|
|
|
|
|
|
|
07-04-2022, 09:58 PM
|
#1 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,493
|
Every three or four months a bucket of warm water, half a cup of truck wash and half a cup of kero. The Kuga comes up a treat! Thats it!
|
||
|
|
|
07-04-2022, 10:11 PM
|
#2 | |||
|
Donating Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
https://www.autopia.org/forums/car-d...ter-trick.html "Kerosene is an oily solvent that will not only remove your wax, it could dry out your plastic trim as well as leave an oily film behind too. Not a good way to wash a car. For the same price, buy a cheap car wash soap." "Its fine for older cars from 40`s to 70`s but protection stripping could be a problem But no way should you do this with modern 2K baked enamel, acrylic laquer and other aftermarket paint systems with clearcoat"
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
| 2 users like this post: |
|
07-04-2022, 11:05 PM
|
#3 | |||
|
Donating Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,654
|
Quote:
__________________
Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made |
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
08-04-2022, 06:48 PM
|
#5 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
  Make sure you clue up on what pad does what. That kit includes three pad types that should have you sorted dealing with a new car. Shine Mate Yellow - Medium to Heavy cut Shine Mate Blue - Intermediate, Moderate to light defect removal Shine Mate Red - Light defect removal and finishing In most cases when using Scholl S20, I use the blue pad. I also use the gray ultra-soft pad for wax/sealant applications. At the risk of causing another spending spree and landing you in more trouble with the wife, I would also add a couple of each pad to your war chest so that you have enough of each to go around the whole car. https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...31701204795481 Also have a look at Car Crafts video on the Shine Mate cordless polishers -
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
|
08-04-2022, 07:34 PM
|
#6 | |||
|
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 317
|
Quote:
The wife has already started to roll her eyes at me for the last week. Whenever she is looking for me I have my phone in the hand and headset on looking at car detailing and polishing videos. I've been studying the process and taking in as much as I can. She says most people dread washing their car yet I can stare at videos of other people washing cars all night long.  She might be right... I think there is something wrong with me Anyway, the kit came with the three types of pads, yellow, blue and red. From what I've seen, a safe way to go (and I know one can deviate from this) is to use S30+ and the red pad for polishing/light swirl removal. Use S20 and the blue pad for medium swirls and scratches or anything the red combo doesnt want to remove. And then S2 and the yellow pad, I'll be very careful off because thats for heavy compounding and will remove even more clearcoat. I know its a complex topic and hard vs soft paint can change things etc. I'll just start with a small section first on my older test car and see how I go. This is exactly why I bought everything now and not later. By the time I get my Mustang I need to be confident and skilled in the detailing world. In terms of the grey pads... are they really that much softer and gentle than the red ones? I see the red ones are supposed to be used for polishing/finishing. I must say I really love the Car Craft Auto Detailing channel. Sandro is so awesome in explaining everything. Just a level headed guy with good reasoning and thought processes. Its a pity I dont live in Melbourne or I would have taken my Mustang to him when it arrived. I wish I knew a skilled person like him here in Perth where I am. |
|||
|
|
|
|
08-04-2022, 07:51 PM
|
#7 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
YouTube is excellent for this sort of thing. I am a visual person, I learn from seeing what others do in both photos and videos. There is however a degree of "noise" and everyone will have a different take on detailing. So take it all in and follow what makes you comfortable. Sandro is good example of that, he has a great way of showing and explaining what he is doing with a reasoned approach. Every car and it's paint is different, so being able to go with the flow and adapt is crucial. You are on the right track with pad and polish selection, trialing a small spot first and accessing what needs to used where/when. As for the grey pads, they are really only needed for use when applying a wax or sealant. Not an essential pad to have as hand application of wax is generally not that hard. However I use my 5 inch machine to apply these products because it's easier to apply a thin, even coating and also as it speeds up the application.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
11-04-2022, 11:09 PM
|
#10 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In Front of a Monitor
Posts: 1,631
|
Speaking of Waxes, i would love to try some of this, but I do not think it is available in the country yet.
They went to town on this one. It has a blend of 10 Waxes including SiO2 and Graphene. 
__________________
2004 Mercury Silver Falcon XR6T - 5 Speed 2017 Platinum White Mustang GT - 6 Speed 2022 Blue Thai-Special for Daily Duties - Auto |
||
|
|
|
|
11-04-2022, 11:29 PM
|
#11 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
|
13-04-2022, 09:23 PM
|
#12 | |||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,625
|
Quote:
Has anyone tried Bowden Own new wax yet? It’s taken them years to develop and it’s certainly not cheap. |
|||
|
|
|
|
19-04-2022, 02:31 PM
|
#13 | ||
|
T3/Sprint8
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,203
|
what a great pic angle and finish DFB.
__________________
Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
20-04-2022, 06:32 AM
|
#14 | ||
|
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2022
Posts: 17
|
Bowdens still best for mine.
It's a personal choice as many are fantastic so can't go too far wrong. ps; I bought my mum their speciality chamois (Big Sucker from memory) - mum's 70 and tells me weekly how much it's fantastic so money well spent |
||
|
|
|
|
23-04-2022, 01:12 AM
|
#15 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,657
|
What do people here use for microfibre cloths?
I like to have a good range when I clean a decent car (or even my 30 year old cheap bmw), but because I was bored at work I thought I'd punish the faded and peeling shockwave ba ute again. I got started but then realised someone had pinched all my towels - had to finish the grinding work* with chux LOL. Seriously, what I did like to have on hand is some general purpose 250GSM for the gritty stuff or interior. something closer to 300gsm for prep, 450gsm for polish buffing and 600gsm for spray on sealants. I work 46 hours a week for minimum wage, don't have time to shop around or pay big bucks. I was going to buy the 250gsm "morgan" brand bunnings cheapies (20 for $10), then sabco 280 gsm for $12/8 pack, then while SCA had a meguires sale get their ~440gsm buffing and ~600/gsm detailing. But can't find stock and don't want to chase sllooooowwww interstate post to WA, or international, or amazon or ebay. * touch up with a cardboard mask at a distance with a holts can. Attack where it's not peeling with a rotary buffer and wool pad with septones harsh compound, fix that resulting mess with a DA and megs ultimate, protect the damned thing with a sealant that stops it fading or peeling. Huge job. But the better rags are for my better BMW that I hope never ends up as bad as the BA. Also yes I'm a working poor, but I'm a car guy - and they need money - but best bang for buck and well researched spending is what they have. I guess if none can help then some others get some ideas at least, in that case outside of bunnings, kmart seem to have half decent ones for old cars at least. Last edited by oldel; 23-04-2022 at 01:17 AM. |
||
|
|
|
|
23-04-2022, 10:47 AM
|
#16 | |||
|
Regular Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 354
|
Quote:
Costco have Kirkland Signature Microfiber Towel 36 Pieces x 2 Pack for 63 bucks, works out around 88 cents each and they are good quality. |
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
23-04-2022, 08:11 PM
|
#17 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
General Purpose - Edgeless 245 All Purpose, $1.95 each or 25 for $43.88 ($1.75ea) https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...rofibre-towel/ https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...towel-25-pack/ Prep Towel - Edgeless 300, $2.95 each or 10 for $26.55 ($2.65ea) https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...tailing-towel/ https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...towel-10-pack/ Polishing and Buffing - Creature Edgeless (These are dual sided so can do both jobs), $4.95 each or 5 for $23.50 ($4.70ea) https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...rofiber-towel/ https://carcareco.com.au/product/the...-towel-5-pack/
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
23-04-2022, 10:31 PM
|
#18 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 1,657
|
Thanks.
Yeah I know if you buy name brands at auto stores you pay a massive mark up. I only bought from them when on sale. But you get what I'm after, different towels for different jobs. In the past I just bought a bulk pack of whatever and the pile gets culled (or ruined) when using a towel for say wheel cleaning, or black trim restore, or very harsh compound etc. Then I end up down to a few of questionable GSM and may end up having to use that for spray sealant.  I want to get a range of grades like you linked, keeping some plush ones for spray sealant wipe off, another grade for buffing off wax or synthetic wax (if I ever use what I have). Then something else for polish, then low grade typical stuff for wheels, interior, black trim restorer etc. Keep them all separate so I don't go swirling the paint after spraying and wiping off a finishing spray sealant. What grades would you suggest for 1) spray sealant (600gsm?), 2) synthetic liquid wax (400+?), 3) fine polish (310?), 4) light compound (such as meguires ultimate) (280?) then just get 250 for the rest (or rags) Last edited by oldel; 23-04-2022 at 10:38 PM. |
||
|
|
|
|
24-04-2022, 10:47 PM
|
#19 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In Front of a Monitor
Posts: 1,631
|
Hey, I saw in Harvey Norman today that they now sell the McCulloch MC1385 Steam Cleaner.
Back when I was looking for a machine it was the one that most of the Detailers in the USA seem to recommend on Youtube. It might be worth checking out to anyone who is looking for such a machine. It is what I would have got back then if it had of been available. Seems to be around the $500.00 mark and are not sure if there are specials off that price to be had. 
__________________
2004 Mercury Silver Falcon XR6T - 5 Speed 2017 Platinum White Mustang GT - 6 Speed 2022 Blue Thai-Special for Daily Duties - Auto |
||
|
|
|
|
24-04-2022, 10:53 PM
|
#20 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
https://detailingshed.com.au/product...41feb0af&_ss=r https://www.detailstore.com.au/produ...45bd3cbc&_ss=r
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
26-04-2022, 10:05 PM
|
#21 | ||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
There are literally thousands of car detailing products on the market. For a variety of reasons including marketing and social media promotion, some are more popular than others.
On the other side of the coin, there's also a variety of products that fly under the radar. Be that from poor promotion, poor brand image or at the expense of newer products and processes. These are a couple of products that I think deserve more attention. You will note there is a heavy focus on Meguiars, owing to the fact they keep adding new products while continuing to make the older ones. P21S Polishing Soap – https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...polishing-soap This is a product that does its job and does it well. P21S is a combination of a soap and polishing abrasive used on a wet surfaces to clean up and add gloss to chrome wheels, chrome bumpers and exhaust tips. You won’t use this very often, but it is a worthy addition to the cabinet.  Meguiars D170 Hyper Dressing – https://www.repco.com.au/en/car-care...032/p/A5576809 D170 is a product that seems so competent yet gets overshadowed by the marketing of other products, both in Megs own range and competitors. This is part of Meguiars Detailer range, but it’s so easy and forgiving to use that anyone can use it and get excellent results. Use for tyres, trim, engine bays, interior plastics and wheel wells.  Meguiars M39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner – https://www.obsessedgarage.com/produ...9&_ss=e&_v=1.0 If you can find some, this is a great product to have on hand. Use M39 when other chemicals won’t do the job. M39 has the ability to deep clean rubber, vinyl and un-painted plastics. Think wax or polish-stained trim or when stripping trim ready for coatings.  NV Onyx – https://www.waxit.com.au/products/nv...y&_ss=e&_v=1.0 This would have to be one of, if not THE best tyre dressing available. Now, of course what you prefer in a tyre dressing finish might be different to mine, but Onyx is adaptable. Apply heavily and don’t knock it back, you will have a shinier look. Apply sparingly and wipe it down and you will have a satin to matte sheen. It smells great, spreads smoothly, doesn’t sling and can removed easily with a scrub.   Meguiars Quick Interior Detailer – https://www.automegastore.com.au/meg...SABEgL_MPD_BwE https://www.automegastore.com.au/meg...detailer-473ml Compared to more heavily marketed interior products like P&S Express or 303 Protectant, Megs QID is a forgotten gem. While this doesn’t have the cleaning ability of Express or the sheen of 303, as a product for regular ‘cleaning’ or ‘dusting’, QID is another Megs item that just does the job without fanfare. Lemon scented, it cleans light contamination off most interior surfaces, including screens, and leaves behind a small amount of protection. Finish is matte in appearance and available in the 3.8 lt Detailer range or in ready to use 473ml bottles.  P&S Paint Gloss – https://detailingshed.com.au/product...bb98f1b7&_ss=r This product tends to get overshadowed by Bead Maker and Dream Maker in the P&S line up. Being an old-fashioned Quick Detailer / Detail Spray, Paint Gloss is a hidden gem in my opinion. I use this as a drying aid and as a spot cleaner to remove bird droppings and it can also be used as a clay lubricant. While these sort of products seem redundant in an era of spray sealants, however I think there is still a need for a Quick Detailer in your arsenal.  Poorboys World Range https://www.waxit.com.au/collections/poorboy-s-world These are a range of American products that have been around for decades now. The labels are plain and very dated, and the brand simply does not market their product much, even in the US. And yet these are a range of products that have a lot of appeal to detailers and hobbyists. The Wheel Sealant is very good and smells nice and Bug Squash was a staple of mine for many years.   Duragloss Range – https://www.carcareproducts.com.au/duragloss.html Another US brand with minimal footprint in Australia. These are well proven products that a lot of US guys swear by, in particular 253 Tyre & Rubber Dressing, 951 Aquawax and 901 Car Wash. 
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
||
|
|
|
|
27-04-2022, 11:43 PM
|
#22 | ||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
I hate doing this as it's so wasteful, but this duo found a new home in the rubbish bin this afternoon.
 I have not used either in a very long time, so in effect, they were wasting space in my cabinet. The Ultimate Compound is a slight variation on M105 Ultra Cut Compound sold under Meguiars Mirror Glaze professional line. UC is said to contain a little more lubrication to make it more forgiving for consumer use. Having said that, whenever I did try to use Ultimate Compound, I always found it a battle to work with. So no great loss.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
||
|
|
|
|
28-04-2022, 03:17 PM
|
#23 | ||
|
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,399
|
I'm sure I asked this question a while back but it's for a different purpose this time.
Waterless wash products. Spray on, wipe off or similar. What's a good user friendly product? Its for a Jayco caravan with fibreglass sides. Gloss finish. Where I park it at home I don't have a hose long enough and it's not really convenient.  Something good value would be preferred over outright quality as its a lot of area and swirl marks etc won't matter. Thanks in advance.
__________________
UA2 TREND 4WD BI TURBO |
||
|
|
|
|
28-04-2022, 09:33 PM
|
#24 | ||
|
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In Front of a Monitor
Posts: 1,631
|
There is one other option.
Some of the pressure washers will work out of a bucket if you set them up correctly. This is assuming you have a power source though. (Although there are battery pressure washers too) I have used this method successfully during water shortages. If you are frugal you can wash a car on one large bucket. For you though you will need to use approx 4 - 6 of them i would guess. 
__________________
2004 Mercury Silver Falcon XR6T - 5 Speed 2017 Platinum White Mustang GT - 6 Speed 2022 Blue Thai-Special for Daily Duties - Auto |
||
|
|
|
|
28-04-2022, 09:42 PM
|
#25 | ||
|
Rob
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Woodcroft S.A.
Posts: 21,399
|
Forgot about that. My karcher will draw from a bucket.
Having said that, the van has a few vents that aren't designed to keep high pressure water out. I think I'll use the other methods first.
__________________
UA2 TREND 4WD BI TURBO |
||
|
|
|
|
30-04-2022, 06:46 PM
|
#26 | ||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Having used a LOT of polishing pads over the last couple of weeks, using this pad washing system made the task that a bit easier.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collections...-washer-system https://detailingshed.com.au/collect...tem-attachment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCA-glSygO8&t=2s These work by squirting water up into the pad, helping to flush out compound residue.      Full review here - https://www.fordforums.com.au/showpo...postcount=1741
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten Last edited by DFB FGXR6; 30-04-2022 at 07:05 PM. |
||
|
|
|
|
01-05-2022, 05:49 PM
|
#27 | ||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
I came across this video on Auto Geek the other day.
I don't normally watch Apex Detail videos, but after the content was posted on AG, and the controversy it created among the members, I felt like I had to see what the fuss was about. Yvan Lacroix is an American detailing figurehead who has worked for some key detail chemical companies. He is very dedicated to water-less and rinse-less washing. However, I simply can not get on board the concept of washing a car, a black one at that, with a brush. That go's against all of the accepted best practices for safe car cleaning.
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
||
|
|
|
|
01-05-2022, 06:11 PM
|
#28 | |||
|
Former BTIKD
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sunny Downtown Wagga Wagga. NSW.
Posts: 53,197
|
Quote:
__________________
Dying at your job is natures way of saying that you're in the wrong line of work.
|
|||
|
|
|
| This user likes this post: |
|
07-05-2022, 09:41 PM
|
#29 | ||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,654
|
So, i've been hunting for a set of FG G6E Turbo 19" wheels for 5 months. They needed to be in ok condition and come with good tyres. I found a set for $600 needing tyres and refirb and bought them. Then 4 days later a set of 50th Anniversary ones with new tyres came up for $1800. So I sold the original set for $1000 and scored myself a set of 50ths for $1400 (these generally sell for over $2000, my budget was $2250 for a good set).
I wasn't expecting them to be good but when I got them they were in much better condition than I expected, but the faces had a heap of scratches on the polished alloy. So I hit them with The Last Cut and an aggresive pad. Stoked with how they came up compared to how they were originally. TLC is such a good compund, I haven't used it for a while. I'll put some Nova Lustre on them in the morning and put them on the car. I just bought a 2009 335i convertable to flip, so i think TLC will be used for that one as a bit of an experiment as the paint on it is heavily swirled and scratched.  This photo shows the scratches  Same spot after a quick pass, I spent maybe 10 seconds on each pass.  
__________________
Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made |
||
|
|
|
|
07-05-2022, 10:24 PM
|
#30 | |||
|
Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,049
|
Quote:
__________________
PX MK II Ranger FG XR6 FG X XR8 Mustang GT T3 TS50 - gone but not forgotten |
|||
|
|
|
Re: Car Detailing - What products are your go to?
Hybrid Mode