Recent content by fotodad

Before you guys all jump down my back, I did do a search on this topic and found some informative threads/posts, but none specifically addressed this simple question. Should I detail a 2001 Porsche 911 any differently than I would a Honda, Toyota, BMW, or any other manufacturer assuming the...

I love the color black on an automobile. In fact, one year I bought a black car (1985 Corvette) and I learned quickly how the small swirl scratches become a huge eyesore. So ever since then I've stayed far, far away from buying black again. But now, after reading many posts, it seems these swirl...

It seems (rightfully and understandably so) that most if not all folks on this forum use various brand names for assorted steps in their detailing procedure. But just for the heck of it, let's assume you can only use one brand name to do the various steps in detailing your car. What brand name...

Which procedure do you feel provides a better, glossier, wetter finish over a three to four month period when considering normal driving and weather conditions on a 2004 automobile: #1 Doing the whole detail job from removing the old wax to clay bar to polish to wax then layering/reapplying...

Like probably many of you, I wash or wax or polish or clean something on my car at least three times per week, usually more. I live in a neighborhood where a lot of people like to take walks. Well, people who walk often will see me outside doing my thing to my car and, without sounding mean...

Okay, so I recently lost a bunch of weight and I'm feelin' pretty good about myself. But one thing that still bugs me is my back hair. Now I'm no gorilla, but I'd say the hair on my back is equivalent to the air on most people's arms. And it's really black. Yuck! So I thought about shaving it...

Okay, here's the process I used to detail my car. The car is a 2004 G35x, so the paint and finish are in pretty good shape to begin with. The car has 14,000 miles on it. Please point out what I did right and what I did wrong. Thanks! Step 1: Cleaned tires and rims using Mother's Rubber and...

I received my Porter Cable buffer and assorted pads about a month ago, but due to crumby weather I wasn't able to use any of it until today. This is my intial reaction to using the PC for the first time. Time: For some reason I thought using the PC would save me a little time. It didn't, and...

I just bought an older (1983) Honda Nighthawk motorcycle and I'd like to clean it up a bit. What needs the most cleaning is the engine and the exhaust. Is there a product I can use to spray on the engine, let is sit for a bit, then spray off with a hose tht does a pretty good job? Also, the...

I just left my local paint shop with a price quote of over $100.00 for paint to repaint my Honda motorcycle. I feel this is too expensive, so I'd like to buy the same stuff online. But I can't find any sites! Any suggestions where I can look? This is the stuff I want to get: PPG Omni Brand...

While I'm waiting for some nice weather, I thought I'd get some suggestions and ideas from all of you on what detailing procedure you've found that provides the best results. Please include every detail, all the brand names (please avoid abbreviations) and their purpose from when you first...

Since I live in Wisconsin, I have to deal with extremely different outside air temperatures when I detail my car. We all know detailing in direct sunlight is a no-no, but what about outside air temperature. Today the temperature outside was 49º; it was cloudy but there was no wind. We all...

I'm not sure if Toys for Trucks stores are nation-wide (I'm in Wisconsin), but they are having a clearance sale if you buy Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 together. I paid $16.95 for all three.

I just bought a 1983 Honda Nighthawk 650. The bike is structurally sound and the engine only has 16,000 miles on it, so from a functional perspective the bike is in great shape. But from a cosmetic perspective it could use a little work. Small areas of surface rust are forming on the frame and...

I've got three small stone chips on my hood which I know are there but nobody else can really see them unless I point them out. Since they're on the hood of my diamond graphite (metallic gray) G35 I'm a little hesitant to try fixing them myself because if i screw up they may be even more...