What's the latest in the world of detailing?

S

SDLexus

New member
Hey guys, old-timer reporting back in. I think the last time I was active on here was 2008! I had to reset my password but I'm surprised my old login was still active!

I just finished detailing my wife's C300 over the weekend and I am beat. There has to be an easier way.

I used some of the products I still had on shelves (not sure if the chemistry is still potent but it's all I had available). I did some minor paint correction with my trusty ol' PC and M83 (DACP), then decided to go with the Werkstatt twins for polish (Acrylic Prime and Jett). Looking back I probably should have clayed the paint but I didn't have any available and didn't want to drive the car to pick some up since I just washed it. After polishing with the Prime I went with the Jett as a sealant initially but remembered that I still had some Ultima PGP so I decided to finish with that instead. SO glad I found the Ultima because I was starting to get noodle arms.

Afterwards, I was inspired to head over here to see if anything's changed and what new products or techniques have been introduced in my absence. So are my PC, M83, Werkstatt, and Ultima still good to go or are there much better alternatives available now? Also what's a good tire dressing? I used Ultima Tire and Trim Guard in the past but my bottle was dried up. LOVED the Ultima Tire and Trim Guard back-in-the-day.
 
Well, there's def beefier options than your PC, just depends if it's worth it to you to buy one.

not sure about Werkstatt. I'm relatively new to all this.

but for a good tire dressing, I personally really like the Wolfgang tire gel. A little goes a long way and I get close to a month out of it.

And instead of clay, buy a nanoskin. Much easier to use and faster since you don't have to knead it. And if you drop it, just rinse off.
 
Wow, where to start--as jrock noted, there are a lot more polisher options now than PC/rotary. Also pads have gotten smaller and thinner, and there is microfiber.

That M83 is old school, there are MUCH better polishes now. Werkstatt is kind of defunct, they have switched over to marketing it as Carlack (the actual mfr), and some of the Werkstat (one t now)-specific blends are gone.

The Ultima products you mentioned have been recently converted to a water-based formula, to mixed reviews. If you liked UTTG, try Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant.
 
I find it a little odd to claim that the DA or the rotary are outdated. It's merely the evolution of marketing madness that convinces the enthusiast that there's a 'better mouse trap'. I still use my PC 7424 DA and the pads I bought many years ago. They work just fine for the ever so slight corrections I need to do. Frankly, I think some enthusiasts (even Autopians) over polish. After all, if we have or polish to obtain a good finish, then apply a good LSP and maintain it (wash) properly, we shouldn't need to polish that much - especially since polishing is removing a another micro-layer of clearcoat that's better left on the paint.

I prefer old school detail clay over these clay impregnated rags (I've never used).

I can't speak to your particular products as I have never used them. I would perhaps question products that had been on a shelf since 2008. Time to re-invest. As far as brands, we're all biased on products we've used with success and there are nearly as many of them as there are of us!
 
jrock645 said:
Well, there's def beefier options than your PC, just depends if it's worth it to you to buy one.

not sure about Werkstatt. I'm relatively new to all this.

but for a good tire dressing, I personally really like the Wolfgang tire gel. A little goes a long way and I get close to a month out of it.

And instead of clay, buy a nanoskin. Much easier to use and faster since you don't have to knead it. And if you drop it, just rinse off.
Click to expand...

Will definitely look into that nanoskin, kneading the clay was a pain and dropping it was was instant death.

The Wolfgang tire gel, is that a high shine tire gel? I much preferred the satin sheen look to the shiny look and whenever I hear gel, I think shiny.

Thanks for the reply!
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Wow, where to start--as jrock noted, there are a lot more polisher options now than PC/rotary. Also pads have gotten smaller and thinner, and there is microfiber.

That M83 is old school, there are MUCH better polishes now. Werkstatt is kind of defunct, they have switched over to marketing it as Carlack (the actual mfr), and some of the Werkstat (one t now)-specific blends are gone.

The Ultima products you mentioned have been recently converted to a water-based formula, to mixed reviews. If you liked UTTG, try Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant.
Click to expand...

Which polishers are favored these days? After using the PC again after a long while, I was thinking it might be worth replacing.

Is the Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant good for tires? Is it a satin sheen or more shiny. Not really into shiny tires.

Thanks!
 
MiVor said:
...
I can't speak to your particular products as I have never used them. I would perhaps question products that had been on a shelf since 2008. Time to re-invest. As far as brands, we're all biased on products we've used with success and there are nearly as many of them as there are of us!
Click to expand...

Yep, I am worried about the shelf life of the products I resurrected. They all had the familiar smell and they hazed over and seemed to cure as they did all those years ago. Will definitely re-invest in some newer products since I'm going to start detailing our cars myself going forward. I even found an old can of Souveran paste wax, I remember spending a bunch of $$$ on. I remember it didn't last but it did add some nice depth to darker paint. Might have to use that as a LSP over the Ultima for old time's sake!

Time to peruse the forums and do a bit of research.
 
Surprised that there weren't responses from the Zaino zealots! They used to be pretty rampant on these boards.

Is Zaino still a thing with it's 99+ layers? ;)
 
The werstatt combo while older is still a good option. They did just recently close down their line for a "newer" German line.

There are lots of polishes and compounds out. HD Polish is my go to for polishing. And if you need to go to a compound there is Meg's M105 or even the Wolfgang Uber compound.

For clay I still like the Sonus ultra fine clay but the nano skin options are quick and very good as well. I keep both on hand.

To seal the paint there are almost to many options. Coatings that take a lot of work, sealants and waxes. The DP poly sealant is claimed to last up to a year and is easy to use. But the UPPG and BF Crystal Seal are so easy to use I would almost stick with them. Then you have other options like CarPro Reload and Hydro2 that give you the beading, sheeting and shine of a coating or sealant with the ease of use of a spray wax.

There is so many options just look around and then ask some questions. There is almost guaranteed someone that has used it and can compare it to other options.
 
MiVor said:
I find it a little odd to claim that the DA or the rotary are outdated. It's merely the evolution of marketing madness that convinces the enthusiast that there's a 'better mouse trap'. I still use my PC 7424 DA and the pads I bought many years ago. They work just fine for the ever so slight corrections I need to do. Frankly, I think some enthusiasts (even Autopians) over polish. After all, if we have or polish to obtain a good finish, then apply a good LSP and maintain it (wash) properly, we shouldn't need to polish that much - especially since polishing is removing a another micro-layer of clearcoat that's better left on the paint.

I prefer old school detail clay over these clay impregnated rags (I've never used).

I can't speak to your particular products as I have never used them. I would perhaps question products that had been on a shelf since 2008. Time to re-invest. As far as brands, we're all biased on products we've used with success and there are nearly as many of them as there are of us!
Click to expand...

I think it depends on what you are doing. If you are just an enthusiast then a PC7424 will do just fine. And for the price of a 7424 it is hard to beat. But if you are trying to do any type of professional work where you need more correction in a smaller amount of time then something like a Rupes could really help.

I do tend to agree with how most of us polish to much and I think that comes with experience. I think most of us can agree it is easier to polish the paint than keep it looking good. I think having good wash habits and practices are more important than everything else.

I prefer clay as well. Mainly because you can see what is coming off the paint. But the "impregnated" stuff really works for someone that is doing a lot of cars. Especially if you have something like the Nanoskin mitt which allows me to do two steps in one. And let's face it, clay is expensive and if you drop it you can mess it up. I think that goes back to saying it just depends on what you are doing.

OP, there are plenty of great products and brands out there. It is really hard to go wrong with any of them.
 
SDLexus said:
Which polishers are favored these days? After using the PC again after a long while, I was thinking it might be worth replacing.

Is the Wolfgang Exterior Trim Sealant good for tires? Is it a satin sheen or more shiny. Not really into shiny tires.
Click to expand...

It's not that ur PC isn't usable, it's even better than it was with thinner/smaller pads, or MF pads, and the newer SMAT (super micro abrasive technology) polishes, but there are machines with more power, forced rotation, long-throw, etc.

Yes, WETS is more satin.

SDLexus said:
Surprised that there weren't responses from the Zaino zealots! They used to be pretty rampant on these boards.

Is Zaino still a thing with it's 99+ layers? ;)
Click to expand...

Most of the Z-heads departed for their own (now defunct) forum years ago. Zaino has kind of become passé, the last update to the "what's new" page at their website was in February, 2007. They're still good products, just don't get much buzz anymore, and there's a lot of excitement with some of the newer products elsewhere.
 
TroyScherer said:
The werstatt combo while older is still a good option. They did just recently close down their line for a "newer" German line.

There are lots of polishes and compounds out. HD Polish is my go to for polishing. And if you need to go to a compound there is Meg's M105 or even the Wolfgang Uber compound.

For clay I still like the Sonus ultra fine clay but the nano skin options are quick and very good as well. I keep both on hand.

To seal the paint there are almost to many options. Coatings that take a lot of work, sealants and waxes. The DP poly sealant is claimed to last up to a year and is easy to use. But the UPPG and BF Crystal Seal are so easy to use I would almost stick with them. Then you have other options like CarPro Reload and Hydro2 that give you the beading, sheeting and shine of a coating or sealant with the ease of use of a spray wax.

There is so many options just look around and then ask some questions. There is almost guaranteed someone that has used it and can compare it to other options.
Click to expand...

Does HD Polish require an intermediate step or can I go straight to an LSP after that?

or the most part I just detail my personal cars and the rare friends/family vehicles.

I used to be addicted to finding the "best" LSP and the Ultima was the last one I tried that quickly became my go-to (before that I actually quite liked the Meg's M21). I'm all for ease-of-use these days, so I'll probably pick up some of the updated Ultima and see how that goes but I'm also interested in trying out the BF Crystal Seal and those spray sealants you mention. Will do research on those. Thanks!
 
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I know how you feel 15 hours on this Honda Pilot my bones are barking, I really like Wolfgang tire and their trim sealant is very good. My PC sits in the basement since I got the Rupes 15 & mini also Flex 3401 is a beast, Welcome back to the Family.
 

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It's not a clay impregnated rag, its a microfiber towel that has a type of vulcanized rubber on one side of it..

Having used both, the claybar since the 90's, the towel will always be faster and easier to use because it just rinses off and there is no kneading needed to find a clean spot, like we have to do with the claybar...

I still have lots of claybars and a few SM Arnold Speedy Prep Towels in the cabinet and am horrified that the price of the SM Arnold product has gone up so much !!!!
Dont tell me - the chickens in California now needed rubber suits to work out in their new, modernized, cribs, so the world is experiencing a rubber shortage !!!!!!!! Caramba !!!! :)
Dan F
 
SDLexus said:
Does HD Polish require an intermediate step or can I go straight to an LSP after that?

or the most part I just detail my personal cars and the rare friends/family vehicles.

I used to be addicted to finding the "best" LSP and the Ultima was the last one I tried that quickly became my go-to (before that I actually quite liked the Meg's M21). I'm all for ease-of-use these days, so I'll probably pick up some of the updated Ultima and see how that goes but I'm also interested in trying out the BF Crystal Seal and those spray sealants you mention. Will do research on those. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Realisticly if you are using a sealant or wax, no you don't need to do an intermediate step between. HD polish is one of the best and "cleanest" polishes out. It really doesn't leave much if any filling behind.

IMO BF Crystal seal is a new and better version of UPGP. So if you are looking to update your current stuff that is where I would start.
 
Stokdgs said:
It's not a clay impregnated rag, its a microfiber towel that has a type of vulcanized rubber on one side of it..
Click to expand...

[WARNING= RAMBLING AHEAD]
[/END WARNING]

Yeah, I was being a smart a$$ because so many MFG's call them 'Clay Towels'. I think detail clay bars embed contaminants they remove from the paint, which I think would better to prevent marring than a rubber impregnated towel. Maybe lubed up enough it doesn't matter? - although I haven't used one as of this writing. But since I have several clay bars on the shelf, I don't feel the need to spend $25-$50 on a 'clay towel' or nano skin.

I also have doubts about the Rupes with increased elliptical throw and the forced rotation Flex being that much better than my old PC 7424. I would admit that a rotary could do more faster than a DA but I've personally never had the need, but then I'm not a pro and have never tried to restore an older abused ride. I suppose forced rotation is good if you lean into it as my PC would stop rotating. But then again, I've always had the best results with the firmer (higher density yellow/orange) pads and just let the machine do the work with only slight pressure.
I always wonder...is it really latest and greatest or just marketing gimmicks?
For me for light polishing and spot corrections, the PC works just great with no incentive to buy another machine. AND it was a great tool when I refinished my decks last summer!

I can say that it seems that the compounds, polishes and many LSP's have gotten even better over the years.

[/END RAMBLING - THANKS FOR READING]
 
MiVor said:
I also have doubts about the Rupes with increased elliptical throw and the forced rotation Flex being that much better than my old PC 7424.
Click to expand...

Do a panel with a PC then do a panel with the Rupes and let us know what you think then. Not just for the faster polish time but the Rupes is worth it alone for the no vibrations. PC still has it's place in my arsenal but will get used even less after I get a Rupes 75E. I hate the vibrations of the PC. My hands used to go numb when that was all I had.
 
You send me the 4 bills for the Rupe and I will :-)
mnehls86 said:
Do a panel with a PC then do a panel with the Rupes and let us know what you think then. Not just for the faster polish time but the Rupes is worth it alone for the no vibrations. PC still has it's place in my arsenal but will get used even less after I get a Rupes 75E. I hate the vibrations of the PC. My hands used to go numb when that was all I had.
Click to expand...
 
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