Well continue using that to keep the amount of marks down to a minimum

Great thread on detailing Aurora98. Have thouroughly enjoyed reading it all.

Is there any chance you could put together a products list with estimated prices and use up, just so we have an idea of what to get.

Cheers & keep up the good work.

Sure can

* = in stock

PAKSHAK ULTRA MICROFIBRE (HAWAII) *

60 x 90 cm waffle weave drying towels
(for drying only/ SILK BINDING)
$25 each or 2 for $46

16 x 16 inch ultra plush plus buffing cloths
(TEAL BLUE & LAVENDER/ SILK BINDING
FOR USE WITH quick detail sprays, to remove cleaners, polishes, waxes and sealants

$14.00 each or 2 for $23

16 x 16 inch ultra fine white polishing cloths
A super fine ultra soft cloth that is an alternative to the ultra plush
Difference is they feature the same texture on both sides, the plush has a flat semi drying side and a smoother side
$15.00 each, 2 for $28

4 x 6 inch applicator pads
for applying waxes, paint sealants, leather cleaners and protectants
$9.00 each, 2 for $16.00

16 x 16 inch waffle weave glass towels
Use dry for ultra quick cleaning of automotive glass, no streaks
safe on paint

$14 each , 2 for $26

Ultra german foam rectangular applicator pads
Thick, easier alternative to small thin applicators
one side is for cutters and strong polishes , other for finishing polishes and glazes such as clearkote vanilla , red and yellow mooses
$10.00 each, 2 for $18.00

CLEARKOTE (OKLAHOMA USA) *

Vanilla moose 473ml hand or machine glaze
(wet look glaze for paint & glass
(removes oxidation and restores finish to plastic, vinyl and rubbers trim)

$19.00

Red Machine Glaze 473ml
A slightly stronger oxidation remover on plastics, vinyl and rubber and the next step by hand or machine for the ultimate deep wet look

$22.00

Yellow Moose 473ml
ultra strong oxidation remover and last step (if you wanted to) on paint and glass
use the softer side of the german applicator pads with this
Makes surfaces smoother and wetter

$25.00

Quikshine 500ml and 1 gallon
Quick detail spray that is free of alcohol and silicone that can be used in between the moose products to make paint darker, brighter and wetter
Can be used to clean and protect window tint film

12 by 12 inch microfibre cloths
Super soft for removing sealants only
Blue and Green (2 per pack - $12.00)

Car wash shampoo 473ml
quality shampoo for those who just want to wash their car
will not strip sealants, works well in hard water

$13.50

FOUR STAR ULTIMATE (FLORIDA USA)

Cherry ripe auto shampoo/conditioner 1.89 litre *
the ultimate water spot resisting, ultra sudsy delicate shampoo/conditioner with a lovely cherry ripe scent
Great for cars with paint protection, 30mls per wash maximum

Works in any type of water - very strong
$53.00

Ultimate paint cleanser 1.89 litre *
the best paintwork cleanser I've ever used
can be used by hand or machine, removes hairline scratches, some swirls, creates a high gloss and increases wet look
Use instead of strong polishes when you find any new marks on your paint
does not remove any paint

$58.00

Ultimate tire gel 1.89 litre
$53.00

A super polymer ultra long lasting gel that can be used on automotive tires, wheel arch plastics, exterior trim, vinyl dashboards and door skins

heat reactive gel reblackens the tyres during each time you drive
one coat can last up to a month
for best results do not wash tyre with a car shampoo or tyre cleaner

Ultimate leather cleaner gel 1.89 litre (COMING VERY SOON)
sudsy strong leather cleaner for clearcoated and non clearcoated auto leather seats

$53.00

Apply with a foam pad or cloth
Ultra easy to use

Ultimate Leather protectant gel
Semi gloss finish for all auto leather seats
$60.00

COMING MID 2006

Clay lubricant 1.89 litre
Gloss Enhancer quick detail spray 1.89 litre
Ultimate medium grade clay bars $44.00
Super polymer slick paint sealant 1.89 litre $85.00

KLASSE (GERMANY)

VLRP (vinyl, leather, rubber and plastic cleaner protectant 236ml)
strong cleaner and protectant (non silicone, ultra long lasting)
matte finish, can be used on tyres and recommended for vinyl dashboards, door skins, exterior plastics and rubber, rubber door seals etc

All in One cleaner polish and sealant 1 litre
Paint final preparation product which lightly polishes the paint and leaves a base coating of acrylic paint sealant
this can be used on wheels, paint, glass and other metals and throughout the home

$60.00 (will last you ages)

Sealant Glaze 1 Litre

Acrylic ultra strong chip resistant paint sealant which you apply by spray and wipe method or wipe on
Wipe it on very thinly, leave for an hour (12-24 hours for killer results) and then remove
apply a second and third coat 24 hours after removing the first coat
also useable on wheels, glass, plastics, brass, copper etc

$58.00

P21s (CLEARANCE)

Finish restorer *
21st century version of autosol metal polish)
$19.00 , 3 left in stock

Polishing soap *
Wheel polishing soap that allows you to polish your mag wheels in the time it takes to shampoo them
large tub with foam sponge applicator

$23.00
Will continue to stock this


Einszett (1Z)

Perls 473ml *
(the ultimate shampoo for highly polished and or protected paintwork)
is a shampoo, conditioner and polymer sealant in one
I use this on my car
low suds but keeps the paint slicker than any other
totally safe for waxed and sealed paintwork
makes all paint sealants last longer

$22.00

Exclusive glanz 473ml (COMING NEXT WEEK)
a shampoo and conditioner for any vehicle, more suds than perls but does not have any sealant in it
ideal for paint in excellent condition

safe on all sealants
$19.50

Leather care with carnuaba *
350-500ml leather cleaner and protectant which leaves a semi gloss finish
fine on any type of leather except suede
carnuaba wax added protection
$25.00

Lackfinish raindance quick detail spray 473ml *
perfect partner for perls shampoo, leaves a thin coating of 1Z polymer sealant and should only be used on a dry car
ultra high gloss finish and makes paint slick again

$24.00

Rubber protection stick 100ml *
a protectant stick for use on rubber seals and exterior rubber trim
long lasting protectant
$17.00 - roll on type

C**k premium spray 473ml (COMING IN 2 WEEKS)
a interior vinyl/plastic matte finish protectant spray, quicker option than a dedicated vinyl rubber protectant
spray and wipe method

$22.00

SONUS (ITALY, USA, EUROPE) *

Extra large der wunder wash mitt (microfibre)
$22.00 , soft cuff, holds lots of water
will outlast a wool mitt, my mitt of choice

SFX 2 swirl removing polish 236ml $28.00
Ultra Fine clay bars (2 x 100 gram) $40, 2 for $75
(will not remove sealants or waxes, use on paint in excellent condition)

Tire & Bumper dressing gel 236ml $27, 2 for $50
super high gloss tyre gel that is ultra long lasting and smells like vanilla
no silicone or petroleum distillates, perfect on plastics and rubbers

Glass & Chrome polish 236ml $22.00
use by hand or machine with a foam pad to remove hazing, very fine swirls and possibly some scratches
good on exhaust tips

DETAILERS PARADISE (COLORADO USA)

Monster fluffy microfibre towel $22.00 *
the thickest, plushest, softest microfibre towel on the market)

perfect for applying and removing spray sealants, quick detail sprays and window cleaners
my Quick detailing towel of choice, very absorbent, will never scratch and easy to hang on to
Great for removing wipe on sealants also

Dual Pile paradise buffing towel 16 x 16 inch
High quality buffing cloth with 2 types of material
$18.50

Paradise wheel waffle towel
drying towel for your wheels and door jambs $20.00

Ultra sude polishing towel $12.00
the ultimate towel to remove klasse sealant as it has more grip
excellent on glass
also a quality towel to remove polishes that could be hard to remove

COMING LATE 06

DIAMONDITE GLASS COMPOUNDING GLAZE
remove waterspots from glass like magic

Speed clay spray & much more

Contact details

0439 840 637
po box 369 virginia SA
5120

Dreammc@tpg.com.au
money order, cheque or direct deposit

Very quick postage, quick delivery in metropolitan SA

New tips coming tomorrow

P.S. Great looking AU mate

Thanks mate. You are a champion.

That's just a few, there are more products from sonus and 1Z that I will be stocking in the near future

Can anyone offer some help on the best way to remove water marks from bore water from my car windows.

The stains are on every window and really drive me nuts looking through them all day

They are baked on pretty well and wont come off even after giving them a rub with your fingernail.

Would detailing clay/overspray clay be any good?

There is a product called Diamondite d3 compounding glaze that was designed just for that purpose
I have only got a few of their products and should have purchased this stuff last year but always had other stuff to get first

Clay will not remove them
Since they have been on there for so long, white vinegar won't help you

You will need to hand or machine polish them
Maybe p21s finish restorer or polishing soap would do it, they work on windows

My best advice is to go to a detailers, maybe finishing touch and get them to fix it for you and then from then on seal the windows with a paint sealant and then wax
the wax will absorb the water and prevent the minerals from doing damage
Re wax them regularly during winter

It's likely the detailers would use glass polish first and move to paint polish or cutting compounds if that don't work

By machine, a glass polish has worked for me with other cars in the past

Can anyone recommend a good cutting compound which is good restoring oxidised paintwork, which is also safe for clear-coats? I was recommended by my local auto shop to use Mother's scrath remover followed by a coat of Mother's sealant and glaze. Worked ok for a day then the paintwork just returned to normal. I also gave T-cut a go, just the polish, but to no avail. Is T-Cut original safe for clear-coats? If it helps my car is heritage green.

I went down to a panel and paint industry supplier and the guy tried a few things on my windows, ended up getting a little tin of Septone Mr Buff. (we tried graffiti remover, polishes and a few light buffing compounds)

He also suggested fine steel wool but I wouldn't even try it on my windows heh (he assures me it is safe tho)

http://www.septone.com.au/detail.asp?item_cat=10&item_number=335&page_num=1

Not a world class auto product but effective none-the-less

Worked nicely and didnt scratch or mark the glass at all, windows look like new but by christ did it take some elbow grease to scrub them off.

The smaller the window the better it worked.

Windscreen still looks pretty bad - its better but still really badly marked. I might replace the windscreen anyway since it has pretty bad scratches and a chip that is increasing in size.

Interesting. I have never been a fan of septone but if it works on your glass then great
You can use ultra fine steel wool on glass, my friends at Autopia.org find it very successful on water spots and such

A word of warning to all, never use ordinary steel wool or wet sanding paper no matter what grade
have seen first hand the 3D holograms, scratches and marring it leaves on glass.

Replacement of the glass seems like the best option, then you can start fresh

Make sure to clay them once and apply a few coats of paint sealant , one per day (leave on for at least an hour) and every three to six months re apply and then clay as necessary
Should find the amount of pits, chips and scratches reduced by 60% or more and easier to clean

REMOVING CRUD FROM CARS WITHOUT SCRATCHING/MARRING

Every now and then for me and all the time for some, a filthy car with leaves, bits of twigs, bugs and other foreign material is not a nice thing

In the past I have given the car a thorough blasting with the high pressure gun and thought nothing of it but I had a good think about it and I reckon that's probably not a good idea

So with my car atm like that due to travelling to mildura and copping a dust storm while there and then sitting on the hoist in the garage for a week after changing oil, I will be washing and detailing it tomorrow evening

This time however as in the previous two washes, the first step is to carefully remove all that with the garden hose with no nozzle or gun attached

From side on, level with the body, turn the tap to on to 3/4 position and from the roof down, use the hose to slide all the crud off
My thinking is that it could be possible to scratch the surface with any of these foreign bodies with the pressure gun

With that crud now gone, if you have access to one, use the high pressure gun again side on (horizontal on side panels, vertical on the rest) to get any excess dust/dirt off so the paint is fully prepped before washing

You don't want anything on there before washing
Make sure to do the no nozzle rinse after washing

The more buckets and wash mitts you use to wash, the less marring you will leave on the finish
Also a great idea to use a foam gun after the pre wash rinse to limit marring even further and make suds last longer


HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS

Many would have never thought about caring for these polycarbonate beauties but in fact a faded or yellowed light will detract from the overall finish of the car

Both of these can be clayed albeit carefully with a fine, ultra fine or medium grade clay bar and QD spray and microfibre to remove
The next step is to polish and there are many products on the market and some are very successful
PLEXUS and Meguiars Plast x are just two

To really make them slick and shiney and to prevent future yellowing, chipping and fallout damage, try the following

By machine with 4 or 5 inch pad, apply a small amount of product to the pad and use 600 to 1000 rpm using side to side and up and down to prevent holograms

By hand an ultra german applicator is best. use the rougher side with a polish or lens cleaner
Apply in side to side motions using firstly medium pressure then increase speed and reduce pressure to finish
Remove product with MF cloth

Apply a protectant (any paint, plastic or wheel sealant) with a damp mf applicator and leave for several hours before removing with super soft Mf cloth

My method which I will be using in next few days

Clay with sonus ultra fine
Polish with Wolfgang lens cleaner
Enhance w/ clearkote red and yellow mooses
Seal with wolfgang plastik sealant x 2 coats

To keep them slick and top up protectant, spray some QD spray and buff with a dry MF cloth

May seem extreme to be doing this to lights but it will help your car stand out from the crowd and helps at car shows and also saves you from polishing them again for at least six months

Hi guys, sorry I haven't added any new tips for a while
Been busy speaking with industry insiders in the USA and also got my first order of a new brand of products just in and about to test them
This brand is a german/american blend and I am the first person in south east asia/australia to have it and is at the forefront of where the industry is going

ASAP I will get started on a technical doco of car care and take a stack of pics to add to it

I know that car care is not high on the agenda for so many people but it is a rewarding experience and it doesn't matter if you only do the first two steps of care - wash regularly and clay when necessary, your car will be better for it

I hopefully will see some of you next weekend at FPV in melbourne
My car will be in the falcon car club SA display

Safe motoring
Matty

hey Aurora, been watching this forum for ages now, it's awesome bro-

quick question, apart from the boutique gear that you sell, what would you reccomend on the retail market? Or more to the point, would you think that Autoglym is better that Meguairs?

Cheers

From my testing, there are certain products from Autoglym that I reckon are way better than Meguiars

Bodyshop 07B Rubber cleaner & Protectant or strawberry jam as I call it
Not very long lasting protection but is step 2 in my exterior trim clean & protect system

Ultra deep shine polish 1 Litre
doesn't hide marks, it removes them full stop

Vinyl & Rubber care spray - an excellent citrus scented tire shine that outlasts 303 and is great on dashes and door skins as you can choose matte or high gloss finish

Don't like their shampoo, glass polish or other polishes and cleaners
At the moment I would recommend Mothers Reflections and FX line up

The americans at autopia like their products including the powerball, power polish, shampoo, top coat paint sealant and the wax but again what I have and others throughout australia is a level or two above again and can be same or cheaper price and multiple sizes available from 236ml to 473ml, 1 Litre and 1.89 Litre

I don't use any meguiars products anymore, they do have a good range but IMO are not at the cutting edge of technology anymore and availability is why they sell so well

Stay away from any acid , alkaline, alcohol, caustic or ammonia based products