Ask the Detailer

If you do wash your vehicle then you have to leave your doors open so they don’t freeze shut or blow dry the hinges. Once it drys then you can work the doors?? Do not like the Tundra up North in Winter months!! LOL

 

Haha I’m the opposite. It’s this time of year when it’s difficult to get any detailing done. The heat makes it pretty tough to get soap, wax, sealant, etc. handled before it dries on. I have a towel in one hand, and the pressure washer in the other, trying to rinse it asap. Before I had a spotless system, it was pretty much impossible to do without leaving spots.
I have to either start very early, or just before dark to avoid these issues. On top of that, since I’m in such a rush, my likelihood of introducing scratches goes way up. I spent all that time polishing a couple of panels last week, and screwed them back up the other day because I was in a hurry.
My only safe option right now is doing rinseless washes with ONR or Ech20.

 

Yeah, getting a black truck was the reason I got into detailing to begin with. Before then, I’d just used automatic washes, or paid to have it done. Like @Pudge said, @SouthBoundSteve and @driverdog really opened my eyes to how rewarding it is to care for my vehicles properly. Luckily I do enjoy it.

And yeah, Black is definitely a demanding color. I read somewhere the other day where someone said “black isn’t a color, it’s a part time job”. That’s the truth. Our other vehicles are red, grey, and white, and it takes maybe a tenth of the effort to take care of them. I love my truck, but I seriously doubt I’ll ever get another black one. My wife almost got black on her new Sequoia. I’d have probably needed to retire from my job if she had.

 

Early in the mornings and late in the evenings.

 

Yeah, that’s what I’ve been doing. I wake up very early, so that’s not a problem. The only issue there is I don’t want to wake up the neighbors with my pressure washer at 6 am.

 

That's a great looking truck, cant wait to get home and start on mine. Start ordering all this stuff about 3 weeks out, so its there when I arrive. lookin forward to putting all this advice to work.

 

Man, I’d love to work on that Voodoo Blue. Gorgeous color man.

 

Coworker just got a new Silverado. He was just bragging to me that the dealership gave him lifetime free car washes, but also asked if I’d decon it and possibly ceramic coat it for him.....

At least it’s white, so they can’t screw it up too much.

 

The longest two years of my life was trying to keep the scratches out of my black Tundra.

 

What’s a decent budget orbiter? What pad to use with it for sealant?

 

I just got a griots garage 6" DA with a coupon it was around $120. A huge improvement over my harbor freight $75 unit and well worth the extra. I'd use a black or red finishing pad for sealants

 

@War Machine, thx cant wait to get on it. gona hit all the threads prior to getting back so im ready. but if I get down your way, Ill let you have at it.

 

What coupon did you use?

 

I used a 25% off at autogeek. Every now and then those pop up. Also a good place to check is autozone and advanced auto, they have buy online and pickup in store coupons all the time. Usually you can get one just by visiting their website

 

Any suggestion for removing grease spots on the headliner and visor?

 

Dawn soap

 

Simple. I like!

 

Snow in VA Beach??? I'm leaving CO for VA to be close to fam and get away from the snow/cold

 

The biggest reason is my wife and I have no family here and we wanna start a family. Second is there are too many damn ppl in Colorado! Tired of driving 30 minutes to go five miles.

 

Soo, I know this thread is oriented toward diy detailing, and I've learned a lot here. Right now in my life I barely have time for a weekly ONR and sonax. My truck is swirl city (from PO) and there are some scratches through to the primer on the tailgate. There is also a section of rub marks on the driver door where PDR was done. I'd like to get my truck dialed in with some touch-up paint, polishing, and a good sealant. Does anyone on here do detailing in San Diego, or have a recommendation for a good pro shop?

Pics for fun!

 

Just laid down for some suds, with all the reading I've done, think I bought the right stuff to keep that Voodoo shinin. Want to give a shout out to War Machine, Southbound Steve, Driver Dog and everyone else for their personal input. Cant wait to put it to work, pics will be forthcoming and gratuitous end of aug.

 

Nice. What did you get?

 

Bead Maker Paint Protectant Combo Kit (1 Gallon + 1 Pint) with Bead Maker Ultimate Microfiber Towels ,

$135 Chemical Guys HOL148 10-Piece Arsenal Builder Car Wash Kit with Foam Gun, Bucket, (4) Towels, Wash Mitt and (3) 16 oz. Car Cleaning Chemicals (Works w/Garden Hose) – 2024 Version

Chemical Guys16-Piece Arsenal Builder Wash Kit with TORQ Blaster Foam Gun,

$20 Griot's Garage 55586 PFM Terry Weave Towel, 16" x 16", Grey (Set of 2)

Griot's Garage PFM ,

$12 Chemical Guys SPI22016 Total Interior Cleaner and Protectant, Safe for Cars, Trucks, SUVs, Jeeps, Motorcycles, RVs & More, 16 fl oz, BLUE,WHITE

Chemical GuysTotal Interior Cleaner & Protectant,

$39 CARPRO Eraser Polish & Oil Remover - Ceramic Coating Prep, Complete Removal of Polishing Oils for Application of CQUARTZ Ceramic Coat, Anti-Static, Dust Free, No Silicone - 1 Liter (34oz) and Sprayer

Eraser Intense Oil & Polish Cleanser ,

$42 Nanoskin AUTOSCRUB Fine Grade Wash Mitt,Weft Knitted Microfiber [AS-016] Blue, 6" x 8.7"

Nanoskin Fine Grade Wash Mitt Chemical Guys Honeydew Snow Foam Car Wash Soap and Cleanser

The Rag Company - Creature Edgeless Auto Detailing Towels (10-Pack) Professional 70/30 Blend, Dual-Pile Plush Microfiber, Buffing & Polishing, 420gsm, 16in x 16in, Light Grey

THE RAG COMPANY (10-Pack) 16 in. x 16 in. Professional Edgeless
Still have a few more items to get

 

Wow, you certainly got a heck of a setup there. Pretty much everything there is part of my regular arsenal.
Since you’re definitely being serious with this, I’d recommend adding some IronX (makes the claying much easier), and either some Carpro Hydro2 or Gyeon Wetcoat to lay down before the Beadmaker.

Carpro Iron X Iron Remover 500 ml with Sprayer

$27 CARPRO IronX Iron Remover: Stops Rust Spots and Pre-Mature Failure of The Clear Coat, Iron Contaminant Removal - 500mL with Sprayer (17oz)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004UM6DLE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ThAoDbFE4M58B

CarPro Hydro2 Touchless Silica Sealant 500 ml.

$66 CARPRO HydrO2 Touchless Silica Car Sealant - Spray-On/Rinse-Off Paint Sealant, Concentrated Car Wash Detailer, UV protection - 500ml (17oz)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQN556A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_iiAoDbQ57JRS0

Gyeon Wet Coat 500ml

$23 GYEON Wet Coat 500ml - Hydrophobic Ceramic Spray Coating for Cars - High Gloss Solutions for Your Car Paint Wheels and Glass - Spray On Rinse Off Easy DIY Use Formula

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OORR2N8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_GiAoDb58Y6SBE

Th Hydro2 and Gyeon Wetcoat are pretty similar products. Gyeon comes ready to use, and Hydro2 is a concentrate that you dilute at least 6:1. Gyeon is cheaper up front but Hydro2 is cheaper in the long run. Both are almost equally effective. It keeps your paint protected when the Beadmaker wears off.

 

I did forget the iron X Iron remover, have to get later after the missus has time to difuse I did get the hydro2 forgot to add it to the list. wasn't sure about the Gyeon, it wasn't discussed much so went with the Hydro. Thanks for all the advice you have shared.

 

No sweat. Gyeon Wetcoat is pretty much just a ready to use alternative to Hydro2. Hydro2 does have a pre-diluted version, but I don’t think it’s as good as Gyeon Wetcoat or Hydro2 concentrate.

I forget that you’re not home so you can’t slip deliveries past your wife.

 

And the iron remover isn’t a complete necessity, it just gets a lot of the contaminants out before you clay, which makes that step easier and faster.

 

Just be prepared....it smells like skunk pee

 

Anyone try McKee’s 37 Paint Coating? I tried it and so far it’s been awesome going on 3 months. Water beads great and the truck is super easy to wash.

Also about to get matte bronze wheels and looking for something to seal and then clean them with. Any recommendations?

 

@briarpatch