Don't post on the AB very often, could someone point me to any threads on detailing? I would like to hear opinions on the best brands / best practices for getting everyone's autos all nice and shiny inside & out.

Interior work - you'll need old toothbrushes, and any attachment with bristles for a vaccuum you can get. Aerospace 303 is my choice for anything plastic.

edit: Leatherique is by far the best leather cleaner and conditioner I've ever used. It cleaned perfectly embedded dirt and grime that Lexol wouldn't even touch.

http://www.leatherique.com/

[This message has been edited by The Fife (edited 7/7/2010 1:14p).]

Most of us here like Zaino products.

Easy to put on and take off, but you can mainly only buy from their store online.

How anal are you about your cars?

I enjoy taking care of my cars (lived in NYC for a few years so I've been w/out a car for a while), so I would like to get back into the game. (And I don't mind spending the time to clean them if that helps)

Wow, Zaino has quite a few products - what would be the "essentials" kit if you were starting from scratch?

here are a few i found searching "zaino"

http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?forum_id=46&topic_id=1610387

http://www.texags.com/main/forum.reply.asp?forum_id=46&topic_id=1132719

AIO, Z-2, Z-5, Z-6 is a good starter kit.

Assuming youre applying by hand? Thats the best way to do it. I've been drooling over the porter cable buffers but still enjoy polishing the car by hand.

You can buy someone else's claybars, Zaino ones are pricey like their foam pads. I like transtar claybars but the others are ok too. You'll need to buy detail spray for lubricant for the claybar, OR, get a large spray bottle, >16-20 oz, with 1 teaspoon of car wash soap mixed with plain water.

As far as glass cleaning, I like stoners with a terry cloth towel.

For plastic and vinyl, I use Aerospace 303 Protectant. 1000X better than Armor all or any of that greasy crap.

Good call - thanks!

Also, if you have leather, the fife chimed in for Leatherique, which is a good product, however, I found that Zainos Leather cleaner and conditioner works awesome too.

Both of our cars are leather - so I will try one of the two mentioned.

From Zaino's website and the linked threads above, I see I will have to learn the Zaino language first!

AIO = All In One

Z-5 brings out the "pop"

Z-2 Seals her up nice

Z-6 Makes it even shinier.

1. Wash the car with dawn the first time you do this.

2. Clay bar the car with your detail spray (home made or what you bought), run the clay bar over the sprayed area, wipe clean, go over the whole car.

3. Apply the AIO, Remove.

4. Apply Z-5, Remove

5. Apply Z-2, Remove

6. Spray with Z-6.

7. ???

8. Profit

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for dark colored cars to get a really deep look.

Catag recently suggested when applying, NOT to apply the product in a circular motion, but in a up and down or left to right only, to minimize scratching. Which I have found, works excellent.

You can spend some big money on detailing towels as well, but I find that clean white terrycloth towels still do fairly well.

Thanks 1ag - I will begin product gathering shortly, and will report back w/ pics.

My car is silver, wife's car is black - for steps 4&5 do you mean

4
4
5
5

or

4
5
4
5

4
5
4
5

A language I understand all too well...

The new auto board catag signal!



[This message has been edited by Street Fighter (edited 7/7/2010 7:24p).]

I don't like clowns...

After some recent disappointment with Meguiar's products I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on the Zaino products.

After shifting though the dizzying amount of acronym and non-nonsensical alphanumeric product nomenclature I've decided to start with the above suggestions listed above, but I do have a couple of questions.

AIO: is this considered a cleaner wax? I'm not really in the need for a clay bar job honestly, but a semi-decent cleaner wax would not hurt I'm sure.

Secondly on the AIO, according to this site at least, you used to be able to apply the Z2 directly over the Z1 without needing to remove the previous coat first. Working on the assumption that AIO now replaces Z1 in the product line up is that still possible? (Less steps for this lazy ******* the better)

As for the Z6, is that only handy between waxes or worth the extra money and time from the beginning?

I've lined up my first black wax job this month, any tips to keep the swirl marks to a minimum? That color honestly scares the crap out of me. Especially since it's not my vehicle.

Muchos Gracias.

quote:

---

I don't like clowns...

---

I get a sign too?!?!

My new car has a "clear bra". How do you handle those? Just wash them? Put wax on it? I've never had one and I'm not sure yet I like the way it looks.

3M Clear Bra:

Maintenance and Care-
1. To clean stains - use a d-limonene based (citrus) cleaner (P12S Total Auto Wash) polish the paint and the clear plastics separately, tape the edges with masking tape. It has a clear coat so it can be cared for like a clear coated paint; use Zaino or Klasse as they will dry ‘clear’. Use Z-14 Plastic Magic Cleaner & Polish™ or Plexus® Plastic Cleaner, Protectant and Polish for maintenance and to remove any finger marks / smudges (avoid the use of abrasives)

2. What can be done about wax build up along the seams and how can I avoid it?
Wax will leave a white line on the seam, it is recommended not to wax over the seams and wax the film and uncovered portions separately to keep from wax build-up. If you accidentally wax over the seam, just use a wet towel and rub it off. Another caution is to avoid buffing over the seams, which creates a noticeable wax line as well.

3. To polish-out scratches- Menzerna Final Polish II, LC White foam pad.

4. To remove ‘clouding’ from the paint under the clear bra; the suns heat, a heat gun or a hairdryer will remove it.

5.Removal -it is not difficult to remove, apply heat to a corner with a hair dryer (not a heat gun) and work slowly to avoid breaking / tearing the vinyl (like any applied vinyl, the longer it’s been applied the more difficult it will be to remove) work slowly and be patient. Detailer’s clay and /or 1:1 Isopropyl Alcohol / distilled water to clean any adhesive residue.

Note:
a) If the film is properly applied to a fully cured painted vehicle, it can be removed, usually in one piece, without damaging the paint surfaces beneath the film by pulling the film at an angle not straight up.

b) Repainted vehicles, paint must be thoroughly dry and completely cured before any attempt to apply film to the vehicle is made, in order to avoid film bubbling (solvent pop) due to paint out-gassing. Check paint body shop and / or paint manufacturer's instructions for recommended cure time and method.

Where do you get Zaino products? I don't recall seeing them at the high quality automotive suppliers in this town.

You have to order them online.

Soap: Dawn if i'm doing paint correction, Megs Gold Class for a normal wash, applied with a foam gun and washed using two bucket method using a high quality microfiber wash mitt.

Tires/wheels: Undiluted Simple Green concentrate

Glass: Stoners glass cleaner

Tire Dressing: Stoners Tire Foam

Plastics: Poorboys World Natural Look

Carpet: Folex ran through Bissell Little Green

Metal: Adams Metal Polish

Drying: Waterblade, air compressor, followed with micro fiber waffle weave towels.

Polishes: Adams, 3m, Poorboys, Optimum, etc.

http://paintcare-n-detailing.com/

http://www.detailcity.com


[This message has been edited by big ben (edited 8/30/2011 6:34p).]

Thanks 1ags

litig8r187 also tape off anything you don't want wax on, in other words, run some blue painters tape along the seam of the clear bra to help with this.

For washing, I don't use buckets anymore. I have 2 hoses -- one regular size hose with a applicator for soap, and the other hose a 3/4" for rinsing. Apply the soap, use microfiber pads for cleaning, then rinse. Usually a half a car at a time.

I'm pushing this thread back from the dead.

Has anyone tried 3D products?

A detailer I follow on social media loves ACA 520 for their single stage Polish entry level details.

Since this thread, I have bought a porter cable 7424XP and use the AIO on my daily drivers, but still. Z5 and Z2 on my garage queens.

Heavier scratches get treated with Meguiars Mirror glaze 2 and 3 depending on how bad they are.

I'm thinking about giving this 3D products stuff a. try.