Detailing chat

edburg · 29-10-2016 12:22PM

Arbo94 wrote: »

Right so the Universal Pad Washer, I'm not going at this with any sort of structure and have never really reviewed anything before so it might be sh**e.

The actual unit itself is comprised of a 6 gallon (I think) bucket with a gamma seal lid, grit guard, interior mechanism and a lid with a hole. It is priced at €129 from dnddetailing and in my opinion is only worth it if you polish a car every month or so and you hate cleaning pads by hand.

I tested it out on my white hexlogic pads with some Meguiars APC diluted quite strong at 1:4. I filled the bucket with luke warm water just above the grit guard while the springs were pressed down and gave the pads a liberal spray of APC (about 10 sprays). Firstly the thing is messy!! maybe I was doing something wrong but from the videos I watched on how to do it I couldn't see anything I was doing differently.

Other than that my only concern would be the spring sitting in water may cause them to have a short(ish) life although I'm no expert on this, anyway to the photos:

Before:

After 30 seconds:

Also tried it on my rupes mini pads for the same time

Before:

After 30 seconds:

Overall I'm very happy with the results especially within the time. The pads were quite dry after i used the specific drying part of the pad washer (I would say dry enough to use straight away) and definitely the cleanest they have been in a long time.

Any questions anyone has about it, or if anyone is going to make their own and needs to see the mechanism inside don't hesitate to give me a shout.

Come up really well better than I thought they do.

edburg · 29-10-2016 12:26PM

etxp wrote: »

Hi All,

I dont get to wash my car as often as i would like, partly down to me being lazy. So when i do wash it there is often a build of traffic film/general dirt from driving. Can someone recommend a good traffic film remover or method to get rid of the bulk of the dirt before washing it with a microfiber mitt. I use the two bucket method. and have a K2 Karcher power washer but its not powerful enough to take off a significant amount of the dirt before washing.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

I use have a k2 as my back since I bought newer one, usually removes the worst of grime.

Maybe look into snow foam or citrus spray pre wash to use after an initial rinse and rinse again afterwards.

Or if your of a risky character go look for some LSD/speed to give you bit of pep to move your arse on those lazy day's :pac: :pac:

DuckSlice · 29-10-2016 05:35PM

edburg wrote: »

I use have a k2 as my back since I bought newer one, usually removes the worst of grime.

Maybe look into snow foam or citrus spray pre wash to use after an initial rinse and rinse again afterwards.

Or if your of a risky character go look for some LSD/speed to give you bit of pep to move your arse on those lazy day's :pac: :pac:

The K2 is better than i gave it credit for i suppose. Can you recommend a good snow foam to use with the K2?

Any good websites for the speed? :P

Hal1 · 29-10-2016 06:54PM

The autobrite hd foam lance used by myself and many others here. Similar one to the autobrite one: http://www.detailingshed.com/shampoo-snowfoam/186-snow-foam-lance.html?search_query=lance&results=17

edburg · 29-10-2016 09:40PM

What that man said ^^

Arbo94 · 29-10-2016 09:45PM

edburg wrote: »

Come up really well better than I thought they do.

Yeah I was genuinely surprised too! Didn't think they would be that good after 30 seconds

Arbo94 · 31-10-2016 09:57AM

Just wanted to show the water behaviour of freshly polished paint, I noticed it as I was prepping a car for polishing. I had done two test spots a week previous and thought the beading was cool :-)

Water behaviour on non polished surface:

Water behaviour on test spot:

Curran · 31-10-2016 10:00AM

Had you wiped down the area after polishing, with an inspection spray?

Arbo94 · 31-10-2016 10:01AM

Curran wrote: »

Had you wiped down the area after polishing, with an inspection spray?

Nope which I believe is why it beads like that, it's the polishing oils right?

Curran · 31-10-2016 10:11AM

In this case, yes!

But, if you were to wipe down the area, you can also see an improved water behaviour, due to the surface being much smoother.

DuckSlice · 31-10-2016 04:08PM

Curran wrote: »

In this case, yes!

But, if you were to wipe down the area, you can also see an improved water behaviour, due to the surface being much smoother.

Everyday is a lesson on this forum! Learning a lot!

padyjoe · 01-11-2016 01:20PM

Lads! I wonder how often needs the car to be washed down? I mean I did a big detailing a week ago (wash, de-tar, de-iron, clay, quick spray) and don't want to go overkill either and besides washing too many times is bad for the paint. Could be shampoo wash every month and detail every 3 months? I do around 300-500 kms on main roads every fortnight, it'll be less in the winter.

Curran · 01-11-2016 01:27PM

padyjoe wrote: »

.... and besides washing too many times is bad for the paint.

No, you can wash the car as often as you like.
Washing the car too many times, with poor products (sponge and chamois for example) and bad wash techniques....is bad for the paint!!

Washing your car more often, only increases the potential to damage your paintwork - yes, a certain amount of damage (if you can call light swirls damage) is inevitable, as no technique will every limit damage 100%, but to call it bad for the paint, wouldnt be the right thing to call it!

Wash it as often or as little as you like, assuming the paintwork has enough protection to get you wash to wash.
So for example; if you have a sealant on it thats good for 6 months, you could wash it once or 20 times in that time. If you've only applied a Quick Detailer, that will last 2 weeks, then you'd want to be washing it sooner and re-applying the Quick Detailer.

edburg · 01-11-2016 01:57PM

The way products are these days a 'full on detail'* should only be needed once/maybe twice a year imo.

Rest of time a proper 2/3 bucket wash method be the job, with perhaps a bit more effort on wheels once a month.

*not including polishing business

shietpilot · 02-11-2016 12:22PM

edburg wrote: »

The way products are these days a 'full on detail'* should only be needed once/maybe twice a year imo.

Rest of time a proper 2/3 bucket wash method be the job, with perhaps a bit more effort on wheels once a month.

*not including polishing business

That's true. After sealing the car I wash it every 1 or 2 weeks and it comes back to just a good shine as after sealing.

Obviously the wax will die down but doing a full detail twice a year seems enough.

Curran · 02-11-2016 02:55PM

A simple two bucket wash every 2nd week (minimum) will bring the car back to how it was when the last big job was done...over time, the signs of protection will fade away, but in reality it will still be there for another while.

Wax - usually go for 3-4 months
Sealants - usually good for 4-6 months
Nano / Ceramic Sealants - 12 months plus

Usually its advised to do some decontamination at least every 6 months.
- if you had wax on your car, then you'd need to top it up after 3 months, and then 3 months later, you'd do a full de-tar, de-iron, clay, and re-apply a fresh coating
- if you had a sealant, you do a de-tar, de-iron, clay, every 6 months and re-apply a fresh coating
- if you had a nano sealant, depending if it can take it, you could de-tar, de-iron and top it up with the maintenance product

It very much depends on what you've applied, the time you have, etc, but wash as many times as desired and keep the bigger jobs to every few months or so.
Of course there are so many different products to help you bridge the gaps - if you had a wax on the car, and didnt have time for another few weeks to top it up or do your bigger detail, you could get by with some of the durable quick detailer type products, that will keep you going from wash to wash.

ianobrien · 03-11-2016 02:57PM

I mostly just do a usual 2BM wash and dry to bring the car back to its gleaming self. If it's very dirty, a snowfoam prewash would be done.

The cars get a full decontamination, detarring, claying and waxing about three times a year, with the usual wash in between. The motorhomes get that about twice a year (spring and autumn) as it takes so bloody long to do. I usually see how well the dirt clings to the car before deciding if a new coat of sealent/wax is needed.

As an aside, I now only really post here if I do some Detailing, not the usual wash and dry

MetzgerMeister · 03-11-2016 03:50PM

Ian with all the machines you have to look after and whatwith the motorhomes being so time consuming, you might find a huge ease by applying something like Gtechniq Crystal serum and EXO to one of them, possibly the car.

Curran · 03-11-2016 04:18PM

LOL you are such a fanboi!!

MetzgerMeister · 03-11-2016 05:48PM

Curran wrote: »

LOL you are such a fanboi!!

I did say "something like" didn't I?!

Anyway I know how well it works hence why I suggested it!

ianobrien · 03-11-2016 06:48PM

MM, don't worry, I've pestered Curran already for a CarPro solution a while back. When the Collinite is gone (if I ever manage to finish the bottle), I'm going for that type of solution. My problem is that some of the motorhome finishes don't take too well to some products (bitter experience!) and the prep still has to be done before application.

I will say though, thank God or what ever deity you regard as holy, for the Clay Cloth.

Edit. I must say that the Collinite does make it very quick to wash the motorhomes. The usual black streaks (from water running off the roof) that plague them just lift off with a gentle rub. If I hadn't the Collinite on, they are a ba$tard to shift. So, it does save time in the long run......

ianobrien · 06-11-2016 02:02PM

Was doing some cleaning today and realised I had to dry the motorhome after I put away the ladders. I had a brainwave, using clothes pegs to hold the Dry-me-Crazy onto a mophead. You know, it worked surprisingly well and was a whole lot easier than dragging back out the stepladders, crates, etc.

Arbo94 · 06-11-2016 03:18PM

Went to use citrus wash and gloss today and found that it curdles when it put it in the foam cannon. I'm assuming this is something to do with the wax in it? I gave it a really good shake as it had been a while since I used it but i didn't want to use it incase it messed up the cannon. Any ideas as to what it actually is or has anyone came across it before?

Arbo94 · 06-11-2016 03:18PM

Went to use citrus wash and gloss today and found that it curdles when it put it in the foam cannon. I'm assuming this is something to do with the wax in it? I gave it a really good shake as it had been a while since I used it but i didn't want to use it incase it messed up the cannon. Any ideas as to what it actually is or has anyone came across it before?

shietpilot · 08-11-2016 12:22PM

Curran, can you recommend polishing compounds for orange, green and black hex logic pads?

Curran · 08-11-2016 12:33PM

CarPro Fixer and Reflect
Use Fixer for any polishing you need to do; so change the amount of cutting ability you require, by changing the pad.
Use Reflect on a finishing pad to perfect the finish.
No confusing options, just two polishes.

There's also the option of the V-Line polishes from Chemical Guys
V32, V34, V36, V38.....I find the V32 a little dry, but like the V38 as it can be worked for quite a long time, so finishes down nicely.

shietpilot · 08-11-2016 03:22PM

Curran wrote: »

CarPro Fixer and Reflect
Use Fixer for any polishing you need to do; so change the amount of cutting ability you require, by changing the pad.
Use Reflect on a finishing pad to perfect the finish.
No confusing options, just two polishes.

There's also the option of the V-Line polishes from Chemical Guys
V32, V34, V36, V38.....I find the V32 a little dry, but like the V38 as it can be worked for quite a long time, so finishes down nicely.

Thank you, I'll place an order soon hopefully

09-11-2016 02:52PM

Any one wiping down with IPA before wax?

Curran · 09-11-2016 03:13PM

IPA or similar product. Helps ensure a good bond for the product being applied. Could also use a paint cleanser product.

SCOOP 64 · 09-11-2016 08:21PM

Just brought the Microfiber Madness Dry Me Crazy , havent had chance to use it yet,
hope its as good as reviews, theres no way i would tell my wife i just spent €26 on a towel to dry the car !

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