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Just when I think I've completely mastered paint polishing with the rotary, I learn something new... or something else stumps me. Basically, 2 days ago I buffed out a BMW 330i with the three step buff process using the rotary - compound, then polish twice and then yesterday I buffed out a VW...

I've been greatly dissapointed with DI water so far. Long story short, my step dad used to own a water purification company and when I talked to him about my water needs/desires (I wanted water that would not leave any trace of deposits after a wash if the water "runs" out of the crevices...

For those of you who have tried several spray sealants, which one seemed to provide the best slickness? I'm looking to offer my customers a "booster" option to help maintain a recently detailed vehicle. I have only used AJ Trigger, Aquawax, Z10, and RDF 49 spray sealants...I liked the RDF best.

Detailed a cermaic particle mercedes CL500 yesterday - car was a year old and goes through the local machine wash on a weekly basis (I can confirm that this particular wash is murder on paint jobs based on what I've seen first-hand). However, this particular car had zero washing swirls; there...

I'm down to my last couple bars of Opti-clay and every time I reach into my stockpile of other clay (I probably have 6 or 7 other unused clays on hand) I am GREATLY dissapointed. Put plainly, we need opti-clay back in a bad way. Keep in mind folks that most of the vehicles I detail have moderate...

For those of you using the Metabo, how do you change the speed setting while under power? I just got my new Metabo rotary in, and though I have not used it yet (contemplating returning it) it does not seem conducive to changing the speed setting while working. With my Makita I like the spread...

One of my newer customers just sprung for a new BMW as I reported in my "Dealership Strikes Again" thread a couple weeks ago. Supposedly the dealership won't even talk to her about the issue and won't return her calls - what slime-balls (Kearny Mesa BMW in San Diego). How should I advise her...

I'd be interested in hearing how those of you pay employees (particularly those whom have a fixed location/shop). I'm looking into opening a shop... When I worked at a car wash (yes, I worked at your typical hack-job, "hand-wash" car wash for about 6 months as a "service advisor"), they paid...

I was wondering if anyone knew the skinny about car washing in underground facilities in states that require water reclaiminig. I've been told the drains underground parking structures usually go to sewage pipes and not storm drains; if so, I'd think water reclaiming would not be necessary?

Here are a couple pics I took with my camera phone of a car one of my customers just bought - this was straight from the dealership...apparently they gave her a "courtesy" buff. Knowing that they are going to want to (try) to fix it themselves, I told her to give them one shot and making it...

I pulled some emblems off for a customer and there was severe etching that traced the emblems :think: Here's the full story...yesterday a new customer (pretty sure he's also a new Autopia member) came over for the preliminary stage of his detail black Acura ('02 I think) - we agreed that...

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding regarding AIO per another recent thread (which drifted off into KSG vs. Zaino). Therefore I wanted to share my thoughts with AIO have having used a couple liters of the stuff by now. And I'd be interested in hearing how others have successfully (or...

Alright. I can't take it any more. I need a good digi, as my camera phone just doesn't cut it. The biggest problem I've been having with taking pictures (I've even tried my mom's little digital yesterday) is that I have a heck of a time getting swirls to show up properly - I can have a...

I was just wondering how many people use the plastic side handle (or top-mounted handle) versus griping the rotary polisher directly. Not to "load" the responses, but it sure seems to me that the side handle was designed for high-torque grinding type work and ultimately for polishing yields less...

I don't know how many people got to try the Opti-Clay while it was around, but it is still the best clay I've tried - perfect texture, kneads easy (very elastic), last long long time, "works" very well, and marrs less than any other clay I've tried except the Sonus Ultra-Fine. For those of you...

I finally had a chance to test the 3M swirl mark remover for black cars (5996); I had requested a sample because I had been told it could finish on black with a DA and not leave any micro-marring. I finally had a good subject to test the product on (soft Nighthawk Black Peal paint on a Honda I...

What are the main difference people have actually noticed between Z5pro and Z2pro? It sounds like the Z5 is supposed to contain fillers - have yall users actually noticed filling properties? Thanks.

I think people usually "clear" out their vehicles before I detail them, but several times now I've been shocked to find reminants of "the funny stuff" (pot) in the vehicles of older, corporate professionals. Sometimes the reminants are barely detectable, but I have a well trained eye since I did...

It would be nice to know what cars have been painted with the new ceramic particle clear coats, but I don't know of any good sources. Apparently many will be labled accordingly in the paint code usually found in the driver's door jam. Alternatively, does anybody have a list of models/years that...

I bought a couple of the fancy 4" x 6" SFX Pro wax applicators from Autopia about a year ago (http://www.autopia-carcare.com/son-sfxpro.html), but they really didn't work too well for me for applying sealants. So I started using them a few months ago as tire swipes, and they are the best swipes...