Ask the Detailer

I had Rupes Bigfoot but was stolen with all my detail stuff a while ago. I was detailing on the side then and now I’m not so i am not spending that much again. I heard good things about the GG and even cooler they sell them at autozone someone told me. So get one of those 20% of coupons in the mail and go grab one

 

The website is definitely gone. I bought some tyre feeder a.few.months ago. Weird.

 

@War Machine @driverdog @Pudge

My daughter bought a used 18 Subaru and there are specs of something on the instrument cluster that won't wipe off. Looks like something was sprayed and not wiped off. I tried a very soft microfiber cloth and nothing. What can be used?

 

Specs like raised product or specs like water mark etching?

 

Looks like somebody was using a detail spray or something and didn't wipe it off. I'll look and feel it later to see if the spots are etched in to the plastic.

 

There’s a few spots on my cluster also, that feel etched in. I’ve always figured it was a defect from the factory that it took a while to notice.
Other than just some APC and a towel, I don’t know of anything else to use.

 

Yeah if it is etched in you may just need to buy a new cluster cover which is prob around $25 if it’s that annoying. If it’s on the plastic you can try wd40 or a magic eraser. I would do this order APC, magic eraser, Wd40

 

Magic Eraser is abrasive and will scratch the plastic. I'd avoid that option.

 

What’s a good tire cleaner that will it jack my chrome wheels up?

 

Is it? I have done this to many of my clients cars with perfect results. I don’t find it to be abrasive at all. It’s all great for quick paint transfer removal. Everyone has their thing they like i guess. Maybe we are thinking of two different things

 

Pan the Organizer puts Meguiars, Bead Maker and Adams through a stress test.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQZgl8CR6o0

 

Found his channel a few weeks ago, wealth of knowledge that man has and great tutorials also. I never knew I was washing my vehicles the wrong way all this time.

 

Finally bought a shelf for all my detailing supplies.

 

Thanks!

Been building my supplies. Will order more shine Supply when they have their black Friday sale and a 5 liter of Tyre feeder and foshow in the spring. Unfortunately my wife can see what I've bought this year now.

 

I've had it dull the finish on my hardwood floor when I attempted to remove a stain. This link also confirms its abrasiveness. It may be fine enough to use carefully, but the plastic on instrument clusters seems pretty easy to mar. Maybe I'm just not doing it right.

 

Holy crap that's awesome

 

Man, looks great and organized. Every time I get mine sorted like that, it doesn’t stay that way.

 

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

I use and love shine supply wise guy tire cleaner. I think it's safe for chrome wheels. It is a really good rubber cleaner, havent found anything better.

 

What kind of ceramic or hydrophobic coatings are you guys using on your glass? I’d like to invest in something that is going to last longer and perform better than rain-x.

 

Awesome. Looks like you guys cleaned them out of Tyre Feeder though!

 

@Jim LE 1301 recommended this product to me a while back, and I’ve been playing around with it. I’m very impressed so far.

https://superiorproducts.com/product/cover-all-high-gloss-tire-dressing-aerosol/

First, I used it on my nerf bars, and it shined them up very well, and lasted longer than other products I’ve tried for that purpose. Nothing else would stay on there for more than a few days. This lasted several weeks before I needed to reapply. I also used it on the wheels on my daughter’s Tundra. They’re heavily oxidized, and in need of reconditioning, but in the meantime I used this to get them looking new again. Worked great, and has held up for several weeks so far.
Yesterday I decided to go ahead and try it on my wheels and tires. My tire coating has worn off, so I took the opportunity to test this out. It left a good shine on them. I don’t normally go for a glossy look on my tires, but this wasn’t over the top.
It also shined my wheels up very nicely. I’m not sure how it will bond, since I have Shine Supply Beadlock on them. I also don’t know if it will damage that coating, but I decided to give it a try anyway.

One warning: It does make the nerf bars slick, so you have to be careful. The slippery effect goes away after a couple of days, so you just have to pay attention until it does. Very easy to apply,you just have to make sure and go back and buff off the excess afterwards.

I didn’t take pics like I should have, but will try to get some later.

You can somewhat see the difference on the nerf bar in these two pics:

 

If you’re looking for an easy and cheap solution, give Meguair’s Hybrid Ceramic Wax a try. It works well on glass. Jescar Powerlock is also very good on glass.

 

I second the power lock on glass. I just finished detailing the tundra. I washed, clay barred, then one coat of power lock topped with a second coat of collonite's 845. Looks better than new. @War Machine, Black is far and away the nicest looking color, but a black truck owns you more than you own it! Very nice truck sir.

 

I use to think I put a lot of thought in to detailing my cars, but you guys blow me away.

 

I'm with ya man.
Before this site, the most I had done to my cars was my 99 Tacoma. I clayed it once and hand waxed it. My last Tacoma I used to wax now and then and had it detailed once and the guy polished and used klasse on it.
Once I found @SouthBoundSteve here, everything changed, and changed for the better. He taught me so much and got me to realize that I can actually do this stuff myself

 

My biggest issue I have here in CT is the weather, from Nov-Apr it is very cold, snowy, wet, filthy roads with salt, sand, magnesium....I need to find a way to be able to wash effectively and frequently at home. Possibly a hot water hose, that will help but it will still be 7 degrees outside. I think the fact that I have 4 or 5 months of not being able to detail, makes me wanna do it so much more the months I can do it

 

Winter detailing is hard without somewhere inside, but a warm water supply will definitely help.