Ask the Detailer

They literally are now. They’ve been on Walmart shelves for a bout a year now. They do have a couple of really good products though. Honeydew Snow Foam is really good, and they have some good affordable towels. The biggest issue is the price, and way too many products that do the same thing. They have one of their Detail Garages here, and I swear 25% of their space is devoted to car scents.

That sucks! Was it specifically stolen, or did it get taken as part of an overall theft? Just kind of a weird thing to steal unless you were robbing the place already.
If you can afford it, the Rupes is still the top dog. I don’t own one, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard someone say they weren’t the best.

 

I actually use the Honey Dew with a foam canon so I can agree with that. Hawaii just opened up a detail garage and its funny you say that about scents. I literally told my roommate they have an isle for scents and tire shines hahah.

As for the theft they took my entire tool box with all my tools and in the bottom cabinet was my Big Foot, lighting, microfibers, and all my pads. Then next to that was my detail cart which was taken as well. Oh and lets not forget about the microwave too. I was like really my microwave haha. Insurance really took care of me and gave me an almost $8k check so I have been slowly rebuilding as I needed. Still sucked as any guy prob knows you don't just buy tool you gradually build a nice collection of needs and I had a nice one to my needs. But I just tell myself hopefully this person REALLY needed this stuff and was in a bad place and maybe because of my loss he/she was able to get a job working on or detailing cars and now is doing well. This helps me justify haha

 

adam's eco wheel cleaner and then regular wheel cleaner when i need little bit more oomph in getting crap out of the crevices.

 

I’m a little more cynical I guess. I’m pretty sure your stuff went straight to a pawn shop.

I get you on the tool collection though. You build stuff up over years, and have pride in a collection. Sure insurance gives you a check, but not many guys are going to be able to remember every single thing they had. Especially specialized stuff you don’t use often. A couple of years from now you’ll have a situation come up, go to get a certain tool, and that’s when you remember it.

Another issue with it is some stuff either is no longer available, or the new ones aren’t as good. Specifically, I have a big ass Craftsman socket set that I got in the mid-nineties, back when their tools were still decent quality. Craftsman tools are total garbage now, so you can’t get what you had.

I actually have a ratchet that needs replacing now. I could go to Sears and swap it out, but it’s not going to be equal anymore. Common sense would say that since the one I have doesn’t work now, I’m still better off with a new one. From what I hear, if you take one of the old ones to trade out, the employees will put your broken one aside and keep it for themselves. There’s apparently a market for them to be rebuilt and resold.
I’d rather keep the busted one than let those guys have it. Sounds dumb, but I’m pretty petty.

 

I haven’t tried this yet, but I’m hearing good things about it. Good price.

https://www.theragcompany.com/p-s-brake-buster-acid-free-foaming-wheel-cleaner/

 

YES agh Craftsman is now made in China and total junk. Also I am sure you are right most made it to a pawn shop as they prob had no idea what most of it was for haha.

I use Sonax wheel cleaner. Its strong, acid free, and PH balanced so if you have your wheels coated it wont strip them. But boy does it STINK. Price is iffy a little on the upper side I just buy in bulk

 

I'm with Jason and pretty much the cynic. But, as much as I hate thieves, I find your attitude about the whole ordeal refreshing. Good on you

 

Hi. All you Car Pro Hydr02 fans. How much concentrate are you using each time you use it on your truck? I'm waffling between the 100ml and 500ml bottle.

 

What car pro products do you recommend detail image is running a 20% off sale.

 

Very little. I haven’t kept a running tally, but I dilute it 1:6 in a 32 ounce bottle. I can say I’ve very rarely had to refill that bottle. According to my Amazon history, the last bottle I bought was in March of 2018. I’m pretty sure there’s still most of it in there.

Even diluted, you don’t need to use much.

 

Reset is the best soap on the market in my opinion.

Hydro2 is a great and easy sealant. Also works great with Beadmaker.

Reload is outstanding. My favorite sealant until Beadmaker came along. (Beadmaker has better effects, but has to be reapplied pretty often. Reload lasts several months.)

Ech20 is a great rinseless wash. Similar to ONR, but produces more gloss. A little harder to use than ONR though.

You can mix Ech20 and Reload to make a better detail spray than you can buy.

IronX if you want to decontaminate your paint.

Is the Microfiber Madness Incredipole included in the sale? It’s expensive, but great.

Carpro’s wool wash mitt is the best I’ve used.

CQuartz if you want to try a ceramic.


I probably forgot a few, but you really can’t go wrong with Carpro. I’ve never been disappointed by one of their products.

 

Finally tried PERL....very impressed

 

Well, I placed two orders yesterday.
First with Free Shipping - Beadmaker 1 gallon, Griots Speed shine, and Wheel brushes
Second was Car Pro - Hydr02 100ml, Iron X, and Inside

I want to thank yinz for helping me spend my money.....

 

Good stuff. I got away from it after trying waxaddict. I need to start using it again. What did you use it on?

 

All great stuff. You’re going to be happy.

 

Used it full strength on my wife's tires, just to see how it would do from a longevity standpoint. So far, it's holding up well after three weeks....tires bead water and have a nice satin black look to them. I'm doing a test with it, again at full strength, against McKees Trim Restorer and Wolfgang Exterior Trim Seal on my bed rail caps. I do not expect it to outlast either of those two products, but it's so economical I'll trade a little performance for value.

I'm going to dilute some as soon as I get some bottles to put the dilutions in.

 

It's what I do best

 

I have it diluted for use on interior. It works very well.

 

Anyone have a link for 2 bucket kits? Is $34 normal for 5gal bucket with grit?

 

One bucket and one grit guard? Yeah, that’s expensive. Which one are you looking at?

 

I was looking at autogeeks

 

Do you need the lid? I have one of these, but also a couple of cheap buckets from Lowe’s.

Chemical Guys Acc_103 Heavy Duty Detailing Bucket Logo (4.5 Gal)

$10 Chemical Guys ACC_103 Heavy Duty Detailing Car Wash Bucket with Chemical Guys Logo, 4.5 Gal , Semi Transparent White

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OA66IGK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_k-qWCb3A8DXJ0

A grit guard can be had for under ten bucks. Buckets at Lowe’s are I think $3.00. If you need a lid you can probably get one cheap.

 

Thanks guess I don’t really need the lid! Was trying to find something to order from autogeeks since they are having 25% off right now.

 

Oh don’t you worry. I can find you something.

 

Just get the grit guards and buy buckets from HD or lowes.

 

Wheel woolies are pretty awesome.

 

Awesome. Now I can tell all my friends I have a bucket guy.

 

Ech2o wipe down, then quick coat of beadmaker. Truck wasn't too dirty but the wheels and tires were so clean and shiny from the optimum coatings I had to try to shine the paint a little. She's still in desperate need of a full detail.

 

You have anything you put on your tonneau cover? I still haven’t found anything that will last on mine.