Newbie needing some advice

[coupelover]

Hey guys,

Trying to learn about all the new things that have developed in the world of keeping your car clean since I last bought a new car(1999). Everything is about microfiber it seems.

So far, I've got myself some microfiber towels, a microfiber mitt, ICE car wash, a california duster, a leather chamois(but it seems that it isn't the way most people dry anymore so any recommendations on what to use to dry would be great), i had myself a california water blade, but it didn't seem to work so well (think i might have gotten myself a defective one), and i bought myself a bottle of Meguir's cleaner wax b/c i had a few spots that the wash wouldn't get out.



I keep reading about using a detailer wax in between wash and major waxes. How does that work? You just spray and wipe, or spray, work it into the paint and buff off? Does it take off things that a cleaner wax would? I know that the cleaner waxes are more abrasive, but I had a few spots that i just really needed to get off ASAP.



I don't see myself being able to spend too much time on my car b/c of work and b/c I don't have a place of my own to wash and wax my car. I have to go to my brother's place to do that so it's not so easy. I was looking at the Klasse AIO and sealant b/c it's seems to last a good long time and I used it on my old car and thought it was pretty good. What do you guys think of that?

 

[Accumulator]

Hey guys...

Welcome to Autopia!

So far, I've got myself some microfiber towels, a microfiber mitt, ICE car wash, a california duster, a leather chamois(but it seems that it isn't the way most people dry anymore so any recommendations on what to use to dry would be great)..

Replace the leather chamois with a few waffle-weave microfiber drying towels, you'll be very pleased with them.

.. i bought myself a bottle of Meguir's cleaner wax b/c i had a few spots that the wash wouldn't get out... I keep reading about using a detailer wax in between wash and major waxes. How does that work? You just spray and wipe, or spray, work it into the paint and buff off? Does it take off things that a cleaner wax would? I know that the cleaner waxes are more abrasive, but I had a few spots that i just really needed to get off ASAP...

Most cleaner waxes clean primarily through chemical action, and aren't very abrasive (not enough to worry about). I don't use the "detail waxes", I just redo the regular wax from time to time. The spray waxes don't clean like cleaner waxes, they generally don't clean at all.

I don't see myself being able to spend too much time on my car b/c of work and b/c I don't have a place of my own to wash and wax my car. I have to go to my brother's place to do that so it's not so easy. I was looking at the Klasse AIO and sealant b/c it's seems to last a good long time and I used it on my old car and thought it was pretty good. What do you guys think of that?

The Klasse sealant (which I use on one of our vehicles) is somewhat finicky and only looks good on finishes that are basically perfect. The AIO is basically a different (synthetic) type of cleaner wax.



IMO you oughta just use the cleaner wax again and then go over it with some Collinite brand wax (either their 845 Insulator wax liquid or the 476S paste). The Collinite will be nearly as durable as the Klasse and will be a) more user friendly and b) more attractive on a daily driver (at least IMO and I use them both). The great Klasse durability you hear about is, IME, dependent on applying multiple coats, 24 hours apart. When applying just one coat (as I suspect you'll be doing), the Collinite is at least as good. Cheap too.

 

[coupelover]

So I guess the chamois will be gone and I'll find some waffle weave microfiber towels.



Collinite, I have to say that of whatever research and forums that I've been on that talk about detailing I haven't heard of it. I checked it out online and it seems like it's been around for a LONG time. Didn't find that many reviews on it. Any of you guys have opinions on it?



So I still don't know what to think about quick detailers.

 

[moosey]

Just as a suggestion too, if you were looking into Klasse, you might want to check out the Werkstatt products. Prime is like an AIO and the sealant they have is a spray (Acrylic Jett Trigger).

 

[Accumulator]

coupelover- Heh heh, I'd suggest that you run a search on Collinite, but you'd get so many responses you'd never read 'em all Putting a straight (i.e., non-cleaner) wax over a cleaner wax is an old, time-tested approach. With Collinite being the durability champ of waxes, it seems like a no-brainer to me, and hey, the stuff only costs ~$14 so it's not some huge gamble Some people here have been using it since the '70s, it's simply a good product.

 

[coupelover]

So I should use a cleaner wax first and then a regular wax on top of that? What about a polish? Should I be using a polish too? If I use a polish, do I still need to use the cleaner wax? Man, this stuff is so confusing.

 

[3puttjay]

Yes it can all be confusing. The polishing step can be very tiring and time consuming if done by hand ( I know it took me a whole day just to do the hood). If you can live with some swirls than you might try a glaze to hide the swirls. The steps should be cleaner wax, then glaze, then apply a layer of collinite on top. If you are polishing, that step should come after washing and before cleaner wax. Remember to apply Collinite in very,very,very thin layers (its a pain to remove if applied too thickly). I wash my car every week with some Turtle Wax platinum car wash (from Odd Lots $4) and if I get a bird bomb between washs, then I use some Finish Kare 425 quick detailer to remove it and add some shine (any good quick detailer will do, Mothers, Megs,...). If you haven't tried to clay your car, that step should be your first (you'll see a big difference). You can get some good MF WW towels from Wal-mart in the housewares section for $3. I hope this has not been too much for you, everyone here has gone through what you are going through before (some more recently than others).:welcome

 

[Accumulator]

So I should use a cleaner wax first and then a regular wax on top of that?

Yeah, the second wax lasts longer and offers other benefits. The cleaner wax preps things first.



What about a polish? Should I be using a polish too? If I use a polish, do I still need to use the cleaner wax? Man, this stuff is so confusing.

No, if you use a polish that'll replace the cleaner-wax. Using a polish steps this stuff up into a whole 'nother level and I didn't know if you were ready to do that.



If you want something that'll work OK by hand (but a lot *better* by machine), I recommend 1Z Brand Polishes (sources: Welcome to Exceldetail.com! or Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing Supplies & Accessories ). It's a great product for people who are just getting serious about this stuff due to it's effectiveness and user-friendly nature.



Note that 1z's polishes leave a little wax behind; in this way they're sorta like "super cleaner-waxes". And if you're pooped when you finish polishing, you can just wait and apply the "real wax" after the next wash, the 1Z will protect for a few weeks all by itself.



And plenty of experts like it too 1Z topped with Collinite is a winner, simple as that.

 

[coupelover]

Ok, so i have to say, I didn't realize that polish was such a different animal. I guess the only thing that I have ever used was the Klasse AIO and Glaze which is a pretty easy process so I don't know the difference between the polish and the wax. Well, wax is for protection after everything else. And you say that polish is like a super cleaner wax. So why would I want to put on polish vs. cleaner wax topped with another wax? Man oh man, so much to learn.

 

[Accumulator]

Ok, so i have to say, I didn't realize that polish was such a different animal. ..you say that [1 Z brand Polish] is like a super cleaner wax. So why would I want to put on polish vs. cleaner wax topped with another wax? Man oh man, so much to learn.

Sorry to make this stuff confusing...I'll try to do better :think:



The 1Z Polishes are somewhat unique due to their heavy wax content. Some people don't like them for this reason but I'll leave that discussion for another lifetime. The big advantage that they have over most cleaner-waxes is their abrasive content. These abrasives range from aggressive (Ultra/Extra) Polish, to medium (Paint Polish), to *Very* mild (Metallic Polish). The abrasives remove marring (scratches/etc.) and impart a higher gloss than you can get with regular cleaner-waxes.



No way to overstate how user-friendly this particular line of polishes is..with the same time/effort you'd invest with a cleaner-wax, you'll get *MUCH* better results. If anything, the difference you'll notice is that the 1z polishes are often *easier* to use than cleaner-waxes...for one thing they seldom leave white stains on black plastic trim (I *use* them on trim quite often).



The idea of putting another wax on top is that the waxes in these polishes (let alone the waxes in most cleaner-waxes) aren't all that durable. Most "straight" (i.e., non-cleaner) waxes are infinitely more durable and also offer other benefits like better beading and a more "nonstick" surface that'll keep dirt from sticking as tenaciously.



Noting that there are a zillion good products on the market these days and that everyone has their favorites and also-rans, I've been recommending the 1Z/Collinite approach for ages and I can't even remember the last time somebody wasn't happy with it. It might not end up being your favorite approach after years of experimenting, but I'm utterly certain that you won't begrudge the purchase if you decide to try it. Sorry if the preceding sounds like a hard-sell

 

[coupelover]

Sorry to make this stuff confusing...I'll try to do better :think:



The 1Z Polishes are somewhat unique due to their heavy wax content. Some people don't like them for this reason but I'll leave that discussion for another lifetime. The big advantage that they have over most cleaner-waxes is their abrasive content. These abrasives range from aggressive (Ultra/Extra) Polish, to medium (Paint Polish), to *Very* mild (Metallic Polish). The abrasives remove marring (scratches/etc.) and impart a higher gloss than you can get with regular cleaner-waxes.



No way to overstate how user-friendly this particular line of polishes is..with the same time/effort you'd invest with a cleaner-wax, you'll get *MUCH* better results. If anything, the difference you'll notice is that the 1z polishes are often *easier* to use than cleaner-waxes...for one thing they seldom leave white stains on black plastic trim (I *use* them on trim quite often).



The idea of putting another wax on top is that the waxes in these polishes (let alone the waxes in most cleaner-waxes) aren't all that durable. Most "straight" (i.e., non-cleaner) waxes are infinitely more durable and also offer other benefits like better beading and a more "nonstick" surface that'll keep dirt from sticking as tenaciously.



Noting that there are a zillion good products on the market these days and that everyone has their favorites and also-rans, I've been recommending the 1Z/Collinite approach for ages and I can't even remember the last time somebody wasn't happy with it. It might not end up being your favorite approach after years of experimenting, but I'm utterly certain that you won't begrudge the purchase if you decide to try it. Sorry if the preceding sounds like a hard-sell

Ok, i think that you've convinced me to give the combination a try. I looked up 1Z and it seems that they have alot of options. My car is only 2+ weeks old and it's a metallic blue, so the car and the paint is brand new. When should I do the polish and wax combo for the first time? Should I leave the brand new paint alone for the first few months? And when I do decide to polish it, which 1Z product should I get? I found the Einszett Metallic PolishWax which seems to be made for new paints, would that be a good choice? Also, which Collinite Wax would you recommend?



And in terms of applications products, I have a micofiber mitt, ICE car wash, a leather chamois, and some microfiber towels. Do I need anything else?



Thanks for your help.

 

[Accumulator]

Ok, i think that you've convinced me to give the combination a try. I looked up 1Z and it seems that they have alot of options. My car is only 2+ weeks old and it's a metallic blue, so the car and the paint is brand new. When should I do the polish and wax combo for the first time? Should I leave the brand new paint alone for the first few months? And when I do decide to polish it, which 1Z product should I get? I found the Einszett Metallic PolishWax which seems to be made for new paints, would that be a good choice?

That sounds like a perfect candidate for Metallic Polish or WaxPolishSoft (pretty much a flip-a-coin choice)...assuming you really don't have any marring that needs corrected (the MP/WPS are just too mild to take out swirls/etc.).



I do think I'd order a can of the Paint Polish (green can) though..you'll need it sooner or later. It's a much better choice when the MP/WPS seems to be underpowered for a given job.



I'd do it as soon as the wax you have on there now starts to fail (beading changes, surface not as slick, etc.). Or you could do it as soon as the new stuff arrives if detailing is your idea of fun The 1Z Polish oughta cut right through what's on there now.

Also, which Collinite Wax would you recommend?

This is also a flip-a-coin choice...the 845 is probably the way to go. The 476S paste lasts longer but the 845 is just *SO* easy to use that it gets my vote this time.

.. I have a micofiber mitt, ICE car wash, a leather chamois, and some microfiber towels. Do I need anything else?

I'll repeat that I'd absolutely replace the chamois with a waffle-weave microfiber drying towel..you'll be glad you did Regular foam applicators (like the round yellow ones) are fine for applying both the polish and wax. Hope the MF towels you have are nice and soft so they don't mar the paint.



There are all sorts of way to tweak the wash technique and washing is where most marring occurs. I think you oughta have a few mitts so you can switch to a clean one as needed. Note that MF mitts can hold on to dirt and become scratch magnets...perhaps consider some sheepskin ones or even Boar's Hair Brushes ("BHBs").



I always advise people to use a foamgun when they wash (there are a lot of threads about it, including my "Accumulator's Non-marring Wash Technique" thread in the Hall of Fame forum...scroll to the later entries) but for now I think you'll be well on your way to doing this stuff to a whole 'nother standard compared with what you had been doing.



Please post back with results, comments (even/especially criticisms as I need to know when my advice bombs out), and any other questions you might have.

 

[zingyginger]

I highly recommend getting the IZ & collinite from exceldetail.com and while there order the waffle weave towel & sheepskin mitt. His towels are light years softer than megs water magnet; his sheepskin's also incredibly soft.

 

[coupelover]

I highly recommend getting the IZ & collinite from exceldetail.com and while there order the waffle weave towel & sheepskin mitt. His towels are light years softer than megs water magnet; his sheepskin's also incredibly soft.

Why do you highly suggest exceldetail, aside from the towels? Do they have better prices for the polish and the wax? Are they cheaper with their shipping charges?

 

[Accumulator]

Why do you highly suggest exceldetail?

Both Patrick at Excel and Ranney at PakShack are members here and both are great guys with great product lines. I find it impossible to choose between them so I order from both and try to keep track of who got my money last time. Flip a coin.



Oh, and don't let the Hawaiian address scare you off PakShack, his shipping is reasonable (he sometimes charges less than the actual postage sticker on the box). But don't take that as a reason not to order from Patrick...sheesh there's no way to choose :nixweiss

 

[zingyginger]

They're both reputable vendors - I've only ordered from Patrick so I can vouch for his stuff. Some of his towels (the waffle weave IIRC) are identical or quite similar to Ranney's. There's discounts for both (10%, I think) but you have to contact them by email so they can manually adjust your tally.



I ended up ordering from exceldetail because he also sells sonus green clay (which I use for spot claying) and his excel supreme kit had all the basic towels and the sheepskin mitt I needed.



I don't think you can go wrong with either of them for collinite, 1Z, towels and the mitt. If you pick up Optimum No Rinse, you can use it in varying dilution ratios as a wash (no hose necessary) and a quick detailer for bird bombs. The idea is to order from one place so you won't accumulate shipping charges from several vendors.

 

[coupelover]

So I was about to order the 1Z, Collinite, WW towels, and mitt from exceldetail.com, but there are multiple typse of WW towels that they offere and the sheepskin mitts come in light, medium, and heavy, but I'm not sure what that is in reference to. Can I get some help in which WW towel to order and which mitt? Thanks.

 

[zingyginger]

So I was about to order the 1Z, Collinite, WW towels, and mitt from exceldetail.com, but there are multiple typse of WW towels that they offere and the sheepskin mitts come in light, medium, and heavy, but I'm not sure what that is in reference to. Can I get some help in which WW towel to order and which mitt? Thanks.

This is the set that I got - you can't go wrong with any of these towels:

Excel Supreme Kit



If you want them separately, below are the links for the WW & medium mitt (I believe the medium is about 3 to 4 oz in weight and that's I what I got in my kit).



Excel Monterey Waffle Weave Drying Towel



Pure Australian Medium Sheepskin Washmit



Though I was hoping to get the heavy mitt with the kit (more fibers to soak up wash solution/pick up dirt), I found the medium to be satisfactory (it's also silky soft). Plus now I'm able to get through the wash with 3 gallons of ONR wash instead of the 4 that I previously needed with a much heavier mitt. If the medium works for you exceldetail.com also has 3 medium mitts for $15. The waffle weave is a beautiful powder blue and is so soft it probably can be used as a baby blanket.



You can also contact Patrick - he responds promptly to emails and gives helpful advice (and can adjust your order so you get the autopian discount).



Finally, in case you were wondering, this is one of the threads where another member Eliot Ness compared several "boutique" towels and found them either identical or very similar in quality:



http://autopia.org/forum/detailing-product-discussion/88062-cg-ww-drying-towel-any-good.html