Suggestions for present for fathers

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RangerMan

New member
I didn't see much when I searched so I figured I would just pose the question: My father-in-law both has a birthday coming up soon. He likes to wash their cars and keep them looking nice but they aren't "serious" - my father-in-law has a 10" random orbital from sears that is about the same. A few years ago (5 years) I got him "Turtle Wax" gift pack that has some car wash, some tire stuff and some Turtle Wax 3000 (I think it is a synthetic wax?). Anyways, I know a little more now and would like to upgrade what they are both using for the tidy sum of under $50. He isn't going to buy or use a PC so there isn't much point of getting one with some real polish...



My father in law has a 1989 Red Corvette and it is swirl city. Unfortunately I live 2000 miles away and only come up to visit once a year, by plane, so I can't really bring the PC with me. Honestly, I don't think he really notices the swirls, and while if they were repaired he would be happier, more than likely he would put them back in the next time he washed it. Given that situation I think a new wash mit (the old one can be used for wheels), microfibers (both for drying and buffing wax), some colorX and some NXT topped with some sort of carnuba for some depth, maybe the step 3 of the deep crystal system. How does that sound? I want to stay with consumer products, that are easy to buy at target, wal-mart, auto-zone; that way if replacements are needed (say they drop a wash mit or run out of nxt) it would be easy to find and purchase. Or would it be better to just get the Meguiar's 3 step system? Or is a one step product better, and spend more money on MFs and mits? Assume all product would be put on using the cheap 10" RO (why couldn't I have caught him before he bought it!)



Basically looking for something improved over what he currently uses, won't break the bank (my bank, LOL) and is easy enough for a non-enthusiast to do. Looking forward to your input.
 
I actually think this is pretty easy. I think AutoZone has Claymagic, so go there for get him a clay kit for...$10-12? Then go to Target and get him a gallon of Meg's Gold Class wash ($10), and a Vroom sheepskin mitt or two ($5 ea?). Then either the Meg's cleaner wax in the maroon bottle, or ColorX. Then you have about $10 left over to pocket or buy some MF's or one of those imitation grit-guard buckets, or some QD for bird poop. IMO, regular washing (using proper technique), occasional claying, and semi-regular cleaner wax is the best plan for someone who is not "serious", and will produce completely satisfactory results.
 
Thanks for the comments. I think that sounds like a fine plan. Now all I have to do is throw out or hide all the old stuff so he won't try to use it up. Too bad that won't be until June.
 
Just make sure he keeps those cleaner waxes off of the trim (to prevent staining), and you might want to throw in some mild wheel cleaner (like the new Meg's Multi-Piece Wheel Wash, which seems to be neutral pH) and some spray tire foam.
 
Okay, so the list goes (and this list would work for anyone who needs an inexpensive kit to keep the car looking better than most on the road)



MFs (drying and buffing)

Wash mit (sheepskin)

Gold Class Car wash

Clay Kit (included some QD)

ColorX

Wheel Cleaner

Tire Black



Total hits right around $50, and I think everything is available at Target - except the clay which is available at the auto parts stores.
 
My one caution again is be careful with the wheel cleaner, I always advocate neutral-pH for less serious users, both from a safety standpoint and it will be less problematic if they don't rinse thoroughly, but I'm not sure how many OTC are neutral. I do have to say Eagle One A2Z (now All Wheel and Tire Cleaner) works great; it's a caustic (alkaline), high foaming product. Also, the tire foams (dressings) are nice because you just spray and walk away, no applicator, etc.
 
P21s wheel cleaner is my favorite. I won't use anything else, because it works great and it's guaranteed never to harm ANY wheel surface.
 
I have never used a wheel cleaner, so thanks for the tip. It may be removed from the list until I can personally get a better feel for them. I generally have good luck just washing with soap and water...I have about a month to put the kit together so I can test out a couple of products before then if I am not familiar with them (specifically the wheel cleaner).
 
If you clean the wheels and seal them, there will never be a need for wheel cleaners. Car soap and water will clean them with ease.

My summer wheels have never seen wheel cleaner. I washed and sealed them immediately after receiving them.
 
I like P21S as well, it's just very difficult to find OTC, and more expensive, too. And the original poster is looking for products for a relative who is not as "serious" as an Autopian. I doubt he will get his 1989 wheels clean with car wash, nor keep them well enough in the future to use only that. That Meg's Multi-Piece is the only OTC I know of that is pH-neutral, although perhaps there is a similar Mother's or EO product.
 
My Dad wanted detailing stuff one Christmas, said he preferred what I was using. I got him several MF towels, a couple foam hand applicators, Vanilla Moose, S100, QEW, glass cleaner and tire dressing. Neither of his cars have any serious defects though.



I agree, either ColorX or maybe Meguiars #9 topped with NXT would look terrific on a red Corvette.
 
where does he live? maybe a fellow autotopian could lend you a Porter Cable for the good deed?



I'm in the NY/NJ area in case that is anywhere near where you will be coming....
 
$50 bucks?

Get him a bottle of Collinite Insulator wax, microfiber towels and 12 beer. That'd be the perfect way to spend a (non-driving) summer afternoon I think.

Heck, I'd like that combo myself, it's almost like the father, son, and holy 12 ghosts.

-John C.
 
RangerMan said:
I

My father in law has a 1989 Red Corvette and it is swirl city.
Click to expand...





My dad also has one. I can tell you that this paint is quite hard and if it is as swirled as I'm picturing, I'm not so sure how well a PC alone is going to fare. Such a thing is going to call for at least a Cyclo. The other complication with this car is that it is fiberglass. You can't measure the thickness of the paint unless you have the top of the line, most expensive gage that can read off of it.



My dad had the entire car wetsanded after he got it to improve acid rain etching. That left me with even less clear to work with. Unfortunately, I dare not use anything more aggressive than a Cyclo due to the unknown paint thickness. However, I've made the paint quite presentable over the years, enough to win multiple top spots in shows.



These days I just do the occasional claying and reapplication of the LSPs: AIO topped with Wolfgang topped with Souveran. There's nothing like torch red :) I spend a lot of time maintaining the engine compartment. I love being able to work on the front suspension and the insides of the wheels with the hood propped out of the way.
 
The car and my father-in-law are both located in Buffalo, NY and I am in Austin, TX. So a full out repair everything really is most likely not going to happen by me. The best I could hope for is a PC and probably some DACP, some polish and some wax since it isn't like I go up there to spend 8-10 hours detailing a car, for free, for my father-in-law. (wash and wax and a full tank of gas is what I do to the car when I borrow it - it's only right) If I still lived up in the area it would be different and I would just do it in a couple of steps over the winter, but now it would pretty much blow a whole trip.



Bill D, your concern is definitely noted. I wish I had a picture of what the swirls look like, it pretty much has the hood looking like a giant sunburst. I thought I had a before and after picture of one time I washed, clayed and waxed it and just the wax made it look a little better. I think the only way to make the car's paint look good (the car isn't...there isn't much to detail it is driven less than 500 miles per year), I think would take a rotary to do it in any sort of reasonable time.



This year I actually plan on spending some time with the car, and will wash, clay and wax it, while I am up there (but that only takes a couple of hours), since I am going to borrow it for a couple of days to cruise around the area with my wife (his daughter).
 
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