Ask the Detailer

not yet. Would that be to see if the smell is coming from ac or just the vents?

 

Which Autofiber Saver Applicators?

Which Autofiber Saver Applicators are you using? There are several on the website: Mini, thin and thick

Also, what microfiber towels to buff the excess product off after 7-10 min. Am assuming these microfibers are then thrown out after absorbing the excess.

 

I personally used these listed below when doing my coating. not the same one as undrdog ( used carpro cquartz uk 3.0), but i'd think it would apply the same. they are cheaper than microfibers, slightly larger than most, and i thought they did great. the experts will chime in probably and agree or disagree with me soon enough.\

 

Autofiber [Saver Applicator Terry] Ceramic Coating Applicator Sponge | 12 Pack | with Plastic Barrier to Reduce Product Waste. (Blue/Gray, Mini)

$26 Autofiber [Saver Applicator Terry] Ceramic Coating Applicator Sponge | 12 Pack | with Plastic Barrier to Reduce Product Waste. (Blue/Gray, Mini)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H4SNLPF

These or the regular ones are what I use. I switched to minis as they're easier on contour surfaces.

Polyte Microfiber Cleaning Towel Ultrasonic Cut Edgeless (16x16, 24 Pack, Premium, Blue,Green,Yellow)

$26 Polyte Microfiber Cleaning Towel Ultrasonic Cut Edgeless (16x16, 24 Pack, Premium, Blue,Green,Yellow)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GX7GLGQ

Use these towels for the preliminary buff. Then switch to a Plush autofiber 400+ GSM microfiber for the final wipe. The Amazon ones I toss. The final wipe towels absorb so little product that I immediately wash and can reuse.

 

got it, I’ll try that. Thank you

 

My 2 cents. Avoid anything with edges regardless. I don't care what a company says...edges will scratch your paint. The polytes I posted above are cost effective, edgeless, and 300-349GSM. You can't beat those towels for price and effectiveness. Thick knap one side and thin the other, perfect for paint correction, coating, sealants, etc. $1.08 a unit, cant beat it. Get 5-10 cars out of it...toss it. The only time I'll spend money on towels is the final wipe towel and drying towels. Everything else gets Polyte.

 

I just use a tooth pick.

 

That’s a poor man’s foam gun.

 

Any tips on removing “haze” from the interior of a windshield?

 

I'm trying to decide between m205 and 3D One. I think they will both suit my needs. Does anyone have a strong preference of one over the other?

 

Any ammonia free glass cleaner works. The trick is a glass dedicated microfiber towel for the final wipe.

3D One has decent cut and good finish. M205 is little cut and a better finish. Depends how scratched it is and what you're trying to remove. Also by hand or machine?

 

Using a DA. Thank you. That distinction helps. Paints in pretty good shape, plus it's Cement, plus she's not a show truck. But it's got a few light swirls and could stand a touch up. I'd like to tackle the ceramic job after reading through this thread, but I figure starting with a good light correction will help me figure how much work is in front of me.

 

I mix some isoproply alcohol and distilled water, works great. Maybe 1/4 ipa and the rest water.

 

Going to be picking up my black tundra in a few day. Besides the ceramic coating, what are some materials and products I can use to keep it as swirl-free as possible?

 

Hermetically sealed storage is best for black vehicles.

 

research wash techniques! the quality and quantity of products passed over your paint will make the difference. better wash products will lift and release the dirt from the paint. the less times you pass over it, the better for the paint. 2 bucket wash at a minimum in my opinion. if i had black, i'd probably look into the Garry Dean Method of washing.

 

Then switch to another hose without soap in it to rinse I guess?

 

Andy is correct here. It’s the method I use. No towel surface touches the paint twice.
That said, there’s nothing you can do to prevent swirls showing on black. I promise nobody is more careful than I have been in the five years of owning a black Tundra, and it still has swirl marks. You just have to do the best you can and accept that it’s going to have to be corrected every few years.

 

This 100%.

 

I need to try that. I swear I could detail all my glass and the next morning when the sun hits right, I can see a haze on the inside of my windshield. I don’t know if I just suck at cleaning glass, if it’s all the plastics off gassing, or something else. But it’s driving me absolutely nuts.

 

What is your current process? It’s critical to know the towel/microfiber used along with how it was cleaned. What product are you using?

 

Thanks again! Got after it today. I was surprised how little working time I had with the m205. Ended up missing a spot in the first panel I did, ill have to back and get it anothrr day but it did great with all the other little imperfections.