Ask the Detailer

What does everyone like for cleaning polishing pads? I use the lake country pads, and have just used dawn and a bucket of water for cleaning in the past. Was thinking of trying something made for pads next ..

 

I hit mine with Optimum Power Clean at 5:1, then rinse with hot water and keep kneading them til the product comes out and the pad is clean. There are some products, like McKees 360 and their HiDef Sealant, that will permanently stain pads, seemingly no matter what you do.

 

Thanks !

 

I come before you all today ashamed, feeling down, and needing to make a confession to cleanse my soul. I took my truck to Toyota today as my 7 year platinum warranty is up in a month and I have a good service advisor that I knew would get me new shocks (slight oil weep) before it expired. She did and gave me a few bucks off an oil change. Great, you may be thinking, so what's wrong.....
















I forgot to remind them DO NOT WASH!

Yep, than ran it through the machine of paint death. There are water spots, smudges, remnants of smeared bug guts, streak marks, and god only know how many small scratches. Please forgive me.

 

Bless your heart and your trucks finish. I'll light a candle tonight in memorandum of such a loss.

 

Thank you, I beg the lord's forgiveness, amen.

 

Oh no. Hopefully one time didn’t booger it up to much. Probably wrecked your Powerlock though.

 

It happens...fortunately, you are among friends who can support you during this difficult time

 

We will forgive you but your truck may not. Ps it will be fine great post btw

 

Good read about Graphene
https://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-Pro/graphene-marketing-hype-or-the-future/

 

Thank you great article.

 

I think you're right, paint doesn't have that slickness to it. It's amazing how one trip through that damn washer can seemingly kill a good coating like Power Lock in one wash.

I was going to clean it up today and do a round of Power Lock to get my protection back, but now that I think of it, it's a perfect time to try that Jescar Bead it I just bought. With most of the P.L. gone, I can see how well it bonds and how long it lasts on its own.

 

The soap in them is harsh as hell also, which does some damage to the sealant. Between that and the brushes it probably took most of it off.
Good plan on the Bead It. Looking forward to your impressions.

 

OK, as mentioned a couple of posts earlier, I decided to take the horror of the dealer washing my truck in the machine o paint death yesterday and turn it into a positive by giving my review of a newer detail product, Jescar Bead It. So, today, I cleaned up the truck and went at it.

First impressions, little smell, hardly any at all, slight chemical smell but goes away quickly and like I said really nothing. Applies as a thin, watery mist and is very, very easy to use. Spray, wipe on, wipe off. This stuff is super forgiving. It is dry and warm here today (single digit humidity and low 90s) sometimes it was drying before I could swap towels and still I had zero streaking, even on the tailgate that was sticking out of the garage in partial sun, and I have a darker colored truck which would instantly show any streaks.

It leaves a nice depth, gloss, and slickness. As much as a well done coat of good sealant like Power Lock, probably not, but very close. I was impressed especially considering that it is 5 times as easy and fast as doing a traditional sealant.

Of course I have no idea yet on protection or longevity. I would have done a water beading test, but the directions recommend 24 hours before washing/getting it wet for best results, so I will wait. Actually, I will be doing a neglection test of sorts as we plan on going camping in the next few weeks and then it might be a few more after that before I get around to detaining it again. So, with the dealer removing my normal protection and me waiting so long before the next cleaning, it should be a decent test. We shall see.

 

Quick follow up. After sitting overnight curing, it seems to have gained some slickness and maybe even a little more depth to the color. So, so far so good. I'm looking forward to seeing how long it lasts.

 

That looks great brother!

 

What's the go to for a great leather conditioner/protector?
I just got don't installing katzkins and would like to get some conditioner on them.

 

I don't know if this would be the right room to ask this but... I am an amateur detailer but am about to take a 12 hour (6 hour there and 6 hour back) work trip. After the road trip, I'll be busy with some family visiting for the holidays. I usually wash and detail my truck once a month (did it last week). I'm wondering if it would be worth detailing it before I make the trip, but I'm assuming that it won't since the truck will have the entire ecosystem on it. I also won't have time to clean it until after the holiday is over. I've entertained the idea of having a professional detailer detail it but there are a bunch of mixed reviews out there. They are also asking absurd prices. What're y'alls thoughts?

 

Lexol is what I prefer, and others here like it as well.

 

I’d clean the interior, just so you’ll have a nice clean ride for yourself. Of course, you’ll likely need to do it again when you get back.
I’m not sure I’d bother cleaning the outside unless you just want to. It’ll be filthy again a hundred miles into your trip. One thing I would highly recommend is to take something to clean bugs off on both ends of your trip. You’ll want to clean those off ASAP so they don’t etch your paint. Some bounce sheets along with some water and a detail spray is all you’ll need.

 

X2

 

Bounce sheets?

 

Yes sir. Some fabric softener sheets and water will take bugs right off. Just don’t want to let it sit on your paint for long.

https://youtu.be/P2AGzJjJViI

 

Interesting. I hadn't heard that.

 

Thanks fellas. Looks reasonably priced too!

 

I was going to order it on Amazon, but i check local stores and wallmart had it for cheap, and pepboys had it for $7/ea. $100 later....

I also got the Griots Speed Clay, but they didn't have it in the store. I was just going to grab some Mothers Clay or Maguires Clay instead, but they said they would pull one from another store and bring it over in an hour or so. No big deal, i have to run some errands later anyways. I'm not sure how long that 3-in-1 is going to last (not sure if griots has a larger bottle) as its the smaller bottle, but i think i'm going to buy the big jug on black friday anyways.

 

The 3-1 a little goes a long way.. Expect 1-2 sprays per panel, if you use more than that, it will streak. I use the 2 towel method, one with product the other for buffing.

 

The next size up is the gallon, but you should get several applications from one bottle of 3-in-1.

This was my bottle after a Tundra, a Sequoia, and a Charger (one coat each):

 

1st World Problem here. Bear with me and be gentle.

Like most of us who live north of the 45th parallel, the winter months have short days of sunlight and not many days above freezing. I like to keep my truck clean, but hand washing in the drive way is challenging in snow/ice season.

My question is what is recommended for truck washing in the cold? Use an automated car wash? I know that is blasphemy for true detailers. Are the car washes that advertise "brushless" really any better? Leave the truck dirty and wait on that one day every 6 weeks warm enough to hand wash at home? I always thought that leaving a car dirty for weeks at a time resulted in even more finish damage. There is also a spray wash near my home and I can take it there, pump in the quarters and at least knock the grit off. I can take my wash mitt there and get some semblance of hand washing?

 

I've washed in the cold a few times (it was 29 degree F), but I also live in south louisiana. What I did was knock off the rough stuff with the water hose and another time i went to a car wash and just pressure washed off the rough stuff. After that, i go inside and fill up my buckets with warm/hot water. After that, it's all good and no problems. One of those times, I had to go back inside to get another bucket of warm/hot water cuz running the mitt over the vehicle with the cold water will drop the temperature of your rinse bucket over time. Just my $.02