New to detailing

[Lc detailer]

Hi everyone,
i've been lurking here for a few weeks and though I've learned a lot, the number of products available has me just as confused as when I started! Quick background, I have a 12 yr old white Lexus, and a brand new white Honda. They're both daily drivers, and will be lucky to get washed every other week. The Honda will be garaged the other won't. I don't really want to invest in a da or the time to learn to use it ( though the wife's minivan is a lot of surface to hand wax). So the question is what products or kit is a good buy? I've used McGuire's apc, clay, and headlight kits and thought they were pretty good, but not sure what other brands/products I should be looking for. near as I can tell I need:

a good wash (megs ultimate? D111 plus?)
a sealer (megs ultimate liquid wax? Wolfgang 3.0?)
some decent towels ( type/size/number of each?)
then do I need an interior detailer to keep dust down/easy to clean? Does the megs apc work for this?
An auto specific glass cleaner?
tire/wheel cleaner?
iron x?
quick detailer? ( Wolfgang rinseless wash diluted down to a quick detailer strength? The meguire d155?)

i was looking at the meguires ultimate new car kit or the megs detailers essentials kit but not sure they have evrything I would need, or some things I don't . Also cost is somewhat of a consideration $100-$150 would be the most I'd like to spend on all this.

sorry for the long post but I appreciate any advice from those with more expierience than me, which is just about everyone!

 

[Brandon Wetch]

Megs last touch is a nice quick Detailer. Wolfgang 3.0 is one of the best sealants you can buy. For towels, you can't go wrong with the Costco 36 pack of towels.


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[VISITOR]

invest in a DA, your paint will never reach it's full potential and the learning curve is quick...

 

[Lc detailer]

Thanks for the replys!
Good to hear the costco towels will get the job done, after reading some posts I felt I had to buy a bevy of different towels just to wash the car let alone detail it in any way. I'll look at the megs detailer too, thanks for the advice.
I've been looking at da videos and still worry I'd mess it up somehow, maybe I can practice on a friend's beater first. Still not sure if I want to go down the road for our daily drivers, not like I have a Ferrari, just want to keep it nice.

 

[VISITOR]

I've been looking at da videos and still worry I'd mess it up somehow, maybe I can practice on a friend's beater first. Still not sure if I want to go down the road for our daily drivers, not like I have a Ferrari, just want to keep it nice.

doing it by hand will not only be tiresome, but will give you uneven results. let the machine do all the work for you. maybe a fellow member can let you try out their DA if you can post what city/state you live in. i kid you not, but once you try and then get one you'll kick yourself for not getting one sooner (the time is now!). we're not getting any younger. work smarter not harder...

 

[Brandon Wetch]

Thanks for the replys!
Good to hear the costco towels will get the job done, after reading some posts I felt I had to buy a bevy of different towels just to wash the car let alone detail it in any way. I'll look at the megs detailer too, thanks for the advice.
I've been looking at da videos and still worry I'd mess it up somehow, maybe I can practice on a friend's beater first. Still not sure if I want to go down the road for our daily drivers, not like I have a Ferrari, just want to keep it nice.

Too bad nobody else is here in Palm Springs. If you were here I would totally help you out. I got Rupes machines pads and plenty of products.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[VISITOR]

Hi everyone,
i've been lurking here for a few weeks and though I've learned a lot, the number of products available has me just as confused as when I started! Quick background, I have a 12 yr old white Lexus, and a brand new white Honda. They're both daily drivers, and will be lucky to get washed every other week. The Honda will be garaged the other won't. I don't really want to invest in a da or the time to learn to use it ( though the wife's minivan is a lot of surface to hand wax). So the question is what products or kit is a good buy? I've used McGuire's apc, clay, and headlight kits and thought they were pretty good, but not sure what other brands/products I should be looking for. near as I can tell I need:

1. a good wash (megs ultimate? D111 plus?)
2. a sealer (megs ultimate liquid wax? Wolfgang 3.0?)
3. some decent towels ( type/size/number of each?)
4. then do I need an interior detailer to keep dust down/easy to clean? Does the megs apc work for this?
5. An auto specific glass cleaner?
6. tire/wheel cleaner?
7. iron x?
8. quick detailer? ( Wolfgang rinseless wash diluted down to a quick detailer strength? The meguire d155?)

1. hyper wash and dg cwc (only 1 ounce to 3-5 gallons of water)
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiar-s-hyper-wash.html
http://www.autogeek.net/gallon-duragloss-wash.html

2. collinte 845 http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-insulator-wax-845.html

3. gold plush jr's 16x16 (get a dozen) for paint and a bag of *costco kirkland for other non paint related tasks (wheels, engines, interior, etc.) http://www.autogeek.net/gold-plush-jr-towel-12.html

4. *megs quik interior detailer or mckee's 37 fast interior detailer
http://www.autogeek.net/mg13616.html
http://www.autogeek.net/mckees-fast-interior-detail.html

5. *stoners IG (aerosol) or megs perfect clarity are both great http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-glass-cleaner.html
http://www.autogeek.net/stoninglas.html

6. megs acid free wheel & tire cleaner
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-non-acid-wheel-and-tire-cleaner-d-14301.html

7. carpro ironx, mckee's 37 iron remover, and many others to choose from
http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-iron-x-cleaner.html
http://www.autogeek.net/xtreme-iron-remover-x.html
http://www.autogeek.net/griots-garage-synthetic-clay.html

8. yes, you can use wg uber rinseless wash for a number of things including as a QD...
http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-uber-rinseless-wash.html

there are some other changes/choices i can change around above but overall you get the idea. *available otc if you can't wait to order and would like to pick them up locally. another thing to consider is tools like brushes, wash mitts, mf towels, etc..

 

[Eldorado2k]

then do I need an interior detailer to keep dust down/easy to clean? Does the megs apc work for this?
An auto specific glass cleaner?
tire/wheel cleaner?
iron x?
quick detailer? ( Wolfgang rinseless wash diluted down to a quick detailer strength? The meguire d155?)

Yes, APC@10:1 works fine as an interior detailer.
Yes, you'll want to use auto specific glass cleaner.
Tire & Wheel Cleaner: Meguiars D143 Non Acid Wheel & Tire Cleaner work great and can be diluted 2:1 [2 parts water 1 part concentrate]
Iron X? Skip it.
Quik Detailer: Get the Wolfgang Rinseless Wash Concentrate and use it @ 3oz. per Gallon for quik detailer/waterless wash.
Get a waffle weave drying towel and dedicate it to cleaning glass.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I've been looking at da videos and still worry I'd mess it up somehow

Stick with an super safe, entry level polisher like the Griot's Garage 6" DA and watch the below video and you'll do just fine.

This video shows a Porter Cable but the Griot's Garage is the same "type" of polisher it just has more power which you'll like once you get a few detail sessions under your belt.

maybe I can practice on a friend's beater first.

That's a GREAT idea. What I always preach is to practice on something that's NOT IMPORTANT before you start working on something important.

 

[Paul A.]

Lots of great info thus far (as usual)! Let me just say welcome, Lc Detailer.

 

[Lc detailer]

Thanks everyone for some great advice.
Visitor- thanks for your opinion and product recommendations, as I originally said there are so many products out there, I hadn't heard of some you had mentioned. I had to do a little research, but they look like great choices . Question- is the Collinte 845 a wax or a sealer? If it's a wax it could go over a sealer , correct? Would this be recommended, or is it even needed?

Mike- I watched the video along with a few others and I will eventually get the da you recommended but I think I will start by hand first. Except for specific cutting and polishing compounds, most of the products mentioned above can work by hand or da,correct?
Brandon- thanks for the offer. I think the drive back to Northern California might be too far,even for a good detail lesson!

As far as implements, besides towels what would be recommended? I've always applied wax with an old t shirt with varying success. Applicators? A wheel brush of some sort, or is an old microfiber towel enough?
Thanks again for the replies