With all the different choices and products and of course a limited budget how did you guys/gals choose the products you use? I have been looking for a few things and I just feel overwhelmed with all the different choices and really do not want to "waste" my money on something that may not work as well or spend too much money when something is cheaper but works better. So confusing. It is not really a bad thing with all the options, I'm just finding it overwhelming
Overwhelming; how'd you choose?
- Thread starter scott5
- Start date
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
- 17,056
- 1,347
Well, the good news, is, within these "boutique" products, it's hard to find a bad one. But, as Dan Tran asked, what are you trying to do?
Boejoula
New member
- Nov 20, 2015
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My goal is show car/high end car paint corrections. I know that I will have to start out with production and take what I can get. I did a bunch of reading on here and chose Menzerna polishes, flex tools, and then mix and matched the rest to meet my needs while trying to keep my cost down.
Obviously to get to the clientele I want I will have to put out a good product for production as well so for this reason I chose the Menzerna and flex combo. Get used to the products now so when those cars come in, I already know what works best together and am familiar with the usage.
Spray wax I went with Meguiars detailer series. It's a decent brand name and invented for just the final wipe down. For this reason I felt no need to buy an expensive spray wax. If my initial correction steps are good, then I should be able to final wipe with water and still be happy.
For decontamination I have DP clay lubricant and clay. I plan on ordering the little nanoskin pieces to make things go faster. I plan to use the nanoskin when the car is wet after I wash it and touch up with the clay and lube after I dry.
I have plans for everything else but I'll stop here. You have to determine your goals and then figure out the best route to get there.
Obviously to get to the clientele I want I will have to put out a good product for production as well so for this reason I chose the Menzerna and flex combo. Get used to the products now so when those cars come in, I already know what works best together and am familiar with the usage.
Spray wax I went with Meguiars detailer series. It's a decent brand name and invented for just the final wipe down. For this reason I felt no need to buy an expensive spray wax. If my initial correction steps are good, then I should be able to final wipe with water and still be happy.
For decontamination I have DP clay lubricant and clay. I plan on ordering the little nanoskin pieces to make things go faster. I plan to use the nanoskin when the car is wet after I wash it and touch up with the clay and lube after I dry.
I have plans for everything else but I'll stop here. You have to determine your goals and then figure out the best route to get there.
WAXOFF
New member
- Jun 17, 2012
- 1,283
- 0
When I first got back into this I bought a lot a different products. Some of which I don't use much. After a while trial and error and suggestions on here will get you on track. Everyone is different and has a different view of the final product. What looks good to some people looks like crap to me but to each his own. Buy some basic stuff and work up from there. I will say that I started with a PC and then got a FLEX 3401. If i would have known about the difference the PC would have never been purchased.
Mantilgh
New member
- Dec 6, 2014
- 2,724
- 1
Yep, just start out with the basics for what you have to have and do some reading and note taking here. Meguiars products are a good place to start. I went with mostly Optimum products, but just about every brand sold here is great with maybe a slight edge going to a few ones here and there.
Or ask if you have something specific you are looking for, but you will typically get a lot of different answers because there are so many good products out there.
Or ask if you have something specific you are looking for, but you will typically get a lot of different answers because there are so many good products out there.
I can probably get better results with a generic department store brand product then someone who does not use correct technique using top tier products.
It is really 90% technique 10% product.
The higher end products tend to last longer but may be a bit more tricky to use properly.
For example, I LOVE Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant but like wax I need to use care keeping it off that black plastic. It will show up several weeks later.
I LOVE Wolfgang Deep Gloss Spritz Spray Sealant for a great re-seal and dancing rain drops on my hood in the morning that lasts for months but it has less lubricity so I use Maguires Detail spray for removing bird poop like some of the other products.
If you are a bit irregular on your car waxing I recommend a cleaner wax like Zymol but then top it with a the Spritz sealant.
I just finished both my car and my wife's car today. Hadn't washed them in a month and they still looked good. I did my two bucket wash, then hit them with the spritz sealant, did the tires and rims and they are good to go.
Need to detail my mother-in-laws car that sits under trees and has not been washed for several months. After I am done washing it I will make the determination of either polish, cleaner wax or sealant.
Most all the products we see on here are good, can't go wrong with any of them. When people say one is better than the other the results are still pretty darn close so very subjective.
It is really 90% technique 10% product.
The higher end products tend to last longer but may be a bit more tricky to use properly.
For example, I LOVE Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant but like wax I need to use care keeping it off that black plastic. It will show up several weeks later.
I LOVE Wolfgang Deep Gloss Spritz Spray Sealant for a great re-seal and dancing rain drops on my hood in the morning that lasts for months but it has less lubricity so I use Maguires Detail spray for removing bird poop like some of the other products.
If you are a bit irregular on your car waxing I recommend a cleaner wax like Zymol but then top it with a the Spritz sealant.
I just finished both my car and my wife's car today. Hadn't washed them in a month and they still looked good. I did my two bucket wash, then hit them with the spritz sealant, did the tires and rims and they are good to go.
Need to detail my mother-in-laws car that sits under trees and has not been washed for several months. After I am done washing it I will make the determination of either polish, cleaner wax or sealant.
Most all the products we see on here are good, can't go wrong with any of them. When people say one is better than the other the results are still pretty darn close so very subjective.
- Thread starter
- #9
I have a Porter cable and LC pads with 105/205 and have used it with some good results but it just seems like it takes me too much time or with the weather conditions hard to work with. I always wonder if there is a better product to help me speed up the process.
Like stated above I would like to do this on the side with normal vehicles as well as the vehicles that are people's pride and joys. I know how long it takes to do my vehicles so when I tell someone it takes x amount of time they look at me like how the heck should it take that long. Also time is money and products that are expensive make me need to work faster but I also do not want to rush it. I have also been learning that I should have two different setups as far as cleaning a daily driver compared to a vehicle that never gets driven only to special events and needs to look perfect (also price difference)
Like stated above I would like to do this on the side with normal vehicles as well as the vehicles that are people's pride and joys. I know how long it takes to do my vehicles so when I tell someone it takes x amount of time they look at me like how the heck should it take that long. Also time is money and products that are expensive make me need to work faster but I also do not want to rush it. I have also been learning that I should have two different setups as far as cleaning a daily driver compared to a vehicle that never gets driven only to special events and needs to look perfect (also price difference)
zmcgovern45
New member
- Sep 5, 2012
- 3,443
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As someone who gets to try a ton of new products as they are introduced, I'll just say you shouldn't get too worked up about it.
There are a million products out there, and there is no product in each category that is absolutely better than the rest. Simple as that.
Some people will like Product X, others will like Product Y... in the long run, you just have to try things and decide what you personally like.
-Zach
There are a million products out there, and there is no product in each category that is absolutely better than the rest. Simple as that.
Some people will like Product X, others will like Product Y... in the long run, you just have to try things and decide what you personally like.
-Zach
KBsToy
Active member
- Jul 4, 2011
- 1,490
- 0
dlc95
Well-known member
- May 18, 2013
- 6,062
- 26
I keep it simple. The two polishing liquids I continually reach for are the Ultimate twins from Meguiar's.
M105 is too finicky for me. M205 is great, but I get just as good results from UP.
The Menz stuff is fantastic, but is a lot "thicker" than the megs. If feel that the megs spreads out farther, and is more user friendly. I also like using the SMAT style abrasives, especially for cutting.
I have machines from the "big 3" tool makers (flex, rupes, porter cable), and I usually do everything on the PC, with green, and blue Buff and Shine pads for cutting and polishing respectively.
That is home base for me, the starting point. From there I branch out.
My personal approach is to learn as much about the product I'm using before moving to a new one. There's nothing I dislike more than having more than I need. Marketing is a son of a gun.
M105 is too finicky for me. M205 is great, but I get just as good results from UP.
The Menz stuff is fantastic, but is a lot "thicker" than the megs. If feel that the megs spreads out farther, and is more user friendly. I also like using the SMAT style abrasives, especially for cutting.
I have machines from the "big 3" tool makers (flex, rupes, porter cable), and I usually do everything on the PC, with green, and blue Buff and Shine pads for cutting and polishing respectively.
That is home base for me, the starting point. From there I branch out.
My personal approach is to learn as much about the product I'm using before moving to a new one. There's nothing I dislike more than having more than I need. Marketing is a son of a gun.