How to correctly detail your auto

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by Brandon1

Yeah, most of my dilution ratios are 5:1 or so, I never use anything straight.

speaking about the black trim what would take out the wax so it's back to black many products claim they will restore the color but the wax is still present in the black plastic.

[Brandon1]

Usually an old toothbrush and some Degreaser or APC. Peanut butter and WD40 is rumored to work as well, but I would try the other stuff first.

Also, Duragloss makes some wax remover that is fantastic, but it may be hard to find.

[deanrucker]

Brandon:

Do you prefer the Meguiars scrubbing wash mitt ($10.99) or the microfber wash mitt ($4.99)?

[Brandon1]

Scrubbing wash mitt, the only thing I wont use MF's on are wash mitts

[deanrucker]

Brandon:

According to Meguiars website, the scrubbing wash mitt is a microfiber mesh (I guess to take bugs off). So, it appears the choices from Meguiars are a microfiber mesh scrubbing mitt or a microfiber mitt. Your advice remain the same? Any other suggestions?

Appreciate your help.

[Brandon1]

Meguiars should just have a sheepskin wash mitt, maybe they discontinued it.

Just get both, or you can really just use any wash mitt, as long as it is kept clean and looks like it's made well.

[Herbicidal]

I’ve printed out and read through Brandon1’s detailing guide and now I have a couple of questions for my particular scenario. First some background on my Tundra. It is a 2001 SR5 4wd, Imperial Jade Mica (green). I’m fortunate that I can always garage it while at home. Another plus is that we have soft water right from the faucet. The paint is almost 7 years old now. Overall it’s in pretty good condition, I still get compliments. I wash it probably every two to three weeks and wax it about 3 times per year. I go 4 wheelin’ on a pretty regular basis as well, so there is some pinstriping from the brush along the trails. No real deep scratches, fortunately. I do have a Porter Cable 7424 with a variety of pads for applying wax and so forth along with ½ dozen or so micro fiber towels. Most recently I have been using Meguires NXT wax as it goes on so easily and comes off just as good. I’ve only used a clay bar once using a pad for my P.C that holds the clay bar in a hollow spot in the pad. I think I bought it from Griot’s garage a couple of years ago.

I would like to freshen her paint up a bit. I was thinking about using 3M’s Perfect it II rubbing compound fine cut. A buddy at work used it recently and let me borrow the bottle to do a test. Man, it sure smoothed out the test area that I did by hand! Obviously, for doing the whole truck I would use my P.C unit. My thinking is that I would need something along these lines to start the process vs just a clay bar to give me a nice smooth “base”, then go to a polish, then a wax. I’ve tried Meguires Scratch X and honestly I wasn’t all that impressed. Perhaps I need something a little more “aggressive”? That’s why I was thinking 3M. After this initial prep, then should I go to Duragloss #101, then #105?

How about removal of the product(s), by hand with a micro fiber towel or buffing pad on the P.C? By the way, what is the recommended way to clean all the dirty micro fiber towels and pads?

I know there are a ton of products out there, I would prefer to buy something over the counter and this time around I think I would like to try the Duragloss products since I can buy them over the counter.

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions! Trying to keep the ol’ gal looking good for a long time to come.

PS: Great write-up Brandon1. I printed it out and gave it to a couple of my buddies.

[Brandon1]

What is the perfect it # on the bottle? Some of 3m's stuff is top-notch, some is really crappy imo. and if you use a compound, you need to be shure to follow it with a polish to gloss up the paint and remove any micro-marring. Then follow with 101 and 105 as needed.

I use just a MF towel for polish/wax removal, and woolite in the washer for pads/towels cleaning them.

If you are looking for a good alternative to 3M, try mothers Power Polish, it's pad dependant, meaning that if you use it on a cutting pad, it's a compound, if you use it on a polish pad, it's a polish.

[Herbicidal]

Originally Posted by Brandon1

What is the perfect it # on the bottle?

Thanks Brandon. Here's a link to 3M's web page for the product. I'm not sure about the #. From the web page it says "Safely and effectively removes grade 1200 or finer sand scratches, other fine scratches, medium oxidation, coarse swirl marks or water spots, and leaves a fine finish. Excellent for hand compounding applications." They also say "When followed by the 3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Polishing Pad Glaze, this two-step system delivers a show-car luster in record time. Use with 3M™ Perfect-It™ Foam Compounding Pad (PN05723)."

Thanks for the Mother's Power Polish suggestion as well. Do you think I should use a 'compound' instead of a clay bar at this point with my paint? I appreciate your help.

[Brandon1]

I would honestly use both, a clay does something different than a compound, and being 7years old, I would think it would need both.

As far as the 3M stuff, I would try it on a small area first, if it leaves micro-marring then stop usage or find something with less cut.

[Justme]

Brandon, couple of questions for you. I also read your guide and found it to excellent! Ordered many of the products you recommended. I have three rigs, 04 accord that I recently purchased that while it may have been washed regularly, I doubt it was every waxed. The paint has many light scratches, I doubt any go through the clear coat. Next, an 2000 Land Crusier that has been really taken care of since we got it 4 years ago. Was professionally detailed about a year ago. Paint is in great shape but has a few scratches that I would love to see if I can get removed. Last, I have my 06 Tundra that is completely babied. Washed every week and also professionally detailed about 8 months ago. Has the 3m clear bra on most of the the high impact areas (first 18" of hood, back of mirrors, headlights, along rocker panels, etc). No scratches but dang it I still picked up a rock chip.

Anyway, I have a clay bar, Optimum Compound, DG #652 polish DG #105 and DG AW as well as a PC 7424. Which products would I use on each vehicles? I suspect the whole works on the Accord, right? What about the Crusier and Tundra? All three are dark in color if that matters. Any help appreciated!

Oh, one other question, I got PC 7424 kit mention on the forum with a nice selection of pads. Which pad should I use for each of the products? Thanks again.

[Brandon1]

I would just go ahead and use everything on everything. You wont loose anything by addding the compound step to your order, and it may remove more than you think is there.

As far as the pads, use a heavy cut pad on the compound, then use compound on a polish pad, polish pad with the 652, then finish pad with the 105.

[deanrucker]

Brandon...I have a 2007 Tundra DC Limited. Can I use both the DG 652 and DG 105 on (1) glass, (2) black plastic beneath the grille, (3) mudgards, (4) plastic rail caps, and (5) plastic on the mirrors. Is there any part of the exterior, painted or plastic, where you would not use them?

Thanks for the great detailing info.

[Brandon1]

i would only use the 652 on paint/glass, but use the 105 on everything else you listed. then you wont ever have to armor all the trim!

[stevencrosbie]

Wow....this sticky is awesome.

I've read the whole thing and am still a little nervous about what to order for my truck. I have a Super White 07 Tundra that was built two months ago. I do not have any of these products, so I need to start from scratch. As much as I'd like to get this stuff over the counter, I'm pretty sure buying one of these kits is a smarter move.

Optimum Porter Cable 7424 Kit Remove swirl marks and paint flaws
Poorboy’s Porter Cable 7424 Polish & wax Kit

These are the two kits I am looking at. I've heard a lot of good things about the Poorboys(From Driveaccord.net; I'm a mod there) stuff and Zaino and you seem to really recommend the other stuff.

For a white truck, what kit or materials do you recommend? I've heard from some people that white can be difficult to really make look good. Thank you so much your this awesome forum. It is pretty hard to find a detailing for morons....and I think you've done the best job yet!