Washing/Waxing/Detailing

Sturty91 said:

Bowden's 'big green Sucker'
Can do the whole pony without wringing mine out once

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Also check out the drying towel that is sold by opticoat. I have two of them and they do a really good job as well. One to do the pony and I don't need to wring it out.

Any tips on the best PH neutral shampoo out there?

Is it worth getting the Maxi Suds II or Hybrid V7 shipped from the chemical Guys, or is the Meguiar's Gold Class I'm currently using just as good?

Any others Shampoo product suggestions?

ShadowBlack said:

Any tips on the best PH neutral shampoo out there?

Is it worth getting the Maxi Suds II or Hybrid V7 shipped from the chemical Guys, or is the Meguiar's Gold Class I'm currently using just as good?

Any others Shampoo product suggestions?

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Have a look at the bowden's products and the Adams products. Bowdens are Australian made and their two washes are PH neutral and are first class. The Adams shampoo is worth a look as well if you are thinking about US products - and there is an Australian distributor for Adams as well

I'd just use the Gold Class, at least until it's done. I still use a lot of Meguiars products but am gradually shifting to Bowdens as I run out of different things as I've found they're generally as good or better (still not impressed with the snow foam) and an Aussie company.

Thanks guys. I'll finish up the Gold Class and switch to Bowdens & give it a go. I searched stockists and Autobarn have it. So I can save on freight by buying locally.

I really like the Meguiar's line. For the Detailer, Spray Wax, and Interior Detailer, I really like their Ultimate product.

Autoglym Wheel Protector works brilliantly on the silver wheels! It is hydrophobic; repels water molecules.

In these photos, it shows the front and rear wheels four months and about 3,000kms after I treated them. It is not recommended for dark wheels, probably because it can leave a milky finish if the wheels are not 100% dry, although the milkiness seems to rub off and not be noticeable on these silver wheels at least.

Admittedly most of my driving is on highways and country roads and I don't drive the car on wet roads. I haven't needed to wash the car in that time as a result (I just dust it off). I think the wheels would have to be re-treated after washing them.

I notice that Supercheap Auto also has their own brand too, which is a little cheaper and might be worth trying.

'Do yourself a favour' and give one of them a go!

apsilon said:

There are ones that will attach to a standard hose. I've never used one but have seen some videos and they're fairly underwhelming in comparison though certainly more convenient.

I have heard of people using these and being happy with the results for the price:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/hortex-450ml-fertiliser-and-insecticide-sprayer_p3368178

I've got by for many years without a foam lance and just hand washing. I do believe there's some advantage to it but it's not the end of the world if you can't do it.

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So, with all the back burning that's gone on around Sydney recently the ute had a layer of what I assume was ash on it. Very fine black dust. So decided to give it a quick wash and this time remembered that thing above so decided to try it out.

As expected no comparison to a proper foam gun but for the price, if you really don't want to buy a pressure washer and foam gun, then it's not a total waste of money. I used a double strength solution and it did produce some suds but not even close to the thick coating the foam gun produces. Having that black dust on a white car I could see the run off was dirty so it did help.

Giving this stuff a whirl.

Sturty91 said:

Bowden's 'big green Sucker'
Can do the whole pony without wringing mine out once

Click to expand...

Agree
Been washing and detailing cars over 40 years. Big Green Sucker best drying aid I have used. Better than any chamois or towel.

Barely gets wet drying my vert.

radar said:

Agree
Been washing and detailing cars over 40 years. Big Green Sucker best drying aid I have used. Better than any chamois or towel.

Barely gets wet drying my vert.

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Just picked up their new product 'afterglow' meant to be a bloody unreal drying aid leaving a mirror like finish

Sturty91 said:

Just picked up their new product 'afterglow' meant to be a bloody unreal drying aid leaving a mirror like finish

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Pics and review please

Sturty91 said:

Just picked up their new product 'afterglow' meant to be a bloody unreal drying aid leaving a mirror like finish

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Where'd you find it? I've checked a few stores and none had stock yet.

Sturty91 said:

Just picked up their new product 'afterglow' meant to be a bloody unreal drying aid leaving a mirror like finish

Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip [MENTION=25817]Sturty91[/MENTION]. Bought it this morning from Autobarn.:clap2:

I'm not much of an expert on detailing so I was looking for tips on what to do to get that super glossy shine. I checked the Bowdens instructions very carefully to get it exactly the way they recommended.

Brilliant shine and not as hard as slaving over a chamois as I have been for the last year. I'm a new Bowdens Afterglow fan. I have been using their Wheely Clean for a while because it is the only thing that I have found that will get the caked on brake dust off the wifes BMW wheels. The fumes smell horrible but if you can stand it, it really works.

I use Meguires ultimate, basically once washed I get 3 microfibre towels (although recently got handed a proper drying one).

First gets rid of most of the water, ring out as you go.
Second I use with the spray and wipe it around, I often find a bit more water in panel gaps and such too.

Third gets is all dry and wipes off excess spray.

Works well for me, not the quickest though, this stuff seems to get rid of the second towel requirement which might be good. I get good "bead porn" as they put it from my method.