How does my product list and order look for detailing my car?

mpulsiv

mpulsiv

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Wolfgang handbook https://www.palmbeachmotoring.net/store-pdfs/wg-handbook-2010.pdf

After spending countless hours on this forum and re-reading Mike's reviews with slew of feedback and opinions:

Step #1 Iron Remover
(chemical decontamination) chemically dissolves above/below surface contaminants so they will wash off. Also great for wheels.
Wolfgang Uber Iron Remover
Review #1
Review #2
Step #2 Clay (slower, maximum effectiveness)
(mechanical decontamination) contaminants that are BONDED to the surface and will not simply wash/wipe off.
Wolfgang Elastic Poly Clay Bar + Wolfgang Clay Lubricant
Review

or

Step #2 Clay mitt (faster, just as effective)
(mechanical decontamination) contaminants that are BONDED to the surface and will not simply wash/wipe off.
Griot’s Garage surface prep mitt (yellow fine) + Speed Shine (lubricant)
* Read this A paint cleaner is an either/or product - The difference between a paint cleaner and a paint polish by Mike Phillips before considering Step # 3 Polish, Step #4 Swirl Remover, Step #5 Finishing Polish
Step # 3 Polish
Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer
Review
Step #4 Swirl Remover (optional) can be skipped if no light swirls and scratches are found.
Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover
Step #5 Finishing Polish
Wolfgang Finishing Glaze
This a "glaze" in the traditional sense of the word since it does not have any fillers. It's is more a finishing polish with microscopic diminishing abrasives that bring out maximum shine and clarity after you use the Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover.
Mike's quote "The only TRUE GLAZES I know on the market today are 3M Imperial Hand Glaze and Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze. I'm sure there are others but for most people and most paint on most cars you simply don't need a true glaze."
Step #6 Sealant
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant
Review

or

Step #6 Wax
Wolfgang Füzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax (hybrid finishing wax/sealant
Review of Wolfgang Fuzion Spray Wax which performs very well next to Wolfgang Füzion Carnauba Polymer Estate Wax
Maintenance products:
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Spritz Sealant spray-on sealant as booster. Engineered liquefied polymers that disperse easily through the spray nozzle and then cross-link on the paint surface to form one solid polymer coat over the paint finish.
This also can be used on trim, glass and wheels.

SiO2 Coating Wash
Review
$33 for 16oz (8 car washes) 16 oz Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash
$160 for 128oz (64 car washes) 128oz Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash
 
Can't go wrong with anything made by Wolfgang or Griot's IMO.

I think you have put together a great list.

Along those lines, pick up some Wolfgang Uber Rinseless wash, and a Griot's PFM drying towel. :)
 
Your step 3 there is not necessary. That is only used if your paint has no correction needed at all instead of what you listed as steps 4 and 5. Everything else looks great and should give you nice results.
 
I think you also don’t need that expensive soap, especially without a coating on the car. Get something more economical like Meguiar’s Hyper wash
 
If this is a daily driver, Blackfire One Step will get you amazing results, and eliminate 3 products and steps. If you want added protection, add BeadMaker. There is a thread about long term Beadmaker almost building up. I am seeing the same thing but not as long term
 
All of the above suggestions are very good advice.

But, his list is very good for a new guy who did his homework. :)
 
I like your list!

Personally I would stick to traditional clay to start off.

Step 3 if skipping 4 and 5.

Skip 4 and 5 if only doing step 3



As far as the Shampoo, I haven’t tried it but I have some on the way. It looks like great stuff from Mike’s review. I say go for it.
 
Dr Oldz said:
I like your list!

Personally I would stick to traditional clay to start off.

Step 3 if skipping 4 and 5.

Skip 4 and 5 if only doing step 3



As far as the Shampoo, I haven’t tried it but I have some on the way. It looks like great stuff from Mike’s review. I say go for it.
Click to expand...

I think he covered all of his bases with 3,4, & 5.

JMO
 
mpulsiv said:
Step # 3 Polish Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer

Step #4 Swirl Remover (optional) can be skipped if no light swirls and scratches are found.

Step #5 Finishing Polish Wolfgang Finishing Glaze
Click to expand...


I've been saying I'm going to write an article that explains the difference between a paint cleaner and a polish for years now and after this post I'm going to do it.

In a nutshell,

A paint cleaner is an either/or product.

You either use a paint cleaner and move on to your sealing process OR you skip the paint cleaner and use a polish or a compound and polishes and then move onto your sealing process.

You don't use both. This would not only be redundant, it would be a waste of your time, energy and money.


And for what it's worth, I never use paint cleaners except to share what they are and how to use them.

Why?

Because for ALL the work and time it takes to apply a paint cleaner, which hardly does anything, (perfect for some paint and some people, just not me), instead I could use a fine cut polish.

A QUALITY fine cut polish, that is a brand that uses GREAT abrasive technology, will do EVERYTHING a paint cleaner will do and MORE.

A paint cleaner JUST lightly cleans the surface of paint.

A fine cut polish will lightly clean the surface of paint AND remove minor defects.


You get so much more bang for the buck from your time, energy, money and results to use a fine cut polish over a paint cleaner.

But as a co-worker here at Autogeek once said to me when I first came to Autogeek in 2009,

Never spend another man's money


So I'm not saying a paint cleaner is a bad product, it's the perfect product for some people and some paint.

But for me? I know how to use a machine so for the same amount of time, money and effort I would always choose a fine cut polish over a paint cleaner.


Make sense?



:)
 
Mike Phillips said:
And in less than 20 minutes, I've generated brand new content.


A paint cleaner is an either/or product - The difference between a paint cleaner and a paint polish by Mike Phillips



:)
Click to expand...

Help me understand this since I'm new to this realm :cool:

Step # 3 Polish Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer can be totally eliminated?

Based on a condition of a paint, apply Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover and/or Step #5 Finishing Polish Wolfgang Finishing Glaze

Could I assume that Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover in unnecessary on a new car?

Where does Wolfgang Perfekt Finish Paint Prep fall into?


i-57chSpW-XL.jpg
 
mpulsiv said:
Help me understand this since I'm new to this realm :cool:
Click to expand...

Totally happy to help out, have a bit of history on the Interwebs doing this... :)



mpulsiv said:
Step # 3 Polish Wolfgang Paintwork Polish Enhancer can be totally eliminated?
Click to expand...

If you're going to use a "polish" then yes. No need to use a paint cleaner at all. Redundant step that does LESS than a polish. Please read the article I just wrote, totally explains it.




mpulsiv said:
Based on a condition of a paint, apply Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover and/or Step #5 Finishing Polish Wolfgang Finishing Glaze

Could I assume that Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover in unnecessary on a new car?
Click to expand...

Just because a car is new does not mean the paint is perfect. In fact, history shows us that new cars need a lot of work to bring them up to new or Autogeek Pro standards.

If you see swirls and scratches, even light swirls and scratches the YES you need to polish the paint to remove these types of defects. In most cases, you can get GREAT results using only the Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover. This is a MEDIUM CUT POLISH. It will finish out as good as most fine cut polishes, yes it's that good.

The Wolfgang Finishing Glaze is NOT a glaze, it's a FINE CUT POLISH. Someone gave it the wrong name and I guess the product is stuck like that forever. :dunno:

A fine cut polish won't always remove all fine swirls and scratches, thus even though I cannot see your car's paint finish, I would opt for the Total Swirl Remover and some foam polishing pads.


mpulsiv said:
Where does Wolfgang Perfekt Finish Paint Prep fall into?
Click to expand...

This is a SOLVENT for chemically stripping paint AFTER all the polishing steps and BEFORE installing a ceramic paint coating.



:)
 
Billy Baldone said:
If this is a daily driver, Blackfire One Step will get you amazing results, and eliminate 3 products and steps. If you want added protection, add BeadMaker. There is a thread about long term Beadmaker almost building up. I am seeing the same thing but not as long term
Click to expand...
:iagree:

Your thought process and research is awesome.

I'm not sure if your experienced or not, I'll assume this is your first, if not my apologies for getting on my soapbox!!

I do not know what type of car or color you have but I would go with BF One Step since it will do pretty much everything you need. Also, if this is your first time, BF One Step is bubba proof, meaning you arent going to mess it up!!

Your steps would include:
Step 1 Wash Step 2 Iron X, Step 3 Clay (if this is your first time and depending on car) I would opt for the BF Mitt, it's awesome!...step 4 rewash the residue off the car, Step 5 would be take care of your step 3, 4, 5 with BF One Step, Step 6 would be the Wax Or Sealant.

Wash Media is kind of up in the air, I've used Megs for a long time but I just switched to BF a couple of weeks ago with great results.

Step 6 The Wax or Sealant would depend on "what" you're looking for...super high gloss with short term durability (2 months) or good gloss with long term durability (up to 6 months). If you want the high gloss look, then I would recommend a good Carnauba based wax from Pinnacle or Wolfgang (im not familiar with their line-up)...it will light-up the night!! If you want a little more durability, then I would recommend Sonax PNS...this is a VERY Good Sealant with great self cleaning ability, stupid water beading ability, very good shine (not as "glassy" as wax). I havent used the SIO2 Products but based on Mike P's recommendation, Wolfgang has a very good SIO2 product suite.

I have gone through the exact dilemma...and just updated my car (2015 black acura TLX) about 3-4 weeks ago. Originally I used BF One Step with great/super results and topped it off with PNS and maintained with Sonax BSD...car looked amazing.

Being a newb, after a few months of reading what everyone is doing, trying, etc...I decided it was time to jump in...head first and not knowing where the bottom was!! I repolished (light) my car with Pinnacle Polish and then topped it with two coats of Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Wax...the results are amazing, it lights up the night sky (ok over dramatic!), slick feeling, beads water like mad, self cleaning is very good...and I'm completely satisfied or blown away with the results. I've since applied another light coat of wax and now use Crystal Mist as a QD...stuff is amazing!!

I'm sure Wolfgang has similar product as Pinnacle, but i would first and foremost consider BF One Step, especially if this is your first time.

By the way....welcome to AGO!!

Jay
 
@Mike

Can you chime out about BLACKFIRE One Step? I read your review and it's quit apparent that this product rocks :xyxthumbs:

Similar results with way less effort and cheaper? That means I can strike-through Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover and/or Step #5 Finishing Polish Wolfgang Finishing Glaze and Step #6 Sealant
Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant?

My goal is not to enter a deep rabbit hole. In other words, I don't plan to invest in notorious Griot's 6" ROP, even though I read Good rule of thumb when using an AIO - stick with foam polishing pads by Mike Phillips and Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips. I hope just to get by with Forrest Green Edgeless Polishing Cloth, unless you recommend something better?
 
mpulsiv said:
@Mike

Can you chime out about BLACKFIRE One Step? I read your review and it's quit apparent that this product rocks
Click to expand...

A few years ago, I tested a product for this company and then gave them my feedback.

We all call it BLACKFIRE One Step.

And yes, it rocks. If it didn't, I wouldn't use it myself or show it in all my classes.



mpulsiv said:
Similar results with way less effort and cheaper?

That means I can strike-through Step #4 Swirl Remover Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover and/or Step #5 Finishing Polish Wolfgang Finishing Glaze and Step #6 Sealant Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant?
Click to expand...

Not exactly sure what you're talking about.

Don't take something really simple and make it Rocket Science.

If the paint on your car is THIN - you're going to "strike through" even if you're working by hand with butter.



mpulsiv said:
My goal is not to enter a deep rabbit hole. In other words, I don't plan to invest in notorious Griot's 6" ROP, even though I read

Good rule of thumb when using an AIO - stick with foam polishing pads by Mike Phillips

and

Here's what you need to get into machine polishing - Recommendations for a beginner by Mike Phillips
Click to expand...

Both of those are very in-depth articles with MORE information than you'll ever find on a Facebook Group. :laughing:


mpulsiv said:
I hope just to get by with Forrest Green Edgeless Polishing Cloth, unless you recommend something better?
Click to expand...

Nope, those are great towels.

Again, I use them myself and show them in my classes. I don't have a history in the car detailing world of leading people astray.


Do what it takes to get the BLACKFIRE One Step and a slew of foam polishing pads. Like others, you will find what I have written and all the pictures I've shared are ACCURATE.

Accurate - that's my writing style. :xyxthumbs:



:)
 
I guess it's unclear to me whether BLACKFIRE One Step can perform as well as 3 Wolfgang products. We are talking about saving many hours of labor since I plan to do 2 cars :xyxthumbs: This is what I meant by strike-through 3 Wolfgang products.
I'm pretty sure that Griot's 6" ROP contributed to an amazing result. However, I plan to use nothing but Forrest Green Edgeless Polishing Cloth. Can this be achieved with great results? If not, perhaps I should stick to 3 step process with Wolfgang products with the same Forrest Green Edgeless Polishing Cloth? Since BLACKFIRE One Step is AIO product, can this be applied with 2 coats?
 
mpulsiv said:
Which products are recommended to remove fingerprints/dust and not penetrate sealants, waxes or ceramic coatings when it comes to longevity?
I came across CarPro Eraser Intense Oil & Polish Cleanser (IPA) and Griots Garage Speed Shine Detailer
Click to expand...

I would choose a QD that is intended to be used with you Sealant/Wax that you use. For my wifes X3, I used Sonax PNS so I use BSD for the QD. For my TLX, I have Pinnacle Liquid Souveran Wax so use their Crystal Mist as a QD since it's contains Carnauba. Personally I like to stay within a product line...synergy. I have used Griots SSD in the past, great stuff!!
 
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