The order of things...

[d3ity]

Hey all, I'm just wondering, what order do you do things in when you detail your cars. Mine is

1. Wash
2. Claybar
3. Paint Cleaner
4. Wax
5. Other stuff (RainX, Armor All)

Anyone with a diffrent method?

[cam540]

1. Engine
2. Interior
3. Wheels
4. Exterior
a. wash
b. dry
c. clay
d. scratch remover(or similar)
e. polish
f. sealant
g. sometimes wax but sealant is pretty close to the same thing, only wax if I have extra time to spare
h. Trim
i. windows

[d3ity]

cam, do you use anything special for cleaning the engine?

[Silver4evr]

Originally posted by cam540@May 10 2004, 10:22 PM
1. Engine
2. Interior
3. Wheels
4. Exterior
a. wash
b. dry
c. clay
d. scratch remover(or similar)
e. polish
f. sealant
g. sometimes wax but sealant is pretty close to the same thing, only wax if I have extra time to spare
h. Trim
i. windows

What products do you use for each step?

[d3ity]

Speaking of products, does anyone know of a relativley cheap place to order zaino products?

[schneider252]

if u want it to look nice and smooth get this stuff after your done using the pen

http://www.langka.com/

[d3ity]

thanks schneider252, im definatley gonna look into that.

[jyep]

Originally posted by d3ity@May 15 2004, 06:53 AM
Speaking of products, does anyone know of a relativley cheap place to order zaino products?

unfortunately, you can't find Zaino products cheaper than what is being offered from the Zaino website.

[d3ity]

Ouch, looks like im stuck with good ole zymol. I really wanted to try zaino too...

[cam540]

Originally posted by Silver4evr+May 14 2004, 03:14 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Silver4evr @ May 14 2004, 03:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-cam540@May 10 2004, 10:22 PM
1. Engine
2. Interior
3. Wheels
4. Exterior
a. wash
b. dry
c. clay
d. scratch remover(or similar)
e. polish
f. sealant
g. sometimes wax but sealant is pretty close to the same thing, only wax if I have extra time to spare
h. Trim
i. windows

What products do you use for each step? [/b][/quote]
I use mostly meguiars for everything. It really depends on the condition of the car as to what grade of scratch remover and polisher I use.

I actually just ordered a whole bunch of stuff from PoorBoys, I've been hearing really good stuff from about them and seen some great results, can't wait to use it on my own. It's priced very reasonable as well!

For the engine I just use simple green degreaser, then just dress it with whatever dressing you use.

I don't really buy into the whole "Zaino" thing, I think similar results can be achieved with other stuff. Although my buddy did just do the whole Zaino process on his Carbon Black M3 and it looks great.

I think more importantly than the product you use is how you use it.

[d3ity]

I use mainly meguiars as well, today I took the plunge and did the WHOLE #! (if you guys can tell me what a #! is i'll give you a cookie)

1. Wash car vigorously with Dawn (strips wax)
2. Claybar entire car
3. Claybar entire car (again)
4. Meguairs Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner
5. Meguiars Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner (again)
6. Meguiars Deep Crystal System Polish
7. Meguiars Deep Crystal System Polish (again)
8. Meguiars Deep Crystal System Polish (and again)
9. Meguiars Gold Class Wax (paste)
10. Meguiars Gold Class Wax (paste)
11. RainX
12. Armor All on interior
13. Turtle Wax chrome polish on bits and pieces


I'm doing the tires tomorrow. My engine compartment isnt really that dirty, so I skipped it.

[Silver4evr]

Originally posted by d3ity@May 16 2004, 08:59 PM
12. Armor All on interior
13. Turtle Wax chrome polish on bits and pieces

What's the deal with Armor All and Turtle Wax....some people use it and some people say it's junk? Some people say it's not the product but how you use that counts? What does that mean? Is there a special method to applying cheap products that make them as good as expensive product?

If this is true, then what's the big deal about Zaino,Zymol, etc.

What exact ArmorAll product and TurtleWax products did you use?

Have you tried others? Why have you stayed with those?

[d3ity]

I'm just trying to get rid of the damn armor all so i can justify the purchace of some lexol, Armor all leaves too greasy and spotty a finish.

Turtle wax products are generally shitty, but i had the stuff lying about from 1994 and I figured, what the hell, my chrome needs polishin. It worked pretty damn well for what I expected.

But then again, im sure some other polish would be better. But it was available, and i'm lazy and didn't want to spend the money on new stuff right now. So I'll use the stuff up.

Basically I want to use up the stuff before I buy something else

I'll probably give the extra armor all away, have a few of my friends come to my house, give em armor all and let them detail their cars in my driveway.

[Sandor18]

yo this dude who's done some work on my car was saying not to use armor all or any silicone based products on the interior..

[d3ity]

Sandor, I know, i'm just trying to get rid of the stuff.