*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

Pad color indicates the cut or aggressiveness of the pad. This varies from company to company, so if you know where they came from, I could help you out. I personally do not like the bonnets for removing wax, I just use a microfiber by hand as I find it is easier to remove the wax.

 

Got them from autopia a few years ago but never opened it.

 

Alright, so they are most likely Lake Country pads. In decreasing order of aggressiveness it will be Orange, White, Green, and then Blue. Use the orange with a polish and it will remove deeper scratches, etc. Then go to your white/green pad to refine the finish. Finally, use the blue pad to apply a wax or sealant.

 

I use the blue pad and Menzerna Finish Polish PO85RD to really make a dark paint shine. This is a third step amd is usually not needed for our Tacomas.

To apply a wax or sealant I use the red pad. 95% of the time I do this step by hand.

 

got a question for all you detailers out there. i have developed some type of film on my windshield that seems to be oil or something along those lines. it is transparent when the glass is dry but as soon as there is moisture you see the spots all over the windshield. i have used several types of glass cleaners including the invisible glass and s&n glass cleaners. ive also used rubbing alchohol to no evail. what do you guys recommend i use to get rid of this stuff cuz it makes it kinda difficult and tricky when driving in the rain.
thanks

 

Try a claybar.

Do you have access to a polisher with a 4 in pad?

 

yep. i believe i do. ive got a brand new one in the box that i think is a little 4" palm polisher, cheap one from parts store. what would i do with it????

 

Use a mild polish and polish the windsheild.

What polishes do you have available?

 

hmmm i think i have some meguiars color x or what ever its called and maybe some of their just regular polishing compound cant rem. its at home and im at work.

 

I would not use the Megs Color X.

I would get a mild abrasive such as this:

Look and see what you have at home. I woul also use either a yellow or orange pad. Set the PC on 4 and polish as you would the paint. You should see quite a bit of black dirt on the pad as you go along.

 

this is the thing i have at the house unopened. is it worth keeping or dont ever let it touch my truck? if i need to get rid of it is there any budget friendly things out ther instead?
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6%22-Random-Orbital-Buffer-Polisher-Titan-Products_9160019-P_N3373_T%7CGRP2006_____

 

thanks

 

I'm looking for a good pre-wax cleaner polish for my new car detail coming up in a few weeks. I definitely want something "non abrasive" because the paint will be in great shape when I get it. Just something I can use to clean the paint after claying it to lay down a good base for the wax.

Does anyone know if this will fit into that category? I'm reading mixed reviews on it. Some people say it's non abrasive and some say it has mild abrasives? But one review said it's great for scratch free paint. Any help would be great!

 

A prewax cleaner isn't really necessary after claying brand new paint. My suggestion would be to clay, then wipe the vehicle with a mix of Isopropyl Alcohol and water, then apply the wax. This will remove any oils, etc. that would prevent the wax from bonding.

 

Thanks for the tip man! I came across this stuff here...

http://www.chemicalguys.com/VERTUA_BOND_408_BONDING_AGENT_GLOSS_ENHANCER_SPE_p/gap_107_16.htm

Could this "bonding" stuff be okay to use? Or will it be better to just use the alcohol/water mix and go straight to wax?

 

Both of those products contain fillers, which fill in minor imperfections, etc. On a brand new car, given the dealership wash boys don't get a hold of it, swirls should be very minimal, therefore a product like that serves very little use. I always use the alcohol/water mixture to prep for a wax or sealant as it thoroughly cleans the paint surface, leaving it with no oils that would hinder bonding.

 

Oh ok cool. I appreciate the help man! I'm definitely going to tell them to not let the wash guys touch it!

 

One more question! Would a sealant like this be just as good, worse or possibly better than a quality carnauba wax for my new car detail?

http://www.chemicalguys.com/Paint_Sealant_JetSeal_109_p/wac_118_16.htm

I see a lot of people are using sealants instead of waxes now and I was considering doing the same. This guy did it on this SLS.

http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-...nd-new-car-featuring-a-mercedes-benz-sls-amg/

 

Sealants are more durably than a caranuba wax but sometimes looks can be sacrificed depending on the color of the car. You can top a sealant with a wax for better durability and looks, but not the other way around. A sealant will not bond to a wax. Are you opposed to using brands other than Chemical Guys?