Detailing products

[jae]

Whats some good detailing products to use? Interior and exterior. I haven't been in the detailing game since like 05, and it seems a lot has changed.

I've looked at some of the Chemical Guys products. Is their stuff generally pretty good or overpriced?

 

[imported_Irse]

It really depends on what condition your paint and interior is in and what you want out of it. Plus, how much time and money do you ant to spend?

 

[Kaido]

I am a big fan of setting up the right kits to deal with specific systems. For exterior, Meguiar's has a really good detailing solution. If your budget allows for it, the MT300 polisher for $230 is amazing:

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-MT300-Pro-Power-Polisher/dp/B00OTK5JHG/

Compounding, polishing, and waxing are a piece of cake, all for the cost of a couple exterior detailing jobs from a professional. Chemical Guys have some neat stuff; I've been looking into a shampoo system for awhile, but I've found it easier just to get Weathertech full-coverage floor liners & waterproof neoprene Wet Okele seat covers for the front & rear (if your car is already a mess, just pay a professional to do the interior, let it dry out, then slap that stuff on), that way your interior becomes extremely easy to manage because all you have to do is take our the liners & covers, rinse & dry them off, and put them back in...the floors & seats stay totally mint for resale down the road.

Like imported_Irse said though, it depends on what you've got & what you want to do. My friend just picked up an older Porsche with original paint, and I forget what kind of paint it has, but you have to use special cleaners on it or else everything turns yellow or something. Or if you have leather, you probably don't want to use a seatcover (other than maybe a Katzkin setup or something), so interior maintenance products would be more important in that case.

And also as mentioned, how much time & money you want to spend. The MT300 is an amazing, gamechanging tool imo, but $230 is an awful lot of money for simply waxing your car (especially given that Turtle Wax, which comes with a pad, is under ten bucks for a whole tub), unless that's the sort of thing you're into. I happen to really like waxing my cars & making them shine, so it really depends on what your car's setup is, what your goals are, and what your available time, interest, and financial situation is. There are dudes who pay $90k for elite detailing for ultra-high-end cars, so you can go as bananas as you want with this type of stuff :awe:

 

[razel]

I too got out of the details for detailing back in 2005. I recently got back into it 2013. In 05 the big, DIY best bang for the buck was $150 Porter Cable (random oribital) + Country Pads, Zaino as a sealant, waterless wash, and decent cheap MicroFibers at Target.

Today it's simpler, cheaper and faster... to the point that I agree with Barry Meguiar that it's fun. After my research products I own and recommend:

Any claybar and Chemical Guys Blue clay mitt. The mitt QUICKLY gets you 85% smooth, you finish up to perfection with the claybar. Optimum Waterless Wash still is the sh!t for clay lube. Gary Dean's competing product is also great if you want to support a small American company.

Meguiars Power $50 Power DA drill attachment. Use with either the Meguiar's Ultimate Compound + Polish or Mother's Ultimate Step 1 & 2.

Use any wax you prefer. Sealants are synthetic wax that crosslinks. Many on the market. All last similarly. I used to use Meg's NXT 2.0 until I ran out. I currently am using Armor All's Extreme Shield Wax on all my family's cars. It's wipe on, wipe off. No need to dry and popular with off-roaders.

I also recommend Wax-As-U-Dry as a cleaning product. I've tried 5 different ones, if you want a good intro try the Meg's Ultimate Wax. Ya, it's not a Wax-as-U-Dry but use it as such. Use it to clean everywhere! Door jams, plastics, wheels. It along with Turtle Wax WAUD is the best product I found to clean glass. With Meg's Ultimate Wax you'll feel it crosslink on your fingers.

Permanent coatings are also big recently, but the problem is getting your paint to perfection prior. As an alternative for clear bras to get most light rock chips on road trips. I had great luck with PlasticDip clear spray. You'll still get big chips, but it does minimize the small ones and right after your trip, take it right off!

 

[jae]

It really depends on what condition your paint and interior is in and what you want out of it. Plus, how much time and money do you ant to spend?

Paint is pretty decent on fiancés fusion and my Outlander. My outlander probably has the better paint condition overall but has more scratches.

I don't want to spend much time/money on it right now. I'm thinking of letting this old guy I know do full detail (which he charges $120) until winter.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

I like the Chemical Guys leather conditioner a lot. The leather cleaner isn't very strong, but if you're regular about it and starting with clean leather that's probably better anyway. Can't speak to their other products.

 

[imported_Irse]

I just starting detailing my vehicles about 3 years ago. The best thing I bought was a Griots Garage DA polisher and Lake Country CCS pads. I needed to use compound and polish to get rid of swirl marks, oxidation and water spots. Been using HD Cut and HD Polish. Good products and not too expensive.

Your car will look only as good the clear coat is defect free. Sometimes waxes can cover up some defects but usually the wax lasts a few weeks.

If you have a decent looking car and don't want to do too much maintenance, then Sonax Polymer Net Shield is good. It'll last about a year, more if you use Sonax Brilliant Shine Detailer about once a month. It leave a nice shine and beads like crazy. The only thing is that it doesn't leave a slick feel. I use that on my truck which I don't use too often. I like a slicker feel so I use a wax on my 2015 Forester. I will use the SPNS on the roof though for the extra protection and I don't really care what the roof feels like.

Carpro Reload is also pretty good. Leaves a nice shine and has a slick feel and beads pretty good.

Also don't forget about the tires. I heard a lot of good things about Mothers Back to Black Tire Cleaner. I haven't used it though.

One other thing that is out there is Gyeon Bathe+. It has a silicone dioxide sealant in the wash. Supposed to protect for about 6 weeks. I use that for my wife's 2015 Prius since she is always going out in the morning which is when I wash my vehicles. Bathe+ is pretty good. Shine OK, beading OK, convenience great.

Don't wash your vehicles in the middle of the day or you will get water spots as the water will dry on your paint. I wash early in the AM or right before the sun sets.

If you do use a sealant the paint must be cleaner of any waxes or oils. After polishing, you will need to use a paint cleaner before applying the sealant unless you use the same line of products.

 

[imported_Irse]

Forgot about the decontamination step. I use a fine grade Nanoskin mitt with any type of clay lube. I don't do it too often because it can cause micro marring.