Detailing Thread:

[Rezist09]

I'll be posting all the item I'll be buying and the price where to buy from.
Also all the item needed for this.

[CeeJaayDM]

i've been waiting for an update sir :3

[Buy My Stuff]

I don't have any professional detailing experience but I've done my friend's cars for a little extra cash on the side and they seem happy with it. As of right now I don't have an orbital buffer/polisher but it would be a good investment to get one. The best one (from what I've read) seems to be a meguiar's orbital buffer and polisher. This goes for around 200. I'll make a comprehensive list of the materials that I have tomorrow. It's getting pretty late and as I was typing this I started to realize how tired I am!

[modernbeat]

Here's what I use, how I use it and where I get it.

Hose and trigger spray nozzle (any hardware store)
Two 5-gallon buckets (suds, rinse) with two Grit Guards
Spray bottle for alcohol mix
Spray bottle for WD-40
Spray bottle for ZEP citrus
Masking tape – green
Foam paintbrushes for trim, interior, engine, etc
Dry paintbrush (for dusting interior)
Lowes grout sponges
Rag Shack microfiber application towels
Target "Vroom" label microfiber drying towels
General Purpose Costco cheap microfiber towels for dirty areas
Shop Vac (for interior)
Leaf Blower
Wheel spoke and face brushes (Detailer's Domain)
Wheelwell and chassis brush (Detailer's Domain)
Sprayway or Invisible Glass aerosol cleaner
Woolite foaming upholstery cleaner (for interior)
WD-40 (gallon jug)
Denatured alcohol
3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover
Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care OR Vinylex by Lexol for trim, engine, interior (Pep Boys used to carry this until recently. I stocked up)
ZEP citrus cleaner
Wenol metal polish
Gibbs penetrant
Dawn Dishwashing soap to strip all finishes
Majestic Solutions Ultra Gloss Car Wash
Claybars
Menzerna Power Finish
Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger
Autoglym High Definition Wax (Walmart until recently. I stocked up)
Meguiars Final Inspection instant detailer
Porter Cable random orbital buffer
Detailer’s Domain buffing pads and backing plate

The sequence I follow:

Clean under the hood and around the differential with WD-40 and towels. Hit very bad areas with ZEP citrus all purpose cleaner followed by a rinse and WD-40. Apply rubber-vinyl dressing to plastic and rubber parts using a foam brush and microfiber towel. Apply Gibbs penetrant to raw aluminum parts.

Use ZEP citrus all purpose cleaner and brushes to clean the wheels, tires and exhaust tip. Rinse.
Use ZEP and a brush to clean the wheel wells. Rinse.
Polish any exposed raw uncoated aluminum parts of the wheels and exhaust with Wenol metal polish.
Use an applicator to apply Gibbs penetrant to the polished areas of the wheels and exhaust.

Apply vinyl/rubber dressing to all unpainted black trim and rubber seals on the car using a foam paintbrush (edges of taillights with the trunk open, wiper cowl, fog light housings, exterior radiator cowl, weather-stripping, front and rear window trim, hardtop edging trim, antenna base, wiper arm plugs, side mirror joints, door top trim, headlight door cowls and rubber flaps)

Using the two buckets with grit guards, mix up a solution with Dawn dishwashing soap and wash the car with sponges. Dry it with a leaf blower then microfiber drying towels.

Use clay and either alcohol water mix, or Meguiars Final Inspection to finish cleaning the car.

Mask difficult to clean areas with green tape. Use the Porter Cable and a variety of pads and Menzerna Power Finish to smooth the paint. Clean up after the buffing with the alcohol mix or Final Inspection.

Wipe down chrome details with alcohol mix (door handles, hardtop latches, antenna).

Use cheap microfiber and glass cleaner on all the glass and mirrors.

Use applicator microfiber towels and Acrylic Jet Trigger to seal the paint.

Use extra thick applicator microfiber towels and Autoglym High Definition wax to bring out more depth.

Use applicator pads or microfiber to dress the tires with rubber dressing.

Done.

For intermediate cleanup.
Wash the wheels and wheelwells using the same procedure.
Apply dressing to the rubber and plastic parts.
Wash the paint using Majestic Ultra Gloss.
Dry with microfiber drying towels.
Touch-up using the quick detailer.
Dress tires.


And my sources for all this junk:

Online order
two Grit Guards http://www.detailersdomain.com/
Rag Shack microfiber application towels http://stores.theragshack.com/StoreFront.bok
Wheel spoke and face brushes http://www.detailersdomain.com/
Detailer’s Domain buffing pads and backing plate http://www.detailersdomain.com/
Majestic Solutions Ultra Gloss Car Wash http://www.majesticsolutionsinc.com/
Menzerna Power Finish http://www.detailersdomain.com/
Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger http://www.werkstat.com/index.html
Gibbs penetrant http://www.amazon.com/
Wenol metal polish - ebay seller

Lowes
Lowes grout sponges
Porter Cable random orbital buffer

Home Depot
Two 5-gallon buckets (suds, rinse)
Three Spray bottles for ZEP citrus, WD-40, alcohol mix
Masking tape – green (blue 1.5”x180’ $7.87)
Foam paintbrushes for trim, interior, engine, etc
Dry paintbrush (for dusting interior crevices)
WD-40 (gallons) ($14.97 gallon)
Denatured alcohol ($15.29 gallon)
ZEP citrus cleaner
Sprayway or Invisible Glass aerosol cleaner
Wheelwell and chassis brush
Hose and trigger spray nozzle
Shop Vac (on sale)
Leaf Blower (very optional)

Target
Target "Vroom" label microfiber drying towels
Woolite foaming upholstery cleaner (for interior)
Dawn Dishwashing soap to strip all finishes

WalMart
Autoglym High Definition Wax (might not be available any more. I stocked up when it went on clearance)

PepBoys
3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover
Autoglym Vinyl & Rubber Care OR Vinylex by Lexol for trim, engine, interior (I use the Autoglym, but it might not be available any more. I stocked up when it went on sale.)
Meguiars Final Inspection instant detailer
Claybars

Costco
General Purpose Costco cheap microfiber towels for dirty areas

[itzzspencer]

^whoa, you sir are too legit

[Rezist09]

Yes he is

[KAL]

Anyone got a recommendation on how to get rid of these two stripes on my new soft-top?
Its basically brand new —*after a longer trip with my top folded neatly i got these two stripes, which i doesn't go away with "basic cleaning" (typical interiour paper / soap cloth).

https://img.skitch.com/20120405-fewjqcxjgww6ygnu7kuqk2ndan.jpg

[rkitect]

@modernbeat: I'm curious what "mix" you are referring to when you say "alcohol mix." Are you mixing the denatured alcohol with something?

[Tkblazer]

you usually use alcohol and water in a 50/50 mix to clean off any chemicals that may linger after polishing. some products have fillers which mask any swirls that may still be on the surface of the paint.

[modernbeat]

you usually use alcohol and water in a 50/50 mix to clean off any chemicals that may linger after polishing. some products have fillers which mask any swirls that may still be on the surface of the paint.

That's it. Makes a quick job of cleaning the schmutz off the car after buffing. Most alcohol is already significantly diluted. I just dilute it more.

[bigx5murf]

50/50 alcohol/water mix is way too strong, and will soften clear coat making it very vulnerable. 10% alcohol mix is optimum.

Follow this guide to get 10% IPA from various rubbing alcohol concentrations available. Get a spray bottle from home depot/lowes that has the measuring marks.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/hot-topics-frequently-asked-questions/31183-how-mix-ipa-inspecting-correction-results.html