Detail Throwdown: List your top products...

[Teutonics]

My list:

1)Wash/dry- still trying to find an OTC (over the counter) that I really like. Have seen lots of raves about NXT, but can't find it in my area yet. I like the California Water Blade, but it gets mixed reception here on Autopia.

2a)Buffer - Porter Cable 7424. Currently using Excel Propel Pads (Green, Blue, Grey), but find them to be too big. Would like to find some smaller diameter pads (6"?) to try.... or maybe I should just move up to a 6" backing plate.

2b)Polish - Currently using Griot's Machine Polishes (1, 2, & 3) and Griot's Hand Polish (I REALLY like the hand polish for getting out minor defects), but have Poorboy's SSR 1, 2, & 2.5 to try when the Griot's runs out.

3)Glaze - 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. I haven't found or heard of anything yet to replace it.

4)Wax/removal - Was using 3M Pro Liquid Wax, but just started using Collinite 476s. I love the way 476s looks, beads, and lasts, but I find it a pain to work with. Just got a bottle of Collinite 845 Insulator Wax (IW) to try next. Excel Elite microfiber for wax removal is the shizznit! I also like Griot's cotton cloths.

5)Tires - I never see this one on Autopia, but I use NoTouch tire foam. It works great for me, just the right matte (not too shiny), and lasts a good month or more for me. If it ain't broke, don't fix it....

6)Interior - Vinylex for plastics (will try 303 next, finally found it local), Lexol for leather, and Simple Green ( ) for spot/stain removal.

[Derf]

Originally Posted by ronmart

This is great stuff - thanks for all who are particpating and those who are reading this now should feel free add their 2 cents.

It is interesting to see which things are recurring and I'm more surprised to see the variation especially in waxes and pads. I know that this stuff is religous to a lot of detailers and many people find a product and stick with it, but I was expecting more consistency than I'm seeing here.

If someone gets bored, it would be cool to have a database of the products listed to see what the "top products" are based on the # of times they are listed.



Ah, thanks. I had seen that when I joined the site back in March, but I had totally forgot about it. Still, I think it is more useful for a thread like this to be specific so that people (especially newbies and visitors) can see exactly what people are using.

I find this thread pretty educational and fun to read, so hopefully others do too.

I think it's great too. Fun to learn more about other stuff (btw, I'm Snoopy over on Rennteam).

[animes2k]

ClearKote
- Vanilla Moose (VM)
- Red Moose Machine Glaze (RMG)
- QuickShine (QS - oh yeah, my favorite!)

Optimum
- Hyper Compound (OHC)
- Compound (OC)
- Polish (OP)

Meguiar's
- #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish (#83, DACP)
- #80 Speed Glaze (#80)
- #34 Final Inspection (#34/FI)
- #16 Pro Wax (#16)
- All Purpose Cleaner (APC)

Poorboy's World
- Natty's Carnauba Wax - Blue (NB)
- EX-P (EXP)

Menzerna
- PO106FF polish (mixed with RMG)
- Intensive Polish (IP)
- Final Polish II (FP2)

Sonus
Just about the entire line - seriously, but especially:
- Total Eclipse
- Vision
- Glyde
- Ultrafine Detailing Clay
- Acrylic Spritz
- Acrylic Glanz
- MF towels
- Professional Applicators (I love these!)
- Pads - DAS & SFX, full size and spots

Duragloss
- Car wash
- Aquawax (AW) - I'm a believer

Towels & Mitts
- Sonus (MF towels and mitts)
- PakShak (towels galore!)
- Excel (esp. the mitts!)

Misc
Top of the Line (TOL) Wheel/Tire cleaner
Klasse All-In-One (AIO)
P21S wax (P21S)
Pinnacle Souveran paste wax (PS)
303 Aerospace Protectant (303)
Stoner's Invisible Glass (IG)
Quick & Easy Wash (QEW) - mostly in the winter

Machines & Tools
Porter Cable 7424 (PC)
Metabo Rotary Polisher
Craftsman ShopVac
Bissel Little Green
Gilmour foam gun, brass quick releases and shut-offs

I know there are more, but these are the kinds of things I rely on regularly to cover all the bases when detailing different cars, paints, surfaces, etc.

[ronmart]

Originally Posted by animes2k

ClearKote
...
I know there are more, but these are the kinds of things I rely on regularly to cover all the bases when detailing different cars, paints, surfaces, etc.

Awesome post!

[ronmart]

Okay, I've collected all of the data here and from the same question on Rennlist (Over 350 products mentioned) and here's what I've come up with. The following products are the ones you MUST have (i.e., > 4 people said they couldn't live without it). I'd consider these must haves based on the feedback:

Sheepskin Mitts (from Excel)
303 Aerospace Protectant
3M Imperial Hand Glaze
Clearkote Red Moose Machine Glaze
Duragloss Aquawax
Foam Gun
Klasse AIO
Meguiars Gold Class shampoo
Meguiars #80 Speed Glaze
Meguiars #83 Dual Action Cleaner/Polish
Natty's Blue
Optimum No Rinse Wash,
P21S Carnauba Wax
Pak Shak Microfiber towells
Poorboys EX-P
Porter Cable 7424 Polisher
Sonüs Microfiber Towels
Stoner Invisible Glass
Vinylex by Lexol
Woolite (6to1)
Zaino Z-10

Here's some very popular products that at least 3 different people spoke highly of, but didn't make the above list:

Black Again
Clearkote Quickshine
Clearkote Vanilla Moose
Griot's Garage Car Wash
Griots Interior Cleaner (esp for carpet)
Griots Wheel Cleaner
Klasse Sealant Glaze
Lexol Leather Conditioner
Meguiars NXT Glass Cleaner
Menzerna Final Polish II (FP2)
Menzerna Intensive Polish (IP)
Optimum Compound
Optimum Hyper Compound
Poorboy's Bold 'n Bright Tire Dressing
Poorboys Spray & Wipe

[racingbeat]

Originally Posted by ronmart

Okay, I've collected all of the data here and from the same question on Rennlist (Over 350 products mentioned) and here's what I've come up with. The following products are the ones you MUST have (i.e., > 4 people said they couldn't live without it). I'd consider these must haves based on the feedback:

Sheepskin Mitts (from Excel)
303 Aerospace Protectant
3M Imperial Hand Glaze
Clearkote Red Moose Machine Glaze
Duragloss Aquawax
Foam Gun
Klasse AIO (probably the most used product that I have)
Meguiars #80 Speed Glaze
Meguiars #83 Dual Action Cleaner/Polish
Natty's Blue
Optimum No Rinse Wash,
P21S Carnauba Wax
Pak Shak Microfiber towells
Poorboys EX-P
Porter Cable 7424 Polisher
Sonüs Microfiber Towels
Stoner Invisible Glass
Vinylex by Lexol
Woolite (6to1)
Zaino Z-10

Here's some very popular products that at least 3 different people spoke highly of, but didn't make the above list:

Black Again
Clearkote Quickshine
Clearkote Vanilla Moose
Griot's Garage Car Wash
Griots Interior Cleaner (esp for carpet)
Griots Wheel Cleaner
Klasse Sealant Glaze
Lexol Leather Conditioner
Meguiars Gold Class shampoo
Meguiars NXT Glass Cleaner
Menzerna Final Polish II (FP2)
Menzerna Intensive Polish (IP)
Optimum Compound
Optimum Hyper Compound
Poorboy's Bold 'n Bright Tire Dressing
Poorboys Spray & Wipe

from that must have list and having seen in person/used said products my self:

definitely get the Natty's Blue for your dark C4S cab

skip the 303 and get the 1Z vinyl care and while your ordering 1Z get
the leather care too, its the best I've used. You can order it at openroadmotoring.com

Poorboys EX with nuba, is one of the few sealants I used that gives some "pool of water" depth and not the hardy glassy "bling" look of Klasse SG.

Stick with the Klasse AIO a few times a year. No need to buy another product if you already have it. works great on wheels and trim. Great cleaner. I top with FK 425

But definitely get some quality MF towels, I only use the type with silk binding from Poorboysworld.com and Detailcity.com (works out to $4 per towel). And wash with a sea sponge. Its the easiest (in my experience) to keep clean DURING the wash.

oh yeah and try the FK 425, FX100 and 146.
Wish I had it when I owned my dark car. Makes staying clean so much quicker and easier.
I keep them under my seat in smaller sray bottles. But my car is silver so staying clean is not as much of an issue anymore. Just makes it a total piece of cake now.

[Pennypacker]

Uh oh...not a single, solitary Jeff's Werkstatt or Finish Kare product on that list. I think something is awry.

(I have to say I am partial to Prime instead of All-in-One, personally.)

[ronmart]

Originally Posted by Pennypacker

Uh oh...not a single, solitary Jeff's Werkstatt or Finish Kare product on that list. I think something is awry.

(I have to say I am partial to Prime instead of All-in-One, personally.)

Ha, ha - a few Jeff's Werkstatt and Finish Kare products were mentioned by two people. However, I limited the 2nd list to at least three glowing testimonials and the main list to > 3.

You are in the minority about sealant products though as AIO had one fo the largest number of references (only ExcelDetail mitts and 3M Imperial Hand Glaze had more if I recall correctly).

[Pennypacker]

I could be totally wrong here, but what may be a factor is popularity. Jeff's Werkstatt stuff is relatively new (Carlack notwithstanding), especially compared to something like AIO. Even Finish Kare may not be really well known outside this forum. It may be that there's a balancing act between what's most popular and what performs "best."

[ronmart]

Originally Posted by Pennypacker

I could be totally wrong here, but what may be a factor is popularity. Jeff's Werkstatt stuff is relatively new (Carlack notwithstanding), especially compared to something like AIO. Even Finish Kare may not be really well known outside this forum. It may be that there's a balancing act between what's most popular and what performs "best."

Absolutely. There's no accounting for that, but that just means it is useful to do this from time to time to see what's the latest and greatest list.

I know my list will evolve as will others who have posted.

[Joshua312]

Originally Posted by Pennypacker

I could be totally wrong here, but what may be a factor is popularity. Jeff's Werkstatt stuff is relatively new (Carlack notwithstanding), especially compared to something like AIO. Even Finish Kare may not be really well known outside this forum. It may be that there's a balancing act between what's most popular and what performs "best."

Jeff Werkstatt Prime Carnuba and Strong rock! They make your finish much more reflective/clearer thank Klasse AIO. I will stick with Jeff for the long run...especially with his great prices.

[animes2k]

But does Prime have the cleaning properties and flexibility of AIO? Just curious - I use AIO on just about everything from bare metal to glass to plastic to paint... Shines up a coin like you wouldn't believe