I'm not sure how it happened, but my new Dinan intake $ just turned into the Package #2 DA Polisher NXT Speed Kit. I read a few threads, visited http://www.showcargarage.com/. Picked up some Meguiar's Quick Clay and a few NXT products at the local auto shop and all of a sudden I'm spending 7 hours dawning, claybarring, waxing and detailing my Mini by hand. Immediately I'm a claybar convert. Next thing I know I'm ordering my Grit Guards, "How to use the PC for Showcar Results" DVD and spending my intake money on a PC polisher. I've been bitten.

All kidding aside, Props to you OctaneGuy. Thanks for all the help you provide for us that are new to correctly maintaining our car's finish. I honestly thought I was doing a pretty good job before. I guess ignorance is bliss!

Thanks Again,
Jeff

 

lol. that's how it all starts.

 

Well, I read a thread about the griots stuff today. Dam that stuff adds up!

 

Oy, does it ever. I'm glad hubby got on the bandwagon so I can blame it on him!

 

I just got that package in the mail today. Can't wait for the long weekend to make my car all shiny.

 

I'm just hoping my DVD comes before the PC package. At least that will give me something to do while waiting for the big package!

 

you can buy all Meguiar's things and look for discounts.

I really trust octane guy 100%. you can stick with meguiars and be happy as you can be.

polishing with a "pc" like the way his dvd shows is 3/4's of the secret to a car's finish. The rest of the stuff is technique and little to do with product.

however, I did buy a load of griot's stuff for fun. it is very nice stuff, nothing can be held against any of their products or the tools that they sells as well.

 

I've got to echo the claybar convert comment. I never believed in them until the Spring of 2005, when I used one on the MINI after the winter. I'll never go back...

 

here's a funny one for you. At the monterey historics, there was a Meguires booth a few down from the Mini vendors. I asked about larger clay bars, because I don't want to keep buying $16 kits that make me get a detail spray (got tons of them) and the other crap. Turns out they do sell a 200 gram bar in a tub with no other crap (show special, $20). But what made me laugh is the instructions on the tub.. "Tear about 1/3rd of the clay bar off to start work..." That's almost 70 grams and more than the standard bar in the kit by a long shot....

I guess someone in marketing was hoping that everyone would do this, drop the clay and have to buy more..... Sheeze, I use a nickle to quarter sized piece about 1/8" of an inch thick and work small areas..

Matt

 

about the Grit Guards.....great idea, but has anyone simply tried putting a kid's sand box sand strainer tray in the bottom of the wash bucket? from the video, it looks like the spacing of the grit guard holes is the same as my daughter's old sand box strainer....that 'How to Wash Your Car' video was pretty good

 

Matt - Looks like AutoDetailingSolutions has the $20 containers of Meguiar's claybar. 1/3 of the container? I started out with about 1/3 of my quick clay bar and after dropping it decided it was too much to use at one time. BTW - Thanks again for the posts on my One Ball thread. I love it! My HK system is getting much rest these days. Most of the time I'd rather listen to the motor and exhaust now.

Umberto - I'm guessing that the difference would be that the Grit Guards quarter off the space under the grid. This is supposed to prevent whatever falls into the grid from being swirled back up into your mitt. With just the grid alone you might be able to get grit back up above the grid.

Looks like Grit Guards come in Thursday and everything else on Friday.....

Why is this so addictive? I'm dying to tackle my 07 Suburban LTZ. I want to give it a good detailing before we head to the beach in September.

I'm already trying to bring other people into the fold! My father-in-law is retired military and very **** about keeping his cars and boats clean. Even though he has high mileage from his work commute he always seems to get top dollar for his trade ins. I've ordered him a set of Grit Guards and have sent him links to the cleaning video and NAM. As soon as I get a free weekend, We're going to take a run at his wife's red Jag. It's always clean, but just not looking as it should and is swirled pretty good from what I remember. He'll be converted in no time!

 

I think detauiling is so addictive is because the work is mentally easy, so you have time to actually unwind and let your mind drift a bit - you can watch TV or listen to a radio, or ven carry on a conversation without a break, no problem, while also keeping track of everything going on with the car. Plus even though the work isn't completely without effort physically (I work up a sweat in the summertime), there is only a moderate ammount of muscle effort you expend while peforming the tasks, so you actually feel like you're doing something excercize-wise without getting totally exhausted. Couple that with the very noticible results of a clean, gleaming car and you have a really nice combo (IMHO, anyway).

 

hummmmm.... i was concentrating pretty much the whole time
my pads and towels were on my car.

 

Well, everyone has different... CAPACITY... I guess.

 

that one hurts!

Matt

 

I'm just jealous of Kenchan's garage... don't listen to a word I say.

 

ok, you're right. i can't do a figure 8 with my foot while writing a circle
with my hand.

 

well, it might be true.

 

I just dont go down to the bottom

 

WooHoo! My packages have arrived! I got to watch part of the DVD on my lunch break today. I got through the hand application part and was just beginning to watch the machine application part when UPS knocked on the door. Of course at that point I had to stop and unbox everything. Is it too late to call in sick to work!

This is a very nice package. I didn't notice until I unboxed the package that it didn't have the 7006 cutting pad. I guess I can use them with the 8006 pads until I can get one in.

At that point I'm already paying for shipping! Why not throw in a couple of more things!

Does this ever end?

 

It never ends. NEVER!!!
I only got around to polishing my black roof this weekend (lazy days)... and WOW! If I had gone just a little bit slower on a few bits, there would be no water spots left. I told my hubby last night that I just wanted to stand outside and rub my roof all night. It was smooth as glass and looked awesome.
It's really hard to see any scratches on the PS body, but I'm positive that since my roof had the spiderwebbing it did, then the body probably has it too. I'm hoping to get it all done this week so I can put my for sale signs on it. New 06 on the way!

 

Went shopping at AutoDetailingSolutions again today....I'll be receiving my 2nd Meguiar's duffle bag later this week. Is there some sort of Detailers Anonymous number I can call?

 

It is kind of addicting - I just ordered another $140 worth of clay bars, glass detailing kit, micro-fiber polishing/drying cloths (you say I have stitched borders on my current MF polishing cloths - cant' freaking have that!!), polish applicators, acrylic spritz, ad nauseum from Autopia (love that site) -On the other hand I have so much good stuff now that I can almost keep the Mini, my other car and GF's ride pretty pristine, as opposed to paying for quality detailing on 3 cars. And it is literally the ONLY thing of a hands-on work nature that I'm any good at. I figure if I get behind on one I'll have OctaneGuy buff it up and I can keep up again for a while. I keep pretty focused but try to have a ball game or something on for background. That's why I don't do Zaino anymore - I don't have the attention span.