Detailing..

[Xtreme Racer]

So...I had a few questions for those of you who clean your cars.

Whats the best thing to use on the dash/doors?

Also....what products do you use in general?

IE wax, polish, ect

[Bedlam]

moved this where it might get some attention.. :)

-Bedlam

[Maxx]

Lexol Vinylex is excellent for the interior plastic. It's got a fairly powerful UV protectant in it, and actually restores moisture into the surface. The only down side is that its fairly greasy. It does give a really high shine though..which I personally like. It's fairly expensive at like $12 per bottle, but its waaaay better than armor all.

Wax is a debatable topic. I am sure everyone here will chime in with their favorite. I've been using One Grand Blitz wax, and the higher end 3M liquid wax. The One Grand Blitz wax is an easy to use hard carnuba wax, but it doesn't tend to last very long. I also had problems with it clouding on a black car in the summer (heat causing the wax to seperate on the finish.) The 3M stuff is VERY oily and lasts longer, but it is far more difficult to work with. If you accidently apply too much, you practically need a belt sander to get it off when dry. On a black car the oils in the 3M wax can give an uneven look to the finish. It's not noticeable on a lighter car. I didn't have the clouding problem with the 3M wax in the summer though.

Then there is the Zaino stuff. I've never tried it, but you always know a car that has used Zaino when you see it....definetly the shiniest surface I've seen. It's a difficult, time consuming product to use, but it lasts far longer (months instead of weeks,) and Zaino claims it offers a better level of protection than conventional waxes.

I am gonna borrow some zaino from a buddy and do a small test patch on an inconspicuous part of my car. I want to see if there is any truth to the claims before I go out and buy the entire kit.

[Xtreme Racer]

Well i've used s100....and it's DAMN close to zaino. If you wanna try it out go to any harley davidson dealership.

[Deltron_3030]

yeah i've tried s100 it works great on dark colors, you should also try vannilla moose wax & glaze it also removes light scratches and swirl marks

[DrJones]

autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org)

[ryanman]

I use nothing but Armor All on my interior. IF you know how to use it properly, it'll make your interior last forever.

[DrJones]

I use nothing but Armor All on my interior. IF you know how to use it properly, it'll make your interior last forever.

I'd stay away from Armor All like i stay away from Turtle Wax. There are dozens of far superior products out there. That stuff is way too shiny (can be dangerous reflecting light off the dash) and has a very good chance of ruining your intererior with extended use.

[ryanman]

I'd stay away from Armor All like i stay away from Turtle Wax. There are dozens of far superior products out there. That stuff is way too shiny (can be dangerous reflecting light off the dash) and has a very good chance of ruining your intererior with extended use.
Thats weird. My Grandpa has been using Armor All on the interior of his 65 Vette since he bought it brand new in 64 and the interior still looks new. Like I said if you use it right then it's good shit. I do agree with you on Turtle wax though, worst shit ever.

[DrJones]

Thats weird. My Grandpa has been using Armor All on the interior of his 65 Vette since he bought it brand new in 64 and the interior still looks new. Like I said if you use it right then it's good shit. I do agree with you on Turtle wax though, worst shit ever.

Older interiors are much much different than newer ones. I have read a couple stories where armorall reacted with something and caused some pretty hefty damage to the dash (like creating spots).

Most people dislike armorall because it's very very messy. There are products out there (like 303 aerospace protectant) that offer better protection. Many of these other products also don't have that anoying super shiny look. Most interiors look best with a soft matte finish.

[David]

guess I will ask some detailing questions in here...hope nobody minds :)

Are automatic car washs bad for your paint? I can get the "works" wash at this conoco for free, but im just worried that its going to hurt my paint.

and what is a good product to use to get out swirl marks?

[DrJones]

guess I will ask some detailing questions in here...hope nobody minds :)

Are automatic car washs bad for your paint? I can get the "works" wash at this conoco for free, but im just worried that its going to hurt my paint.

and what is a good product to use to get out swirl marks?

For the most part, depending on how you define 'bad' they aren't the best thing you can do. Many of them are a very easy way to put swirls on your car. Of course if you already have bad swirls, then it's not really going to do any more noticible damage.

Washing you car is one of the most difficult and important things to master. It is the key step in having a nice (or nicly detailed) car keep it's flawless look. Unfortunatly it's a very complicated step and there are several things to take into consideration. It's not as easy as grabing a mitt and having at it.

As for the swirls, you can either hide them with a glaze (if they are light enough) or attack them with an abrasive. I posted a big writeup on swirls on this part of the forum a while back. Has some really good info. (I posted one on washing too).

EDIT: swirls (http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/showthread.php?t=11593) and washing tips (http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/showthread.php?t=11624)

and again.... autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org)

[David]

For the most part, depending on how you define 'bad' they aren't the best thing you can do. Many of them are a very easy way to put swirls on your car. Of course if you already have bad swirls, then it's not really going to do any more noticible damage.

Washing you car is one of the most difficult and important things to master. It is the key step in having a nice (or nicly detailed) car keep it's flawless look. Unfortunatly it's a very complicated step and there are several things to take into consideration. It's not as easy as grabing a mitt and having at it.

As for the swirls, you can either hide them with a glaze (if they are light enough) or attack them with an abrasive. I posted a big writeup on swirls on this part of the forum a while back. Has some really good info. (I posted one on washing too).

EDIT: swirls (http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/showthread.php?t=11593) and washing tips (http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/showthread.php?t=11624)

and again.... autopia.org (http://www.autopia.org)

cool, thanks paul :)

[ryanman]

Older interiors are much much different than newer ones. I have read a couple stories where armorall reacted with something and caused some pretty hefty damage to the dash (like creating spots).

Most people dislike armorall because it's very very messy. There are products out there (like 303 aerospace protectant) that offer better protection. Many of these other products also don't have that anoying super shiny look. Most interiors look best with a soft matte finish.
True. Myself I like the softer less shinier finish in my newer cars.