I do my work over about once every 3 months. In between is a quick hose-towel rinse. I use Zaino wax, shyte is amazing. Those who use know.
For soap, I use Dawn dishsoap. Cuts grease and grime with ease. Zaino however is not removed with Dawn, so my previous wax job isnt sent back to ground zero by using it.
To soap up the car I just fill a bucket about half full of hot water and add the soap. It lasts to the end because the cold rinse gets rid of most of the dirt, the hot soapy is just for road grease and bugs mainly. I just use a towel and lots of arm work, no brushes or anything.
As for any type of blower... NO! Havent heard any stories yet, but imagine if some sand got sucked up from a gust of wind or something. Suddenly your blower becomes a sand blaster. And some blowers I've heard vent exhaust gases out the opening as well (Like leaf blowers) and I shudder to think of small particles being blown out onto my car.
I use towels and shamies and lots of patience to dry it.
For soap, I use Dawn dishsoap. Cuts grease and grime with ease. Zaino however is not removed with Dawn, so my previous wax job isnt sent back to ground zero by using it.
To soap up the car I just fill a bucket about half full of hot water and add the soap. It lasts to the end because the cold rinse gets rid of most of the dirt, the hot soapy is just for road grease and bugs mainly. I just use a towel and lots of arm work, no brushes or anything.
As for any type of blower... NO! Havent heard any stories yet, but imagine if some sand got sucked up from a gust of wind or something. Suddenly your blower becomes a sand blaster. And some blowers I've heard vent exhaust gases out the opening as well (Like leaf blowers) and I shudder to think of small particles being blown out onto my car.
I use towels and shamies and lots of patience to dry it.
Armor all is water based and will cause cracking and premature aging of both tires and interior plastics. Use an oil based product like clear guard.
BTW all you car washing fanatics are either young with lots of free time or insane. I was young once and washed my car once a week, I think I've washed my car once in 3 years by hand.
BTW all you car washing fanatics are either young with lots of free time or insane. I was young once and washed my car once a week, I think I've washed my car once in 3 years by hand.
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
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I do more or less the same thing (my procedure is similar but a little different) to my cars at least once a month during warm months, maybe every 2 months during cold months (have to wait for a warmer dry day, a rarity here in winter).
When I sold my old car a few months ago, the buyer remarked on how clean and almost brand-new that 5 year-old car looked. Easily netted me an extra thousand or so onto the price. Add that into the satisfaction and value of owning a clean shiny car, and I'd say it's more than worth my time.
And to the OP... dude, shut up. Soft terry cloths are just as good as microfiber and cost a lot less (and you're going to buff and wax right afterwards, remember? so a couple of swirls is not big deal because you're going to take them out anyway). And as for your pompous "I only use professional grade products" ...
OH my.
You call yourself a "detail guy" then suggest people dry their cars with an electric blower? Ha, ha. See you at autopia.com or any other detailing message board.
You call yourself a "detail guy" then suggest people dry their cars with an electric blower? Ha, ha. See you at autopia.com or any other detailing message board.
- May 10, 2001
- 21,207
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Originally posted by: Vic
I do more or less the same thing (my procedure is similar but a little different) to my cars at least once a month during warm months, maybe every 2 months during cold months (have to wait for a warmer dry day, a rarity here in winter).
When I sold my old car a few months ago, the buyer remarked on how clean and almost brand-new that 5 year-old car looked. Easily netted me an extra thousand or so onto the price. Add that into the satisfaction and value of owning a clean shiny car, and I'd say it's more than worth my time.
And to the OP... dude, shut up. Soft terry cloths are just as good as microfiber and cost a lot less (and you're going to buff and wax right afterwards, remember? so a couple of swirls is not big deal because you're going to take them out anyway). And as for your pompous "I only use professional grade products" ...Yeah, 'cause they're cheaper!
You cant read can you? I didnt post about waxing I posted about WASHING TIPS. Terry cloth are fine if your going to WAX yes, but I was giving tips for washing only and terry cloth do NOT finish as well as microfiber do.
As for the cheaper thing your a joke unless you know what my chemicals cost then you have NO clue why I use them. I dont care about price I have to buy them in large quantities so I go that route for a few reasons also. I need to be able to use them in direct sunlight and most retail products dont allow this.
I have been doing this for 14 years so I think I know what I am doing.
Originally posted by: Krassus
That's because you drive a sh1tbox
or he has better stuff to do with his time, jesus i cant imagine spending 6 hours a week washing my car.
- May 10, 2001
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Like I care about the other boards my system works and I have the cars out there to show for it, 10 different people 10 different ways. My clients love the work I do and I am proud of it.
None of you people can see how these cars come out and it amazes me I come here to try and help and yet people knock me without even seeing the cars I do.
Originally posted by: Vic
I do more or less the same thing (my procedure is similar but a little different) to my cars at least once a month during warm months, maybe every 2 months during cold months (have to wait for a warmer dry day, a rarity here in winter).
When I sold my old car a few months ago, the buyer remarked on how clean and almost brand-new that 5 year-old car looked. Easily netted me an extra thousand or so onto the price. Add that into the satisfaction and value of owning a clean shiny car, and I'd say it's more than worth my time.
And to the OP... dude, shut up. Soft terry cloths are just as good as microfiber and cost a lot less (and you're going to buff and wax right afterwards, remember? so a couple of swirls is not big deal because you're going to take them out anyway). And as for your pompous "I only use professional grade products" ...Yeah, 'cause they're cheaper!
Did you get one of those terry cloths stuck up your arse or what, man? Relax. There's this wonderful notion of opinion.
And swirls ARE a big deal, even if it's just micromarring. Everytime you polish you are REMOVING clearcoat; how much is contingent upon the abrasiveness of the polish of course. The only way to truly get rid of swirls is to use an abrasive, so why in the hell would you want to introduce swirls everytime you wash? Wax does absolutely nothing for swirls, and buffing out may exacerbate surface marring when done with a terry cloth as the larger fibers come in contact with indentations.
Microfiber is pretty much the cloth of choice for detailing cars, and I honestly never hear of anyone other than the ignorant using terry cloth towels to dry. Most 100% cotton terry clothes aren't really 100% cotton anyway, and they soak up a lot less water. A nice waffle-weave microfiber will dry an entire car without having to drag it across the surface.
Glad it works for you. If you are gonna complain about how we suck because we knock you before seeing your work, post a picture like I did.
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Krassus
That's because you drive a sh1tbox
or he has better stuff to do with his time, jesus i cant imagine spending 6 hours a week washing my car.
I spend so much of my time solving problems and thinking that I derive satisfaction from something ostensibly simple like detailing a car. I also like the way it looks.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
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i hate my big blue towel, and i love meguiar's MF towels.
and to the person taht said using the electric blower is shibby, wanna explain why? theoretically speaking, it's far superior than toweling off your car because you're not touching the paint, which means you can't scratch/swirl it.
qualified to make an opinion .
and to the person taht said using the electric blower is shibby, wanna explain why? theoretically speaking, it's far superior than toweling off your car because you're not touching the paint, which means you can't scratch/swirl it.
qualified to make an opinion .
Vic
Elite Member
- Jun 12, 2001
- 50,422
- 14,337
- 136
As do I. I detailed cars to pay my way through school. It's a crappy job and the pay is crap with high overhead, and customers are stupid (except for the few who know quality work when they see it). It's certainly not something I think anyone should brag about.
And true, microfiber finishes better if you're not waxing afterwards but it's expensive and most people won't even recognize the difference.
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Krassus
That's because you drive a sh1tbox
or he has better stuff to do with his time, jesus i cant imagine spending 6 hours a week washing my car.
I spend so much of my time solving problems and thinking that I derive satisfaction from something ostensibly simple like detailing a car. I also like the way it looks.
I can't believe that if you even just cut the time in half that anyone would be able to tell any difference.
My car
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Krassus
That's because you drive a sh1tbox
or he has better stuff to do with his time, jesus i cant imagine spending 6 hours a week washing my car.
I spend so much of my time solving problems and thinking that I derive satisfaction from something ostensibly simple like detailing a car. I also like the way it looks.
I can't believe that if you even just cut the time in half that anyone would be able to tell any difference.
My car
it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks as long as it makes you happy
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Originally posted by: Descartes
Originally posted by: Ameesh
Originally posted by: Krassus
That's because you drive a sh1tbox
or he has better stuff to do with his time, jesus i cant imagine spending 6 hours a week washing my car.
I spend so much of my time solving problems and thinking that I derive satisfaction from something ostensibly simple like detailing a car. I also like the way it looks.
I can't believe that if you even just cut the time in half that anyone would be able to tell any difference.
You're a software developer if I remember correctly, yes? Would your clients be able to tell the difference between the use of a highly-cohesive domain model or an amorphous class hierarchy? Nope, but I do
It's all about satisfaction in ones work I guess.Well, my concern with that is a blower moves a big volume of air really fast... including dust, dirt, fluff bunnys, whatever. So, you'll be blowing all this dust onto your wet car, which makes it, uh, dirty again.
HOWEVER, :beer: for WaTaGuMp trying to help out fellow AT'rs!
Blasphemy! I LOOOVE my Big Blue Towel
I drape the whole thing over my car, pat once, and move on. Granted, I do the California Water Blade right before though.I've never used Meguiar's MF towels, but I might give them a shot. I generally use PakShak or Viper MF.
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