The Detailing Thread

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Stocked up to detail all the cars before they hit the street for the summer.

[280Z Turbo]

Can anyone recommend a good product for making black plastic black again?

[MrH]

Herculiner. FYA

[Byteme]

Anybody use any protective coatings for wheels with good success?  The finish on my new ones is like a 10/10 and I'd like to keep it fresh.

Believe it or not.........Pledge.

[Byteme]

So I just got around to unpacking some new detailing supplies.

Firstly, I've been meaning to try some griots products out for years. So I picked up some of their products to try, finally.

I tried Griots years ago found it no better than Meguires and harder to use.

Bargain time:  Walmart has bundles of 10 17"X17" micro fiber towels for $5.  They are seconds, but perfectly serviceable.

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I used their spray wax this weekend on the GTR after I washed it up. Actually pretty decent quick wax. Buffs of real nice and fast. Has a pretty decent feel to it.

[68_427]

I totally wish I had 5x114 hubs so I could grab those wheels off you.

[68_427]

Can anyone recommend a good product for making black plastic black again?

Where is this plastic?  I died some of mine but it's very temperamental depending on how perfectly clean and porous you were able to get the plastic.  If it's something you can mask off and spray then plastidip actually works very well.

[Byteme]

Where is this plastic?  I died some of mine but it's very temperamental depending on how perfectly clean and porous you were able to get the plastic.  If it's something you can mask off and spray then plastidip actually works very well.

Meguiars makes a pretty good aerosol "Plastic and Vinyl Coating, Part number D5410, that works decently.

[Cookie Monster]

I have a dumb question - my bike has been leaking oil (got a big puddle under it yesterday and a few drips today), but I can't tell where it's coming from because the entire motor and skid plate under neath are covered in oil, mainly from past oil changes, since the oil filter drips all its oil down the motor and into the skid plate when it's removed. I want to use an engine degreaser on everything, but will it be safe for the painted/powdercoated skid plate and other bits? Will it be OK on my aluminum and titanium exhaust?

How long should I let it sit? Are the "green" products better or worse than the stronger chemicals?

[FlatBlackCaddy]

Just make sure it's not acidic/caustic. Anything will work and if it's non acidic it shouldn't harm metal/paint finishes.

[Byteme]

I have a dumb question - my bike has been leaking oil (got a big puddle under it yesterday and a few drips today), but I can't tell where it's coming from because the entire motor and skid plate under neath are covered in oil, mainly from past oil changes, since the oil filter drips all its oil down the motor and into the skid plate when it's removed. I want to use an engine degreaser on everything, but will it be safe for the painted/powdercoated skid plate and other bits? Will it be OK on my aluminum and titanium exhaust?

How long should I let it sit? Are the "green" products better or worse than the stronger chemicals?

Check the label. 

You can go to Wal-Mart and get their store brand pretty cheaply.  Or you can pay about a buck a can more and get Gunk.  Do yourself a favor and get Gunk. 

[Cookie Monster]

Can I get Gunk at Walmart? They don't have it at my local O'Reilly's and Autozone.

[CaminoRacer]

I used their spray wax this weekend on the GTR after I washed it up. Actually pretty decent quick wax. Buffs of real nice and fast. Has a pretty decent feel to it.

my goodness

[MrH]

Dat skyline doe


I found out I have Friday and Monday off.  Going to detail the vehicles this weekend

[Byteme]

Can I get Gunk at Walmart? They don't have it at my local O'Reilly's and Autozone.

I believe so. 

[FlatBlackCaddy]

my goodness

Ya, I know, that trash bin is overflowing. I really shouldn't procrastinate too much on stuff like that, it's embarrassing.

[Rupert]

Simple Green.

[MrH]

Alright, I'm not a detail guru.  I can do a typical car wash, light clear coat polish, wax, etc, but that's as far as my knowledge goes.

I'm thinking about buying a power washer for the house.  Anyone wash their car with one?  Seems like I can effectively create one of those booths they have at the car wash, but for a lot cheaper.  If there's a soap attachment, even better.

[Lebowski]

I got an electric pressure washer for the house a few months ago and recently picked up a foam cannon for it for the cars ... I haven't used it on cars yet, though. There are some videos on it out there.

[giant_mtb]

Yeah, you can buy car wash detergents for power washers.  Pressure is great for things like wheelwells, tires, and bugs.  Get a pressure washer with a built in detergent system...I'm guessing that's your plan if you're gonna wash your house. Then you don't need any other attachments; the soaps feed themselves directly into the system.   

[FlatBlackCaddy]

I bought an electric one from amazon, well reviewed, works pretty decent and it even works ok with my autogeek foam cannon.

I used to have a really spendy gas powered one but I just didn't like using it, too much of a hassle. The electric is nice and the one I got still comes with a decent wand and interchangable tip system.

http://www.amazon.com/Joe-SPX3000-Electric-Pressure-14-5-Amp/dp/B00CPGMUXW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1465248224&sr=8-3&keywords=pressure+washer

[Byteme]

Alright, I'm not a detail guru.  I can do a typical car wash, light clear coat polish, wax, etc, but that's as far as my knowledge goes.

I'm thinking about buying a power washer for the house.  Anyone wash their car with one?  Seems like I can effectively create one of those booths they have at the car wash, but for a lot cheaper.  If there's a soap attachment, even better.

There isn't a power washer that cleans as well as a bucket of soapy water and a washing mitt.

I use one though.   But only to first rinse off any particulate material from the surface of the car.   Then I hand wash it and use the power washer to rinse the car.  I only use it because it uses far less water to accomplish the same thing a hose does. 

[giant_mtb]

Anyone ever use any Klasse brand products?  I've been using DP Policoat Sealant, but that bottle is about empty.  Works great, but I tend to jump around and try other stuff.  On customer cars, I use regular wax (Meg's #26), but I love sealants as they last longer...critical around here with a solid 5-6 months of snow, ice, and salt.  Once I get a shop, I'll probably expand my services and offer "upsells" such as sealant application instead of wax, or sealant + wax.

This is the one I'm looking at now:  http://www.autogeek.net/klashiggloss1.html

It says it can last up to 12 months.  I tend to just cut whatever number they say in half, but that's still pretty adequate to get through a winter, especially if it can keep the rail dust down.

[giant_mtb]

Also, anyone ever use any interior protectants?  Like for fabrics and carpeting?  I've had a couple customers ask about that kind of thing and I think it would be another good thing to be able to offer.  I've always thought of fabric protectors as sorta snake oil, but perhaps they do really work.

[Byteme]

Also, anyone ever use any interior protectants?  Like for fabrics and carpeting?  I've had a couple customers ask about that kind of thing and I think it would be another good thing to be able to offer.  I've always thought of fabric protectors as sorta snake oil, but perhaps they do really work.

I don't see anything wrong with something like scotchguard provided it's compatible with whatever fabric you are using it on.  I think it got the snake oil reputation in automotive circles because dealers sell a paint and interior protection package for a couple of hundred dollars that as far as the interior goes is a guy spending 15 minutes spraying a can or two of scotchgurard  on the fabric seats and carpet.

[giant_mtb]

I don't see anything wrong with something like scotchguard provided it's compatible with whatever fabric you are using it on.  I think it got the snake oil reputation in automotive circles because dealers sell a paint and interior protection package for a couple of hundred dollars that as far as the interior goes is a guy spending 15 minutes spraying a can or two of scotchgurard  on the fabric seats and carpet.

Yeah, basically. I suppose there's nothing wrong with scotch guard type stuff.  I've never really used it, so I guess I shouldn't knock it til I rock it.  Had a guy call today with a 2016 Sierra he wants me to "protect" inside/out, so I'm gonna seal it and try some scotch guard type stuff on it.

[Morris Minor]

I claybarred the CLK350 then used a cleaner/wax.  It looks great --- apart from the hood. It's smooth to the touch but I can see imperfections & tiny spots that I think are just the result of life being a black hood... over a hot engine... in a hot climate.

Guessing I should have used a mild compound cleaner before waxing?  Tips & hints appreciated.

[giant_mtb]

Detailing season is upon me.  I've got some fresh chemicals on the way as well as an electric pressure washer that I'm pretty excited to have.  Will use less water and have higher pressure.  Excellent for really dirty things like trucks and wheel wells.  Also got a "shorty" wand that's basically just the trigger/handle body with a nozzle on it...great for tight spaces (wheel wells) compared to the silly 3' wands pressure washers come with.  And a foam gun for it.  Hopefully the pressure washer hose and aftermarket gun are the same ID M22 fitting for input or that I can easily put in a different fitting or a reducer to match them up. 



Also, I think I'm gonna pick up one of these underhood lights to use on interiors...can just use the clamps to mount it up high by fixing the clamps to the upper door jambs across the interior (kinda like one of those garment bars)!  Kinda pricey, but having lots of interior light is necessary, especially with dark interiors.  Using a flashlight while trying to vacuum is annoying and head lamps constantly require batteries and shit.  I have two dual-T8 fixtures on each side of the stall and one in front, but since they're up high, they don't throw much light inside the vehicle.

30W T8 (they make LED versions, but I'd rather have the floody fluorescent...can also swap it for an LED bulb later if I want).
http://a.co/fBgfUvC

[FoMoJo]

What kind of vacuum do you use?