I'm planning on keeping this truck ('08 DC LTD) and, since the lease deals were terrible, I just bought my wife a new A6 since her lease was up. I have never washed a pickup or a leased car, but plan to start with these two. We hope to keep both for at least 5 years.
So, what do all you fanatics use? I have been reading about the Porter Cable 7424, Lake Country pads and a variety of waxes and polishes. I would love to hear what folks are using (brands included); what you have liked and what you thought was a waste of time and money. We have the time and a large heated garage with hot and cold running water.
Thanks!
I'm no detailing expert but i just bought the PC 7424 kit from autogeek. I got it with the optimum compound, polish, sealant set. It did wonders on a fairly deep scratch that somebody was kind enough to leave on my passenger front door. I haven't had time to do the whole truck yet, but i can tell it'll look great when i do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Keadog
I'm planning on keeping this truck ('08 DC LTD) and, since the lease deals were terrible, I just bought my wife a new A6 since her lease was up. I have never washed a pickup or a leased car, but plan to start with these two. We hope to keep both for at least 5 years.
So, what do all you fanatics use? I have been reading about the Porter Cable 7424, Lake Country pads and a variety of waxes and polishes. I would love to hear what folks are using (brands included); what you have liked and what you thought was a waste of time and money. We have the time and a large heated garage with hot and cold running water.
Thanks!
Take a look at my photo album. I have pictures of what I use when it comes to car detailing. You'll be looking at about $350 to purchase some good detailing equipment.
If you have any questions send me a message.
The PC 7424 or 7336 is going to be your best bet. I also really like the DeWalt 443. I like it better than the PC. Its a little heavier, has more power and wont bog down, and feels better balanced than the PC.
Choices of polishes and sealants and subjective. You'll get quite a few good answers. I'm a huge fan of the Einszettes line up for my polishes. For my sealants I like the Klasse twins, Zaino, Four Star, FK1, P21S/S100 and the Prima line. All work great and are good quality products.
If youre stepping up to a PC or DeWalt, nows the time to shrug off the Wal Mart products and get some good stuff online. I use Detailers Paradise for a lot of stuff as well as Auto Geek and Pak-Shak. Most of those places will have good bundles for you.
Also, nows the time to invest in some quality microfiber towels if you dont already have some. Koreans are the higher quality towels, and are mostly sold online. Detailers Paradise only carries the higher quality MF Koreans. When you get your towels be sure to tear the tags off. I'd get a towel bundle to get you started. It will have a specific towel for each step of the detail... buffing, glass, interior, misting...etc. Check Waynes Towels too, he always has good deals on bundles.
Lake Country is the mainstream pad company that most of us use. Again, a bundle will suit you well. You'll need a yellow, orange, white and black pad for finishing. Yellow will be for heavy cutting, orange for medium cutting, white for light to haze cutting and black will be your softest for finishing or applying sealants. Start off with a bundle (one of each) and work your way up to buying multiples of which ever color you use most often. Orange is my pad of choice and I probably have a stack of 10 of them. I have quite a few whites too. A light misting of the pad with detail spray or distilled water will increase the cutting power.
Car wash shampoo is pretty basic. Once the major detail is done, almost all of them will do the job just fine. Leave the dish soap in the kitchen.
Have total confidence in the PC, it wont damage your paint in any way, unless you drop it on the car. I think you can expect to spend about $350 -400 on your first order to get you started. Thats pretty much a one time deal though, after all the big stuff is purchased, its just extra bottles of polish and sealants here and there.
Best of luck to ya, youre taking a big step here, and once youre done you'll wonder how you ever got along this far with out them.
I would think long and hard before I started power buffing the paint on either vehicle. If it ain't broke don't try to fix it.
Dishwashing soap and a long handled soft bristle brush will clean as well as anything else.
Paint is basicly acrylic/plastic and soft which makes it easy to scratch.
Nu Finish or any liquid spray on protectant will give you a decent shine.
I know others propose a more detailed regiment but the reality of it is your car will not stay clean and you may find your car needing a cleaning weekly.
If the finish on your car is not damaged just wash it clean it and apply a liquid protectant, something that does not require buffing or something like NU finish which is easy to apply.
"Power Buffing" is perfectly fine and a normal practice in higher end detailing
Dishwashing soap and a long bristled brush will A) strip wax B) Dry out seals/paint C) Induce swirl marks
I personally have never heard of "plastic or acrylic paint"
Nu Finish will cause severe micro-marring and will not remove any defects other than oxidation. "Liquid Sprays" are the same, I use them for an added boost to the current wax on the vehicle, but it is not meant to replace normal polishing/waxing.
Your car needs cleaning as much or as little as you feel necessary.
Swirl marks and other defects are paint damage, and will require using a DA or rotary to remove.
I think Jumbo covered everything the OP asked for.
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Showroom Shine Details Premium Automotive Detailing
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7424XP, and Optimum line of polishes. Add in Four Star UPP or the Optimum Spray Wax and your good to go for the paint.
I always recommend to my clients, to use a spray wax after every wash. You have to dry the surface, you might as well apply some protection while drying with a waffle weave.
I would think long and hard before I started power buffing the paint on either vehicle. If it ain't broke don't try to fix it.
Dishwashing soap and a long handled soft bristle brush will clean as well as anything else.
Paint is basicly acrylic/plastic and soft which makes it easy to scratch.
Nu Finish or any liquid spray on protectant will give you a decent shine.
I know others propose a more detailed regiment but the reality of it is your car will not stay clean and you may find your car needing a cleaning weekly.
If the finish on your car is not damaged just wash it clean it and apply a liquid protectant, something that does not require buffing or something like NU finish which is easy to apply.
I would think long and hard before I started power buffing the paint on either vehicle. If it ain't broke don't try to fix it.
Dishwashing soap and a long handled soft bristle brush will clean as well as anything else.
Paint is basicly acrylic/plastic and soft which makes it easy to scratch.
Nu Finish or any liquid spray on protectant will give you a decent shine.
I know others propose a more detailed regiment but the reality of it is your car will not stay clean and you may find your car needing a cleaning weekly.
If the finish on your car is not damaged just wash it clean it and apply a liquid protectant, something that does not require buffing or something like NU finish which is easy to apply.
Oh yeah, I would definitely take the advice of someone that has 10 posts on the forum, has no vehicle listed, and no pictures of a nice, clean vehicle. Is it a pain in the a$$ to keep your vehicle looking nice?? Yes it is, but if you follow the advice of Brandon and Jumbo, you will not be disappointed!! I have not, however, put creamy peanut butter on my truck yet...
I told my wife that you suggested that and my 3 year old son heard me. He fell out laughing and informed me that peanut butter was for "sammiches" and that I was crazy...
Waxing/Cleaning/Polishing
2000 Toyota Tundra SR5 Access Cab 4x4 Black
Is it a pain in the a$$ to keep your vehicle looking nice?? Yes it is, but if you follow the advice of Brandon and Jumbo, you will not be disappointed!! I have not, however, put creamy peanut butter on my truck yet...
Chris
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