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My first modern detail

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by drapex, Sep 21, 2019.

  1. Sep 21, 2019 at 1:57 PM
    #1
    drapex

    drapex [OP] Floridian by birth

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    I just did my first modern detail. The last wax job I did wasn't so good. I rushed it and got wax on the black trim and it looked bad.

    I bit the bullet and ordered a bunch of stuff.

    Firstly, the products I used, came from recommendations on this forum. Thanks to those who take the time to share on here.

    Second, the products all were easy to use and worked well. I was happy about that. The clay mitt was awesome. I've never clayed anything before so I was concerned I'd mess up something. It was super easy and actually fun.

    Third, from start to finish took about 3 or 4 hours. I could do it faster next time.

    Here's what worked for me:

    A wet drier sheet is genius for bug removal. It works so well it's amazing.

    I rinsed the truck with my pressure washer with a green tip.

    I foam cannoned on Purple Power Heavy Duty Vehicle and Boat pressure wash concentrate and let it sit for a while. Then I did it again later and scrubbed with a microfiber sponge.

    Then I rinsed with the pressure washer again and got out the Dodo Juice clay lube and Autoscrub nanoskin clay mitt. For some reason I was anxious about messing something up with clay. The clay mitt was really nice. I could feel the rough finish become smooth as I used the clay mitt.

    Then I dried the truck off with the Griot PFD towel. It really dried the whole truck without needing to be wrung out. It's a very good towel.

    Then I applied a coat of The Last Coat. This was super easy, much easier than wax. Also, a lot less messy.

    After that, I used the Tarminator bug and tar remover to get the wax off my trim. I had to go over a few spots more than once.

    Once the trim was dewaxed, I used Blackfire Tire and Trim Sealant on a microfiber sponge, worked it in, then buffed it out with another microfiber towel. This product had a dramatic effect on the trim. My truck is not even 2 years old, but it benefited a lot from this product.

    Then I cleaned up the extra trim restorer from where it got on the car or windows. Once that was all done, I did one more coat of The Last Coat. Not sure I needed it, but I was on a roll.

    I'm definitely pleased with the outcome. I may have spent $100-150 on product and spent 3 or 4 hours, but the outcome would have cost many times more if a professional did it.

    Here are a few pictures...IMG_20190921_163158.jpg IMG_20190921_163158.jpg IMG_20190921_150828.jpg
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2019
    Stroke250, JMB, rascalrider and 15 others like this.
  2. Sep 21, 2019 at 2:12 PM
    #2
    Voyagermike

    Voyagermike New Member

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    Looking good Dan!:thumbsup:
     
    drapex[OP] likes this.
  3. Sep 21, 2019 at 2:13 PM
    #3
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    TRD PRO grille, OCD consol organizers, DIY wireless phone charger, 33" Michelin Defender LTX MS, Bak revolver X2 tonneau, weathertech liners, 20% tints. DIY pop n lock, 2018 LED headlights, morimoto fogs, TRD shift knob, DirtyDeeds 8"BAM exhaust, kenwood HU,JL amp, Tech12volts Tundra full speaker upgrade w/sub, Swing case, and lots of fluid film
    Wow that came out so good. It looks nice and clean and glossy. I don't know anything about the last coat products but it definitely looks great on your truck. For the price I would go with carpro reload, but this stuff may be even better. It says up to 6 months of protection so that's pretty damn good if it holds up.
    I love using tarminator for various cleaning jobs and have never been disappointed by it.
    Those clay mitts are a revelation to detailing, takes a 3 or 4 hour job and cuts it down to an hour or less , I love my clay mitt and disc.
    That $100-150 investment is gonna get you several detail jobs out of it. Money well spent, I'd assume a detailing would have charged you a couple hundred easily for the job you did today.

    You didn't mention it, so I'll chime in and say to be sure to get some good ph neutral car shampoo now that you have the last coat on. That purple power is good for strip washes for big jobs like this. But for maintenance washes you want something gentle that won't strip your protection. Carpro reset is as good as it gets bit is big money, I also use and like chemical guys maxisuds2, but any good car shampoo should be fine.
    You did a great job, finished products like this is what gives you the detail bug. Once you realize how good of a job you can do yourself with the right products and techniques, you'll never wanna stop doing it or pay for detailing again.
     
  4. Sep 21, 2019 at 2:19 PM
    #4
    7.62Tundra

    7.62Tundra Chromeaphilliac

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    I got a case or 2 of beer and some brisket if ya wanna come this way:thumbsup:
     
  5. Sep 21, 2019 at 3:45 PM
    #5
    drapex

    drapex [OP] Floridian by birth

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    Thanks for the kind words Sean. Your posts have been especially helpful.

    I did purchase Carpro reset and will be using for the next wash. I wanted to do a ceramic coating, but I'm a half-asser by nature and am concerned about the outcome. Hopefully this holds out. I'll report back on the durability.
     
    Black Wolf and Pudge[QUOTED] like this.
  6. Sep 21, 2019 at 3:52 PM
    #6
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    The reset is a great soap, probably the best out there. I was frustrated by the lack of suds that it makes but once I got used to that, o realized how well it cleaned and how nice and slick it is. Good choice.
    I too wanna do a ceramic coating, well I did one but that's a long story. I'm not counting it as a coating or an attempt lol. My first attempt will be cquartz some day.
    It's hard to justify a coating sometimes because the sealants these days are so good and last a long time, even though they are just spray and wipe, they easy and effective. Once again man, you did a really nice job
     
  7. Sep 21, 2019 at 3:54 PM
    #7
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    Looks really great Dan! I know the feeling about claying for the first time. It is worrisome at first, but does become fun. And it makes a huge difference doesn’t it?

    I’m interested to see how The Last Coat holds up. I haven’t heard of it before. I do have a compound called “The Last Cut”. I wonder if it’s the same company.
    I’m also interested in the Blackfire trim product. I haven’t used that, but the stuff I have used from Blackfire is quality for sure.

    Two recommendations:

    1) Going forward you may want to find a less harsh soap than the Purple Power. It definitely worked getting your truck clean, but I believe it will strip the coating you applied if you use it again. Not positive, but I think I’m right.

    2) I recommend sticking with the white (40 degree) tip. on the pressure washer. The green one (25 degree) is a little too strong and focused. Ask me how I know.
     
  8. Sep 21, 2019 at 4:03 PM
    #8
    Blueknights75

    Blueknights75 040 IS THE FASTEST

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    Damn that looks nice!! Fantastic job and write up!
     
  9. Sep 21, 2019 at 5:55 PM
    #9
    Kerch71

    Kerch71 Surgical Precision

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    Very nice! :thumbsup:
     
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  10. Sep 21, 2019 at 6:22 PM
    #10
    Prostar 190

    Prostar 190 SSEM #9 I would rather be water skiing

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    Looking good.
     
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  11. Sep 21, 2019 at 6:48 PM
    #11
    marc32

    marc32 New Member

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    Very nice job indeed!
    Welcome to the addiction of detailing.
     
    drapex[OP] and Pudge like this.
  12. Sep 21, 2019 at 7:09 PM
    #12
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    Yup I think he's hooked. I hated detailing til I found this truck and this site. I had a couple Tacomas that got waxed now and then, the detailing subforum at tacomaworld is nothing compared to here. This detailing group we have here is the best.
     
    Voyagermike, NUDRAT and drapex[OP] like this.
  13. Sep 21, 2019 at 7:14 PM
    #13
    marc32

    marc32 New Member

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    Yep it is,
    I think we need to have a Tundras.com Detailers meet.
     
    NUDRAT, drapex[OP] and Pudge[QUOTED] like this.
  14. Sep 21, 2019 at 7:17 PM
    #14
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    Lol that would be sweet.
    I think the evolution of detailing products has made it appeal to a wider audience now. There are so many products out there that make it easier and quicker to perform certain tasks. I feel like 10 years ago a wash, clay bar job, and the old wax on wax off process would have taken a full weekend on a truck the size of ours. Now with foam cannon, clay mitts, spray sealants and coatings, it take a few hours and the results are better and longer lasting
     
  15. Sep 22, 2019 at 8:07 AM
    #15
    NUDRAT

    NUDRAT 6 lug life

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    Ooh - i'll be the before truck. :anonymous:
     
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  16. Sep 23, 2019 at 7:15 AM
    #16
    briarpatch

    briarpatch New Member

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    Nicely done. If you get wax and/or sealant on your trim, keep a pencil eraser (the big pink ones) handy...very effective at getting it off. I also have used an all purpose cleaner (APC) diluted at 5:1 with a toothbrush for the stubborn stuff.
     
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  17. Sep 23, 2019 at 12:18 PM
    #17
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    Great tips
     
  18. Oct 19, 2019 at 3:20 PM
    #18
    drapex

    drapex [OP] Floridian by birth

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    I'm almost a month in and I've not done anything else to the truck. Here's some pics of the hydrophobic nature of The LastCoat after 4 weeks. It seems to be holding up nicely.IMG_20191019_181704.jpg

    IMG_20191019_181711.jpg
     
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  19. Oct 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM
    #19
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    Looking good Dan. 4+ weeks of protection and nice beading is pretty damn good. Its unlikely you would have gotten that with a old style wax. Your truck is looking great 1 month out. Very nice job. The right stuff for the job at hand makes such a big difference. People make fun of guys like me for spending on detailing stuff, but they don't realize the stuff I use is easier to use, works better, and lasts way longer than their stuff they swear has been fine for 20 years. The days of setting aside a whole weekend for a wash, clay, and wax job are over, for the smart ones like us anyway. Once you realize how quick and easy and like you mentioned, fun, detailing can be, you're hooked but that's okay it's a good addiction and hobby
     
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  20. Dec 3, 2019 at 5:58 AM
    #20
    619Tundra

    619Tundra New Member

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    Have you ever heard of TST products?
     
  21. Dec 3, 2019 at 5:58 AM
    #21
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    No I haven’t. What are they?
     
  22. Dec 3, 2019 at 6:03 AM
    #22
    619Tundra

    619Tundra New Member

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    Complete line up of paint protection coatings. My first job as a teenager was in a TST center applying this product to new vehicles. We did Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, and other cars. Comes with warranty.
     
  23. Dec 3, 2019 at 6:14 AM
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    619Tundra

    619Tundra New Member

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    They claim to have applied this product to the space shuttle and to other NASA projects.
     
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