Detailing products- got some questions
06-17-2008, 03:10 PM
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Detailing products- got some questions
i have been detailing cars on the side for almost two years now and i primarily
use Mothers products. i never really wanted to go to in depth into detailing. most cars take me between 2 and 3 hours for the outside and 1 to 1.5 for the inside and i get very good results. what would you guys recommend for cleaners and waxes and the like instead of the mothers if i wanna really go the extra mile on my own vehicle. also, where do you guys usually buy the stuff.
use Mothers products. i never really wanted to go to in depth into detailing. most cars take me between 2 and 3 hours for the outside and 1 to 1.5 for the inside and i get very good results. what would you guys recommend for cleaners and waxes and the like instead of the mothers if i wanna really go the extra mile on my own vehicle. also, where do you guys usually buy the stuff.
06-17-2008, 05:24 PM
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Tons of great products and vendors out there. I recommend starting at the big detailing sites - autopia, autogeek, etc. There's also a terrific vendor not too far from you - detailedimage. Add dot org, dot net, and dot com to those three names for more info. 
Now...extra mile. That's a really wide range. Do you want to work by hand, or are you considering some paint correction effort by machine? What's your current process? That's probably the best way to give you some good answers.
Now...extra mile. That's a really wide range. Do you want to work by hand, or are you considering some paint correction effort by machine? What's your current process? That's probably the best way to give you some good answers.
06-17-2008, 06:04 PM
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i'm working by hand. my usual process is a wash, dry, clay bar, wash, dry, sealer, wax and finally a hand buff. also wax all the windows, polish the plastics and crome and rims. tire shine as the last thing.
06-17-2008, 06:28 PM
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A couple of products you may want to add...
1. Paint cleanser. Poorboy's Professional Polish is a good one, as is Four Star Ultimate Paint Cleanser. Or, OTC - something like Mother's Pre-wax cleaner or Meguiar's Deep Crystal cleaner. Basically, this is a very mild polish (usually chemical, sometimes abrasive) that preps the finish for sealants and wax. You'd apply this after claying the finish.
2. Finishing Glaze. You may already be using Mothers UWS, but there are many others out there. A glaze will fill in light swirls (and very light scratches), giving the finish a wet, reflective look. This is a great product to use on dark colors, where swirl marks really stand out. You'd generally use this in advance of your sealer, but there are some variables at play. Since you're working by hand a combo product (a la Mothers UWS, Klasse AIO, or even Zaino AIO, if you've considered trying their products, might be best.
1. Paint cleanser. Poorboy's Professional Polish is a good one, as is Four Star Ultimate Paint Cleanser. Or, OTC - something like Mother's Pre-wax cleaner or Meguiar's Deep Crystal cleaner. Basically, this is a very mild polish (usually chemical, sometimes abrasive) that preps the finish for sealants and wax. You'd apply this after claying the finish.
2. Finishing Glaze. You may already be using Mothers UWS, but there are many others out there. A glaze will fill in light swirls (and very light scratches), giving the finish a wet, reflective look. This is a great product to use on dark colors, where swirl marks really stand out. You'd generally use this in advance of your sealer, but there are some variables at play. Since you're working by hand a combo product (a la Mothers UWS, Klasse AIO, or even Zaino AIO, if you've considered trying their products, might be best.
06-17-2008, 07:05 PM
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i think i will go to my local auo parts store and just get the entire mothers arsenal. i know they have cleaners and glazes that i havent tried yet. if that doesnt look good enough i will check out the other sites/products recommended. thanks for the help. it was looking at your truck in the other thread that got me thinking about putting that kind of attention into my truck. also, tell me a little about this foam gun, how does it work, and what do they cost, seems pretty cool.
06-17-2008, 07:18 PM
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The foam gun is a great tool - it's a terrific way to gently clean a vehicle, particularly a really dirty one. A good gun goes for about $60. It's also nice to have quick-disconnect fittings on your hose & nozzles so the switchover goes more quickly. Basically, you mix a ratio of soap & water into the bottle (how much depends on what soap you're using) and spray away. This can be the whole vehicle, just the tires & wells, or whatever you're working on. After that you can use the two-bucket method or continue using the foam gun with a good mitt and a rinse bucket.
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06-17-2008, 07:35 PM
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Based on your posted routine I assume you're not looking to actually do in depth details. Don't bother with any polishes since it will take you 8+ in polishing alone to do it by hand.
I'm a big fan of the poorboy's line. Their sealers are great.
Honestly, I've found the best prices using Amazon.
I'm a big fan of the poorboy's line. Their sealers are great.
Honestly, I've found the best prices using Amazon.
