish on a Shine Mate blue pad when I did my Mustang a few weeks back, I felt like it needed the extra grunt of the Rayon pad and specific glass polish, Carpro CeriGlass.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ca...i&_ss=e&_v=1.0

[DFB FGXR6]

The Detail Store are currently running an EOFY sale with 10% off storewide until June 30. Code is EOFY2022

https://www.detailstore.com.au/

Among others, The Detail Store retail Gtechniq, Gyeon, P&S, Koch Chemie, The Rag Company and Angelwax.