Detailing product questions

[klamen]

I've had my '04 HEMI 1500 for little over a month now, and have washed it several times in that time frame. I think it's time to pull out the shine it's been begging me to show off So, could anybody give me any BETTER suggestions for products than what I have listed for each step below?



1. Wash: Been using RainX Car Wash, does a nice job. Anything better that is recommended? I have been washing it with wool wash mitts. I then have been drying with a chamois.



2. Claybar: Have not used one yet, and paint already feels good. However, want to do a "complete" detail on the truck, since the weather is getting warmer and I don't feel like doing any painting in the house that the wife keeps trying to get me to do. Should I go with the Meguiars Quick Clay Detailing package, or is there a better claybar on the market?



3. Cleaner: Should I just use what I will use for step #1 in this process?



4. Polish: Thinking of using Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze. I really want to get as close to a "mirror" finish as possible. This a good choice? I did notice that on this site, Klasse All-In-One was recommended in a write-up, especially when combined with the wax below. Anybody use this Klasse product?



5. Wax: I have a few friends that swear by P21S Carnauba Wax. I liked their results with it. Should I be "mixing and matching" different brands of chemicals during the detailing?



Miscellaneous questions now. I've got a lot of chrome that looks great. Should I get a special chrome cleaner, or just use whatever I am going with when washing the truck? I'd like the chrome to be as bright as possible of course



Also, what is everybody using for their interior work? What cleaner works best on the dash, which seems to be pick up a lot of dust? I've been using soapy water, but I think I'm going to start seeing some lackluster results after time.



I spent three hours this past weekend detailing my truck, and had some great comments when we went to Sonic (drive-in) from other truck owners (maybe it's my custom Hemi decals in the back window). I'd just like those comments to keep coming along.



Thanks for the help!

 

[Accumulator]

klamen- Welcome to Autopia. I'll try to give you a quick "something" in response to your Q's but a thorough search is gonna tell you more than I can...that and clicking on the "learn" icon.

I've had my '04 HEMI 1500 for little over a month now, and have washed it several times in that time frame. I think it's time to pull out the shine it's been begging me to show off So, could anybody give me any BETTER suggestions for products than what I have listed for each step below?

1. Wash: Been using RainX Car Wash, does a nice job. Anything better that is recommended? I have been washing it with wool wash mitts. I then have been drying with a chamois.

I'll assume you're using the two-bucket method. Opinions vary on car wash, I found that by switching to Griot's (great lubricity) I greatly reduced my wash-induced marring.



Drying with a WW MF will be *much* better than a chamois.

2. Claybar: Have not used one yet, and paint already feels good. However, want to do a "complete" detail on the truck, since the weather is getting warmer and I don't feel like doing any painting in the house that the wife keeps trying to get me to do. Should I go with the Meguiars Quick Clay Detailing package, or is there a better claybar on the market?

Mother's and Clay Magic are other options. If you go with Meg's, be sure to get their *latest* claybar system, not their old one. I'm a *big* advocate of claying.

3. Cleaner: Should I just use what I will use for step #1 in this process?

Depends on the condition of your paint. If it has any marring, you'll need an abrasive polish to reduce/eliminate it. I like stuff from 1Z. A Meg's alternative is their #80 Speed Glaze or the milder #82 Swirl Free Polish.

4. Polish: Thinking of using Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze. I really want to get as close to a "mirror" finish as possible. This a good choice? I did notice that on this site, Klasse All-In-One was recommended in a write-up, especially when combined with the wax below. Anybody use this Klasse product?

I dunno if I'd use #7 on your truck. Besides being a little tricky to use, it's sorta a "finishing touch" for nearly perfect vehicles. If you want to us *something* for that "little extra", I'd go with Meg's #81 hand polish. These and AIO are *very* different products and AIO is possibly a better choice for a "driver". But what you use at this point is somewhat dependent on what you used to reduce the marring...if you used 1z polish you wouldn't need this step at all. You might not need it anyhow.



Something to reduce your marring and clean your paint will often leave a ready-to-wax surface. Judging by the last portion of your post, three hours is a significant amount of time to you, detailing-wise. So I'd only do as much as necessary (many of us will spend more time than that on *one* panel- it's all relative).

5. Wax: I have a few friends that swear by P21S Carnauba Wax. I liked their results with it. Should I be "mixing and matching" different brands of chemicals during the detailing?



It's OK to mix and match in most cases. P21S works fine over anything. But you might look into Meg's #16- similar look, but greater durability.

..I've got a lot of chrome that looks great. Should I get a special chrome cleaner, or just use whatever I am going with when washing the truck? I'd like the chrome to be as bright as possible of course



A good polish, recommended for chrome, from Meg's, Mothers, Griot's, etc. topped with wax is what I do.

Also, what is everybody using for their interior work? What cleaner works best on the dash, which seems to be pick up a lot of dust? I've been using soapy water, but I think I'm going to start seeing some lackluster results after time.

I use Griot's interior cleaner, followed by a vinyl dressing (brand depends on the vehicle, many choices, all subtly different).

 

[klamen]

Opinions vary on car wash, I found that by switching to Griot's (great lubricity) I greatly reduced my wash-induced marring.



Drying with a WW MF will be *much* better than a chamois.

"WW"? I take it MF is microfiber. I will definitely give it a try, the chamois seems to work good, but seems to take a couple of wipes to get the water off.

Depends on the condition of your paint. If it has any marring, you'll need an abrasive polish to reduce/eliminate it. I like stuff from 1Z. A Meg's alternative is their #80 Speed Glaze or the milder #82 Swirl Free Polish.

Actually, the paint already looks great. I just heard that part of the process should include a polish application before the waxing.

I dunno if I'd use #7 on your truck. Besides being a little tricky to use, it's sorta a "finishing touch" for nearly perfect vehicles. If you want to us *something* for that "little extra", I'd go with Meg's #81 hand polish. These and AIO are *very* different products and AIO is possibly a better choice for a "driver".

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I want a look that sets it apart from other people's "usual" wax jobs. This will be a "driver" instead of a show vehicle, some will need something that's capable of handling the weathering the truck will get.

Judging by the last portion of your post, three hours is a significant amount of time to you, detailing-wise. So I'd only do as much as necessary (many of us will spend more time than that on *one* panel- it's all relative).

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The three hours was used for the wash/dry this weekend, and the interior cleaning. I don't mind blowing a weekend on a detailing for my vehicle (several times a year, not every weekend of course)



Thanks for taking the time to give me some advice, Accumulator. With all the money I'm putting into this truck in the past month, I just want it to look the best it can as well.

 

[ZaneO]

Find a nice wash mitt and a waffle weave drying towel ( www.pakshak.com ).



I would recommend Clay Magic clay bar.



1Z Paint polish, Meguiar's Swirl Free Polish, or Menzerna Final Polish.



Follow that with Klasse AIO and P21s and you'll be super happy.



What color is your truck?

 

[klamen]

Find a nice wash mitt and a waffle weave drying towel ( www.pakshak.com ).



I would recommend Clay Magic clay bar.



1Z Paint polish, Meguiar's Swirl Free Polish, or Menzerna Final Polish.



Follow that with Klasse AIO and P21s and you'll be super happy.



What color is your truck?

My truck is Graphite Metallic, sort of a silverish/gray. Have you used the Klasse AIO/P21S combination I take it?



Also, can the AIO and P21S be applied by a PC or best done by hand?

 

[andriver]

Klamen, welcome to Autopia. I have used the Klasse AIO and S100/P21S combo. This is a great combo. Also, consider using a sealant if you this is your daily driver. I like using 1Z products. Nevertheless, Klasse SG is a great sealant.



You have gotten some great advice from some very knowledgeable people here. Good luck and don't forget to post pics of your Hemi.

 

[ZaneO]

Yes, I used AIO/S100 last night on my mom's Yukon. I'll post some pictures a little later.



I applied the AIO with a PC and a white pad. Mainly just to save time, but I think it helps give a little deeper shine that way.



I think that combo will look awesome on that color.

 

[klamen]

Klamen, welcome to Autopia. I have used the Klasse AIO and S100/P21S combo. This is a great combo. Also, consider using a sealant if you this is your daily driver. I like using 1Z products. Nevertheless, Klasse SG is a great sealant.



You have gotten some great advice from some very knowledgeable people here. Good luck and don't forget to post pics of your Hemi.

So, to make sure I have the process right:



1. Wash (suggestion of using Griot's to reduce any marring)

2. Claybar (I hear soapy water can be used to keep paint wet)

3. Wash again, and use a WW MF for drying (what is WW?)

3. 1Z or Klasse sealant

4. Klasse AIO

5. P21S



I think that's the right order, right? So the sheepskin mitt is good for washing, and for the chrome, use chrome cleaner with a coat of wax on top of it. Never heard of waxing chrome, anything special I should know about it that is different than paint?



And I promise pictures of the HEMI when it's done. Hoping to do the in-depth outside detailing this weekend.

 

[ZaneO]

1. yes - any quality soap will work

2. yes - soapy water as a lubricant

3. WW=waffle weave drying towel - www.paksak.com

3 again 1Z, Menzerna, Meguiar's, etc. (Klasse sealant glaze should not be used here)

4. yes

5. yes



P21s will work fine on chrome bumpers, etc. Just wash it thoroughly, clay it, and wax it.



Here is a picture of AIO/S100 on white:

 

[klamen]

1. yes - any quality soap will work

2. yes - soapy water as a lubricant

3. WW=waffle weave drying towel - www.paksak.com

3 again 1Z, Menzerna, Meguiar's, etc. (Klasse sealant glaze should not be used here)

4. yes

5. yes



P21s will work fine on chrome bumpers, etc. Just wash it thoroughly, clay it, and wax it.



Here is a picture of AIO/S100 on white:

Thanks ZaneO. Thats a nice looking finish, exactly what I am going after. I guess the paksak site is down, been trying since yesterday to get into it.



Few more questions. I've not picked up a PC yet, and I know that a PC makes things easier. Since I don't have a PC, would all of the chemicals be ok to apply by hand? (P21S, AIO) And when I do get a PC, should the setting be around 5 for each of the used steps?



And, the big question: I have a brand new Walmart special $19.99 power buffer sitting in a box, never used it. Should I even be thinking about using it for the AIO and P21s until I get my hands on a PC?

 

[6cyl's_of_fury]

Yes, they all work well by hand. If polishing by hand and not PC, I would recommend 1z, they seem to be most user friendly by hand and they also work well with a PC if or when you get one.



Along with pakshak, you can also try a.k.a. Patrick at



excel detail



he also has some VERY good MF towels including some great WW's. The gold MF's are really good!

 

[ZaneO]

Sorry, it is www.pakshak.com - I misspelled it. They will be fine by hand. I wouldn't bother with the Wal-Mart buffer, but it won't hurt anything if you want to use it.

 

[imported_Macgirl1]

Wash - any quality shampoo will do....Meg's Gold Glass, Meg's NXT, 1Z Perls

Drying - SONUS Der Wunder Drying Towel, plus they are on sale till May 31st!

Clay - ClayMagic kit is awesome and the gray clay from the Autopia Store is good also.

Interior - wipe down with water and apply 303 Aerospace Protectant, low sheen great for interiors.