3 Easy Steps to Wet Looking Paint!

RayBay30 said:
Why not try it for yourself before you pass judgement?
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I'm not passing jugement at all. I've been doing this way to long and 80% of the cars I see this will not work for. The AIO I used on the Mercedes only took 30min todo the whole car so anyone can do this very easy. If the cars are well maintained then your method would work.
 
I think we all agree this 3 step method works on prepped paint only, right?

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Pureshine said:
I'm not passing jugement at all. I've been doing this way to long and 80% of the cars I see this will not work for. The AIO I used on the Mercedes only took 30min todo the whole car so anyone can do this very easy. If the cars are well maintained then your method would work.
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So you've tried it exactly as I described or by using other products/techniques?

It depends on your definition of "well maintained". That could mean anything from a mint condition garage queen to a typical car that goes thru a touchless wash once a week. The majority of the vehicles I've tried this on are far from what we would consider maintained, lol. Some of them have never been waxed since the owner took delivery. I've even worked on ones that only got "washed" when it rained. Talk about neglect! There have been probably only a few that were so far gone that I couldn't do anything with because of heavy oxidation, rust, etc.

Of course doing things such as claying and polishing are going to make the paint look even better. If time and other factors allow you to do so then by all means go for it!
 
RayBay30 said:
So you've tried it exactly as I described or by using other products/techniques?

It depends on your definition of "well maintained". That could mean anything from a mint condition garage queen to a typical car that goes thru a touchless wash once a week. The majority of the vehicles I've tried this on are far from what we would consider maintained, lol. Some of them have never been waxed since the owner took delivery. I've even worked on ones that only got "washed" when it rained. Talk about neglect! There have been probably only a few that were so far gone that I couldn't do anything with because of heavy oxidation, rust, etc.

Of course doing things such as claying and polishing are going to make the paint look even better. If time and other factors allow you to do so then by all means go for it!
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With your method you didn't mention how long that's taking you to get it done.
 
Instead of a DS wipedown, maybe a Glaze will serve better since most of them fill in very light defects?
 
Pureshine said:
With your method you didn't mention how long that's taking you to get it done.
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Good point.

Depending on things like the size of the car, if I need to take a whiz, or if a hot chick passes by and I'm trying to get her number...I'd say anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes.

But then again I know this routine like the back of my hand so it's like automatic. For others if may take longer, especially if they take their time or focus on other things besides the paint. For example, if you decide your rims with months of caked on grime and brake dust need to be spotless it may take you at least half an hour just to do the wheels.

My time estimates are for the paint only. So anything thing beyond that you want to do such as prewash or waxing..you'll need to factor in the extra time for those additional steps.
 
JHL88 said:
Instead of a DS wipedown, maybe a Glaze will serve better since most of them fill in very light defects?
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Sure, why not?

It'll probably take a little longer but I believe we should all experiment. And if you come up with a variation of my routine that has awesome results let me know and I will try it!
 
RayBay30 said:
:laughing: Smaller cars like Mini Cooper, Miata, VW Bug, etc. it's possible.
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i was saying it as more of a joke because i've timed washes before, and about the only thing that will get you a 15 minute wash is a pressure washer (already set up with a foam cannon, waiting for you, no mixing or refills), and a strong blow dry after as long as its already coated.

or a waterless/rinseless where there is no prep involved or cleanup after involved.

otherwise if you are filling up two buckets, (lettings your boars hair brush sit for 30 minutes adds a little time if you use one, so it can get soft) and then going to town with a spray down, wash, rinse, and dry. i don't think i've seen many people come close to the 15 minute mark without rushing and causing scratches.


the 12 minute car wash bays barely get the regular person by who doesn't use two buckets and brushes the whole car with constant soap supply. not includng drying.



maybe a video or two of the whole process would help people get on board with it?
 
RayBay;
I think I have split personalities because I agree with pretty much everything that's been said.
Sometimes, I like polishing the living daylights out of my paint. Other times, I like a quick wipe-down, but demand a high shine.
So, basically, you wash away the dirt w/ cg that leaves a clean surface, then spray and buff another product to add another layer to start the shine, and then even it out w/ a QD. I think step 1 makes a clean surface, then #2 adds the real shine, then step 3 evens everything out.
My suggestion, to shorten time with all that wiping would be to find a high-gloss spray-as-you-dry sealant. I think the QD step can be removed for sake of time. I don't see QD's doing anything other than removing smudges and fingerprints etc. The QD you listed, does it really add any shine?
 
Rediculous and no durability, at least use a WOWA polymer....
 
expdetailing said:
RayBay;
I think I have split personalities because I agree with pretty much everything that's been said.
Sometimes, I like polishing the living daylights out of my paint. Other times, I like a quick wipe-down, but demand a high shine.
So, basically, you wash away the dirt w/ cg that leaves a clean surface, then spray and buff another product to add another layer to start the shine, and then even it out w/ a QD. I think step 1 makes a clean surface, then #2 adds the real shine, then step 3 evens everything out.
My suggestion, to shorten time with all that wiping would be to find a high-gloss spray-as-you-dry sealant. I think the QD step can be removed for sake of time. I don't see QD's doing anything other than removing smudges and fingerprints etc. The QD you listed, does it really add any shine?
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Step 3 is more of personal preference. If you're satisfied with the look with the first couple of steps then you can skip it. I think it makes a noticeable difference but that's just me.
 
Again, my goal is to share information. My techniques may not satisfy everyone and may not be the best solution for every situation. I've read some really good posts and suggestions and can even appreciate a bit of cynicism. On that note I think it'd be more interesting if all the critics would actually try this process and then share their constructive criticism rather then dismiss it because they think they know it all.

:cruisin:
 
RayBay30 said:
Again, my goal is to share information. My techniques may not satisfy everyone and may not be the best solution for every situation. I've read some really good posts and suggestions and can even appreciate a bit of cynicism. On that note I think it'd be more interesting if all the critics would actually try this process and then share their constructive criticism rather then dismiss it because they think they know it all.

:cruisin:
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right but even without trying this method, all thats happening is a wash with two seperate things being layered. the polymers in wash and shine and a quick detailer... you could just wash and then use a spray sealant and a qd right after that and have the same effect. what the other people are saying is more along the lines of proper thinking, instead of going through all the effort to do multiple washes, why not just stick with one and use a good wax or sealant after it to get the shine. the bonus is it will stay longer than a few days or so that you get out of a QD spray.
 
Yep. I'll prep my car the correct way and then coat it. Coating lasts longer than any other LSP. Now I can just wash it once and it will bring back the shine
 
not trying to say anything bad about what you do with your time, but it's not necessarily something new. it's just another way to layer your products. it's one of the things a lot of people do. i just dont see the usefulness in wasting onr by using it on something completely clean in wash form. why not use a qd or waterless dilution and spray it on if you want to use it for its polymers/shine?
 
You could just wash, Nanoskin wash mitt, Hydro2 sealant and then dry done! Same amount of time as your way.
 
It's all about what makes YOU happy. That's too many steps for me, I get the shine I like from from my steps.


As far as critiquing:

The drying steps from step one and two should be eliminated.

If the layering of those products works for you, I would wash, then rinseless wash, then QD dry.


The less contact with the paint the better.
 
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