*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

I will be applying sealant and an enhancing wax soon. I love the inferno paint and really want to make it shine to its maximum. Is it worth applying a gloss to a new vehicle prior to sealing and waxing to increase shine?

 

What kind of sealant are you talking about? Stuff like Opti coat or C Quartz or the other equivalent on autogeek? The point to the sealant is to chemically bond to the paint and acts as a layer of protection. Generally the application is good for a few years with supplement products to keep the shine. You still have to care for the sealant such as not going to car washes and automatic car wash places..

You don't add wax to sealant either...generally makes the protect less effective...but depends on the manufacturer. There are many brands ...won't push one over another to avoid debates.

But new car as I had done to my BRZ from my detailer is wash the car, clay, wash car, degrease with alcohol or other product, color correction, degrease, apply sealant. Come back and polish or polish after sealant is dry depends on product. Hope that helps.

 

Any time you apply sealant, you want to apply to bare paint so the sealant will bond to the paint. This will give you the best protection. If you want the extra pop/shine then add a wax on top, but make sure the wax does not have any cleaning agents in it. You don't want the wax limiting the durability of the sealant.

 

Recommend some waxes to use for this type of procedure please. Thanks.

I am gonna make my truck shine like a crown jewel this summer.

 

Thanks for the replies! I guess I should have been a little more specific. I used jet seal in the past and plan on using that for my sealant. I plan on giving the vehicle a concentrated foam wash to remove what ever was applied by the dealer in february. I'm not sure what finishing wax I want to go with yet. I like the jet seal but personally think the CG waxs are a little over priced for the end results. I was however thinking of trying the CG "extreme shine EZ cream glaze" prior to putting down the jet seal. I've never used a glaze before as I thought that they were for improving bad paint. My main question is if anyone thinks the extreme shine glaze is worth the extra work and money on brand new paint. I'll be running one of the wash N clay rags over prior to any detailing products as well. Thanks again for the response!

 

I wouldn't recommend a glaze for a daily driver. Glaze do not tend to last very long. There is some concern that glaze will reduce the sealants ability to bond if put down first. Some think layering a glaze on top reduces the sealants effectiveness since a glaze has solvents in it.

In the past I have used Adam's Americana, Adam's Buttery Wax, Wolfgang Fuzion (love this stuff, expensive but the small jar last forever), and

$22 Collinite 845 Insulator Wax-Easy to Use Carnauba+Polymer Wax Sealant-High Gloss Shine+Durable Hydrophobic Beading & Long Lasting Paint Protection for Cars/Boats/Trucks/RVs & Motorcycles (16 fl oz)

Collinite 845.

As long as the wax isn't a cleaner wax you should be good.

 

$60 Wolfgang Füzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax | Easy Application Car Wax for Superior Shine | Ideal for Paint Protection | 3 oz Mini | WG-9901 | 3 oz

This stuff?

 

Best products and methods for engine bay cleaning only (no detailing)...??

Thanks!
<3

 

303 on the plastic and cheapo detailer spray on the paint for me.

 

That's it. A little goes a long ways. Easy to work with.

 

If you guys are using paint sealant then why use a carnauba wax? It just reduces the effect of the paint sealant...this is true for opti coat and I"m sure for other sealants... the point is paint protection but also reduces the need for wax... if you want more shine, they have sealant supplement that has it.

 

Names/links please?

or are you talking about Opti Coat?

 

I used this on top of opti coat...actually my detailer applied it. GTechniq EXO. It was $50 at the time I had this applied over OC and over the paint protection film. Just FYI, C quartz Finest is so slick that you shouldn't apply it under PPF. It makes it hard to stick. OC had no issues being under PPF. EXO gave the OC a good pop in shine. I never waxed my BRZ after OC. It was just hand wash using waterless wash methods and fine micro fiber...not the cheap kind. It took same time as regular washing methods to use waterless wash, but only use about 4 oz of water.

You can get EXO at autogeek. There are many other brands I'm sure are as good. Opti coat was once lifetime, now they say it's for couple of years. So if I had to do it again, I go with the Gtechniq or similar brands that gets a lot of good reviews for under $100. OC you are paying $500 to $800 now ... so save your money if your vehicle doesn't require a lot of color correction. Opti coat also have their "booster" products as well... so I say check out autogeek and find what's best for you... I like EXO...was impressed with it for shine. since you asked for a link. But again there are many other brands.

 

Have been using Sonax Poly coat with great results. Thinking maybe going over that with something like the EXO. May bring out the shine even more.
Thanks for the suggestions.

 

Opti coat is not a sealant, it is a coating. Big difference. Coatings generally last longer than sealants. Coatings are semi-permanent. Usually the only way to remove a coating is to polish it off, where as with a sealant a good strip wash will remove it. Opti coat is not meant to be layered.

I am using Optimum Glosscoat topped with Opti-seal. After next wash I plan on trying out some new wax on it. I purposely chose Glosscoat because you can layer with wax. Plus the coating eliminates etching from bird bombs and bug guts.

 

Hi there, I am new to this forum. I am looking to do the dash board light mod to my 2015, as my first mod. However I prefer the look of the older dash templates (not sure what its called). Where its mostly blacked out and the numbers and gauges glow. As opposed to the 2015 template where the numbers are blacked out predominately with the upper portion glowing. I was wondering without having to order a whole new dash board, is there a way to just get the template insert? if so where could this be ordered or acquired?

this is similar to what I currently have;

(sorry for the bad photo)

and this is what Im hoping to change it too;


any help would be greatly appreciated
thank you

 

You should post a new thread about it and hopefully someone can help you answer your question in the 2nd gen section. You replied to a detailer section. I don't know the answer to your question, but it'll be answered if you made your own thread instead of replying to this one. Welcome to TW.

 

Great thread, just spent all day reading many pages and placing an order to do my own spring cleaning. In the past I have always taken it to a local place and paid the 125-150 for detailing. Just spent that amount on materials and it should last me several years, not to mention better materials. The reason for my comment is to thank the OP for doing this, didn't know there was so much that can go into this as evident by me spending all day to the research. Thank You!

Read a lot of this thread and Autogeek. They currently offer free shipping over $150 and 15% site wide. Purchased 155 worth and ended up paying 130 including shipping.

 

Not only that you will have your own materials now, but it is you doing your own work to your own truck. You will treat it better than anyone else.
Just remember, hand wash/gentle cycle.

 

Absolutely. I will be doing three or four different steps on the paint. Much better than the one or two. I bought all the materials in one kit.