Detailing Products Poll:

[artguy]

I know I would find this info useful and thought others might too. :)

What Brands of Detailing Products do you like to use and why?

[bmwrp8]

I know I would find this info useful and thought others might too. :)

What Brands of Detailing Products do you like to use and why?

I use mothers...why? i guess I just got used to it:D

[Morgenster]

Just bought the perfect shine kit from Sonus. Still need to go all the way with it. I'll let you know as soon as I do.

[RallyD]

meguiars. I get it by the gallon.
sonus clay

[Chowchilla Skunkwerks]

P21S. Great shine. No white residue. Touch up with Mothers Spray detailer.
Note: not a 'cleaner' wax.
Rob

[CharlesAFerg]

I'm a private auto detailier, and the list of products is so vast and so subjective, it's hard to list - but I'll put up some of my favorites and why I feel that way...

Favorite tools
Porter Cable 7424 Random Orbital (serves me well, but the main front collar is getting jiggle and wants to fall off... Warranty plz? X-o!!! )
Metabo PE12-175 Rotary/Circular

Favorite compounds & polishes, pads used (Why? Because they're water based and use no silicone - finest polishes around in my opinion, they're just harder to use)
Menzerna Powergloss POS34A w/ purple LC foamed wool
Menzerna Super Intensive PO83Q w/Orange CCS 7.5" foam
Menzerna Nano PO106FF w/White CCS 7.5" foam

Finishing, sealing and waxing
Menzerna natural glaze (silicone free, caolin clay fillers, natural paint feeding oils- wonderful product) w/7.5" gray CCS foam- followed by klasse sealant w/7.5" Blue CCS foam Often topped with P21s beeswax/carnauba, always by hand
Also, I will individually apply products after glaze, because some don't react to layering except for those within their own system, such as...
various Zaino polymer sealant products, layered or;
various Zymol waxes - I usually use this on black cars with rock chips because everything else shows white residue, so I'll use Zymol carbon wax.
Oh, and Rejex is kind of cool too, if someone wants something done really fast and simple and doesn't have $$ for a full detail.

Various other favorites
Either Lexol clean/conditioner or Zymol cleaner/'creme' conditioner
E1 einszett "gummipfledge" for treating rubber/foam rubber seals
Grow Super-Klean for tar/sap/insect removal
Forever Black for re-dyeing rubber
Stoner's invisible glass
Rain-x, of course
Vinylex interior treatment
303 aerospace for various exterior plastics
Oh, and I almost always use synthetic speed detailer for cleaning out door jams, that's about it. I don't recommend using any 'speed detailer' products on your exterior paint, you'll end up marring it.

[xspeedy]

Soap - Meguiars Gold Class (found at Target)
Clay - Clay Magic (found at Autozone for $10)
Polish - Menzerna PO106FF and IP (online)
Wax - Zaino (online). I hear that Meguiars NXT Tech Wax is good for OTC
Windows - Stoners Invisible Glass (found almost everywhere)
Plastics/Rubber - Aerospace 303 (online)
Carpet - Folex (found at HEB here in Austin, TX)
Engine - Simple Green with a parts cleaning brush

[CharlesAFerg]

Soap - Meguiars Gold Class (found at Target)
Clay - Clay Magic (found at Autozone for $10)
Polish - Menzerna PO106FF and IP (online)
Wax - Zaino (online). I hear that Meguiars NXT Tech Wax is good for OTC
Windows - Stoners Invisible Glass (found almost everywhere)
Plastics/Rubber - Aerospace 303 (online)
Carpet - Folex (found at HEB here in Austin, TX)
Engine - Simple Green with a parts cleaning brush

For removing the varnish on my M20 aluminum, I used carb cleaner and a steel brush.
Also, I used varying grades of sandpaper and then aluminum polish the make the "===BMW===" on the engine shine all purdy ;-)

[JerseySi]

I use pretty much all Autoglym products, apart from black trims, where it's Son Of A Gun f.t.w.
Saying that, I've been known to use whatever's handy to get the job done! (Example: Brasso as a paint renovator - not as abrasive as most, and great for removing tarnishing! :)

[CharlesAFerg]

I use pretty much all Autoglym products, apart from black trims, where it's Son Of A Gun f.t.w.
Saying that, I've been known to use whatever's handy to get the job done! (Example: Brasso as a paint renovator - not as abrasive as most, and great for removing tarnishing! :)

lol, brasso on paint?
I don't know the composition of that stuff, but i can't imagine it's good for the paint.. I don't want to know what's left on your paint from that stuff... It's okay, you've got white paint. Easy.

[BigKriss]

thanks mate, great list.


I'm a private auto detailier, and the list of products is so vast and so subjective, it's hard to list - but I'll put up some of my favorites and why I feel that way...

Favorite tools
Porter Cable 7424 Random Orbital (serves me well, but the main front collar is getting jiggle and wants to fall off... Warranty plz? X-o!!! )
Metabo PE12-175 Rotary/Circular

Favorite compounds & polishes, pads used (Why? Because they're water based and use no silicone - finest polishes around in my opinion, they're just harder to use)
Menzerna Powergloss POS34A w/ purple LC foamed wool
Menzerna Super Intensive PO83Q w/Orange CCS 7.5" foam
Menzerna Nano PO106FF w/White CCS 7.5" foam

Finishing, sealing and waxing
Menzerna natural glaze (silicone free, caolin clay fillers, natural paint feeding oils- wonderful product) w/7.5" gray CCS foam- followed by klasse sealant w/7.5" Blue CCS foam Often topped with P21s beeswax/carnauba, always by hand
Also, I will individually apply products after glaze, because some don't react to layering except for those within their own system, such as...
various Zaino polymer sealant products, layered or;
various Zymol waxes - I usually use this on black cars with rock chips because everything else shows white residue, so I'll use Zymol carbon wax.
Oh, and Rejex is kind of cool too, if someone wants something done really fast and simple and doesn't have $$ for a full detail.

Various other favorites
Either Lexol clean/conditioner or Zymol cleaner/'creme' conditioner
E1 einszett "gummipfledge" for treating rubber/foam rubber seals
Grow Super-Klean for tar/sap/insect removal
Forever Black for re-dyeing rubber
Stoner's invisible glass
Rain-x, of course
Vinylex interior treatment
303 aerospace for various exterior plastics
Oh, and I almost always use synthetic speed detailer for cleaning out door jams, that's about it. I don't recommend using any 'speed detailer' products on your exterior paint, you'll end up marring it.

[CharlesAFerg]

thanks mate, great list.

No problem!
I use this stuff at least twice a week, usually three, so I'm definitely confident in those products to get the job done right.
I appreciate the comment. :)

You guys can check out my detailing service myspace page under my sig pic. Not much on there in terms of pictures, but I'm working on that. I just never bring a camera, and it's always dark when I'm done anyways.

Link to my personal page is down there on the bottom of my detail myspace page if you're bored.

[Robert K]

At least once a year, I polish each of my three cars, which may include the use of a clay bar if the paint surface feels a bit rough. Once the polishing is done (I use Meguiars Deep Crystal Polish), it's time to wax. In the past, I used One Grand Blitz wax, which was a carnuba wax. It was a very nice product...easy on, easy off, great shine, smooth surface. But while using the clay bar one day, I noticed it had a lot of carnuba buildup on it. Seems the carnuba wax had been building up on the surface of the paint.

I kept reading about Zaino Bros. products and how great they were, so I finally decided to purchase a few products to try out. I ended up getting two products, one being their standard wax (it's really a polymer) and the other being an activator to help adhere the polymer to the paint. I've been using the products about a year now and am very impressed. The shine is great, but the best thing is the longevity of the protection. Their website says it lasts at least six months and I tend to agree. I'm always impressed with the way the paint on our cars bead water, even thought I last applied the stuff 3-4 months ago. If you want more info, try typing "Zaino wax" into Google.

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i

[JerseySi]

lol, brasso on paint?
I don't know the composition of that stuff, but i can't imagine it's good for the paint.. I don't want to know what's left on your paint from that stuff... It's okay, you've got white paint. Easy.
:D
Seriously - it removes a lot of crap from the paint without being anywhere near as abraisive as t-cut etc..
Doesn't really leave any residue (unless you're lazy at taking it off), but obviously requires polish etc over the top, same as you would with other products.

A mate's Escort van, bought recently.. Has lived in direct sunlight for the last couple of years with no attention. Sure a polisher is easier than doing by hand, but you have to deal with what you have eh!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/2007-06-17024.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/2007-06-19007.jpg
^^ Those pics taken after using brasso, no further cleaning & polishing at that stage

[CharlesAFerg]

:D
^^ Those pics taken after using brasso, no further cleaning & polishing at that stage

I've been reading up on Brasso, and it contains mild abrasives and solvents. I'm curious what kind of solvents they are. ALso, the abrasives must be extremely fine if they're used on something as reflective as brass or other metals. I'd be scared out of my wits of those solvents though...

My favorite fine polish is what I stated earlier, po106FF Nano from Menzerna. To comnpare you can't really take pictures though. I'm sure brasso makes a wreck look wonderful, but there is no way it comes to the finishes i can get with some modern compounds and polishes meant for ceramic clearcoats.
I don't doubt at all brassos ability though, seems like I will try using it on glass pretty soon. Maybe it will be a revelation in waterspot removal. My current glass stripper just doesn't hack it. I'm looking to buy some diamond polish as well, that will work wonders, but I think I will have to follow it with some seriously fine polishes and patience after that..

PS - that doesn't look like oxidation, looks like residue of some kind... i can see the trails near the polish point edges.

[JerseySi]

My thoughts exactly when I first tried Brasso - it has to be pretty mild so it doesn't scratch soft metals - tried it and it worked a treat!
I'm not so sure I'd use it on expensive motors (and I do valet a couple) - but then the expensive stuff doesn't usually require much more than a good clean-up.
Having said that - it works a treat on wheels! lol

Definately oxidisation on the Escort van btw - but it's had a couple of coats of paint in it's life too - ex post office van, so they'd not be spending too much money or time on the paint!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/RoverDog/2007-06-17018.jpg

[J.DeFeo]

I use 3M Rubbing Compound/Swirl Remover/Hand Glaze and Zaino polish. The results speak for themselves I think:

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438095_8313fbb.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438095_8313fbb.jpg)

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg)

[Morgenster]

I use 3M Rubbing Compound/Swirl Remover/Hand Glaze and Zaino polish. The results speak for themselves I think:

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438095_8313fbb.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438095_8313fbb.jpg)

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg)

I want more pictures. Is your car black or diamantschwartz?

[J.DeFeo]

I want more pictures. Is your car black or diamantschwartz?

It's black:

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438096_8550553.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438096_8550553.jpg)

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438098_9040f1e.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438098_9040f1e.jpg)

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438101_97181d5.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438101_97181d5.jpg)

[artguy]

Can we say MIRROR! holy cow!

http://content.imagesocket.com/images/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg (http://imagesocket.com/view/n29102718_30438102_9951800.jpg)

[EricB]

That looks amazing...

[liquidtiger720]

Klasse
Poorboys
3m Finesse it 2
Pinnicle
Wolfgang
Meguiars
Mothers
Porter Cable
Lake Country
Edge

[Rory535i]

I'm not telling you what i use :P

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1446.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/HPIM1482.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/Untitled-1copy.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/HPIM1481.jpg

[Rory535i]

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1466.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1462.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1464.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1470.jpg

[Rory535i]

the roof

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1473.jpg

[artguy]

that's so cool it's sick!


the roof

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Rory535i/IMG_1473.jpg

[bmwrp8]

holy siiiyett dude! your car is shiiinnneyy:D