How do you choose a quick detailer?

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SixZee

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This question is more about the fundamentals of application. I was under the impression that most quick detailers are pretty much same with little bit of here and there. But after I read Mike's Spray detailers article (Tips & Techniques for using a Spray Detailer to Remove Light Dust, Fingerprints and Smudges) I noticed that most manufacturers make more than one of them. I wonder what differentiates them (in terms of application). I am not including detailers with waxing abilities like quick waxes.

For example, Meguiars has following spray detailers for sale on AG

  1. Meguiars Ultimate Quik Detailer
  2. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #34 Final Inspection - 16 ounces
  3. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #135 Synthetic Spray Detailer - 16 ounces
  4. Meguiars NXT Generation Speed Detailer - 24 ounces
  5. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #52 Quik Clean Mist & Wipe - 16 ounces
  6. Meguiar's D15501 Last Touch Spray Detailer - 1 gallon

Out of these, where in detailing methods/steps would you use #1 and not #2, so on so forth. Is there any classification (or some sort of guidelines) that guides a detailer to choose one over the other?

I searched on the board but most questions are like, help me pick 'the best'. Everyone's 'best' is different based on their personal criteria (i.e no uniformity) but rarely anyone mentioned 'why' they think it is the best (in terms of detailing application).

I googled and on Meguiar's board I found, Michael Stoops mentions that M34 should be used while compounding. Anything else will impede the correction process. Now that is the information I am looking for.

Is there compilation of such information that anyone can direct me to?

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
I use #1 because its fairly cheap and easily available OTC. I only use it to dry the vehicle after I use a blower to remove the majority of the water off the paint.
 
Bearcats98 said:
I use #1 because its fairly cheap and easily available OTC.
Click to expand...
I use the same too for exactly the same reason, but I am more interested in terms of detailing application like I gave an example of M34 from Meguiar's board. I added clarification in the OP.
 
•How I choose QD’s:

-Meguiar’s “invented” the quick detail spray
category of car-care products (ca.1981).

-First I heard of that was ~1982; and, I’ve been
using one formulation, or another, of Meguiar’s
consanguineous Quik Detail (spray & mist)
products ever since.

-I figure: Why not go with the progenitor?

**************************************

•How I use what I choose:

-I have no problem following Meguiar’s
usage recommendations as outlined on
their product bottles; or, their QD products’
descriptions found on most car-care forums.

-Same goes for Mike Phillips’ recommendations.
[After all: He’s been there, done that.
(RE: @Meguiar’s.)] :xyxthumbs:



Bob
 
#1 and #6 are the same for all important purposes, six being the bulk buy for professionals. These two are favorites for many due to ease of use and decent shine laid down.

I would imagine that these use the similar type of polymer makeup as Meguiar’s Ultimate line (including Ultimate Paste/Liquid/Quik Waxes). This line boasts a lot about hydrophobic qualities and people like the shine they provide.

I’ve never used #2-5, but I have used Good Class Quik Detailer and same can be said about it likely using similar polymers as the GC line (I don’t think it has carnauba but that could have been another addition to separate it from other Meg’s QDs). The Gold Class line boasts about making dark colors darker. There’s carnauba in the paste and liquid waxes. I would use this QD if I was working on a dark vehicle, I suppose (I actually mostly used it only with GC Paste, GC Quik Wax and finally on anything until the bottle was gone to make room on my shelf.

So while it doesn’t totally answer your question, part of the reason there are so many QDs is for companies to give the consumer more choices (and make more sales) and synergy with different lines. How each detailer behaves or ease of use is obviously impacted by what the line’s mission statement is.
 
Since you are choosing among several Meguiars detailers, I suggest you contact Meguiars directly. In my experience, they have excellent customer service and can give you the most accurate info about their products. In my case, once I got the info from Meguiars, I then came back to Autogeek and bought the products here.

The other thing you can do is go to the Meguiars website and find the listing for each product in your list above. When you are on the page for a specific product on the Meguiars website, if you scroll all the way down, you can find a link "view ingredients". The specific ingredients might give you some clues about the differences. For example, The Last Touch appears to contain a gloss enhancer. M34 Final Inspection does not contain the same gloss enhancer but instead contains a glossing agent.

As for choosing a detailer, it really depends on what specific function it is serving you. If you are using the detailer prior to applying a sealant, then you do not want to use one that contains any waxes or gloss enhancers. But if you are using one just to do a light cleaning, then a detailer such as The Last Touch with gloss enhancers would be great.

Personally, I love Meguiars D115 Express Wash and Wax. I use this as a waterless wash and also as a detailer.

Hope that helps.
 
I would never suggest using a quick detailer to do any sort of cleaning, it's not a great idea. It may provide lubrication but it does not pull dirt off of paint the way a waterless wash does.

As a drying aid for washes, it's perfect. It adds a bit of gloss, and depending on the one you use, it may add a bit of protection.

I've used Meguiars Ultimate Detailer when I used their Ultimate Paste Wax "back in the day" and it was great. From what I understand, they were made to add a freshly waxed look to a car with gloss enhancers (synthetic/polymer/carnauba) but they lack the durability or true protection of the actual wax/sealant.
 
FUNX650 said:
•How I choose QD’s:

-Meguiar’s “invented” the quick detail spray
category of car-care products (ca.1981).

-First I heard of that was ~1982; and, I’ve been
using one formulation, or another, of Meguiar’s
consanguineous Quik Detail (spray & mist)
products ever since.

-I figure: Why not go with the progenitor?

**************************************

Bob
Click to expand...


In the early 90s when I first started driving and taking care of my cars I recall my first ever detail spray was from Armor All. It came in a black spray bottle. I wish I remember the name.

That was the first of its kind that I can recall that was available on the shelves of local auto parts stores.
 
SixZee said:
This question is more about the fundamentals of application. I was under the impression that most quick detailers are pretty much same with little bit of here and there. But after I read Mike's Spray detailers article (Tips & Techniques for using a Spray Detailer to Remove Light Dust, Fingerprints and Smudges) I noticed that most manufacturers make more than one of them. I wonder what differentiates them (in terms of application). I am not including detailers with waxing abilities like quick waxes.

For example, Meguiars has following spray detailers for sale on AG

  1. Meguiars Ultimate Quik Detailer
  2. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #34 Final Inspection - 16 ounces
  3. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #135 Synthetic Spray Detailer - 16 ounces
  4. Meguiars NXT Generation Speed Detailer - 24 ounces
  5. Meguiars Mirror Glaze #52 Quik Clean Mist & Wipe - 16 ounces
  6. Meguiar's D15501 Last Touch Spray Detailer - 1 gallon

Out of these, where in detailing methods/steps would you use #1 and not #2, so on so forth. Is there any classification (or some sort of guidelines) that guides a detailer to choose one over the other?

I searched on the board but most questions are like, help me pick 'the best'. Everyone's 'best' is different based on their personal criteria (i.e no uniformity) but rarely anyone mentioned 'why' they think it is the best (in terms of detailing application).

I googled and on Meguiar's board I found, Michael Stoops mentions that M34 should be used while compounding. Anything else will impede the correction process. Now that is the information I am looking for.

Is there compilation of such information that anyone can direct me to?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

This should help.

M135 has been discontinued due to low sales. This was the same as ultimate quik detailer just in a bulk form. UQD is a synthetic polymer detail spray that will leave protection behind.

Final Inspection can be used as a detail spray. It will not leave protection behind. It is no longer used per Mike Stoops statement now that they offer M122 surface prep.

D155 Last Touch is essentially the bulk version of the over the counter Spray Detailer in the maroon bottle. It often comes in the clay lube. D155 can be used as a QD and diluted to a clay lube. Again no protection but contains gloss enhancers.

#52 is dedicated to the marine line.

NXT I never used it but NXT was Meguiar’s first product line into the synthetic market and introduce polymers. The ultimate line evolved from the NXT line.
 
The Guz said:
D155 Last Touch is essentially the bulk version of the over the counter Spray Detailer in the maroon bottle. It often comes in the clay lube. D155 can be used as a QD and diluted to a clay lube. Again no protection but contains gloss enhancers.
Click to expand...
Guz, I thought D155 was professional UQD. Maybe this was an assumption based on D156 / UQD relationship. Not there’s much difference between UQD and maroon bottle QD in my opinion, the former seemingly to be slightly more substantial and polymer loaded IMO.
 
acuRAS82 said:
Guz, I thought D155 was professional UQD. Maybe this was an assumption based on D156 / UQD relationship. Not there’s much difference between UQD and maroon bottle QD in my opinion, the former seemingly to be slightly more substantial and polymer loaded IMO.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately there is no more professional version of UQD with M135 phased out a few years ago. These are both polymer sealants that leave protection behind unlike any of the others. Not too mention Hybrid Ceramic Detailer which also leaves protection behind.
 
Thank you, folks.

It answers my question to some extent. Most of you assumed that I am focused on Meguiars. I am not. I should have clarified more. I just picked up because they had the most number of QDs in Mike's list and they are probably the oldest in business that I am aware of. But every other manufacturer has more than one product, so the question was, what gives? If the manufacturer is making more than one product for the same purpose, they must differentiate between the 2 or more products for the user.

I use QD only for the application of Klasse AIO or sometimes as a drying aid.
 
SixZee said:
Thank you, folks.

It answers my question to some extent. Most of you assumed that I am focused on Meguiars. I am not. I should have clarified more. I just picked up because they had the most number of QDs in Mike's list and they are probably the oldest in business that I am aware of. But every other manufacturer has more than one product, so the question was, what gives? If the manufacturer is making more than one product for the same purpose, they must differentiate between the 2 or more products for the user.

I use QD only for the application of Klasse AIO or sometimes as a drying aid.
Click to expand...

I tried to touch on the “different lines” idea in post #5, which would apply to many brands. I specifically use QDs like Crystal Mist, BF or Mckees if I have a carnauba LSP (because they have carnauba). Or if I had Klasse as LSP for instance, I might use Ultima Acylic WW as a QD. SiO2 LSP, Ill use a ceramic detailer.

So between brand synergy or chemical synergy is what I think makes the most sense for picking different ones.
 
acuRAS82 said:
I tried to touch on the “different lines” idea in post #5, which would apply to many brands. I specifically use QDs like Crystal Mist, BF or Mckees if I have a carnauba LSP (because they have carnauba). Or if I had Klasse as LSP for instance, I might use Ultima Acylic WW as a QD. SiO2 LSP, Ill use a ceramic detailer.

So between brand synergy or chemical synergy is what I think makes the most sense for picking different ones.
Click to expand...

I did read your post and that helped me understand the difference. Thank you for the comment.

In this comment, I was trying to clarify that I should have done in the OP.

Thank you for the suggestion of QD for Klasse application. I will consider it once I am out of the current QD stock. Using Ultima Acrylic WW may end up cheaper.
 
I pulled out my bottle of Gyeon Ceramic Detailer this weekend. This stuff is super slick and soooo easy to use. Much easier to use than Griot's Ceramic Speed Shine I have found. Flashes quickly with no streaking. Good stuff.
 
I ve gone through quite a bit of quick detailers over the past years. I m that guy using something after every car wash or so .

Price is important , but I find most quick detailers dont cost more than 20 $ so its not a deal breaker. However my 3 main areas went looking for a quick detailer are

1 - Easy of use. Nothing worst than a quick detailer that its going to streak and be hard to wipe out
2 - Looks . I want somethig that its going to boost the looks , I dont care about longevity since I m using it so often
3 - Slickness . I want something that its going to leave the surface super slick

I dont think I have a favorite quick detailer and I m not even sure all of this are consider quick detailers but this is what I m using right now

1 Xtreme solution topper - overall this is a great product, the slickness level is up there with beadmaker as well as the gloss. I m liking this product more and more

2 Ps beadmaker or gloss showroom - leaves the most gloss overall ( shinee is probably up there in looks) , beadmaker is not as easy to remove as gloss showroom but its not a quick detailer

3 the last coat amp - probably one of the easiest one to remove , leaves a nice shine, not as slick as beadmaker but its slick. Its a bit expensive , but it is very very easy to use . This is probably the easiest one to use aside from opti clean

4 optimum opti clean - This is an interesting product because i believe this is more of a waterless wash product that cleans and protects at the sametime. I feel more safe using this when my cars have light dust on them rather than the other products above. Its also very easy to removed , it does not streak at all. It leaves a nice smooth surface. I do not think it enhances the shine as much as the products above which is why I usually use this before I use one of the products above on top of it. This is probably the product that I use the most just because of how versitale it is . You could even use it on interiors .

5 tac system shinee - This is not really a quick detailer , but something I may use here and there. Its not the easiest product to work with but it does leave a nice shine , slickness on the surface . Its supposed to be more durable than a quick detailer. Its been on the most gloss product list on many utube channels and I can honestly say that it does that. This is one of the products I like to play with whenever I m detailing a new car or whenever I want something better than a quick detailer on my cars
 
rick100 said:
I ve gone through quite a bit of quick detailers over the past years. I m that guy using something after every car wash or so .

Price is important , but I find most quick detailers dont cost more than 20 $ so its not a deal breaker. However my 3 main areas went looking for a quick detailer are

1 - Easy of use. Nothing worst than a quick detailer that its going to streak and be hard to wipe out
2 - Looks . I want somethig that its going to boost the looks , I dont care about longevity since I m using it so often
3 - Slickness . I want something that its going to leave the surface super slick

I dont think I have a favorite quick detailer and I m not even sure all of this are consider quick detailers but this is what I m using right now

1 Xtreme solution topper - overall this is a great product, the slickness level is up there with beadmaker as well as the gloss. I m liking this product more and more

2 Ps beadmaker or gloss showroom - leaves the most gloss overall ( shinee is probably up there in looks) , beadmaker is not as easy to remove as gloss showroom but its not a quick detailer

3 the last coat amp - probably one of the easiest one to remove , leaves a nice shine, not as slick as beadmaker but its slick. Its a bit expensive , but it is very very easy to use . This is probably the easiest one to use aside from opti clean

4 optimum opti clean - This is an interesting product because i believe this is more of a waterless wash product that cleans and protects at the sametime. I feel more safe using this when my cars have light dust on them rather than the other products above. Its also very easy to removed , it does not streak at all. It leaves a nice smooth surface. I do not think it enhances the shine as much as the products above which is why I usually use this before I use one of the products above on top of it. This is probably the product that I use the most just because of how versitale it is . You could even use it on interiors .

5 tac system shinee - This is not really a quick detailer , but something I may use here and there. Its not the easiest product to work with but it does leave a nice shine , slickness on the surface . Its supposed to be more durable than a quick detailer. Its been on the most gloss product list on many utube channels and I can honestly say that it does that. This is one of the products I like to play with whenever I m detailing a new car or whenever I want something better than a quick detailer on my cars
Click to expand...

You may really like the Gyeon Ceramic Detailer. A guy from Gyeon recommended Wet Coat as base then Ceramic Detailer as a follow up. I have to say it worked very well. The Ceramic Detailer is much nicer to use than the Groit's CSS. The Gyeon is so easy to use, makes the surface incredibly slick.
 
rick100 said:
I ve gone through quite a bit of quick detailers over the past years. I m that guy using something after every car wash or so .

Price is important , but I find most quick detailers dont cost more than 20 $ so its not a deal breaker. However my 3 main areas went looking for a quick detailer are

1 - Easy of use. Nothing worst than a quick detailer that its going to streak and be hard to wipe out
2 - Looks . I want somethig that its going to boost the looks , I dont care about longevity since I m using it so often
3 - Slickness . I want something that its going to leave the surface super slick

I dont think I have a favorite quick detailer and I m not even sure all of this are consider quick detailers but this is what I m using right now

1 Xtreme solution topper - overall this is a great product, the slickness level is up there with beadmaker as well as the gloss. I m liking this product more and more

2 Ps beadmaker or gloss showroom - leaves the most gloss overall ( shinee is probably up there in looks) , beadmaker is not as easy to remove as gloss showroom but its not a quick detailer

3 the last coat amp - probably one of the easiest one to remove , leaves a nice shine, not as slick as beadmaker but its slick. Its a bit expensive , but it is very very easy to use . This is probably the easiest one to use aside from opti clean

4 optimum opti clean - This is an interesting product because i believe this is more of a waterless wash product that cleans and protects at the sametime. I feel more safe using this when my cars have light dust on them rather than the other products above. Its also very easy to removed , it does not streak at all. It leaves a nice smooth surface. I do not think it enhances the shine as much as the products above which is why I usually use this before I use one of the products above on top of it. This is probably the product that I use the most just because of how versitale it is . You could even use it on interiors .

5 tac system shinee - This is not really a quick detailer , but something I may use here and there. Its not the easiest product to work with but it does leave a nice shine , slickness on the surface . Its supposed to be more durable than a quick detailer. Its been on the most gloss product list on many utube channels and I can honestly say that it does that. This is one of the products I like to play with whenever I m detailing a new car or whenever I want something better than a quick detailer on my cars
Click to expand...

Use Eagle One Wipe and Shine. it never streaksn easy to use and its CHEAP.
 
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