All these process choices.. are they documented?

I

imported_zenhog

New member
After only a few days here I'm thoroughly confused. There are so many process options. Clay or not. Use a polymer or not. Glaze or not.



Has anyone flowcharted these options out and noted when it's appropriate to take which steps? I'd think that would be very helpful.



For example I have a '99 suburban which may have had a wax job once a year, if that. I'm sure that now that I'm serious about dealing with that finish I'll need to follow a different process than the one I'm goign to need for my 2001 which has been babied since it was made.



So how do I choose what to do? There should be some kind of a decision tree flowchart somewhere.



Pretty geeky huh. lol.



Craig
 
Most of it is personal preference. Ever heard the term "different strokes for different folks"? Or "there's more than one way to skin a cat"? There are hundreds of products out there so, of course, there are hundreds of different ways to use them and combine them. Thousands of different ways probably. Don't search for the right or wrong products to use. There isn't a thread or a post out there that will tell you that. Some people use a sealant, others don't. Some people top their sealant with wax, others don't. Its just a matter of personal preference.



Typically there is a system to follow. Something like this maybe:



Wash

Clay

Polish

Sealant

Wax



Or maybe just washing and waxing is enough. It depends on the condition of the car. Some will use a sealant and others wont. Those steps aren't necessarily on the same day either. The world of detailing is pretty diverse. Lots of different techniques and procedures. Don't get caught up so much in what products to use. Focus on what kind of product you need and go from there. That will make your search much less stressful. :xyxthumbs
 
I agree with Jngrbrdman!!! :up





What works for me might not work for everyone. With so many variable factors to consider including condition of paint surface, lifestyle, financial budget and that precious TIME... you need to develop your own SYSTEM that will best fit you.



The information you are able to get here may serve as a building blocks of your detailing routin but eventually the final output of those building blocks will be a signature of your own.



Just my 2 cents! :p
 
Quite often whether something is needed or not simply depends on necessity.



You don't polish if not needed, or use a stronger polish if not needed. You don't clay if (for some reason) the paint doesn't need it. You don't glaze if you're using a polymer - they usually don't mix. And so on.



As Jngr said, another big factor includes the nebulous "personal preference". This can really change the way one person does a detail from someone else since there is no universal recipe and many ways to combine the use of several products in a detailing plan.



I've found it helps a lot to know what products really are, what category they're in, and how they relate or compare to each other. That way you know how to sequence them and can formulate a plan easier. Learning this can be hard though. :p
 
Thanks guys. So far so good.



So that's the term I was searching for... "detailing plan".



And I'm starting to get it now. But there are combination tricks that need to be learned, part of the confusion I'm talking about. For example the comment that you don't use a glaze if using a polymer.



The other thing I wanted to comment on at this point in the thread is the recommendation to focus on the type of product to use. Well, that really is driven by the detailing plan isn't it, and whether that type of product fits into the plan. So we're back to square one - lol.



Anyway thanks again and please keep the good info coming.



Craig
 
zenhog said:
After only a few days here I'm thoroughly confused. There are so many process options...Has anyone flowcharted these options out and noted when it's appropriate to take which steps? I'd think that would be very helpful....So how do I choose what to do? There should be some kind of a decision tree flowchart somewhere.



Pretty geeky huh. lol.



Craig
Click to expand...



Heh heh, a lot of what gets labeled "geeky" is just the currently out-of-vogue process of THINKING. I'd say this is a GREAT idea.



Yes, MANY of the steps/processes you're wondering about CAN be presented in an if-then-else format. Easiest way to do this would be with a flowcharting package, if anyone has one.



There WOULD be a tendency for personal preferences to creep in, but I DO believe we could come up with a consensus on the basics.



Depending on how detailed you wanted to get, this COULD turn into a real monster..again, I'd stick with the basics.



I'll look through our software and see if I have something I could use.
 
Funny, I made a flowchart. I think it's a really good idea when you're trying new stuff and procedures. Just as a check list....ya know.

"If you don't plan....you plan to fail"
 
Well, I don't have Visio :( I'm gonna see if Accumulatorette can find something...two retired programming teachers, you'd think ONE of us could come up with a flowchart package. But then we taught back when one did flowcharts with stencils....



It occurs to me that this could be either a simple or monumental task, depending on how it was done/what decisions were chosen :o
 
Actually Visio is pretty easy to use, you can take the product images and then connect them with their various choices. The biggest problem would be using alot of products it would be a mess. If it was just some popular products than that isn't too hard.



You can save the Visio flowchart as a JPEG also.
 
showphoto.php




Thanks thomasfl !



I'm such a tool :p

....waiting for the vets to flame me.
 
This isn't a flame. Your chart is good for showing the order of things. I guess I was hoping for something that would include some of the decision processes -- e.g.,

1. Is there wax or glaze on the finish?

If yes ---> Dawn wash

If no ---> good carwash soap

2. Dry

3. Is the paint smooth as glass, free of any bumpy/gritty texture?

If no ---> clay

If yes ---> proceed to "polish" questions



... etc. Of course, I don't have Visio and have never used it. So it's easy for me to suggest, but might be very, very difficult to execute.



By the way, I do not think the post-clay wash should generally be a Dawn wash.
 
I have Visio!



If you can document the steps - like the example above - I can chart it and send it to the group as a PDF for corrections.



When do we get started?



Craig:bounce
 
You're right Lynn! It should have more "if, then" decisions in there. This was my basic basic flow for my brain. Actually the software is really easy to use. Along with all my electronic tid bits of info I've gathered, I also have stacks of printouts which hopefully some day will find a home in a 3 ring binder. So this chart is another thing in my collection. I think I'm going to update it for what I do, with the products I use and the "if thens". There is tons and tons of info all over, but sometimes you just need a visual to help you along (at least I do).



I did the second Dawn wash the first time around for the just in case factor. But since then I'm going Z7.
 
Great suggestion Lynn! :xyxthumbs



Some steps may be optional or only "as needed" also, so maybe they can be denoted with a dashed box or something maybe? ;) Things like the 2nd wash (I don't) and the wax topper (optional).



The chart will also have to branch off in 2 directions since the above chart only roughly outlines a sealant route.



I could come up with a flowchart too if I set my mind to it, but I've been kinda lazy lately..... :p
 
Yeah, I agree completely that this visual is a good thing. Sometimes our discussions can get mind-boggling (as evidenced by zenhog's initial post here), when really we're just talking about 5 basic processes (wash, dry, clay, polish, wax/seal). I think it's the last two that could get most complicated. Maybe something along these lines could work:



4. Is there any oxidation?

If no ---> proceed to step 5

If yes ---> [recommend AIO? or something like MOR? Or ... break it down into "medium" vs. "severe" oxidation??]



5. Are there scratches or swirls?

a. If no --> proceed to wax/seal



b. If yes --> Can you live with them?

b1. If no --> [outline a process for beginning with SMR and gradually stepping up if SMR doesn't cut it?]

b2. If yes --> [glaze? But maybe need to structure this so folks see they generally preclude the sealant option (at least the Zaino option) if they use a glaze.]



After that, I suppose there would need to be some question to help folks decide whether they would benefit from a sealant or go straight to wax. Then, if they go with a sealant, would need another section for deciding whether to top with a wax.



Oh well ... those are just my idle thoughts.
 
Ok, here's what has been mentioned so far.



More detail in the decision regarding oxidation? (mild vs severe) ?



Detail needed for the Sealant / Wax process
 
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