Simplifying detailing for old fogies

[velobard]

I`m certain others here are older than myself, but health issues have me feeling older than my years. I get winded way too easy these days. Today I did a quick rinse-free wash, sat down to rest, then went back out and did a simple coat of spray wax over the Paint Guard+ I applied the other day. Quite honestly, it`s embarrassing. I guess I`m at the point that detailing is a form of exercise for me.

I`m looking for more suggestions on products and such to simplify my detailing regimen. Anyone want to offer a few tips?

 

[Setec Astronomy]

You`ve already got it pretty worked out IMO, using a WOWA sealant and rinseless wash. The only improvement I could suggest is to skip the spray wax and use a wash with some protection, there are several rinselesses with ceramic, as well as the new Labocosmetica Idrosave which definitely has something in it (although it`s a media-stainer).

 

[Accumulator]

velobard- IMO what you`re doing now is fine. Although I didn`t switch to a purely rinseless wash regimen, I did switch my wife`s A8 over to just OCW, used as a Drying Aid. Sometimes I`d substitute IUDJ mixed to QD strength (which also leaves a surprising amount of [whatever it is] behind. Although that didn`t offer the "nothing etches through it!" protection of my conventional LSPs, it worked out perfectly well enough. Good to use the OCW on lenses/etc. anyhow for the UV protection.

(Note use of past tense in the above; the A8 got totaled last year No injury to Accumulatorette, and that`s what really mattered.)

 

[velobard]

You`ve already got it pretty worked out IMO, using a WOWA sealant and rinseless wash. The only improvement I could suggest is to skip the spray wax and use a wash with some protection, there are several rinselesses with ceramic, as well as the new Labocosmetica Idrosave which definitely has something in it (although it`s a media-stainer).

TBH, I sorta figured most of the ceramic rinseless products and similar were mostly using "ceramic" as a buzzword. If some are worthwhile, I suppose I should pay a little more attention. At least with brands I recognize like CG.
What about the ones that advertise graphene instead of ceramic?

Media stainer? Not quite sure what you mean.

 

[velobard]

velobard- IMO what you`re doing now is fine. Although I didn`t switch to a purely rinseless wash regimen, I did switch my wife`s A8 over to just OCW, used as a Drying Aid. Sometimes I`d substitute IUDJ mixed to QD strength (which also leaves a surprising amount of [whatever it is] behind. Although that didn`t offer the "nothing etches through it!" protection of my conventional LSPs, it worked out perfectly well enough. Good to use the OCW on lenses/etc. anyhow for the UV protection.

(Note use of past tense in the above; the A8 got totaled last year No injury to Accumulatorette, and that`s what really mattered.)

Glad to hear she`s OK, but sorry about the A8. You had that one quite awhile, didn`t you?

Help me out here, what is IUDJ?

 

[Stokdgs]

velobard- IMO what you`re doing now is fine. Although I didn`t switch to a purely rinseless wash regimen, I did switch my wife`s A8 over to just OCW, used as a Drying Aid. Sometimes I`d substitute IUDJ mixed to QD strength (which also leaves a surprising amount of [whatever it is] behind. Although that didn`t offer the "nothing etches through it!" protection of my conventional LSPs, it worked out perfectly well enough. Good to use the OCW on lenses/etc. anyhow for the UV protection.

(Note use of past tense in the above; the A8 got totaled last year No injury to Accumulatorette, and that`s what really mattered.)

Oh! sorry to hear that Accumulatorette was in an accident!!! I hope she has been healing up just fine...
Come to think of it, that A8 is really the most beautiful Bank Vault in Leather in the world, as are all Audi`s in my experience...
So sorry this happened...

Best,
Dan F

 

[Setec Astronomy]

TBH, I sorta figured most of the ceramic rinseless products and similar were mostly using "ceramic" as a buzzword.

I dunno, Griot`s has one, McKee`s has them with graphene, ceramic, alien bone dust (sorry, stole that one from Desertnate), the new Gyeon is ceramic. I stay away from all the CG`s stuff, but that`s just me. As I said about the Idrosave, they don`t claim ceramic, but it seems to have something in there. Also plenty of non-ceramic rinseless with "wax".

Media stainer? Not quite sure what you mean.

Just that the wash media gets stained with the dirt from the car, and won`t come off on the Grit Guard, or even in the laundry (well, I haven`t laundered my Idrosave media yet). ONR is the famous stainer. What rinseless(es) do you use?

 

[velobard]

I dunno, Griot`s has one, McKee`s has them with graphene, ceramic, alien bone dust (sorry, stole that one from Desertnate), the new Gyeon is ceramic. I stay away from all the CG`s stuff, but that`s just me. As I said about the Idrosave, they don`t claim ceramic, but it seems to have something in there. Also plenty of non-ceramic rinseless with "wax".

I mention GC mostly because there`s a local detailing shop that opened here a few years ago that specializes in CG. Sort of the lazy approach that I can just walk in the door and pick something up.

I never used CG in the past so I`m not committed to them at all so I`m curious, have you had a bad experience with their products? Heck, I noticed they`re even selling it in Walmart now so perhaps I should take that as a red flag, like the first time I saw Schwinn bikes inside a Walmart. Right now I`m just using their rinseless wash. Seems like there should be a few ounces of my old ONRW someplace in the garage, but that`s a task for another day. Hopefully I can lay my hands on my orbital and rotary polishers as well. I did find the last of my FK425 a few days ago, probably 10-12 ounces in the bottom of the jug. The spray wax I`m using is an old bottle of Lucas Speed Wax I had laying around. Sounds like when this is used up, I should look for a ceramic (or graphene perhaps?) option.

You know the worst part of detailing a car you just bought? You see all the paint imperfections you overlooked when you bought it! LOL! Still loving the car though and at least some of it should be able to be corrected when I eventually track down my polishers.

 

[Coatings=crack]

TBH, I sorta figured most of the ceramic rinseless products and similar were mostly using "ceramic" as a buzzword. If some are worthwhile, I suppose I should pay a little more attention. At least with brands I recognize like CG.
What about the ones that advertise graphene instead of ceramic?

Media stainer? Not quite sure what you mean.

Stains the wash media (sponge’ MF’ pad). Yes some of these rinsless have some protection but not much.

You could do a spray and rinse product before you drive if you had a pressure washer.

Easiest though Is a drying aid with good protection. You’d spray on after your rinsless but before you dry. Then drying applies the product.

Your spray wax may work but I think a sealant would be better. What spray wax you using?

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[Setec Astronomy]

I never used CG in the past so I`m not committed to them at all so I`m curious, have you had a bad experience with their products?

I just found them to be mediocre, and their whole approach rubbed me the wrong way. The forum found out about Chemical Guys back in the David B days when he got annoyed with a boutique product line that was getting a lot of attention here, that David B knew/surmised was just getting bulk products repackaged into smaller containers, so he dropped some hints and people went searching the internet and found Warner Chemicals and their somehow related company Chemical Guys (I think CG was just another company that was getting stuff private labeled by Warner). CG seemed to have 18 products in every category and their front man at the time was very annoying (to me). I think the only thing I used from them was a couple of washes, and that was a long, long time ago.

 

[Bill D]

Chemical Guys started a presence at Walmart but I see more of them on Amazon. I`d spend my money on better quality products that I know will not disappoint.

 

[velobard]

I just found them to be mediocre, and their whole approach rubbed me the wrong way. The forum found out about Chemical Guys back in the David B days when he got annoyed with a boutique product line that was getting a lot of attention here, that David B knew/surmised was just getting bulk products repackaged into smaller containers, so he dropped some hints and people went searching the internet and found Warner Chemicals and their somehow related company Chemical Guys (I think CG was just another company that was getting stuff private labeled by Warner). CG seemed to have 18 products in every category and their front man at the time was very annoying (to me). I think the only thing I used from them was a couple of washes, and that was a long, long time ago.

I sort of remember some complaints about a product line back in the day, but didn`t remember specifically it was CG. I wandered over to the detailing products aisle at Walmart last night and I swear, it looked like they had more CG than Meguiars and Mothers combined. You mentioned multiple overlapping products? Last night I saw that in CG`s interior detailing sprays. Wow.

The only thing of theirs I have, and the one CG product I believe I`ve ever bought, is a small bottle of their no-rinse wash. It`ll do for now, then I`ll move on to other options.

 

[velobard]

Stains the wash media (sponge’ MF’ pad). Yes some of these rinsless have some protection but not much.

You could do a spray and rinse product before you drive if you had a pressure washer.

Easiest though Is a drying aid with good protection. You’d spray on after your rinsless but before you dry. Then drying applies the product.

Your spray wax may work but I think a sealant would be better. What spray wax you using?

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I finally picked up a pressure washer recently. It came with a soap dispenser attachment. I`m not certain whether it will serve well enough as a foam cannon, but I like the idea of using it with a rinseless wash. I just wonder how much I should dilute it before putting it in the dispenser, but I have no idea what sort of ratio it gives during use.

The spray wax was some old Lucas Speed Wax I still had laying around from years ago, before I dropped out of the detailing world for years. There`s not too much of it left, but it should get me by for awhile. A couple weeks ago I put a layer of Ultima Paint Guard+ and just wanted to freshen it up last night.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I sort of remember some complaints about a product line back in the day, but didn`t remember specifically it was CG.

It wasn`t, I mean that wasn`t who David B was trying to out, and I don`t know if it was "complaints", I just remember that the whole episode opened a lot of eyes here about the private labeling business, which of course outside of a few major labels, IS the whole business.

 

[Lonnie]

It wasn`t, I mean that wasn`t who David B was trying to out, and I don`t know if it was "complaints", I just remember that the whole episode opened a lot of eyes here about the private labeling business, which of course outside of a few major labels, IS the whole business.

Yes, the whole "who-makes-virtually-the-same-product-for others-only-with-a-different-label" fiasco was (and still is) a detailing controversy and conspiracy theory conversation/thread discussion.
Chances are there are only few detailing product companies that actually own a production facility that blends, mixes, fills, and bottles and packages their own products.
Most are done at custom or contract chemical production and mixing plants. We have two that I know of in Wisconsin: Northern Labs in Manitowoc, WI and R.L.Technologies in DePere, WI, the later for the tunnel car wash product industry.

To the Original Topic Poster (OTP) velobard, you are correct about even "simple" car washing as being a physical activity. I would like to know more about your experiences with the pressure washer and how it helps you wash and clean your vehicle(s), and more specifically what name brand and model of pressure washer you bought and use.

 

[Dan]

I went five years just washing and spray wax (OCW) on my wrangler before I sold it. Never clayed or polished it. Look as good as it did brand new. No reason to do more.

 

[981 Cayman S]

To the Original Topic Poster (OTP) velobard, you are correct about even "simple" car washing as being a physical activity.

Picked up a polisher tonite for the first time in many months; half way through the hood of a tiny Honda Civic my back started hurting. Getting old ain’t for sissies!


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[Setec Astronomy]

I went five years just washing and spray wax (OCW) on my wrangler before I sold it. Never clayed or polished it. Look as good as it did brand new. No reason to do more.

I think that or Opti-Seal (or similar) is definitely a way to go, something that you can easily put on everything (paint, glass, trim, chrome) fairly regularly. We make this too complicated sometimes.

 

[Bill D]

I went five years just washing and spray wax (OCW) on my wrangler before I sold it. Never clayed or polished it. Look as good as it did brand new. No reason to do more.

My Accord has never been clayed or polished either. It’s going to be 14

 

[velobard]

To the Original Topic Poster (OTP) velobard, you are correct about even "simple" car washing as being a physical activity. I would like to know more about your experiences with the pressure washer and how it helps you wash and clean your vehicle(s), and more specifically what name brand and model of pressure washer you bought and use.

The pressure washer is a modest Black & Decker electric model with 1850 psi. Found it on sale at Menards for about $60. I just looked and it`s still on their website.
https://www.menards.com/main/outdoo...asher/bepw1850/p-1642874297371951-c-10113.htm

But I haven`t used it with the car yet. The one day I was thinking of it a couple weeks ago, my better half needed it in the backyard for a variety of tasks, so I did the car by hand. TBH, the car didn`t really need it that day, I just wanted to play with the new toy. She was being more productive and put it to better use. Eventually I will try out the soap mixer and see how it does.