Please check PM's...all estimates have been sent out and included special Fourth of July discounts and specials.

Richard

 

PM replied! Awesome deal! Can't get better pricing anywhere else. Can't wait for my goodies to get here!!

 

Wow...the line between the "before" and "after" is amazing. Nice work.

 

So, a guy has a motor like that and lets the finish get that beat up? Showing that lack of respect he oughta be driving a Citroen 3cv in 3 shades of primer. Don't tell him I said that, you sure want him to come back.

 

Thanks! Well the COMPLETE work is scheduled in a couple of week so I will have more pix of the restore then!
Well to be fair, the car has only 7000 miles on it and had 2 or 3 owners I think, with the current owner acquiring this a few days ago. It was trucked in from Michigan.

 

While my stuff is en route here... I have a quick question. Does Hydro and Hydro Seal stain the black trim?

 

Absolutely not! That is one of their biggest strengths. Hydro Seal in particular actually helps protect the trim as well.

Btw, I just wanted to thank both you and SoundMessage for your patience. I have been unable to provide group buy quotes in the past to certain NAM members due to my sometimes crazy travel schedule which pissed them off and of course disappoints me to know I have let them down, so I have been trying much harder to get these things done whenever a free moment exists. Also I've figured out a quoting method that seems to work well that is less stress on me.

Also I wanted to thanks LittleWing and Dodgy for their support! OMG, reading comments like that totally makes my day and lets me know that the time I spend here IS valued by others. I appreciate that very much. Time is something I never have enough of, even in my usual 14-16 hour work day!

Thank you!!!!

Richard (going to take a little R&R today and tomorrow at Lego Land with the family)

 

Hi Richard. Got my package today. Thanks again for everything.

Couple of dumb questions for you:

1) Which bottles get the spray handles?

2) For my first process, would you recommend washing with Hydro Wash or Dawn, and if the latter, will any hand dish soap work and in which proportions?

3) Do you know where I can find instructions for using the Leatherique Pristine Clean?

Cheers.

 

Great!! Not any dumb questions. Look at the bottles. If it has a push top dispenser it doesn't use a spray head. The spray heads are used on the bottles with the twist off caps like Hydro, Glide, Slick, and Nero.

Dawn is often used as a first wash to remove a carnauba wax but really you will be fine with washing with Hydro Wash first. Should you decide to do the dish wash soap you just need a few squirts in a bucket.

As for Leatherique there are two parts, Rejuvenator Oil and Prestine Clean. I put Prestine clean in a spray bottle and wipe it off with white painter rags. Ii can send you more info when I get to a computer instead of my phone. Leatherique also has some nice tutorials on their site.

Richard

 

Hi Richard,

You sent me Leatherique Pristine Clean & Prima Nourish, so perhaps you could let me know how I should be using them. LOL.

I plan to apply some Black Wow later tonight to my exterior trim (the hard black plastic areas, right?), then do the full wash/clay/detail on Sunday.

Do you know if Black Wow would be a good way to restore some fading on my black stripes as well?

Also, do you know why most car care products say not to use them in direct sunlight? That can be a little difficult out here. LOL.

Thanks again!!

Cheers.

 

Like I said earlier, put some Prestine Clean in a spray bottle and spray the leather you want to clean. If the leather is already clean then just condition it with Nourish.

Good plan on the Black Wow.

Black Wow can certainly help your vinyl. It won't hurt!

Most products either need time to work or need to stay wet because it acts as a
Lubricant. Hot surfaces causes them to evaporate too fast. That why direct sunlight is bad, but even more importantly is how hot the paint is. A white car in direct sunlight won't get as hot as a black car. Best thing to do is feel the paint before you add products to it. If you cannot hold your hand on the paint for 10 seconds, it's probably too hot. TIP! A wet Belgian Waffle can often cool the paint long enough to do what you need to do. Work in the shade whenever possible.

Richard

 

Thanks for the advice on the Black Wow. It worked wonders on my faded and spotted stripes. I started a new thread to give the results more exposure:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post3544966

What a difference!!

The rest of the trim looks great, too. There were (water?) stains on my front wheel trim as well, and the Black Wow seemed to take care of them, too.

Hopefully the application is good. I'm definitely looking forward to see what he'll look like after a clay & hydro treatment!!

Do you recommend cleaning the applicator sponges somehow, or just replacing them?

 

Finished my exterior first round today: wash, clay bar, Hydro Seal.

I'm generally pleased with the results, although I'm not sure the clay was as effective as it should have been (probably operator error). It doesn't feel entirely "smooth" in some spots and there are still some flecks of something crusty that comes off via fingernail.

One thing I can say is that the Hydro Seal polished things up nicely!



Next up, I'll have to tackle the interior.

 

Sometimes the definition of "smooth" can be lost on those not experienced with how it "should" feel. Excessively dry hands can sometimes make a surface feel rough even though it's as smooth as it can ever be. Some people will use a plastic bag to heighten the sensation on the fingertips between the paint they are checking and their fingers. I don't find that necessary but many people enjoy that technique. Sometimes the plastic bag will enhance the sensation so much that it makes you think you should be able to clay more when in fact you can't.

So I would just simply ask...how are you determining the area is still rough? With your bare fingertips or with the baggy test?

The picture looks great!

I'm going to be in Vegas next month to visit a friend. There might be a chance for me to do a "look see" to see how things are if you want.

Richard

 

Keep them in a baggy for future applications...BW will never dry out, so you can in effect, indefinitely use whats in the applicator even after your bottle runs out, lol.

 

Hi Richard,

Thanks for the input. I'm just running my fingers over the paint.

I watched your clay bar video, and I hear the difference between when you run your hand over the clayed area vs the non-clayed area.

I notice on my car, that some areas are super smooth and no "sandy" noise. Other areas are less smooth with a little bit of that sandy noise still remaining.

In any case, I'm pretty happy with the results, as I still think the car looks better than it ever did since I've owned it!! The Hydro products are brilliant, for sure.

I assume that, now, I just spray some Hydro here and there for "touch ups" between washes - is that right?

I'm planning to tackle the interior tomorrow with some Pristine Clean leather cleaning with a microfiber towel, followed by some Nourish conditioning with a microfiber towel. Then, Nero on the interior plastic with the microfiber sponge and Clarity on the inside glass. Pretty much all microfiber towels inside the car, from the sounds of it, except for Nero.

Thereafter, all the microfiber from today and tomorrow goes in the washing machine, right?

It would be great to meet you when you're in town. My schedule is almost always open (since I'm a stay-at-home dad).

 

Look at your car!!!
Wow!
You need to put new photos in your sig now.
Well done.

 

Thanks, LittleWing. Sigpics updated.

 

I just wanted to say that I gave black wow another shot, and I'll have to say that I retract My previous opinion about it. I used it twice now on my trim and it looks real nice. All i wanted to say is that there are other products for trim(ultima, gtechniq, Wolfgang, etc..) which people shouldn't be afraid to try which work just as well.

 

Thank you SoundMessage for doing a lot of research and for OctaneGuy for his great responses.

I am a new owner of a 2012 Mini and want to treat it right, I would like to refine my list for a request for a large order discount but I had a couple of things I wanted to clarify.

My draft list is below, as well as my questions.

Tools:
1 Lambswool Wash Mitt
1 Lambswool bug Wash Mitt
1 SCD Belgian Waffle Weave Microfiber Drying Towel
1 SCD Waffle Weave Microfiber Drying Towel
2 2pks SCD Microfiber Round Sponge Applicators (2 pk Yellow)
2 Dirt Guards

Products
Black Wow ( 1 week before first detailing job)
detailing Clay
Glide
Clarity
Hydro (Maintenance after first detailing job)
Nero


I'm a little confused about the Hydro wash and Mystique.

Question 1:
Is this an option?
Hydro Wash (Use before each Hydro Seal Waxing)
Hydro Seal (Use every 3 months)
Mystique (Use on regular washes)
Hydro (Use between Waxes)

Question 1a:
I noticed you mentioned you use Epic on every car. If I used Epic instead, would I just replace Hydro Seal with Epic in the above routine?

Question 2:
What is the advantage of Mystique over Hydro Wash?

Question 3:

I have black leatherette, what do I use to clean and protect that?

 

Question 1: Yep that's a perfectly fine way to maintain your paint using Hydro Seal.

Question 1a: Yes that's correct. Hydro Seal will give you the same durability as Epic but its even more hydrophobic. You will feel the surface being slicker on a properly prepped surface, i.e. a clayed surface.

Question 2: It's not so much Hydro Wash has an advantage over Mystique. Mystique is a polymer soap that enhances the gloss using polymers. Hydro Wash is a gentle non polymer soap that's required for best results when using Hydro Seal. It's the complimentary prep product.

Question 3: Leatherette is vinyl. You can use Nero or Nourish. Although Nourish was intended for leathers, it can provide a richer look than Nero. I personally like Nero on my Leatherette.

Richard

 

I just reread this thread for probably the 10th time. I'm trying to decide on a started kit to put together.

I hadn't noticed this link until now. I've used 845 for years on my Kenworth. I used to haul some nasty stuff out of some nasty places. Truck got washed at least every sunday, sometimes more if I got out early. This stuff lasts for a long time and is very easy to use.
Just thought I'd chime in!

 

I have used something close to 845. It's very industrial. Smells really strong but it works pretty great. I'm giving hydro seal and hydro a chance right now to see how it performs. Will report back with results.

 

Hi Richard,

Are you still going to be in Vegas this month? If so, let me know if you might be able to meet up.

I'm actually going to be in Long Beach next weekend. However, I'm not sure how much my wife would appreciate taking time out of our trip to bring my car to your shop.

Anyway, lemme know.

 

OK I have detailed car in the past but never heard of a 2 bucket wash method can someone please go in to more detail on this.