New to detailing

D

dsms

New member
Brand new here. I guess this forum is the best palce for learing everything there is to know about detailing. I have been doing a lot of research on products and really dont know where to begin, there are so many different kinds. I figure the best way get started is to read up and pick out some good products to get started with. I know a bunch of guys who swear by Zaino's stuff and others only use Sonus, then I found Ultima and its looks like they make really high quailty products. I am a neat freak and I want to do a professional looking detail on my cars. Heres all the pdoucts I am looking at, I bascially compiled a huge list and will go from there, need some critisism though, like what to use before and after each product.



Exterior Paint:

-UDM 1000 pilosher

-Ultima Paint Prep Plus

-Ultima Paint Guard Plus

-Sonus swirlbuster polish

-Sonus Scratch Removal Kit

-Zaino Z-8 Grand Finale Spray Seal

-Zaino Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray



Windows/Interior

-Zaino Z-12 Clear-View Glass Polish

-Zaino Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner followed by

-Zaino Z-10 Leather in a Bottle

-Vac n Blow Portable Auto Vacuum

-Ultima Interior Shampoo Gel

-Sonus Total Eclipse

-Meguiars Quik Out Carpet Stain Remover

-Meguiars Hair & Lint Extractor

-Two-Way Mini Detail Brush



Wheels and Tires

-Z-16 Perfect Tire Gloss

-Sonus Rim Bright

-Foam Tire Dressing Applicator



There is a lot of stuff here, im not sure if I really need it all, I just want the most complete professional looking detail for all my cars. Im looking for opinions and critisism on what I picked out here, what you guys like and what you dont. Any help would be greatly apreciated. Thanks-
 
I don't think you need all those products. I use Zaino, but I'm not necessarily saying that it's what you should get. Quite frankly, I'm not all that impressed by it because I was expecting so much given all the hype I got swept into when reading about it. It has a certain look but I don't think it's "amazing," but more importantly the method of application is favorable for my needs and the durability should be great. On the other hand, your needs are dictated by



1) how much time you can put into maintaining your car

2) what kind of car(s) your intend to work on and their condition

3) your budget



The choices are overwhelming at first, but if you spend enough initial investment in time just reading all the guides and forums out there, you'll have a more solid understanding. I spent 2 - 3 months just reading, and that was before I posted a single question anywhere. The selection is almost daunting when you jump into this subject.



In short, process is just as important, if not more important, than the specific name-brand products used. Most of the boutique products mentioned here (and maybe a few OTC ones) work very good and the results are heavily dependent on your specific techniques and restoration needs for the cars you work on. But in understanding the process, you'll discover what may apply to your particular situation and which products will be most useful in that regard. If you're going for certain "looks," you may need to search around ... and be wary of pictures - it's hard to evaluate what something looks like when taken from a camera. Plus, a lot of the results are subjective and it ultimately depends on individual preference.



BTW, if you want my list, I personally use Menzerna SIP / 106FF, Z-5 / 2 / Z-PC, Duragloss 901, the two buckets, as well as a few other miscellaneous knick-knacks like Black Wow, Adam's Undercarriage Spray, Z-8, #83, Klasse AIO, P21S cleaner, boar's hair brush, among others. Those fit my needs, and I'm not necessarily endorsing them because this list may not be what satisfies your requirements.
 
Time isnt really an issue, I know a good detailing should take a few hours but in the end it will be worth it. My car is a black bmw 330xi, the other cars I would be detailing would be an SL55,Escalade and a Range Rover. Budget? Getting started is expensive for sure, the UDM and Vac n blow alone are pricey but there a one time purchase. Also need some advice of microfiber towels and chamois.
 
Depending on how hard the paint is (as well as the condition it's in), expect a polish to be anywhere between 4 - 20+ hours. I don't know if that vac is necessary (I personally use a cheap shop vac instead). I hear BMWs can have hard clears too. My VW was tough, and I spent literally dozens of hours just on polishing through several passes. I've used #83 with two passes and it gave ok results, so I went over it again with SIP using smaller pads and that finished it up better. I went with SIP specifically because it's designed for harder clears (at least in the case of the newer Mercedes ceramic-based clear coats).



Skip the chamois and just stick with MF towels. I recommend a couple of waffle weaves for drying after washing, and a bunch of smaller ones for removing polishing / wax residue (those yellow Costco ones should do fine). Might want to consider getting a clay bar as well (I've used Clay Magic, but if you're getting Zaino stuff you could get theirs as well). You'll need some kind of lube for clay (for Zaino bars, maybe just their soap).



To wash MF towels, get some Tide Free. Might want to think about how you're going to wash your buffer pads also. Some people use Dawn, Dawn Power Dissolver, or products marketed as pad cleaning agents (others seem to use car soap).
 
Im not sure if I want to use a clay bar, would it really make a dramatic difference on top of all the other products I would use. If the car has a somewhat smooth finish and isnt really tough or grimey I think just a pre wash/wax cleanser would be okay instead of a clay bar.
 
Do the "sandwich bag" test to make the determination if it's necessary right now (compare the outside paint surface with, say, the inside painted surface of your door). You'll eventually need it regardless. If the car is at least a year old or is constantly stored outside, it might be necessary.



The key to good results is a good foundation. No amount of wax or sealant is going to completely pretty-up a bad surface that's coarse, swirled, or scratched. If you try to polish a surface that needs claying, you might end up swirling up those contaminants all over the paint, making the problem worse.
 
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