FK1 stuck in the outgoing tide now?

a.k.a. Patrick said:
John, Wizards was the first place I ordered detailing products from online! I used there finish cut and turbo cut, which was a bi*** at the time to remove. I either just didnt know better at the time, or its still a bi*** to remove!!





Yes, I don't doubt your info. The only Wizards stuff I've been experimenting with is their Mist N Shine, Power Clean, and Vinyl Shine.
 
My gallon of 425 is almost gone. Bought a gallon of #34. When that's gone, I'll try the Mother's, Simonize, Durgloss, Adams, you get the point.



But I can almost definitely be assured that if something becomes a 'flavor' it is safe to say it performs well and won't damage my paint.



I hope.
 
I also have some HGAS, but will use it over some Menzerna AJ when the time comes. I still like the FK1 products, will be buying some more when I run out of the stuff I'm currently trying to get rid of.
 
I have both Duragloss AW and I bought a gallon of 425. Both have a place in my detailing arsenal. I also find 425 to be very similar to CG's Detail Spray. I love them both. :heelclick
 
Patrick,

Thanks for saying what I have been meaning to post on for a long time. I realize I am fairly new to this detailing/enthusiast game but I have some thoughts to offer.



It seems to me that whenever a group enthusiasts get togther, the situation quickly disolves into "who has the bigger bowl of cereal!" This thought process is not just limited to car enthusiasts. I think it is endemic to all zealots of whatever hobby. I am a LE officer here in socal and every cop I know argues the what is the BEST firearm. Glock/Sig/Beretta etc. That then escalates to which is the best caliber...40,45,9 et al. The fact of the matter is, all of the manufactures and calibers have a place in our line of work and they all work. Each caliber and gun will protect you when used properly.



I also really enjoy hunting. But heaven forbid you ask a person "What is the best deer rifle?" 3 days, two black eyes, and 1 800mg Motrin later, I think the situation still isn't settled. Fact is 20 different calibers will claim a deer when used properly.



Add to that my final hobby, computers and the ever raging Pentium and AMD argument. Of course AMD chips are the best cuz this magazine says so. Oh, no wait, this magazine says the Pentium is the best cause it....... well you get my point. Both chipsets work when the computer is configured properly.



The "Polish/Wax d'jour" argument will probably continue on long after we have gone. Fact is, the field is so competitive and people are SO finicky (myself included) it is hard to grasp which products really are "the best". Add to that all of our ego's. I mean are we enthusiasts willing to swallow our pride and say that a $2.50 car wax really looks as good as a $70 wax?



I think Mike Phillips hits it on the head when hit lists in his Avatar/Sig line "Find something you like, and use it often." The fact is, so much of the stuff out there is so close in performance that who cares who bottles/labels/makes it etc..ya know what I mean?



I, for one, like Meguiars #80 series of polishes, but I know that there are people who will turn their nose up at it and call it junk. Does this mean that it is? No. It just means that we have differences of opinion. Does that mean that I am Meg's zealot? No, because there are some products by them that I find to hard to work and can't stand. It's then that I will turn to something different. It may be the polish d'jour or it may be just an old trusted OTC that works.



Okay... I am rambling here and hope people don't find me too much an idiot..... but as the saying goes, "Find what you like and use it". Debate is nice and it does bring new products to the radar screen for testing and evaluation but let's remember...... everyone is entitled to there opinion. :thx :nomore:
 
I'm always willing to try new products, however cost effectiveness, ease of use, time management all play a big roll. If it works for me I stick with it, until something that meets the criteria exceeds what I use.
 
Well IMO a lot of boutique products have to have internet chatter to sell. These companies don't have the budgets for traditional marketing or retail store shelf space. FK sells mostly to auto manufacturers so their business mdel relies much less on detailers and end users. Duragloss is offering some new and unique products that are every bit as good as some boutique products at 1/2 to 1/3 the cost. When someone finds great performing products at great prices the manufacturers should be rewarded with some word of mouth advertising. There is way to much overpriced overhyped products out there. The other aspect is that people always want the latest and best product. So the search never quite ends.
 
Probably 90% of the products discussed here have been so-called bandwagon products at one time or another. Just because they're not talked about as much at any point in time, doesn't mean they're any less effective or of any lower quality than they originally were.



Plus, it does mean something if a product is good enough for there to be a bandwagon for it in the first place.
 
Funny that this was brought up. While scrounging through the detail area of the garage recently I came across a long forgotten QD product, the first QD I ever purchased. The purchase was a gallon in 1996, I remember because of the new '96 Mazda 626 V-6 5 speed I bought and the Malco salesman calling on the boat store where I worked along with the product demo on a boat. I bought the product (now 1/3 gallon) on the spot.



The product? Malco "Showroom Shine". Know what? It's ten years old, going through ten long hot Texas summers and worked as well today as it did then. Of course now I have a half dozen others that make the surface slicker but this one still works just fine.

What I started with first now comes back into play.
 
Yeah I'd been away from Autopia from while and when I came back it the comments towards FK1 products have gone the other way. I also find myself using their products less nowadays, for no particular reason. Nothing against the products because they're still as good as they were before. I guess we just always have to try something new.
 
a.k.a. Patrick said:
BTW, Simoniz (I just noticed in todays Kragen add), has introduced a new "self drying auto wash". As well as a "Liquid Polish Power Spray", is that a QD or protectant? Who wants to be a guinea pig?



I bought the self drying car wash. The $2 rebate is not on the form they gave me :( but I'm interested in trying it out..
 
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