The start of properly washing and waxing, tips and advice appreciated

[dondonbabyraptor]

Brandon, one thing you can never (almost never) have enough of...towels of various caliber. If you aren't signed up to get sales info, The Rag Company is a good source, so is Adam's Polishes. One more is some of Amazon Basics items are eerily similar

I will check those out, thanks Terry. I have heard a lot of very not so good things about amazon basic basically seeks the same manufacturer as the distributor they let on their platforms. They then can make the same product but cost less to make and cost less for them to sell than the previous distributors due to the weight they hold as a big company.

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[dondonbabyraptor]

If you have never tried the Griots Garage Clay embedded orbital pad it’s a game changer. This and some speed shine takes that 1hour process down to about 20 minutes.

https://www.griotsgarage.com/product/surface+prep+pad.do?from=Search&cx=0

I’m a Griots fan and have used them since the 3M professional stuff got to be too expensive.

This is my “new to me 2019 XLT” after wash, clay, polish, wax. (All Griots products bought off their website). Three weeks ago.

Beautiful Ranger. Love the shine. I think I will be trying Griot's pad next after this Mother's "speed" clay bar. I keep hearing good things about it and it looks amazing from a design perspective. Thank you for the comment Pete.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Brandon,
you've got enough stuff to start an underground detail service and bail you out of the Money Pit!

Haha. Good thinking, Paul. I have considered offering family members and friends particular shine services. Once I finish my truck and learn a good bit I will try to put back some dirt in my money pit

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

WOW! Amazon loves you! how much did all that sit you back! :-?

Luckily Amazon has one-two day shipping here. Sometimes even same day. You had to make me look and add up all the orders didn't you? I was happier about the products arriving, not the price tally. Just teasing. But, $380.

 

[AzScorpion]

Luckily Amazon has one-two day shipping here. Sometimes even same day. You had to make me look and add up all the orders didn't you? I was happier about the products arriving, not the price tally. Just teasing. But, $380.

Rookie! ?

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Rookie! ?

Unfortunately Amazon does not help with their ease of purchasing products. Soon I will be hitting veteran numbers with an @Amazon tag from you by your sudden new partner. you after securing all major distributors.

 

[AzScorpion]

Unfortunately Amazon does not help with their ease of purchasing products. Soon I will be hitting veteran numbers with an @Amazon tag from you by your sudden new partner. you after securing all major distributors.

Well Terry @FoD has bought so much from my links he now has to supplement his retirement somehow. Now he gets a hefty commission as COO. No worries there my friend as there's an opening for you too.....You're going to need all the extra money you can get! ??

 

[FoD]

Well Terry @FoD has bought so much from my links he now has to supplement his retirement somehow. Now he gets a hefty commission as COO. No worries there my friend as there's an opening for you too.....You're going to need all the extra money you can get! ??

Which is where the Hulkan8ors come into play...

. Look Here

?

 

[CPDKRX]

Hey all,

These forums have made me into a purchasing monster. Today I decided to go on Amazon and create a cart full of beginner car washing goodies. Any further recommendations? What car wash soap do you guys like? What wax or polish you like? Any tips/videos for first time polishing/buffing out/claying?

So far:
303 Graphene (Courtesy of guess who? Dave @AzScorpion)
303 Aerospace Protectant for interior (Same courtesy)
6 inch black &decker random orbit waxer/polisher to remove swirls
3D speed Car Polish and Wax (for swirls)
Chenille Microfiber Brush mop and mitt
Adam's premium Foam Gun (Not the brand but a foam gun was put into my mind by the devil on my shoulder again, Dave)
8 pc car wheel brush set because my wheels are annoying to clean with all those little machined pockets.
Meguiar's X2000 Water Magnet Microfiber (Going to test this out and see how it works versus traditional microfibers)
Mothers California Gold Instant Detailar(For when I clay the truck)
Mothers Speed Clay 2.0(going to try this out versus traditional clay and see if I like the results)

The process I will be going is: (first thoughts process, updated finalized process on page 3)
1. Car wash with foam gun and microfiber brush/mitt and clean wheels with brush. Apply tire shine.
2. Move into garage, dry off with Water Magnet Microfiber
3. Clay bar/Clay 2.0 with Mothers California Gold Instant Detailer as the lubricant to remove tar/water spots and contaminants.
4. Random orbit buff/polish with 3D speed Car Polish and Wax to remove swirls and imperfections. (will a random orbit buffer remove vinyl stickers or safe to use over them?(refer to post below but short answer, masking tape over vinyls do not buff or wax them))
5. Shine Armor Fortify Coat to apply a sealant type material and shine. Removing this step I think, no need for this many waxes/sealants.
6. 303 Graphene as last step. For this I just use a normal microfiber?(yes, wipe on wipe off, square pad applicator for ease recommended by Jack in post below) or can I use the random orbit?

Am I missing any steps? Any additional products I should use?

Please let me know any tips or advice, will be much appreciated as this is my first time jumping into this side of the world.

EDIT: two links are posted below for cleaning tips, one is a 303 graphene thread created by Dave, another is a cleaning/detailing thread found and linked by Terry below. Few more links spreader throughout post, very helpful ones too.

Thanks for reading,
Brandon

Forget the wax...go with https://www.amazon.ca/Meguiars-Hybr...ds=meguiars+ceramic+wax&qid=1626721989&sr=8-3

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Forget the wax...go with https://www.amazon.ca/Meguiars-Hybr...ds=meguiars+ceramic+wax&qid=1626721989&sr=8-3

I like that, will try that after if I don't like the results of 303 graphene. Thanks Dave.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Moved to last page for people who don't want to sift through. Updated step 7 with possible new product if 303 graphene doesn't shine up. But, I am more than confident in 303 graphene.

After reading various comments and helpful tips I created my own process to detailing the truck. By no means I am an auto detailer but I feel I did my fair bit of research.
1. Clean tires and wheel wells. Apply tire shine.
2. Wash truck with meguiars gold car wash(going with a classic oldie but goodie, will try honeydew chem guys if it doesn’t foam enough in the foam gun) going to use two step bucket with grit guard method since I am using a microfiber mitt/brush. Eventually a pressure washer would be perfection to the setup.
3. Bring into garage and dry with Meguair’s drying microfiber. Just kidding, bought a black and decker leaf blower to air dry the truck.
4. Baggie/glove test then clay with optimum/mothers instant detailer.
5. Random orbital buffer + blue foam cutting pad with 3D speed AIO. Maybe orange pad dependent how bad the swirls are.
6. Mother’s CMX paint prepper (would of went optimum but the small bottle isn’t for sale on Amazon)
7. 2 coats of 303 graphene (or Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax - Easy to Use Ceramic Wax Protection or Collonite 845 or Turtle wax Hybrid Ceramix Wax) with chem guys microfiber applicator. Cross hatch pattern and one panel at a time.
8. Finish beer and enjoy the shine.

Best review and detailed guide for 303 graphene from a well known auto detailer. Highly recommend checking this out if you want to use 303 graphene. Appreciate all the responses guys, really helpful to finalize my process. Will update when finished. Sometime mid next week.

https://www.autogeek.net/303-graphene-review-and-guide.html

 

[AzScorpion]

Brandon, I found this in my detailing videos, Scott has some really good videos. In this one he shows you how to polish and what products to use and how to compound without burning through the clear coat.

 

[hthomas49]

Because of Project Farm's review, I went with Turtle Wax Hybrid.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Brandon, I found this in my detailing videos, Scott has some really good videos. In this one he shows you how to polish and what products to use and how to compound without burning through the clear coat.

Thank you Dave. This will be soon very helpful. I just started some of the process. Albeit, a start because I just leaf blew the whole garage to get rid of loose particles. I am still questioning if I want to leaf blow dry my truck because my garage is not the cleanest of things. Might just go old school with the microfibers. You also might be right it could be possibly next month before I clean the car. I don't think I will be going out much these next few weeks. New season in a video game I enjoy, opens up at Friday 1pm so I am trying to get this done this week or else... I will succumb to Dave's prophecy of next month.

 

[dondonbabyraptor]

Because of Project Farm's review, I went with Turtle Wax Hybrid.

Appreciate the link, Tom. I will have to check this out if 303 graphene doesn't turn out how I want it to be.

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