Anything Else?

[thebigrocketboy]

I came across the autopia.org site a few months ago and was staggered by the amount of information and discussion surrounding car detailing. Since then, I've spent some time reading the helpful articles and following the many informative posts, and finally decided to pull the trigger on a number of items and products including a PC 7336 (I'm going to use all the acronyms as best I can! , LC pads, IP and FPII, DWG, clay bars, Prowax glass polish, Pakshak Eurow microfibers, etc.



As a newbie, I did my first car this past Saturday, starting with clay bar, IP then FPII, then DWG, then a LSP with NXT 2.0. I was very pleased with the results and realized I need to budget a full Saturday the next time I plan do a complete car detail!! I guess it's worth noting I'm not maintaining any exotics as we have a VW EOS, an old 95 Camry and 95 Jeep Wrangler (with a brand new paint job). I find I enjoy the process as much as the end result. It's strangely thearuptic to detail in my garage as I listed to sports talk radio... hmmm.



Anway, I just ordered ONR, Forever Black trim kit and 845 IW. The other things on my list are 301, EO tire & wheel and FK425. I guess my question surrounds what I might else consider getting. I'm wondering if I should invest in any sealants or additional glazes, or if I'll be satisfied enough with the #845 and DWG? I've seen a lot of people recommend RMG, but I'm assuming it won't gain me any additional function that DWG doesn't already provide. I like the fact that DWG can be sandwiched between waxes (or so the product claims as I haven't actually tried it yet).



Should I consider purchasing KAIO or KSG, or P21S as an alternative to #845? Should I consider purchasing some type of wax cleaner to strip off all the coats when I'm ready to put on something else?



Thanks.

 

[KnuckleBuckett]

I like my Flex. I wish I had ordered that instead of my PC. I also recommend considering Aquapel by PPG. Ultima PGP is nice. You should love the DWG. P21S total automotive cleaner and windshield wiper solvent are also excellent products. Did you get a QD spray? I like Adams and am increasingly liking Ultima. Pinnacle makes great clay. Consider a foam cannon and a couple grout sponges. SurfCity and Stoners make excellent glass cleaners. Cobra makes an excellent waffle weave for glass. Make sure you have multiple clay bars on hand. Use ONR correctly diluted for your clay lube. Get a good pad cleaning solution, and a pad cleaning spur or brush. I use my brush ALL of the time.



Stay organized, clean, and keep everything clearly labeled.



Enjoy!

 

[thebigrocketboy]

I like my Flex. I wish I had ordered that instead of my PC. I also recommend considering Aquapel by PPG. Ultima PGP is nice. You should love the DWG. P21S total automotive cleaner and windshield wiper solvent are also excellent products. Did you get a QD spray? I like Adams and am increasingly liking Ultima. Pinnacle makes great clay. Consider a foam cannon and a couple grout sponges. SurfCity and Stoners make excellent glass cleaners. Cobra makes an excellent waffle weave for glass. Make sure you have multiple clay bars on hand. Use ONR correctly diluted for your clay lube. Get a good pad cleaning solution, and a pad cleaning spur or brush. I use my brush ALL of the time.

Thanks for your reply! I might eventually own a Flex, but can the Flex double as an orbital sander like the PC? I liked this aspect of the PC 7336. I'll take a look at some of the products you suggested. I received a QD in the Meguiar's clay bar kit I purchased, but have the FK425 on my list. That's a QD, correct? Would you recommend the Adams and/or Ultima over the FK425?



Regarding the clay, I purchased Clay Magic in addition to the Meguiar's kit. The clay magic seemed pretty good. Grout sponges are also good suggestions. Are WW towels that much better than my Eurow microfibers that I should consider having BOTH on hand? That's something I didn't even consider. I also picked up the Snappy pad cleaning solution when I purchased the LC pads which seems good-- but didn't get a cleaning spur. That's another good suggestion.



edited:::

Regarding the Ultima PGP you suggested, is that something you would use on top of a wax, or instead of a wax? Also, the P21S total automotive cleaner sounds a lot like Simple Green. True?

 

[Accumulator]

I came across the autopia.org site a few months ago ...[I ordered 845 IW and]...I'm wondering if I should invest in any sealants or additional glazes, or if I'll be satisfied enough with the #845 and DWG?...[for instance]..Should I consider purchasing KAIO or KSG, or P21S as an alternative to #845?

Welcome to Autopia!



KAIO is handy to have around, very versatile. So sure, I think it's good to have on-hand. It could do the paint cleaning you're wondering about. But generally I think most people get some wash-induced marring after a few months anyhow...they can just wait until the existing wax is nearly dead and then polish to remove the marring (which will also clean off the remaining wax).



But as far as all the different LSPs, glazes, etc., I'd just try the DWG and the 845. If you do the preceding prep OK those oughta work great. Beware the temptation to overcomplicate things that can be very simple



Oh, and the FK425 quick detailer is *very* good stuff; I recommend it without reservation.

 

[thebigrocketboy]

Welcome to Autopia!



KAIO is handy to have around, very versatile. So sure, I think it's good to have on-hand. It could do the paint cleaning you're wondering about. But generally I think most people get some wash-induced marring after a few months anyhow...they can just wait until the existing wax is nearly dead and then polish to remove the marring (which will also clean off the remaining wax).



But as far as all the different LSPs, glazes, etc., I'd just try the DWG and the 845. If you do the preceding prep OK those oughta work great. Beware the temptation to overcomplicate things that can be very simple



Oh, and the FK425 quick detailer is *very* good stuff; I recommend it without reservation.

Thanks for the suggestions. Based on what you suggest, maybe I'll hold off on the KAIO for now. One thing I'm confused about is products that are termed as "cleaner waxes." I'm not sure I understand how a product can both clean and wax at the same time?

 

[Accumulator]

.. One thing I'm confused about is products that are termed as "cleaner waxes." I'm not sure I understand how a product can both clean and wax at the same time?

The general consensus is that they don't do both jobs as well as two separate, dedicated products would. Rather, they usually do either one or the other best. That doesn't mean they're all lousy, but generally they aren't all that durable.



KAIO for instance, doesn't last long at all (despite the ad-copy claims) but it does clean well.



Something that can work well is to use a cleanerwax for a quickie spruce-up and then top it with something more durable after the next wash.

 

[KnuckleBuckett]

Thanks for your reply! I might eventually own a Flex, but can the Flex double as an orbital sander like the PC? I liked this aspect of the PC 7336. I'll take a look at some of the products you suggested. I received a QD in the Meguiar's clay bar kit I purchased, but have the FK425 on my list. That's a QD, correct? Would you recommend the Adams and/or Ultima over the FK425?



Regarding the clay, I purchased Clay Magic in addition to the Meguiar's kit. The clay magic seemed pretty good. Grout sponges are also good suggestions. Are WW towels that much better than my Eurow microfibers that I should consider having BOTH on hand? That's something I didn't even consider. I also picked up the Snappy pad cleaning solution when I purchased the LC pads which seems good-- but didn't get a cleaning spur. That's another good suggestion.



edited:::

Regarding the Ultima PGP you suggested, is that something you would use on top of a wax, or instead of a wax? Also, the P21S total automotive cleaner sounds a lot like Simple Green. True?

Never used the FK425 myself. Folks in the forum speak well of it. I expect that the FK will be as good as Adam's or Ultima as a QD solution.



Don't know anything about a Eurow. I would hate to have to do without my WW towels.



I think that the brush rather than the spur would be a better solution for the PC (Anyone?).



Snappy pad is awesome.



P21S is NOT like SG. SG can stain, burn, and discolor unless very carefully controlled. I do not like it at all. If I need an exceptionally strong cleaner I use Purple Power and control it very carefully. Never had an issue using it. P21S is gentle yet effective for the whole exterior and engine bay. Great stuff. I now buy the refill by the multiples of liters.



I like to use Ultima T&T on my tires at 2 to 3 fully dried coats and follow them up with BlackFire dried times 2. Either one is a winner alone in my book, but the combo is pretty awesome and reasonably durable as well.



Oh. Check out Adam's underbody spray. Really makes a difference IMO.

 

[thebigrocketboy]

P21S is NOT like SG. SG can stain, burn, and discolor unless very carefully controlled. I do not like it at all. If I need an exceptionally strong cleaner I use Purple Power and control it very carefully. Never had an issue using it. P21S is gentle yet effective for the whole exterior and engine bay. Great stuff. I now buy the refill by the multiples of liters.

I'll have to consider the P21S to clean my engine bays. I was planning to use Simple Green Extreme, which I read is a bit more forgiving on aluminum, etc. than regular SG. I was also leaning towards SG because of its "environmental friendliness." I've heard that some of the stronger engine cleaning detergents are toxic and shouldn't be inhaled directly.



Then again, the more I think about it, I'm not really sure why I'm so hung up on the "environmental friendliness" issue considering all the other chemicals that I'm using and inhaling during a typical detailing project!

 

[Accumulator]

..I think that the brush rather than the spur would be a better solution for the PC (Anyone?)..

Yeah, for foam pads use a brush, for wool pads use a spur. Since most PC work is done with foam, that means use a brush.



thebigrocketboy- I use the P21s Total Auto Wash for engine compartments and all sorts of other stuff too, it's very safe. No fumes, no enviro dangers, no issues at all; you can wash your hands with it. I do suggest that you keep it out of your eyes, but that's sometimes easier said than done when doing undercarriages (my face shield slipped off, shoulda stopped and put it back on ).



There are other safe engine cleaners too, they use citrus stuff instead of the nasty chemicals.



I don't use Simple Green for stuff like this, but hey, that's just me.