DFB's Garage

Having ran the updated wide-mouth MTM foam cannon for a few months now, I've been very happy with the improved usability brought on by the wide mouth bottler. But there is one problem I have encountered, something I actually discovered very quickly.

I use a foam cannon for wheel cleaning. I'm also seated when, with the stool and bucket on wheels so I can shuffle from wheel to wheel without getting up. With a bucket full of water and tools, there was nowhere to put the foam cannon when not in use. The solution was a bracket to hang the foam cannon off the side of the bucket, something that took me ages to find at a reasonable cost, I even contemplated having someone make me one.





You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered the updated MTM bottle and cap arrangement was not compatible with either the Maxshine or MTM bracket. I can't see how an updated version of either bracket would work considering the lack of clearance between the foam cannon body and the black adaptor cap. So, I've been back to fumbling from wheel to wheel managing the stool, the pressure washer gun/hose, bucket and foam cannon.



Recently, I came across these quick connect wall brackets. As usual, where were these when I was looking for them a year ago, perhaps I'm just ahead of the curve?

Amazon.com

Anyway, these are actually very cost effective and function differently to other quick connects. Rather than lowering the collar to insert or release a fitting, these are spring loaded, so you simply push the fitting in to have it lock in place, then pull back to release.





The plan was to mount the bracket to my detailing stool, which will have the foam cannon resting between my legs for quick and easy retravel. After checking clearance to the floor, I secured the mount with screws.





Problem solved! :dblthumb2:
 
After a week of lovely sunny days, naturally, it just had to rain for my "weekend". :nothappy Rather than rearranging the garage and getting clean cars wet in order to get the Mustang into the wash bay (read - driveway), I decided to go rinse-less today.



One of the things I love about detailing is that there are many ways to reach the same conclusion.................a clean, shiny car. After laying into the brakes pretty heavy yesterday, the front wheels were just too dusty to go untouched. Normally when doing rinse-less, I would give the wheels a blast with the pressure washer and either washed as usual, or give the wheel faces a wipe down with whatever rinse-less I was using. Not wanting to play musical cars, I left the car where it was, filled a bucket with a solution of NV Snow and my usual brushes, then without the machine turned on, I used the pressure washer hose and gun fitted with a rinsing tip. After a pre-rinse, I scrubbed the tyres with Green Star, then cleaned each wheel before rinsing again and applying Atom Mac to the rotors. This proved to be a relatively mess free solution.

For the rinse-less wash, I went with ONR again today, then dried with a few spritzes of Meguiar's Last Touch. The door jambs got a quick wipe over, again using Last Touch. Glass was attended to using True Vue, wheels blown dry and wiped with NV Boost, tires dressed with OG TD. Final step was a quick vac of the driver's floor mat and an interior wipe down with Carpro InnerQD.

Refreshed and back under its cover, all without moving cars and creating more work for myself.
 
The Ranger missed it's wash last week after lending it to a family member. Covered in road grime from a few rainy days, plaster dust and potting mix in the tray, muddy floor mats.................it's been a while since the Ranger has been this dirty.

The tires got scrubbed with P&S Undressed, I even scrubbed the visible section of the spare tyre, then the wheel and wheel arch foamed with Brake Buster. The ADS coating is doing a splendid job on these wheels, making them super easy to clean.

It was then onto the pre-soak, Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam, the cold and overcast conditions meant a long dwell time was possible. I normally just hose out the tray, but today I foamed it down too, then went over the sides and rubber mat with the Detail Factory Fender Brush.

After a through rinse, I re-foamed with DIY Incredible Suds for the contact wash.



Flowing the post wash rinse, I went over the tray, wheels and wheel arches with Carpro Hydr02 Lite. After a blow down, I followed with OG Drying Aid and the Microfiber Madness Chipmunk Jr. The engine bay, door jambs and tray were then wiped/dried with Carpro ECH20, glass wiped down with Stoner Invisible Glass.

After a vacuum, I went over the interior with P&S Swift. Instead of removing the floor mats, I simply vacuumed the loose debris and then soaked them down with Swift and scrubbed with a multi-purpose towel. Swift is so good on rubber floor mats, providing just enough "enhancement" without making them slippery.

Returning to the exterior, the wheels got a quick onceover with NV Boost v1, tyres re-dressed with OG Tire Dressing. Finally, I sprayed Meguiar's Hyper Dressing on the spare tire................yes, yes, I know.

 
DFB said:
Having ran the updated wide-mouth MTM foam cannon for a few months now, I've been very happy with the improved usability brought on by the wide mouth bottler. But there is one problem I have encountered, something I actually discovered very quickly.

I use a foam cannon for wheel cleaning. I'm also seated when, with the stool and bucket on wheels so I can shuffle from wheel to wheel without getting up. With a bucket full of water and tools, there was nowhere to put the foam cannon when not in use. The solution was a bracket to hang the foam cannon off the side of the bucket, something that took me ages to find at a reasonable cost, I even contemplated having someone make me one.





You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered the updated MTM bottle and cap arrangement was not compatible with either the Maxshine or MTM bracket. I can't see how an updated version of either bracket would work considering the lack of clearance between the foam cannon body and the black adaptor cap. So, I've been back to fumbling from wheel to wheel managing the stool, the pressure washer gun/hose, bucket and foam cannon.



Recently, I came across these quick connect wall brackets. As usual, where were these when I was looking for them a year ago, perhaps I'm just ahead of the curve?

Amazon.com

Anyway, these are actually very cost effective and function differently to other quick connects. Rather than lowering the collar to insert or release a fitting, these are spring loaded, so you simply push the fitting in to have it lock in place, then pull back to release.





The plan was to mount the bracket to my detailing stool, which will have the foam cannon resting between my legs for quick and easy retravel. After checking clearance to the floor, I secured the mount with screws.





Problem solved! :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

That's one excited seat! Make sure the neighbours don't mistake the tip for something else.:wowwow:
 
oneheadlite said:
Flashbacks to the Bowden's April Fools video...
Click to expand...

What! April fools? No one told me I shouldn't be washing cars like that, no wonder the neighbors took these photos and sent them to Bowdens.................................



 
Despite the evil winter weather outside today, I had two cars to do and new products to test, so the show had to go on!



With the exception of the truly wonderful OG Drying Aid and NV Onyx, the above is all new to me. It's been a while since I went on a mass shopping spree for new products, in recent months I have focused on burning through some of my backlog of stock.

The main reason for these two orders was to try out some of the modern wash-and-coat style soaps on the market, which will ultimately be added to my soap review thread once I get through with testing. These soaps have never really been on my radar, mostly because they are largely redundant in my style of detailing. But I do see where and when these can be useful, and after being quite impressed with P&S Radiance, I wanted to explore the concept further.

First up was Ethos Ceramic Shampoo.



The "cucumber-melon" scent of Ceramic Shampoo is quite subdued compared to other Ethos products, and has a medium consistency when pouring. Unlike other "ceramic" shampoos I have tried, this product actually foams.........................



So, having it properly foam immediately made it a winner for me. I ended up using Ceramic Shampoo to wash the wheels and the paint, its slick and rinses freely. Because the Jaguar is coated with Gyeon Pure EVO, it was always going to be difficult to tell how much it left behind. The following line printed on the label provides a clue......................

.....You will notice gloss, shine and water repellency increase with each use. Hydrophobic effects increase with every wash, water beading effect does not appear instantaneously upon first use.
Click to expand...

That is something noted in a couple of videos I watched prior to ordering this soap. So, if you buying this soap thinking it will instantly transform bare paint, look elsewhere. But I really liked using this soap, the fact it foams is its best feature compared to competitor soaps. Speaking of which..................

Carpro Hydr02 Foam takes their successful Hydr02 spray and rinse sealant and mixes it with a pH neutral soap. Like Reset, this product is a clear, runny liquid. Unlike Reset and despite the name, Hydr02 Foam doesn't actually foam.





Compared to Ethos Ceramic Shampoo, Hydr02 Foam is said to last up to 3-months, Carpro clearly choosing longevity over foamability here. The above shot was taken seconds after application, the foam generated is super thin and simply does not cling to the surface of the vehicle. I actually aborted using this soap to clean the wheels, grabbing Brake Buster instead.

Hydr02 Foam(ish) is decently slick, but overall, I just couldn't get past the lack of foam on the surfaces I was cleaning. I think I will reserve this soap for neglected customer cars as a final step instead of maintenance washing my own coated vehicles.

Onto another Carpro product, their new Darkside Brush.





This is an ultra-soft, ultra dense brush for applying dressing to tyres and trim. Carpro have branded this as a companion to their solvent based Darkside tyre sealant, which is ultra sticky and requires a effort to properly apply. I didn't actually use it with Darkside today, instead grabbing KCx Plast Star, the density of bristles and how they hold their form makes it ideal for getting into that ledge between the wheel and edge of the tyre.

This brush is hardly unique to Carpro though, so if you aren't the brand snob I am, you can often get this brush cheaper from Amazon, eBay and Temu. Although having said that, its not like Carpro are asking that much for this brush.

And finally, 3D SiO2 Ceramic Matte Tire dressing.



This is hardly a unique concept, there are now plenty of "ceramic" tyre dressings on the market including Carpro Perl and Darkside, OG Tire Dressing, Gyeon Tire, even Meguiar's has one now. For the most part, the addition of Si02 improves durability and increases the darkening effect. What drew my attention was the promise of a matte finish, which as you can see, was not really achieved on the Ranger's Michelin Agilis, but that's a common theme with those tyres. I did however love how easily this creme-like product applies and spreads, and the heady fragrance a real treat, the same used in 3D Bead it Up. They also make a high gloss version if that is more your style..............

The GLW series from 3D is relatively new to the market, a range focused on the enthusiast market instead of the bulk-focused professional user. In addition to the tyre dressing, I also decided to try the Ceramic Wash and Ultimate Wash shampoos.
 
Deyon i just bought some Carpro ECH2O and would like to know what's the dilution for engine bay plastic.

1:15
 
I know I'm not supposed to flog non-AG brands here, but I'm soooo excited to see the full line of ADS products has finally gone on sale in Australia.

Armour Detail Supply (ADS) are only a young company, but they have certainly made an impact, many calling them the next Carpro or Koch Chemie. What I love about this company is the gusto they have brought to the industry, a young bloke with a passion and drive to succeed....................and its paying off.

While the coating line has been available for a few months now, including THE best wheel coating on the market, the maintenance line has only just arrived. I basically ordered one of everything to sample and I can't wait to try them out, especially the above-mentioned Hero rinse-less wash and Amplify quick detailer. I haven't been this excited for a new detailing brand for a while now.
 
Tasmania said:
Deyon i just bought some Carpro ECH2O and would like to know what's the dilution for engine bay plastic.

1:15
Click to expand...

I have ECH20 mixed at 15:1 for anything I'm "waterless washing" like door jambs, engine bays, tray sides ect.

I like ECH20 for engine bays because it works on everything, from the plastics to painted surfaces. If you are using it to "dress" engine bay plastics, just don't expect a night and day difference, its more of a subtle enhancement.

 
DFB said:
I have ECH20 mixed at 15:1 for anything I'm "waterless washing" like door jambs, engine bays, tray sides ect.

I like ECH20 for engine bays because it works on everything, from the plastics to painted surfaces. If you are using it to "dress" engine bay plastics, just don't expect a night and day difference, its more of a subtle enhancement.

Click to expand...

Cheers Boss!
 
These are the wheels that will come on my S650, which will be black because I ordered the Black Package (Night Pony Package). I hate them.......................................





Unlike other markets, Australian customers have no choice of wheels other than having them in Carbonized Gray (standard) or black as part of the Black Pack.

I would love a set of the optional Y-Spoke Performance Pack wheels, which are the same sizing with a machined face and Tarnished Dark finish. Being an OEM wheel, it's very unlikely any of the Mustang modifying companies in Australia importing these, and it would be very difficult to import them myself as the import taxes above $1000 are extremely steep............................ask me how I know this.





I also really like the Darkhorse wheel..............................



Last night I found an aftermarket 20-inch forged version of the Darkhorse wheel, which are painted satin grey. Two things make me hesitate, one I would prefer a gloss finish, and the $5500 price for a set of four. That's before tires.

https://www.mustangmotorsport.com.au/products/mms-forged-2015-24-dark-horse-wheel-set





I sort of back myself into a corner with wheels as I prefer an OEM look. For the first time, I have been considering aftermarket wheels, but as usual, the ones I like are not sold here, have been discontinued or simply too expensive.
 
Can you just get them powder coated in that charcoal gray, they look great in that color! The wheel style is AMAZING looking Deyon, do you not like the style

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 
Of all those I really like the Dark Horse wheels, the ones they're bringing in are not good, way too busy.

As we all know, wheels can make or break the looks of a car, but it's also a very personal choice. I used to work with a guy who had the worst taste in wheels. He'd buy them cheap off eBay or Gumtree then tell how great they looked, one set ended up getting him 3 speed camera fines in the one night, the tyres that came with them were over sized so made his speedo wrong.

I'm not sure I'd go with matt or satin finish either, I just don't know how easy they are to get brake dust off, clear coated machined definitely makes for easier cleaning. I can definitely say don't go powder coated, I'm getting to really dislike the ones I have on the FJ, I'm either going back to the originals, or maybe something with a bronze finish.

Sent from my motorola edge 20 fusion using Tapatalk
 
Klasse Act said:
Can you just get them powder coated in that charcoal gray, they look great in that color! The wheel style is AMAZING looking Deyon, do you not like the style

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Yeah, I just don't like the fussiness of the design, the same reason why I hated the gloss black Performance Pack wheels that came on my S550. So no, I wouldn't drop money on having the color changed on a set of wheels that just don't do it for me.
 
DFB said:
Yeah, I just don't like the fussiness of the design, the same reason why I hated the gloss black Performance Pack wheels that came on my S550. So no, I wouldn't drop money on having the color changed on a set of wheels that just don't do it for me.
Click to expand...
I understand and I'm sure you don't miss those Gloss black mesh wheels

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 
Klasse Act said:
I understand and I'm sure you don't miss those Gloss black mesh wheels

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

When those wheels were clean and ultra glossy, they looked fantastic. But just like anything painted black, that moment was short lived and the second you applied the brake, all your hard work was ruined. I had cleaning them down to a fine art in the end, I just didn't love them enough to warrant the effort.





 
DFB said:
When those wheels were clean and ultra glossy, they looked fantastic. But just like anything painted black, that moment was short lived and the second you applied the brake, all your hard work was ruined. I had cleaning them down to a fine art in the end, I just didn't love them enough to warrant the effort.





Click to expand...
It seems you'd have to clean them several times though

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 
DFB said:
When those wheels were clean and ultra glossy, they looked fantastic. But just like anything painted black, that moment was short lived and the second you applied the brake, all your hard work was ruined. I had cleaning them down to a fine art in the end, I just didn't love them enough to warrant the effort.





Click to expand...
Walking around today I noticed a lot of cars with gloss black wheels, and you're definitely correct, they only look good when they're perfectly clean, and also not scratched. The other thing I noticed was the wheels only look good if the tyres are dressed as well, if the rubber looks bad, the wheels do as well, and it's much more noticeable on gloss black rims than any other colour.

Sent from my motorola edge 20 fusion using Tapatalk
 
It's SOOOOO much work, extra attention to level out hazing, just to get noticeably dirty in a short drive, not all these people have CC brakes and/or pads to help things along

Even on a fun car, I'd never have Gloss black wheels, satin is a little more tolerable, my winter wheels/OEMs have satin black inserts and I'm able to maintain them but it requires paying closer attention

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top