new products

[cowboyharry]

I used that Dupont wax with teflon in it the other day and thought it suckeded. Because the next day I had to keep wiping off a thin white film that kept coming back. I use the Zymoil with good sucsess.

[venomous]

Zaino, Zymol, Turtle Wax, Black Magic, Meguiars

[Cobrizo]

Originally Posted by scocher

Meguiars girl, here

Same here, I love the stuff

[Cobrizo]

Originally Posted by ausie

Having a show stopping paint job is hard to maintain, especially if you like to drive the car. There are a ton of products on the market for cleaning, waxing, buffing, etc.... Since I own a Black Cobra, it is extremely difficult to keep clean. very minute scratches show in full detail on the car. I can thank the Dealer for doing that since they cleaned it and waxed it when I picked it up even though I recommeded them not to. I have yet to find a product that will repel dust, which is most disturbing after spending 4 to 5 hours to detail your car, go to work, and come out to lunch only to find your car is covered with dust and grass clippings from the yard crew that seems to only appear to cut the grass the day you decide to drive it to work after you have waxed it up. Then again you have those fine roads that get coated with those small stones and oil so you can get a new windshild every year. Lets not forget those kids packed in a church van traveling to a destination for what ever who wind up tossing a full soda bottle at you because you just happen to be behind them. Every body has road hazzards to deal with. Some may be extreme and some not.
One of the best products out there is the clay bar which is best used after washing the dirt off (perhaps twice - depending on how dirty your paint is). The paint must be cool to begin with. (black or dark paint tends to heat up in direct sunlight so it is best to wash the car early in the morning or the night before you detail it, otherwise you wind up with evaporating water spots) Then comes the clay bar process, use liberal amounts of the lubricant supplied with the clay bar. After that, wax it and buff it out. I have never seen such a deep luster in my paint until I used the clay bar. I find using a polymer synthetic wax to be the better of the wax products out there. There are many to choose from, Zaino, Meguirs NXT (which is what I like now), rain dance, turtle wax and the dupont teflon. I am sure that there are others but these are just the one's that come to mind. If you plan on going to shows, it is best to get yourself a california duster so that you can remove any dust that may accumulate when you get there. Follow up with some detail spray, and bingo, you have a show car shine that everybody will envey. Just remember this, it is not the wax that is shiney, it is the paint. All the wax does it refurbish the oils within the paint and provides protection from oxidation and other contaminants. Unfortunately this oil or protectant also provides a tacky surface for small particles to adhere to either by static charge or cohesion by moisture. Okay, now everything is clean, the paint is waxed, the tires shine and the rims are polished. Did you forget anything? How about those cruddy looking exhaust tips? The only product that I found that cleans off road tar and road dirt is what makes it go, Gasoline. Put a little on a rag and just rub it in on the exhaust. It works best if the tips are a little warm (not hot). I usually start here before washing off the car. Wash off the rag when you are done or lay it flat outside somewhere so the fuel can evapaorate, otherwise if you just thow it away as it is, you may have an unexpected fire by spontaneous compustion (more common with turpintine than with gasoline due to evaporation rates).
As for the paint chips, that is another story all together. I find that the side scoops get the most abuse from the road projectiles. I wish they had a functional purpose instead of just sitting there and eating stones. oops, once again, I wrote a small novel. sorry for the length

Ausie, I love reading your posts, I always learn something Thanks for all the info, and you're right, the dust on my black snake drives me nuts!

[My Cobra]

ha ha man you write a ton. take it easy on the dial up people. ha ha thanks for the info. where do you get the clay bars? I am new to the show thing. I see pictures of peopels cars and it is like dang man mine does not look that good and i have a 8,000 dollar paint job. do you people get them detailed by a pro? or what? i do not know what i am doing wrong. I guess mine is just a car that i drive too much

[venomous]

I think when you detail your own car, it looks a lot better, cause you put alot more love and attention into places that someone else would not bother too. I got my claybars from one of the autofairs that meguiars was at. I'm sure you could order it off of their website.

[scocher]

Originally Posted by My Cobra

ha ha man you write a ton. take it easy on the dial up people. ha ha thanks for the info. where do you get the clay bars? I am new to the show thing. I see pictures of peopels cars and it is like dang man mine does not look that good and i have a 8,000 dollar paint job. do you people get them detailed by a pro? or what? i do not know what i am doing wrong. I guess mine is just a car that i drive too much

As far as I know, we detail our own cars. Just go to a show and ask questions. We got tons of valuable help. Everyone showed me what they did and pointed out the "little secrets". (Like clean the heat vents with Q-tips.) It must've worked since I ended up with a 1st place trophy!! However, after all that work, I decided I'm gonna be happy with one trophy and just clean my car up for myself instead of for competition. Miine is a daily driver, too.

[Cobrizo]

Originally Posted by scocher

As far as I know, we detail our own cars. Just go to a show and ask questions. We got tons of valuable help. Everyone showed me what they did and pointed out the "little secrets". (Like clean the heat vents with Q-tips.) It must've worked since I ended up with a 1st place trophy!! However, after all that work, I decided I'm gonna be happy with one trophy and just clean my car up for myself instead of for competition. Miine is a daily driver, too.

Wow, congratulations Cheryl! Way to go! I'm going to put my Cobra in a show on June 6th, I'm excited! My first one, its put on at the dealership where I bought the car. I'm told they get a lot of cars, well over 300. Thats a lot to me but maybe in the car show world it isn't, don't know. My sales guy said he'll help me detail it so I will take him up on that offer. I keep it spotless but help and tips are always appreciated! (love the nanner!)

[scocher]

Originally Posted by Cobrizo

Wow, congratulations Cheryl! Way to go! I'm going to put my Cobra in a show on June 6th, I'm excited! My first one, its put on at the dealership where I bought the car. I'm told they get a lot of cars, well over 300. Thats a lot to me but maybe in the car show world it isn't, don't know. My sales guy said he'll help me detail it so I will take him up on that offer. I keep it spotless but help and tips are always appreciated! (love the nanner!)

Good luck at the car show and have fun 300 is a lot of cars!! I can't wait to meet you, nanner buddy!! Are you going rafting on Wednesday? I need to make a reservation. We're going to do the Dragon on Thursday That is a wild ride and a TON of fun!!! I, also, want to try drag racing Thursday p.m.

[ausie]

Clay bar can be found just about at any place like autozone, pepboys, etc...
I have used the clay magic without complaint.

Sorry for the long posts.... I am usually stuck in techinical writing mode most of the time....... long winded I suppose.

The dupont stuff, not the best.... I just wanted to try it out on the old Explorer which happens to be my test base before using new products on the car that matters....

I prefer the Meguir's NXT and many of their other products, but so far the NXT is tops. It holds up after washing it.. I have never seen black paint as dark and mirror perfect. It works great on wheels too.

[cowboyharry]

Originally Posted by ausie

Clay bar can be found just about at any place like autozone, pepboys, etc...
I have used the clay magic without complaint.

Sorry for the long posts.... I am usually stuck in techinical writing mode most of the time....... long winded I suppose.

The dupont stuff, not the best.... I just wanted to try it out on the old Explorer which happens to be my test base before using new products on the car that matters....

I prefer the Meguir's NXT and many of their other products, but so far the NXT is tops. It holds up after washing it.. I have never seen black paint as dark and mirror perfect. It works great on wheels too.

I lookeded in Wow Mart the othe day at the Meguires stuff and did not see any that said NXT on it. What is NXT?

[scocher]

Originally Posted by cowboyharry

I lookeded in Wow Mart the othe day at the Meguires stuff and did not see any that said NXT on it. What is NXT?

Never X-ercise Topless???

This is especially true if you are over 25

[My Cobra]

that is a very good tip. Please keep your clothing on people. I get sick when the guy next door is washing his 89 dodge carvan (rust) with his shirt off and harry back about 325 (solid twinkey)

[scocher]

Originally Posted by My Cobra

that is a very good tip. Please keep your clothing on people. I get sick when the guy next door is washing his 89 dodge carvan (rust) with his shirt off and harry back about 325 (solid twinkey)

[ausie]

The Meguiar's NXT is a new product that is a synthetic polymer wax. It comes in a dark purple bottle with a greet top. I found this at autozone and or pep boys. I have been to wal mart only to find a limited supply of waxes. They may have large quantities of certain products but their range of products are limited. So far the NXT is one of the easiest products I have used by hand. The results are even more impressive when using a buffer. They even have a booster wax similar to detailer's spray to use between waxing. I would soon rather purchase products from a store than buy it on-line.