Reality vs special

N

njcarting1

Dewey,Cheatem & Howe ESQ.
OK guys I want the STRAIGHT DOPE HERE.

This is a harmless question but an HONEST one also.

Out of all the designer products we buy, how many can we do without? Yes how many bigger ticket items from wax to dressings, to sealants, to towels. We all know what nice stuff we have and want but what over the counter stuff will get us by in most cases.

Could most of us mix and match with OTC and still have a great looking ride and save some cash?

If so what products would you cut back on and still be happy with? :inspector: :surrender :howdy
 
I could probably buy everything I needed to do a detail OTC.

PC - Lowe's
backing plate & pads - CarQuest
quality Meg's wash, polishes, sealant, quick detailer, Stoner's, etc - Wal-Mart, Autozone, Advance, Carquest (Duragloss)

I don't really think there's anything I would need that I couldn't just go out and get locally. However, I do like to try new stuff and some of the boutique stuff is nice. Granted, it would be hard to find job-specific polishes OTC.

By the time I would spend driving to three or four different stores, I could just buy the nice stuff online and have it delivered in a day or two to my doorstep.
 
Troy@DetailCity said:
If your products aren't coming from Detail City then you might as well throw them away.;)
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YOU ARE 100% RIGHT TROY, :dcrules


I just had to ask guys, I know we all blend in an occasional OTC product from time to time. Just wanted to here what ones you are using weather it be soap,wax,or whatever when you fall short on a designer staple.:dcrules :thanks :howdy :howdy
 
njcarting1 said:
Just wanted to here what ones you are using weather it be soap,wax,or whatever when you fall short on a designer staple
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Excellent OTC products that I use:

Meg's NXT 2.0
Meg's ColorX
Anything Duragloss
Stoner's IG
Mother's Clay
Claymagic Clay
Meg's Ultimate Quick Detailer


I am sure I am missing some things - just trying to go off what's on my shelves currently.
 
LOL that's a pretty good list Jarod I'd have to concure - haven't used the Claymagic Clay yet though. Add Meg UC, Target Vroom micro fiber towels and Meg Hot Rims for Chrome.

However, I am not willing to give up the Poorboys line not to mention cannot find any PC pads OTC around here or a PC.
 
JaredPointer said:
I could probably buy everything I needed to do a detail OTC.


I don't really think there's anything I would need that I couldn't just go out and get locally. .
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:hmmm: where you gonna get your Bug Squash from :notme:

shuddleston said:
However, I am not willing to give up the Poorboys line not to mention cannot find any PC pads OTC around here or a PC.
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i like this guy :bigups I think he needs another green dot :D
 
Still being on a quest for that "next level" higher. My cabinets, garage are full of the newest, greats, must haves, some tried and liked, some tried and disliked, some to be decorating the garbage dump, some not tried and collecting dust.
About the only product I havent tried is the wash and wax sponge.

Well Monday it's supposed to be nice out. So when I go get tooth paste I'll be certain to go to the car care aisle at the local drug store.
 
I think that its a question of experienced detailer that allows him to understand the difference from any OTC general public level brands to the designated detail suppliers.

To clarify that most all OTC wax's, sealants,etc that I have purchased are designed to make them safe for the general public to use, thus protecting the manufacture from a lawsuit. IMO they have limitation in the performance area.


That said the designated supplier offer a professional line and in some cases requires a bit of detail experience to get the results. Example here is Presta line that I use, its a high temp product for rotary only. You put this on by hand and you'll need a blow torch to take it off:D

Now could I do with out any of these online detail suppliers, yes! Could I get good results with OTC products, yes

I look at it this way, the more experienced and knowledgeable that you become at your trade, the better the tools you want to preform them, as you can appreciate their qualities and understand how to use its potential
 
Does your Lowes still carry the PC? Ours, and every surrounding Lowes had them on clearance years ago for $40.
JaredPointer said:
I could probably buy everything I needed to do a detail OTC.

PC - Lowe's
backing plate & pads - CarQuest
quality Meg's wash, polishes, sealant, quick detailer, Stoner's, etc - Wal-Mart, Autozone, Advance, Carquest (Duragloss)

I don't really think there's anything I would need that I couldn't just go out and get locally. However, I do like to try new stuff and some of the boutique stuff is nice. Granted, it would be hard to find job-specific polishes OTC.

By the time I would spend driving to three or four different stores, I could just buy the nice stuff online and have it delivered in a day or two to my doorstep.
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TexasTB said:
Does your Lowes still carry the PC? Ours, and every surrounding Lowes had them on clearance years ago for $40.
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Good question - I'd have to go check and be sure. I have a Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ace hardware within 5 minutes of each other. I wonder - if they did not stock them, could they have the shipped to the store and let you pick it up there. :confused:
 
Beemerboy said:
I think that its a question of experienced detailer that allows him to understand the difference from any OTC general public level brands to the designated detail suppliers.

To clarify that most all OTC wax's, sealants,etc that I have purchased are designed to make them safe for the general public to use, thus protecting the manufacture from a lawsuit. IMO they have limitation in the performance area.


That said the designated supplier offer a professional line and in some cases requires a bit of detail experience to get the results. Example here is Presta line that I use, its a high temp product for rotary only. You put this on by hand and you'll need a blow torch to take it off:D

Now could I do with out any of these online detail suppliers, yes! Could I get good results with OTC products, yes

I look at it this way, the more experienced and knowledgeable that you become at your trade, the better the tools you want to preform them, as you can appreciate their qualities and understand how to use its potential
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I SAY THATS 100% RIGHT...

Just to add some fuel to the fire with this one. Can anyone here tell after a "WASH AND DRY" IF the wash soap used is better or just soap at different pricing?

I wash more than anyone I know but I am not crazy enough to break the bank on soap. I am sure my annual soap purchases are around 150.00 right now. I also know if I get a designer product it could add as much as another c-note TO THE ANUAL COST.

My QUESTION IS THE RESULT WORTH THE EXTRA GREEN ???? :idea:inspector::inspector::notme:
 
professional grade products sometimes are much more concentrated . take car wash soap . the stuff i use is designed to sheet off the paint not stand up and make drying easier . and its very concentrated lasting alooooooooong time also the methods i use make this easy"er . you can not buy effective compound at vatozone .. polishes that really bring the paint to life and are easy to use are not available ... i guess some of the available waxes are ok but nothing compared to the ease and finished product i achieve with the hi end stuff . the only otc product i really like is mega liquid gold class. it looks great on black vehicles with problems where the customer doesnt want to spend money to correct those problems the right way .. bottom line is i have a huge advantage in quality of the finished product . you cant achieve the results i get with otc . and speed . i will leave anyone in the dust messing around with otc .. thats what i think about it . before i injured my back i had more work than i could handle . why ? because the sharpest looking cars around here were detailed by me .. not bragging just stating the truth . to be a good detailer requires many hours of mixing products/ processes to ahieve the look the customer wants .. some people want very shiny dressing on the car while others will have a fit and never return if you do that . you have to discuss what the customers want with them to make them happy .. some people with black cars want them very shiney .. some want them deep/ dark . one gets a sealer the other gets a carnauba.its very important to get this right . if you are preparing a car to go to a show you will use other tricks / products to get that killer look . like wetting the panel with quick detailer spray then use a mixture of wax/ polish together to achieve that look that gets the painter on the phone thanking you for taking his work farther than he thought possible . bottom line is the variety of high end stuff out there gives you alot of options to get the exact results you want ...
 
I think you can make a good living just using Meg's products including their polishes that are stocked at O'Reillys, NAPA, Carquests (the PBE ones). It may not be as cost effective with some items but I think will work to satisfy virtually anyone.

If you see a nice car in a typical parking lot, it is because the owner has taken care of the car since when you ask what they use it varies.

Polishing is very much about experience.
 
bigron62 said:
professional grade products sometimes are much more concentrated . take car wash soap . the stuff i use is designed to sheet off the paint not stand up and make drying easier . and its very concentrated lasting alooooooooong time also the methods i use make this easy"er . you can not buy effective compound at vatozone .. polishes that really bring the paint to life and are easy to use are not available ... i guess some of the available waxes are ok but nothing compared to the ease and finished product i achieve with the hi end stuff . the only otc product i really like is mega liquid gold class. it looks great on black vehicles with problems where the customer doesnt want to spend money to correct those problems the right way .. bottom line is i have a huge advantage in quality of the finished product . you cant achieve the results i get with otc . and speed . i will leave anyone in the dust messing around with otc .. thats what i think about it . before i injured my back i had more work than i could handle . why ? because the sharpest looking cars around here were detailed by me .. not bragging just stating the truth . to be a good detailer requires many hours of mixing products/ processes to ahieve the look the customer wants .. some people want very shiny dressing on the car while others will have a fit and never return if you do that . you have to discuss what the customers want with them to make them happy .. some people with black cars want them very shiney .. some want them deep/ dark . one gets a sealer the other gets a carnauba.its very important to get this right . if you are preparing a car to go to a show you will use other tricks / products to get that killer look . like wetting the panel with quick detailer spray then use a mixture of wax/ polish together to achieve that look that gets the painter on the phone thanking you for taking his work farther than he thought possible . bottom line is the variety of high end stuff out there gives you alot of options to get the exact results you want ...
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Not to sound negative here but, You can't achieve your magic with OTC products period right ?

Starting with the wash, The extra sheeting is of what help?

The gloss enhancer used while drying is/is not a help?

The spray wax OTC is of no quality?

The tire shine OTC is not quality? Remember you said the customer tells you the look he wants? I guess I feel if they want less gloss than I use or dilute my product accordingly. Also this could simply be rectified by wiping with a cloth to dull the finished product, TRUE?

I am sure you are dead on right about product strengths, distributor vs OTC.

MIXING PRODUCTS HOW? WHAT YOU GOT A PHD IN CHEMISTRY? Please tell me what part of adding water in a bottle takes up so much time? I and most "I THINK" USE THE PRODUCTS STRAIGHT FROM THE BOTTLE IN MOST CASES. When needed its diluted with water to add or subtract product strength. Please tell me more about what I have apparently missed in product mixtures.

The question is weather the soap is better at cleaning the vehicle. OTC or DESIGNER ? and no not dish soap.

LAYMANS TERMS - IS the car any cleaner with designer wash or OTC.:inspector: Or does it help the washer cut corners somehow?

Didn'T mean to turn this into a GOAT ROPIN GUYS.
 
I personally think that as a professional, you should spend more money on quality equipment, followed by the absolute best quality polishes/compounds then LSP. Spend the money here on DC for these premium items, they are worth it !!! Cleaners and dressings take a back seat to these items in my budget.

I am a buff when it come to quality equipment that saves you time and get professional quality results every time.

As an example, I just picked up a Kranzle pressure washer that I have been eyeing for over 2 years. This machine cost two to three times what you would pay at HD or Lowes for a similar model with regards to psi, but it is Ferrari with regards to performance and built to last.
 
njcarting1 said:
I SAY THATS 100% RIGHT...



My QUESTION IS THE RESULT WORTH THE EXTRA GREEN ???? :idea:inspector::inspector::notme:
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Not for nothing I got my son to be father in law some SSS with wax at christmas and never bothered him about it but he is ANAL about his baby corvette and will not use just anything on it(he is an OTC guy not a pro detailer user) and he was blown away after using it for the first time he said the car had more of a shine afterwards (still have a good amount of swirls) but it look better to him.. he was more shocked when he washe dit for the second time and he asked me how much to use i put a little squirt in and he was like I used 4-5 times as much last time. I told him it's all you need. It sudded up really nice like i new it would and he was more inpressed with it so I do think so things are worth the $$.:inspector:
 
I have'nt found an otc wax that looks as good as any of the online stuff that I have now. The only otc polishes that I have used that worked effectively either dusted like crazy, dried out too quickly or were too hard to remove the haze. nearly all of the tire shine that I have purchased otc made the tires look really good when used but in the long run turned my tires brown. With the apc that I now use (PB), I can mix up 40 quarts at 10 to 1 dilution for $43. The stuff I used before from Auto Zone would have cost me $199.60 for 40 cans, though it did work ok it did not work as well. My search for good quality products over the counter ended with the discovery of Poorboy's World Detailing Products. If I run out of something in my Poorboy's line, they are so versitile I can usually substitute with another of Steve's products to get the job done with outstanding results. When i was using otc only I produced excelent results in the eyes of the customer. But I can say that now the results I achieve are deffinately a cut or two cuts above the other pro detailers in my area. In my oppinion the otc stuff was a much needed stepping stone in my learning curve and if the internet products were outlawed tomorrow I could still get great results but at a much lower efficiency.
 
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