THE detailing thread

[liquid]

I know we've had these in the past, but I thought I'd set up another one. How do you prep/detail/wash your car? What products? etc....

One of my freinds showed me this RainX wash and wax which is now what I use to wash the car. The stuff is amazing (and not TOO expensive either), and leaves the paint extremely smooth. It also has little wax beads in it which help with paint maintenance, and make drying alot quicker and easier. For drying I go old school and just use 100% cotton towels. I can't stand using shammy's..... they drive me crazy.

For waxing I'm a little more uncertain as to what to do. I do everything by hand, and usually just use a basic meguirs wax (cleaner wax). I've heard some good things about their NXT wax as well, and am thinking of trying that stuff asap. What about glazing? Does anyone here do that?

[PuppageVW]

Re: THE detailing thread

I rinse my car with a pressure washer with soapy water, then I wash it by hand with a special car washer thingy with soapy water, then i rinse it with the pressure washer minus soap and dry with terry towels. I wax by hand, put a couple coats of meguiar's (#26 and #7 or something like that) glaze on then I get a coat of wax or two on there and done. I wax/glaze like once every couple months.

[Aleks]

Re: THE detailing thread

I was using eagle one wet wash, I have it cut with some neochem wash detergent as a blend that works fantastic for keeping shine....Clay bar it maybe once/twice per year, I found that Classic car polish worked real well, but don't get it anymore, the mothers polish works best, applies easiest, buffs off with no streaking....If I'm hardcore, I'll go over it with the polish twice, first a good buff out, second to make sure its done well, then a coat or two of wax, usually turtle, but I'm exploring other options....I have a power polisher (on an angle grinder like thing), it works real well if you're wanting a burned in shine!

[Kor]

Re: THE detailing thread

Vortex: Use the search!

We really have done this one to death LOL

[liquid]

Re: THE detailing thread

Vortex: Use the search!
We really have done this one to death LOL

I already have, many times.... I'm not asking for a sheer information session... it's just a matter curiousity. If you dont like it, dont read it... it's that simple.

[R_Ethug]

Re: THE detailing thread

what I do.. i pressure wash my car at big bucket and clean the wheels there with wheel cleaner and the pressure washer.. take it home and i'll use quick detailer on the entire car to get it nice.. and leave it like that if i'm lazy

if not then i'll glaze and wax it.. right now i have mothers glaze and meguirs gold class wax or i steal dericks crazy german spruh wax cuz it owns hard..

but the other day derick bought some NXT and tested it and now i have to find some.. it kills EVERYTHING out there..

[Derick]

Re: THE detailing thread

....but the other day derick bought some NXT and tested it and now i have to find some.. it kills EVERYTHING out there..

Yeah, I picked up a bottle to try it cuz all the Vortex detailing gurus have been raving about it. I have to say, it's AWESOME.
So my new routine is as follows....

Normal wash/dry:
I go to the Hawkwood car wash. Use a loonie to blast the initial dirt and dust off the car, as well as blast the foam brush (the one that every car was has hanging on the wall). Second loonie I use for the foam brush. But NOT to brush the car with. I just hold the brush over the car and let all the soap drizzle out onto it. I then use a lambswool mitt to scrub the car with the newly applied soap. FYI - the car wash soap in Hawkwood contains a special lubricant that helps reduce the chance of scratches and swirls. 2 more loonies to rinse, and I'm done. $4 total.

Waxing:
1) Same as above to clean the car off
2) Einszett Express polish
3) Einszett Medium polish (for more weathered areas like the hood and front bumper)
4) Meguires NXT (first coat)
5) Meguires NXT (second coat, a few hours later to give the first coat a chance to set)
6) Einszett Spruh wax (no, that's not a spelling error)

[liquid]

Re: THE detailing thread

Where did you get this Einszett (1Z) wax Derick?

[Derick]

Re: THE detailing thread

Where did you get this Einszett (1Z) wax Derick?

We all refer to it as "crazy German wax" Colin

I got mine from Detailers Paradise out of Colorado. Very friendly people. Shipping was cheap and fast too. I'll def buy from them again when I need more of supplies.

Here's a link....
http://www.detailersparadise.com/Splash.asp

Some other product worth mentioning...
P21S Wash - It's a citrus based cleaner I just used tonight to clean my suspension and wheel-wells for SCN. Works awesome.

Einszett Metal Polish (Chrompflege) - I use this stuff on my exhaust to polish the tips and remove carbon buildup. We also just used it on mine and Ryan's intake manifolds when we polished them. The results were insane

[James]

Re: THE detailing thread

I ordered the Zanio premium car kit or whatever it was for $115usd on their site on wensday, when it gets here Ill develop a new routine but for now its:

Pressure rinse.+ rinse brush off (shawnessy car wash is less that 1yr old so brushes are in good shape)
spray soap
rinse
foam brush panels that need (not roof and pass. door)
rinse
spot free rinse
rinse
Costs me about $8 to go to the car wash but she looks damn clean.

Ive been using mothers wax so far but that zanio is supposed to be crazy.

[Smartiepants]

Re: THE detailing thread

The Meguiars NXT is the best I have ever used, easy to put on, seems to hold up okay, and shines awesome.

I will also use the occasional clay bar then cleaner wax and maybe polish.

I use Mothers Car Wash and an old fashion bucket and mitt method.

[Holksvagon]

Re: THE detailing thread

I just put on the second application of The Turtle Wax Ultra Gloss... Similar to the NXT and the others out there... This stuff holds up wicked.... Car looks great other than the speckled hood with rock chips....

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: THE detailing thread

Well I usually hand wash the trouble area like front end (bugs) and wheels before I head to the car wash. After returning I dry and then use Quik Detail spray and all other goodies to make her look good. I am currently clay baring and trying out Eagle One Nanowax in preperation for SCN but I have not really gotten too far yet, as the manifold came off yesterday

[Tuna]

Re: THE detailing thread

I have not really gotten too far yet, as the manifold came off yesterday

And I got the Jetta Badgeless grill stuck on my car for like an hour.