What to use for hand applying Duragloss products?

[DewGuy1999]

Received my Duragloss order today, and realized that I'm not really sure what to use to apply the products. To start off the products in question are 601 Polish Bonding Agent, 105 Total Performance Polish and 951 Aquawax.

601 PBA and 951 AW call for application with a soft cotton cloth. 105 TPP calls for application with a cotton applicator. 105 TPP and 951 AW call for removal/polishing with a 100% cotton towel.

Would a terry cloth applicator work for applying? Would a microfiber towel work for applying? Would a microfiber towel work for the removal/polishing?

Thanks.

 

[CharlesW]

Received my Duragloss order today, and realized that I'm not really sure what to use to apply the products. To start off the products in question are 601 Polish Bonding Agent, 105 Total Performance Polish and 951 Aquawax.

601 PBA and 951 AW call for application with a soft cotton cloth. 105 TPP calls for application with a cotton applicator. 105 TPP and 951 AW call for removal/polishing with a 100% cotton towel.

Would a terry cloth applicator work for applying? Would a microfiber towel work for applying? Would a microfiber towel work for the removal/polishing?

Thanks.

The 601 PBA, I apply with a foam applicator.
The 105 TPP, I also use a foam applicator. (Not the same one )
The 951 AW, I spread/apply with one MF towel and remove/polish it with another MF towel.

Your choice of applicators would probably work fine. I just happen to prefer the foam applicators.
Charles

 

[DewGuy1999]

The 601 PBA, I apply with a foam applicator.
The 105 TPP, I also use a foam applicator. (Not the same one )
The 951 AW, I spread/apply with one MF towel and remove/polish it with another MF towel.

Your choice of applicators would probably work fine. I just happen to prefer the foam applicators.
Charles

Hi Charles:

I've read about the foam applicators, but I've yet to find any stores locally that sell them. Seems all that's available locally is either the terry cloth or microfiber covered ones.

I've got some Vroom MF towels so I guess I'm covered for the 951 AW.

 

[CharlesW]

Hi Charles:

I've read about the foam applicators, but I've yet to find any stores locally that sell them. Seems all that's available locally is either the terry cloth or microfiber covered ones.

I've got some Vroom MF towels so I guess I'm covered for the 951 AW.

You don't list your location in your profile so I have no idea where you are located, but if you can't find the foam at any local stores, you can always order them on-line.
I really think the terry cloth or microfiber applicators will work fine for you. Just make sure they are clean.

Charles

 

[DewGuy1999]

You don't list your location in your profile so I have no idea where you are located, but if you can't find the foam at any local stores, you can always order them on-line.
I really think the terry cloth or microfiber applicators will work fine for you. Just make sure they are clean.

Opps, forgot about the profile. I'm in Michigan. Maybe in the future when I need something else I could order them online, but right now I imagine that shipping costs would make it impractical for an item so inexpensive. Do you have any preference towards either the terry cloth or the microfiber applicators? Would the microfiber towels be okay for removing the 105 TPP?

 

[CharlesW]

Opps, forgot about the profile. I'm in Michigan.

Put that in your profile and it will show up under your user name in the window at the left of the screen.

Do you have any preference towards either the terry cloth or the microfiber applicators? Would the microfiber towels be okay for removing the 105 TPP?

I would probably lean towards the MF applicators since they seem to be the latest technology.
I would use good MF towels to remove any product. Here again, the latest technology.

Charles

 

[black bart]

The 601 PBA, I apply with a foam applicator.
The 105 TPP, I also use a foam applicator. (Not the same one )
The 951 AW, I spread/apply with one MF towel and remove/polish it with another MF towel.

Your choice of applicators would probably work fine. I just happen to prefer the foam applicators.
Charles

I do it just like Charles.

The 601 and 105 works fine with a foam applicator
I have never tried anything other than a MF towel for AW but a foam applicator may work but I don't think it will work as well as a MF Towel.

Something that I do at a car show is use a mixture of 2/3 FC&S and 1/3 AW apply with a MF towel and remove with a ultra plush MF towel.

This is enough fast clean and shine to be slick and clean well but the AW adds a litte boost to the gloss.

Kinda like using a QD and waxing all at the same time.
Try it you may like the time saved to clean and get a awesome shine all at once.

I called Bill the chemist at DG and ask about the mixing of FC&S with AW and he said they where compatible and he thought that it was a good idea so have no fear of the mixing,
CAUTION he said DO NOT MIX 601 with AW the bottle may blowup.
I hope this is some help to you :reckon

 

[DewGuy1999]

I do it just like Charles.

The 601 and 105 works fine with a foam applicator
I have never tried anything other than a MF towel for AW but a foam applicator may work but I don't think it will work as well as a MF Towel.

I think I'll go with the MF towel for the 951 AW since I've got those, if I can find some foam applicators locally I'll use those for the 601 PBA and 105 TPP. If I can't find any foam applicators I'll go with the MF applicators and then when I have reason to order something more substantial online I'll add in some foam applicators to the order.

Something that I do at a car show is use a mixture of 2/3 FC&S and 1/3 AW apply with a MF towel and remove with a ultra plush MF towel.

This is enough fast clean and shine to be slick and clean well but the AW adds a litte boost to the gloss.

Kinda like using a QD and waxing all at the same time.
Try it you may like the time saved to clean and get a awesome shine all at once.

I hadn't thought about purchasing FC&S, now you've given me something else to think about. I'll keep your tip in mind.

I called Bill the chemist at DG and ask about the mixing of FC&S with AW and he said they where compatible and he thought that it was a good idea so have no fear of the mixing,
CAUTION he said DO NOT MIX 601 with AW the bottle may blowup.

Good to know that the chemist approves of your home brew. Before reading your message I wouldn't have even thought of mixing the products, guess I'm not very inventive.

I hope this is some help to you :reckon

Absolutely.

 

[JaredPointer]

Just to throw in my $0.02, I too do it like Charles. He's quite the popular guy it seems....

 

[black bart]

DewGuy1999
You can find the foam applicator at nearly any auto parts store or Wal-Mart has them in the automotive dept. I also found some at a big lots they where
4-for a $1.00

 

[CharlesW]

DewGuy1999
You can find the foam applicator at nearly any auto parts store or Wal-Mart has them in the automotive dept. I also found some at a big lots they where
4-for a $1.00

Yes and no.
The foam applicators are often a no show at Advance, Auto Zone, O'Reilley's and Wal*Mart in my area.
Wal*Mart used to carry the Meguiar's foam applicators then they disappeared for a month or two. When they were back in stock, they were about $1.00 per two pack higher than the previous price. Now they are out of stock again.
I did buy a dozen at Big Lots a year or two ago, but our Big Lots doesn't have much auto stuff and their inventory doesn't change very often.
The nicest applicators I have are the foam ones with the top part formed in a door handle shape. They are not available locally, but I have found some on-line.

Charles

 

[black bart]

This makes me wonder if the manager controls what is on the shelf because my local Wal-Mart has both the foam and MF applicators. Local AZ has them also.
We are getting a new Wal-Mart due to open this fall and it is going to be the biggest one anywhere near here. They have the walls up and it is going to be really huge. They should stock even more when the new one opens.

 

[CharlesW]

This makes me wonder if the manager controls what is on the shelf because my local Wal-Mart has both the foam and MF applicators. Local AZ has them also.
We are getting a new Wal-Mart due to open this fall and it is going to be the biggest one anywhere near here. They have the walls up and it is going to be really huge. They should stock even more when the new one opens.

I think the individual department heads have some control on what is stocked and the store manager has some control over the dept. managers.
Our Wal*Mart is called a Super Wal*Mart and is quite large, but they seem to be out of things in several areas quite often. Might be help problems, delivery problems or maybe the home office wasn't able to beat the supplier down far enough on price.
They do seem to have a lot of employee turnover, yet I see some of the same people there for 10 years.

Charles

 

[black bart]

Yea like anything else their are good managers and some not so good.
I have two Wal-Marts within 10 miles of me. One has a really nice auto detailing section and the other is poor.

You mention them cutting the price I"m a retired long distance trucker and the company that I pulled for would tell potential customers what it would cost to deliver from point A to B
But Wal-Mart would tell you what they would pay and if you did not want to haul it for that they looked elsewhere.
I hated it when I got stuck with a Wal-Mart load because I knew that I would just barley make my fuel bill..

 

[nikro000]

Call me crazy, but what if in this forum the members could help each other with availability problems.

Example: say, forum member John Smith is desperate b/c his Walmart in Tinyville has no foam pads.
He sends a message to this forum supplying the product, the store name, the address and email address.
Members of this forum who want to help out, start sending emails to the provided address saying something like this:

"Dear Sirs,
in your XXX (Store name) at XXX Street in XXX (State) I miss YYY (exact product name). Many people like me are fond of this prouct and use it on a daily basis. We would be glad if you would stock it.
Sincerely,..."

This is just an example of course and the limit would be one mail per member - after all we do not want to harass that store.
But no manager who is worth his/her money can ignore hundreds of emails asking for a specific product.
For some most stores there are only central sites, but, if there are enough emails, I bet central management will contact the individual store with the request. This is why it is so important to name the street address of the store in the mail.

Just an idea.

 

[DewGuy1999]

Is a terry applicator just foam in "terry" clothing?

After checking Auto Zone, Advanced Auto, CarQuest, Meijer, Kmart and Wal-Mart (which I normally won't set foot in) I've given up on finding foam applicators locally. I know that I can order them online, and sometime in the future when I need enough to make the shipping costs reasonable I'll do so. For now, I present these questions for those of you more in the know than I...

Is a round terry covered applicator just a foam applicator covered in terry cloth?
Is the foam center the same as a foam applicator?
Would buying terry applicators and stripping off the terry cloth give me foam applicators?

Thanks!

 

[CharlesW]

Re: Is a terry applicator just foam in "terry" clothing?

Is a round terry covered applicator just a foam applicator covered in terry cloth?

Probably not.

Is the foam center the same as a foam applicator?

Probably not.

Would buying terry applicators and stripping off the terry cloth give me foam applicators?

Probably not.

As usual, I have no idea as to the correct answer to your questions, but...... I think I would just use the applicators you are able to purchase the way they are originally made.
You could cut a MF towel in smaller pieces and it would probably work fine too.
I did that for years with cotton terry bath towels.
Remember, people have been polishing cars a lot longer than we have had foam applicators and MF towels. The new stuff may be better, but the old stuff didn't do too bad of a job.

Charles

 

[DewGuy1999]

Re: Is a terry applicator just foam in "terry" clothing?

As usual, I have no idea as to the correct answer to your questions, but...... I think I would just use the applicators you are able to purchase the way they are originally made.
You could cut a MF towel in smaller pieces and it would probably work fine too.
I did that for years with cotton terry bath towels.
Remember, people have been polishing cars a lot longer than we have had foam applicators and MF towels. The new stuff may be better, but the old stuff didn't do too bad of a job.

I'm obsessive by nature, and I guess I'm obsessing again. I guess I got to obsessing over the foam applicators since that seems to be the most frequently recommended kind on the different forums. I imagine that you're right about the applicators. The last time I waxed a car I used liquid Rain Dance with it's included terry covered applicator, that seemed to work fine.

Probably any of the commercially made applicators, terry, microfiber or the elusive foam will do a good job. I can find the round terry covered ones and the larger rectangular microfiber ones locally so I should use one or the other. Based on appearance I think I like the size and shape of the round terry covered ones the best, experience may prove different, but for now I'll try those for starters. Thanks.

 

[Scott P]

The applicator you choose depends on what you are looking to accomplish. Terry applicators would offer more bite and enhance the cleaning abilities of a product. Microfiber applicators are softer and give a balance of cleaning and finishing. Foam applicators work best in finishing jobs like waxes or sealants that have no cleaning properties.

The exception to the rule would the the polishing pal from Lake Country/Wolfgang. It allows you to use various foam pads to suit your needs.

 

[DewGuy1999]

The applicator you choose depends on what you are looking to accomplish. Terry applicators would offer more bite and enhance the cleaning abilities of a product. Microfiber applicators are softer and give a balance of cleaning and finishing. Foam applicators work best in finishing jobs like waxes or sealants that have no cleaning properties.

The exception to the rule would the the polishing pal from Lake Country/Wolfgang. It allows you to use various foam pads to suit your needs.

I had assumed that there should be some logical difference among the different applicators, but had never run across anything that said what it was. Most internet discussions either have a preferred applicators (like the foam) or seem to indicate interchangeability among the different applicators. Thanks for making clear what those differences are.

I'll be applying Duragloss PBA and TPP, so based on your helpful information, I should use a foam applicator for the PBA and either a foam or microfiber applicator for the TPP. I'll also be applying AW and everybody seems to like microfiber towels for that, so, I'll do the same.

Since I can't find foam locally, it seems that microfiber applicators would be my best bet for the PBA and TPP.