better wax

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Tom60

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I'm pretty new to this detailing and need someone to explain something to me. I don't doubt the Pinnacle wax, Wolfgang, etc. is better than Turtle wax, Mequiars, etc. If it wasn't you guys wouldn't be using these. I would like to know why it is better. What makes it the preferred product? If it just gives a better shine, why? I'm pretty inquisitive on issues like this. I like to know the details.

THANKS
 
Mass market OTC products are designed initially to be a price point on the shelve. They then use inferior ingredients and add in more $$ for advertising the product. So that 9.99 wax at Wally World likely cost about 3.00 at best. Boutique products use better ingredients and dont answer to analysts on price point.
 
I trust that we all know that the price one prays for any product, whether over-the-counter or boutique, is set by supply and demand. It would be interesting to learn what it costs the respective companies to make Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell, Meguiar's NXT, Pinnacle Souveran, Dodo Juice Supernatural, and Zymol Vintage. I imagine we would all be surprised.

We usually assume that the more expensive a product is, the more it costs the manufacturer to make; but this is not always the case. Sometimes people are simply willing to pay more for a specific product, even though comparable if not superior products are available for purchase at less cost. Consider how much money are willing to pay for a Monster HDMI cable at Radio Shack, when they could buy a fully functional no-name equivalent through Amazon.com for a quarter of the price. I have always bought Levi's, even though I know that I am paying more for the "name." Heck if I know why I insist on Levi jeans. I just do.
 
I know that ingredients make the product better. It's as simple as that. I'm not sure about all the different prices. I have a jar of Natty's Blue right now that cost me $20. I also have 8 samples of Dodo Juice in which reputable sources have told me (through trying many many different waxes on their own) that I will probably not see any difference in my Natty's vs. Dodo Juice Blue Velvet for example. What makes it the preferred product is really up to the user. I know a guy who won't use Supernatural, no matter how many people say it's a great wax. Then you have other guys who swear by Supernatural. It's what you enjoy using and what you think makes your car look the best.
 
I've also read on other sites of Pro Detailers who first used the high end products but as time went on actually settled into the OTC stuff for their businesses and personal use. They've posted pictures of their work and turnarounds and I must say, looked as mirror finish and Detail God as anything else. But as said above, it's what works for you that ultimately counts. There are those among us who can't or won't live without their bling, while others get by just fine with little or nothing at all. Personally, I like a little of both worlds.
 
joshs07redss said:
I know that ingredients make the product better. It's as simple as that. I'm not sure about all the different prices. I have a jar of Natty's Blue right now that cost me $20. I also have 8 samples of Dodo Juice in which reputable sources have told me (through trying many many different waxes on their own) that I will probably not see any difference in my Natty's vs. Dodo Juice Blue Velvet for example. What makes it the preferred product is really up to the user. I know a guy who won't use Supernatural, no matter how many people say it's a great wax. Then you have other guys who swear by Supernatural. It's what you enjoy using and what you think makes your car look the best.
Click to expand...
you mean you won't buy SuperNatural, but you will give it a try if someone else sends you a sample, right???
SuperNatural is a nice wax, but I personally don't think it's really any better then Fuzion...and I like Fuzion a lot!!!
One of my favorite waxes is Rubbish Boy's Original Edition, AG now carries it in a sample pot. It requires a different application, you either apply it by hands, or use a hair dryer to melt wax, and then apply...by results are superb! And so it durability.
 
supercharged said:
you mean you won't buy SuperNatural, but you will give it a try if someone else sends you a sample, right???
SuperNatural is a nice wax, but I personally don't think it's really any better then Fuzion...and I like Fuzion a lot!!!
One of my favorite waxes is Rubbish Boy's Original Edition, AG now carries it in a sample pot. It requires a different application, you either apply it by hands, or use a hair dryer to melt wax, and then apply...by results are superb! And so it durability.
Click to expand...
I just tried RBOE last night for the first time. WOW! IT looks great, but that is one hard wax to apply. I need to master that application method. I'll try the scrapping method for the second coat.
 
bunyz06rabbitt said:
I've also read on other sites of Pro Detailers who first used the high end products but as time went on actually settled into the OTC stuff for their businesses and personal use. They've posted pictures of their work and turnarounds and I must say, looked as mirror finish and Detail God as anything else. But as said above, it's what works for you that ultimately counts. There are those among us who can't or won't live without their bling, while others get by just fine with little or nothing at all. Personally, I like a little of both worlds.
Click to expand...


proper prep is going to do more for any finish than even the best waxes alone. Remember when you get into higher products they often specialize in one area versus an AIO on all.

Detailers are paid by the job, it is in their favor to use cheaper products to put more $$ in their pocket. But they must all measure how to win back the client again and again.

Most higher boutique waxes will have very little in differences against competitors. Nuances at best. Out of all the high dollar offerings, I still find myself back at Souveran Paste. And at 100.00 for two tubs under the VIP offering this week, its a steal even against those 200-500$ offerings.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
proper prep is going to do more for any finish than even the best waxes alone. Remember when you get into higher products they often specialize in one area versus an AIO on all.

Detailers are paid by the job, it is in their favor to use cheaper products to put more $$ in their pocket. But they must all measure how to win back the client again and again.

Most higher boutique waxes will have very little in differences against competitors. Nuances at best. Out of all the high dollar offerings, I still find myself back at Souveran Paste. And at 100.00 for two tubs under the VIP offering this week, its a steal even against those 200-500$ offerings.
Click to expand...
True that. Souveran is the one of the best. I also like Fuzion, RBOE, and SuperNatural...Collinite 915 is also on that list...
 
Call me old fashioned but I try and stick to one brand and learn all I can about the product line and what to expect as a final result when properly applied. As mentioned earlier in this thread, prep work is 90%+ of the results you will end up with.Changing from this brand to that brand will cofuse the average hobby detailer like myself. Now take into mind that I would probably be doing this post on a typewriter instead of a laptop if it weren't for some prodding from my kids.
Just something to ponder when looking at the various product lines available to the detailer today.As Meguiars' Mike Phillips would say "Find something you like and use it often".
 
2old2change said:
Call me old fashioned but I try and stick to one brand and learn all I can about the product line and what to expect as a final result when properly applied. As mentioned earlier in this thread, prep work is 90%+ of the results you will end up with.Changing from this brand to that brand will cofuse the average hobby detailer like myself. Now take into mind that I would probably be doing this post on a typewriter instead of a laptop if it weren't for some prodding from my kids.
Just something to ponder when looking at the various product lines available to the detailer today.As Meguiars' Mike Phillips would say "Find something you like and use it often".
Click to expand...
very true. I did the same thing, and still am doing the same thing with some stuff. Menzerna polishes - no need to try others...although Megs #105/205 are not bad either I'm hearing...But you always wanna leave some space to grow...You don't wanna stick with Megs red bottle QD and tell everyone it is the best you have tried...it might mean you haven't tried the good brands yet...Matter of fact I find Clay lube and QD made using Optimum NO RINSE to work better then red bottle QD...and more cost efficient...I like Megs Detailer line, and pro line, but find consumer line simply for newbies and Saturn owners...I don't understand how some Megs users say NXT/Gold Class wash is the best, when they haven't even tried Shampoo Plus...they simply believe what is the best from being told what is the best...
But 90% is the prep, in which 80%-85% goes to your skill level, 5%-10% products you used...and the last 5%-10% to LSP you used and your technique with that LSP.
 
Not saying that I won't try new products but only if what I'm presently using puts a smile on my face that is looking back at me in the reflection from my car then I will think twice at changing. I won't usually preach that any given product is the bomb but only that it does what I purchased it for.
 
2old2change said:
Call me old fashioned but I try and stick to one brand and learn all I can about the product line and what to expect as a final result when properly applied. As mentioned earlier in this thread, prep work is 90%+ of the results you will end up with.Changing from this brand to that brand will cofuse the average hobby detailer like myself. Now take into mind that I would probably be doing this post on a typewriter instead of a laptop if it weren't for some prodding from my kids.
Just something to ponder when looking at the various product lines available to the detailer today.As Meguiars' Mike Phillips would say "Find something you like and use it often".
Click to expand...


There is certainly something to be said for using the same line as all the products are often designed to work in unison together.

I prefer to test them all, and then how to get the best combo from the grouping. But as you offered, find something you like and use it often. Its often a hobby afterall ...
 
supercharged said:
you mean you won't buy SuperNatural, but you will give it a try if someone else sends you a sample, right???
SuperNatural is a nice wax, but I personally don't think it's really any better then Fuzion...and I like Fuzion a lot!!!
One of my favorite waxes is Rubbish Boy's Original Edition, AG now carries it in a sample pot. It requires a different application, you either apply it by hands, or use a hair dryer to melt wax, and then apply...by results are superb! And so it durability.
Click to expand...

I just got the Dodo Juice sample 8 pack. Yeah I was a little bumbed that Supernatural wasn't in it, but it also sweats and I don't want to deal with that. From what I've heard, their other waxes won't. I'll have to try and see. But like you said, you don't think it's any better than Fuzion, and I probably won't think Blue Velvet is any better than Natty's. We'll see though. We all just love trying waxes on here haha.
 
Supernatural has its own sampler and I believe its included in one of the newer sample packs also. (just an update)
 
Detailers that started using high end products than switched to OTC products??? Then they wouldn't get my business. I know what the difference looks like with a fresh coat of DG 105 applied over a properly prepped paint job. Just read my thread on 'Automagik'...And its not like DG is extremely expensive. Actually cheaper than some OTC products and it works. I love pulling my car into local Car "Boutiques" and parking it next to their 'freshly' Automagik detailed cars and seeing first hand the difference.
 
First, I'm an amateur at this. Second, it's a hobby. Having said that my guess is that it's not what a car looks like after it's been detailed, it's how that car looks a month later. I took my daughter's red Civic over to Anthony's Concours Auto Salon in San Antonio. He showed me how to detail the outside of her car using Optimum products. 3 months later and it still looks Hot! She's in from college, I'll use Optimum Car Wash before she goes back and her car will look fantastic. (I will top it off with a little Soveran Paste.)
 
The majority of your shine and finish is the prep work before hand. The higher end stuff i find for the most part are alot easier to apply and remove. Also they do not stain trim which most OTC stuff does. Now some carnaubas will give great depth while others make metallic flakes pop like crazy.Iv just personaly witness it today when i applied Souveran to my World Rally blue WRX.It has metallic flake in the paint which i can still see but i have to be up close to see it.When i added Signature Series II the last time i waxed it you could tell from 10 feet away that it has metallic flake. So depending on personal preference most waxes are very simular.
 
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