Tell everyone one of your best detailing secrets!

Cut off the last two feet from an old hose and add a quick connect adapter (all your hoses and accessory's are on quick connects, right?) for easy "sheeting method" rinsing with the smoothest flow of water.

Don't forget the shutoff valve. :dblthumb2:
 
A4 1.8tqm said:
Cut off the last two feet from an old hose and add a quick connect adapter (all your hoses and accessory's are on quick connects, right?) for easy "sheeting method" rinsing with the smoothest flow of water.

Don't forget the shutoff valve. :dblthumb2:
Click to expand...

This definitely sounds like something I want (quick connects and a shut-off valve). Would the shut-off valve be on the end of the hose?
 
I'll chime in...

Since it's best to start at the beginning, my best detailing secret is evaluate the customer first, then evaluate their car

The first thing I like to do is to make sure I can make my customer happy and this means finding out what they're looking for in a detail job. I also want to find out what their expectations are and make sure they're based in reality.

I kid you not but I've met people that think if they pay you a lot of money to buff out their car then afterwards, because they spend a lot of money, the finish should stay perfect forever...

The don't understand that if they run their car through a car wash, machine or by hand, that the swirls will return. So if they don't understand how modern clear coat paints are scratch-sensitive and that a flawless, swirl free finish needs to be taken care of very carefully then it could be were not a good match.

It could be they just need to be educated as to the nature of how clear coat paints work and that's where you find out these kinds of things and that's by evaluating the customer, then evaluate the finish on their car.

You see, you don't want to work for someone that you can't make happy, so evaluate the customer first and make sure you can match your services to their wants and needs, if not then maybe adjust what you offer them or bow out gracefully.

After you secure the job then you can start using all your "secrets"!

:)
 
Secrets should not be told thats why they are called Secrets.
 
MobolWerks said:
Yeah I use the QD on my windows. I have found that some work without streaking (Wolfgang Detail Spritz) and some that do streak (Mothers)

Have you found one in between those price points that works well without the streaks???
Click to expand...

I dont use QDs for my windows so I cant say. I use actual glass cleaners. I dont have problems with streaky windows because I find that it is all in the technique.
 
MobolWerks said:
Lasthope05 said:
If thats the case than I know people use QD as a window cleaner as they dont streak.

Yeah I use the QD on my windows. I have found that some work without streaking (Wolfgang Detail Spritz) and some that do streak (Mothers)

Have you found one in between those price points that works well without the streaks???
Click to expand...
The Clearcoat Spray & Wipe is superb, but AG doesnt sell it. The best QDs I have tried are FK425 and OID. A quart of OID makes a gallon. Both work well on windows. WG Detail Spray is WAY overpriced IMO. OID and FK425 are better regardless of price.
Click to expand...
 
Pledge Citrus is great for an initial dusting of the interior, just spray it on and polish it off and all the dust disappears. Also for getting water out of tight places without a compressor, keep a can of keyboard duster on your detailing shelf. It works great for blowing out the water under mirrors and in grilles.
 
I've used Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer/M135 Synthetic Spray Detailer on the windows in place of Rain-X. Works great as long as you use the right towel. Also used Ultimate Quik Wax on black plastic trim.
 
I use cotton makeup remover pads to apply 303 to the exterior plastics.

I also use 303 on the matte paint used on the wiper arms and paint on the door trim as it leaves them looking fresh and new.

I also use P21s Paint Cleanser to clean and restore the paint on the B pilllar trim.
 
The absolute biggest secret in detailing is that no survey, best friend, or spouse can tell you the best looking wax or sealant made. Sure they can help, but its you that often needs to find the look that you are looking for and desire.

Its also a big secret that your favorite wax or sealant doesnt need to be my favorite sealant. Its ok to like what you like, and for us to differ on our personal opinions. Every product has a weakness and benefits and its up to you and your personal environment to choose it properly.
 
I polish my Wheels using/wearing a cheap .99 Home Depot glove as the polish rag.... you be be surprised how effective this is....
 
Nothing big but I've used tire foam in wheel wells since 1996. Holds up decent and works in a pinch. I've also used 2 towels for quick detail products since then, one for spreading product, one for buffing. This sounds normal to me though.

Another little touch that I like, after cleaning all exterior glass I apply a very thin layer of wax. Then I just follow up with normal washing and apply a quick detailer or quick wax. May not be the best thing for glass but it really helps when you have a rainy season.
 
ive used neverdull to remove over spray from windshield and found that it actually repells water for about 6 months or so.
 
I have been told that peanut butter can be used to remove that stubborn white wax residue from black plastic trim.

Has anyone heard of this?
 
merlin said:
I have been told that peanut butter can be used to remove that stubborn white wax residue from black plastic trim.

Has anyone heard of this?
Click to expand...

correct, its the oils it contains.
 
I have found that folex cleans nasty soiled door panels and other panels of the interior better than an all purpose cleaner in some cases. I think it was made just for carpet stains, but it works well on plastic interior pieces. I was working on a dodge farm truck, and was pre cleaning the door panels with megs all purpose with a detail brush, but after it dried it still looked dirty, so I used the folex with a soft brush and it cleaned alot better.
 
The Peanut Butter trick is actually a trick that misses the mark...

Somehow, somewhere, someway someone posted about using Peanut Butter to remove polish and wax residue and the post spread from there... it continues to this day.

Here's the skinny...

If you have an open jar of peanut butter that's been used, usually you'll see some clear liquid pooling on the top of the peanut butter, this is vegetable oil, it's the vegetable oil in the peanut butter that helps to break-up and dissolve polish and wax residue and also turn faded trim a darker color which will also act to mask the problem.

Here's an old home-remedy for removing gum out of hair, which is a problem that sometimes happens to little kid, or how to get chewing gum out of carpet which is a problem usually caused by little kids, take and work some vegetable oil into the gum and it will act to dissolve it so instead of being a difficult, medium to remove it will break-up and then can be pulled out of or off of whatever it's stuck too...

If I had a jar of peanut butter for every time I've posted the reason why peanut butter is used to remove polish and wax residue I would have a pantry full of peanut butter...

pantryfullofpeanutbutter.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top