New to detailing - Need some product suggestions please!

J

jnick

New member
Hello everyone,



I'm a complete newb when it comes to detailing. Truth be told, I normally take the cars to a Sheeley's or equivalent, get it washed...and it ends there. However, I realized this was a REALLY bad idea once I took my new 2008 Mitsu Lancer for it's first washing. Half way through the wash, I hear a horrible griding noise. Then it hits me. The track which is guiding the car was scraping up against my rim! Luckily, there was no damage done. Needless to say, the cars will be washed in my driveway where I know they will be safe and sound.



With that said, I'm looking for some products which will meet my needs. Now I know many of you guys here are pro-detailers, which is awesome! However, I'm a complete newb to this. So I'm not looking to spend a fortune. I just want to purchase the basics for now which will keep my DDers in tip top shape. Speaking of which, my two DDers are:



2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS

2001 Hyundai Santa Fe



Through my research, I have bought the following already:



Stoner's Invisible Glass (used it today - this stuff is amazing!)

Megs Interior Quick Mist and Wipe Detailer

25 Microfiber Cloths

Three Grout Sponges

Two Buckets



So it appears that I still need a wash, wax, tire shine, and a sealant. For the wash, I was thinking about the Megs Gold Class Car Wash. For the wax, I was considering the Megs Gold Class wax. For the tire shine and sealant, I'm clueless.



Now my next question is, will the Megs Gold Class wax cut it for winter protection? If not, what would you guys recommend?



Also, the microfiber cloths are pretty cheaply made. I picked them up at Sams Club, however they leave behind all types of fuzz and string. Therefore, do you guys have any recommendations on good MF cloths? These are find for windows cleaning, however, I don't think they will cut it when cleaning the body.



Now I did buy the grout sponges for application of the soap and for scrubbing...however, would a mitt work better?



Finally, are there any other tools or brushes that you guys think are "mandatory"? For instance tools/brushes for the interior, or for rims, etc?



Any help is GREATLY appreciated!



Thank you!
 
jnick said:
I'm a complete newb when it comes to detailing..[and].. I'm looking for some products which will meet my needs.2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS

2001 Hyundai Santa Fe



Through my research, I have bought the following already:



Stoner's Invisible Glass (used it today - this stuff is amazing!)

Megs Interior Quick Mist and Wipe Detailer

25 Microfiber Cloths

Three Grout Sponges

Two Buckets



So it appears that I still need a wash, wax, tire shine, and a sealant. For the wash, I was thinking about the Megs Gold Class Car Wash. For the wax, I was considering the Megs Gold Class wax. For the tire shine and sealant, I'm clueless.



Now my next question is, will the Megs Gold Class wax cut it for winter protection? If not, what would you guys recommend?



Also, the microfiber cloths are pretty cheaply made. I picked them up at Sams Club, however they leave behind all types of fuzz and string. Therefore, do you guys have any recommendations on good MF cloths? These are find for windows cleaning, however, I don't think they will cut it when cleaning the body.



Now I did buy the grout sponges for application of the soap and for scrubbing...however, would a mitt work better?



Finally, are there any other tools or brushes that you guys think are "mandatory"? For instance tools/brushes for the interior, or for rims, etc?



Any help is GREATLY appreciated!



Thank you!
Click to expand...



Welcome to Autopia!



Sorta quick reply follows, don't have much time at present:



The GC wash is OK and most people like it.



Some people prefer mitts over grout sponges, others go the other way. And some people prefer Boar's Hair Brushes over either of them. Personal preference, gotta see what works for you (without scratching the paint).



Get good microfibers! Test yours on the data side of a CD and see if they scratch. Sources: Welcome to Exceldetail! and Aloha & Welcome to Our Oasis for All Your Auto Detailing Supplies & Accessories



Most people use clay to "exfoliate" the paint, i.e., remove above-surface contamination. I'd look for ClayMagic or the Mother's kit.



IMO you oughta do some kind of cleaning/polishing before you wax. I recommend polishes from 1Z (same sources as above), which are *VERY* user-friendly and work well by hand. Those are my hands-down recommendation for beginners, period.



GC wax doesn't last long. I'd go with Collinite instead (same sources). It *WILL* last through an entire winter, I use it for that myself. Don't worry about sealants, the Collinite is fine on its own.



For brushes, I like Boar's Hair Brushes (BHBs) and I generally tell people to look at what Griot's Garage offers (sorry, no link handy).
 
I really like Meguiar's Gold Class wash. It's still my go-to shampoo. As for a wax/sealant. If durability is your goal, go with something like the Duragloss combo of #101 / #105. Can't beat that for the money.
 
I liked Gold Class wash until they stopped selling the gallons at target. I have yet to try those duragloss products. Not even aquawax. Am I really missing out here?
 
mr.ikon said:
I liked Gold Class wash until they stopped selling the gallons at target. I have yet to try those duragloss products. Not even aquawax. Am I really missing out here?
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Absolutely.
 
You can probably make 2-3 stops and get all your detailing supplies. I'd go to Target, get some Vroom microfiber towels, wash mitt with the "dred locks", Stoners, maybe some tire brushes. Then head over to CarQuest - get Duragloss car wash and either 105 or go the Meg's route and get 21. Lastly, hit Advance Auto or AutoZone and pick up some Clay Magic and Stoners Mo Shine for you tires, I know you'll get a bunch of opinions about my choices, but- if you're on a budget, and want to shop locally, then there you go.
 
danponjican said:
Absolutely.
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Please fill me in on the recomended lineup. There is a local Carquest near my area and they did have some products. And if they dont, they can make an order.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys!



I did forget to add that I DO have the Mothers Clay kit! I do need to buy some more Clay Bars though, as I KNOW I will wind up dropping a piece here and there :p.



So are you guys suggesting the Duragloss wash over the Megs GC? Also, for the tires, Stoner's is a decent tire shine? Also, I searched the abbreviation thread and couldn't find #21 or 105. Can somebody elaborate on what the above poster was referring to? I know it was noted that the GC wax doesn't last long, however how does the Duragloss compare to Collinite? Which would I be better off with?



Which would be the appropriate 1Z concentrate I need for HAND polishing?



And finally, for the winter abuse NY gets, would I b better off with a wax or sealant? You don't apply both, one on top of the other, right? It's either one OR the other, correct?



P.S. - In regards to the rims, I've read that one is better off using the same soap & water concentrate that you used for the car, and then wax them. If both car's have alluminium alloy rims, should I also polish them? Or is polishing mainly for chrome'd rims?



Thanks a million guys!
 
Any last minute suggestions? I plan on going shopping tomorrow for the supplies, and hopefully get a car done on Friday!



Thanks!
 
Have you thought about ordering products online? There's a huge variety of selections on there. Gosh I don't even know where to start really.



I've heard many good things about Duragloss Car Wash so you can definitely give that a shot. Of course like accumulator has mentioned it depends on what you like and honestly you'd have to try it out first.



As for the products you are inquiring I'd look into a Porter Cable aka PC polisher or even better yet a new unit came out that'll surpass the PC is the UDM (Ultimate Detailing Machine). You'd then need some polishes to remove the existing swirls/defects on your vehicle. I've been very pleased with high temp extreme cut which can be found here



Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies



Also what's a really good polish that many detailers, and myself, enjoy using is the Optimum line. On top of my list though I really love using the Menzerna line. All the products I have mentioned are in my arsenal so I can back them up.



I've purchased all of the products I just mentioned on We Are Car Care ! Car Wax - Car Polish - Auto Detailing Supplies & Car Accessories and they offer a nice discount as well with a 10% discount with the code autopia or free shipping of $75 or more spent with the code ago.



Hopefully that'll help get you started. You'll be able to read some detailing tips on there as well. You also probably want to check out youtube and see what they have to offer for detailing clips.
 
jnick said:
Any last minute suggestions? I plan on going shopping tomorrow for the supplies, and hopefully get a car done on Friday!



Thanks!
Click to expand...



Before you purchase new mf's, I'm curious . . . did you correctly wash the ones you have when you first took them out of the package?
 
Vintage said:
Before you purchase new mf's, I'm curious . . . did you correctly wash the ones you have when you first took them out of the package?
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Negative :(. I just gave them a wash today. We'll see what happens with them on Friday!



Thanks for the suggestions guys! I really want to pick up some products in person, only because then I can definitely wash detail the car Friday. Otherwise it'll have to wait until next week, and trust me - they REALLY need it.



So here's what I'm going to go for, for now:



Stoner's tire shine

Stoners Invisible Glass

Duragloss Car Wash (can this be found in autozone, adv. auto, etc?)

Megs Quick Interior Detail



I'm still not sure about wax, polish, or sealer. I will consider a PC or UDM, however, not at this point. That is only because I'm a complete newb at this. I want to take it slow, learn the pure basics, then move on.



However, I thought Claying removes the swirls and spider webs? Is a polisher just a faster way than claying? Or are they two different things all together?



With that said, what would you recommend for a wax/sealer/polish? Also, you only use EITHER a wax OR sealant. Not both, correct?



Finally, you would polish before waxing, right?
 
Duragloss products are not usually available at Autozone or Advanced. Napa has limited selections of DG products but Carquest usually has almost everything.



Claying only cleans the paint, it DOES NOT remove swirls or any imperfections. Basically, clay lifts bonded contaminants off of the paint that normal washing does get. It is usually a necessary step before any type of polishing because you don't want those bonded contaminants to come loose on polishing pads and swirl up your paint worse than it already is. But remember, claying does nothing for paint defects.



If you are looking for protection all winter long in NY (I grew up in NJ so I feel your pain) you should go with a very durable sealant. A wax won't last all winter by any stretch. 2 months of northeastern winter and the wax will be long gone.



I would recommend Duragloss sealants (they call them polishes but they are really sealants). Go with a base coat of Duragloss 101 "Polish and Cleaner" and then wait 24 hours and put a coat of Duragloss 105 "Total Performance Polish". Then after every wash, spray the paint down with Duragloss 951 "Aquawax" to boost the durability of the sealants.



You follow that plan, and your car will be beading strong in the spring after a long winter.



Polish always before wax or sealants! But remember, Duragloss calls it a polish (101 and 105) but they are sealants.
 
Dan...that's some quality information! Thank you!



I don't know why I thought claying got rid of swirls, but thank god I asked! I'll most definitely be picking up the duragloss products that you mentioned. Luckily, there's a car quest within 15 minutes from my house and therefore will stop by there tonight to pick up some products!



So...if I use a combo of 101, 105, and 951, I do not need to apply any wax, right?



Finally, the only thing left for me to get is some type of polish that I can apply by hand (for now). Do you recommend anything that Auto Zone, Adv. Auto, or Car Quest sells? I'll eventually try 1Z, however, I need something for tomorrow :p. Also, what would I apply the polish with? MF cloths? Or some sort of round polishing "sponge"?



Again, thanks a million guys!
 
jnick said:
Negative :(. I just gave them a wash today. We'll see what happens with them on Friday!
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Use a non-softening detergent. No bleach either. Wash mf's only with mf's. I like Simple Green or Micro Restore. I also use vinegar. Have fun!
 
If you have an Odd Lots near you, you should maybe check out the Turtle Wax Platinum lineup of wash, wax, interior protectant, leather cleaner/conditioner, and tire treatment. None of them will set you back more than $4 each. I have used the car wash soap as well the interior protectant, leather cleaner/conditioner, tire shine and found them to be the equal of more expensive products. The stoners invisible glass is so good I got a 5 gallon jug. I use Collinite 476S on my cars which sit outside 24/7 and 2 coats applied a week apart are usually good for 6 months. You don't need to do anything else to make Collinite last the winter. I recommend use Collinite 845 IW because it is easy to apply (in very thin coats) and doesn't stain trim. Lots of good advice here already and one thing I would add is to sheet the water after rinsing your car by taking the nozzle off your hose and wetting the car from top to bottom. Check out Walmart for their Waffle Weave MF towels in their household section for around $3 (the best bargain out there for a WW MF). This site is addicting and informative so welcome.:lol
 
I really like Griot's Car Wash. It does a great job with a mitt(s) or a boar's hair brush and when loaded the suds seem to do as many panels as you want them to. It's $39.99 ($40) a gallon and I sure would like to know if there's a generic version from their supplier if it's not their proprietary blend!



I use Diamond Plus Sealant from Detail Plus. It's very easy on and extremely easy off and has a beautiful deep shine, for my eyes at least. It's economical at $23.95 a gallon and a little goes a long, long way. I really like it.



I just got some Griot's Best of Show Wax. It did a nice job, but I'm going to try some others mentioned in these Autopia postings. I hope these help. I've only been detailing my 2001 Carrera cab for a year now, but my shine always seems to turn heads...
 
jnick said:
Dan...that's some quality information! Thank you!



I don't know why I thought claying got rid of swirls, but thank god I asked! I'll most definitely be picking up the duragloss products that you mentioned. Luckily, there's a car quest within 15 minutes from my house and therefore will stop by there tonight to pick up some products!



So...if I use a combo of 101, 105, and 951, I do not need to apply any wax, right?



Finally, the only thing left for me to get is some type of polish that I can apply by hand (for now). Do you recommend anything that Auto Zone, Adv. Auto, or Car Quest sells? I'll eventually try 1Z, however, I need something for tomorrow :p. Also, what would I apply the polish with? MF cloths? Or some sort of round polishing "sponge"?



Again, thanks a million guys!
Click to expand...



101 is also a light polish. If you don't need much correction it will be fine. If you need more correction look for a light compound like 3m or Scratch-X.



Turtle Wax sponges and applicatiors are suposed to be good but I haven't tried them.
 
Demongers said:
I really like Griot's Car Wash. It does a great job with a mitt(s) or a boar's hair brush and when loaded the suds seem to do as many panels as you want them to. It's $39.99 ($40) a gallon and I sure would like to know if there's a generic version from their supplier if it's not their proprietary blend! ...I just got some Griot's Best of Show Wax. It did a nice job, but I'm going to try some others mentioned in these Autopia postings. I hope these help. I've only been detailing my 2001 Carrera cab for a year now, but my shine always seems to turn heads...
Click to expand...



Welcome to Autopia!



I absolutely agree about the Griot's Car Wash, best stuff I've ever used and the *only* shampoo for me these days :xyxthumbs



I *would* caution against doing entire panels before rinsing out the mitt/BHB though ;) At least if you're not using a foamgun. (OK, I'll climb down off my soapbox now, wash-induced marring is kinda my pet issue.)



I got away from the BOS wax, it's one of my *least* favorite LSPs (Last Step Products). Whole lotta choices out there, I bet you'll find something you like a lot better.
 
Heres my ideas: MALCO 37 car wash soap(should be able to locate from NAPA CARQUEST or have them order it in. Either that or surf Malco) I use a new MF mitt from WWorld. Clay bar from clay majic or Poorboys world. polish , new I use PBs PRO POLISH. Sealant is also from Malco. Most pure sealants will be fine. Followed by Nattys blue or red, about a week later. Quick wax/surface prep carnu-b (Really like that product on older vehicles that need help but customer doesnt have time or money Also used on my 72 IH straight truck and really made it lok better on the surfaces that still have paint on them Also used it on inside and out of windows and so far no dust build up from the dusty soybean fields. RANDAL
 
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