What's In DFB's Cabinet?

[Evolvd]

Exactly what I was trying to say but maybe didn’t say it so clearly. If you pay the big bucks then you shouldn’t have to keep adding layers of SiO2 on top. Wash & shine with a drying aid is not what I was referring to.

Do you apply a wax and then never wax the car again? Ceramics aren’t a “apply and never touch the car again” product. If you drive the car you expose it to all sorts of environmental hazards. Pollen, bird crap, road salt, tar, cement dust, oils….all sorts of nastiness that impacts your paint. Ceramic coating is just a barrier to all those hazards that eventually loses effectiveness over time. It requires routine maintenance just like any other paint protection or enhancers. It just so happens it tends to require much less work to do so.

Reading your replies it seems you have a distorted view of what ceramic coatings actually do and how they work. I’ve had my last three cars coated out of the dozen+ cars I’ve owned. My ceramic coated cars are leaps and bounds easier to maintain and refresh compared to my wife’s car that isn’t coated. And we daily drive our cars.

Ceramic coatings are not a “add and forget”. They require attention just like every other aspect of cars.

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[GT 550]

I don't think he's saying they don't need maintenance ie washing and drying etc to keep performing at their best. I think the point is that a ceramic coating itself, like the professional version of GTechniq, if applied correctly shouldn't need to be reapplied unless you somehow mechanically remove it.

 

[MAGS1]

I don't think he's saying they don't need maintenance ie washing and drying etc to keep performing at their best. I think the point is that a ceramic coating itself, like the professional version of GTechniq, if applied correctly shouldn't need to be reapplied unless you somehow mechanically remove it.

But it’s not being reapplied. You’re adding a booster to it once or maybe twice a year. And the booster is as easy as spray on and wipe off. Routine maintenance for that kind of product

 

[GT 550]

Yes, it seems we're all in agreement. I think @Bulutt is on board with the maintenance requirement but was questioning whether what he's been advised elsewhere re the ceramic coating itself having to be reapplied was legit and as we know, it isn't/doesn't.

 

[MAGS1]

Yes, it seems we're all in agreement. I think @Bulutt is on board with the maintenance requirement but was questioning whether what he's been advised elsewhere re the ceramic coating itself having to be reapplied was legit and as we know, it isn't/doesn't.

That is correct, it shouldn’t need to be reapplied unless it wasn’t done properly or it was mechanically removed (polished off). Most good DIY coatings will last 3-5 years if maintained properly. Some professional coatings claim to go as long as 7-9 years, jury is still out on those claims.

I personally have a coating that is rated for up to 5 years. I daily my car and we get lots of road salt in the winter. I’m on top of all my maintenance washes and I top the coating twice a year but I still am only thinking I get 3 or 4 years out of my coating. For $150 which includes the topper, I feel like that’s a good deal for my $$

 

[radar]

DFB hi
Thanks for your posts.
Along with my Lightning FM vert I also have an FN Kona coupe.

Our American friends won’t understand FM/FN naming. (FM means 1st gen S550 and FN is 18 facelift - only in Oz I believe)

Anyway - I am OS now for a while and I lifted these shots from a 4K video on old iPhone shortly before I put this car into storage early August.

I only acquired the Kona in July but don’t think it’s been coated or treated.

In the video it’s absolutely insane level of gloss. Had only given it a maintenance wash x 2 with Meguairs Gold class and dried with Bowdens BGS and Boss Gloss. About an hour beforehand.

Not doubting you - but do you think a wash with CarPro Reset and/or NV Snow with NV Boost as drying aid/sealant would improve on this?

As you can see I’m in Melbourne and I can get to Waxit for a collect when I return.

I’m running low on my Bowdens and Meguairs which have been my “go to” since I got the FM new in 2017.

Happy to try NV or CarPro if an expert like you reckons it’s superior.

Thanks again
Ray

 

[DFB5.0]

DFB hi
Thanks for your posts.
Along with my Lightning FM vert I also have an FN Kona coupe.

Our American friends won’t understand FM/FN naming. (FM means 1st gen S550 and FN is 18 facelift - only in Oz I believe)

Anyway - I am OS now for a while and I lifted these shots from a 4K video on old iPhone shortly before I put this car into storage early August.

I only acquired the Kona in July but don’t think it’s been coated or treated.

In the video it’s absolutely insane level of gloss. Had only given it a maintenance wash x 2 with Meguairs Gold class and dried with Bowdens BGS and Boss Gloss. About an hour beforehand.

Not doubting you - but do you think a wash with CarPro Reset and/or NV Snow with NV Boost as drying aid/sealant would improve on this?

As you can see I’m in Melbourne and I can get to Waxit for a collect when I return.

I’m running low on my Bowdens and Meguairs which have been my “go to” since I got the FM new in 2017.

Happy to try NV or CarPro if an expert like you reckons it’s superior.

Thanks again
Ray

That's a nice spec on the Kona, great to see someone opting for the forged wheels over the PP1 wheels.

I'm three hours away from Waxit, so if you have easy access to them, I don't think I need to spell out what I would do............................

Firstly, I want to point out that I'm extremely analytical, so I notice more minute differences that many won't. Personally, I would easily say that choosing a Carpro or NV product would be worthy upgrade over certain Megs or Bowden's products. That's not to say products from those brands arn't good, just that there are better on the market, often for the same or even less money.

I used Megs Gold Class for years, it's slick and produces great suds. But..............its too gloopy to measure correctly, it takes more effort to rinse off the paint as it tends to reactive, and I don't like the gloss enhancer it leaves behind. I also don't really like how it smells.





Going with something like Reset or Snow, you get a better cleaning soap, more slickness, versatility of using in a foam cannon or a bucket, a thinner consistency for easier pouring/measuring and a much quicker rinse off at the end. If I was choosing just one, Reset would be it, but Snow is exceptional value and not far off the excellence of Reset.

CarPro Reset Shampoo – Waxit Car Care
Nv SNOW | pH Neutral Wash | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

(If you do go with Snow, just stay with the regular version, the Snow+ variant is pretty aggressive for regular washing and is best used for decontamination/stripping.)

For Boost, you are actually adding more protection to the paint in addition to the gloss and slickness it provides. Boss Gloss on the other hand, is a simple quick detailer and more for pure gloss enhancement. That's not a bad thing, but something to consider. (I actually quite liked Boss Gloss by the way.)

Get Nv BOOST V2 Online | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

There are now two versions of Boost, I would favor the newer Boost v2 version.

You would/could use Boost with the BGS towel, perhaps with an additional towel to level it after the initial wiping. They currently have Boost v2 offered with a free towel, which would team well with the BGS.

Get Nv BOOST V2 Online | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

 

[skinnyb]

That's a nice spec on the Kona, great to see someone opting for the forged wheels over the PP1 wheels.

I'm three hours away from Waxit, so if you have easy access to them, I don't think I need to spell out what I would do............................

Firstly, I want to point out that I'm extremely analytical, so I notice more minute differences that many won't. Personally, I would easily say that choosing a Carpro or NV product would be worthy upgrade over certain Megs or Bowden's products. That's not to say products from those brands arn't good, just that there are better on the market, often for the same or even less money.

I used Megs Gold Class for years, it's slick and produces great suds. But..............its too gloopy to measure correctly, it takes more effort to rinse off the paint as it tends to reactive, and I don't like the gloss enhancer it leaves behind. I also don't really like how it smells.




Going with something like Reset or Snow, you get a better cleaning soap, more slickness, versatility of using in a foam cannon or a bucket, a thinner consistency for easier pouring/measuring and a much quicker rinse off at the end. If I was choosing just one, Reset would be it, but Snow is exceptional value and not far off the excellence of Reset.

CarPro Reset Shampoo – Waxit Car Care
Nv SNOW | pH Neutral Wash | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

(If you do go with Snow, just stay with the regular version, the Snow+ variant is pretty aggressive for regular washing and is best used for decontamination/stripping.)

For Boost, you are actually adding more protection to the paint in addition to the gloss and slickness it provides. Boss Gloss on the other hand, is a simple quick detailer and more for pure gloss enhancement. That's not a bad thing, but something to consider. (I actually quite liked Boss Gloss by the way.)

Get Nv BOOST V2 Online | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

There are now two versions of Boost, I would favor the newer Boost v2 version.

You would/could use Boost with the BGS towel, perhaps with an additional towel to level it after the initial wiping. They currently have Boost v2 offered with a free towel, which would team well with the BGS.

Get Nv BOOST V2 Online | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

I concur with @DFB5.0 , you can't go wrong with Reset or NV Snow, I love them both although Reset has a slight edge.

D: I am glad to see your recommendation for Boost, I have been wanting to try it. That is on my list of ones to try out. Might get some and use next drying cycle instead of S0.02, Beadmaker, or Relaod LOL. UGH, I have way too many products but I love trying them all out

 

[DFB5.0]

I concur with @DFB5.0 , you can't go wrong with Reset or NV Snow, I love them both although Reset has a slight edge.

D: I am glad to see your recommendation for Boost, I have been wanting to try it. That is on my list of ones to try out. Might get some and use next drying cycle instead of S0.02, Beadmaker, or Relaod LOL. UGH, I have way too many products but I love trying them all out

A little more on Boost and Boost v2 -

The original formulation was pretty unique for this type of quick detailer/drying aid product -
Nova Boost | Enhanced Quick Detailer – Nv Car Care USA

"Boost contains ingredients that fill in molecular coating imperfections that help improve the gloss, slickness and water beading of the surface. It doesn't create a layer over the top which completely changes the look, or the way the car beads, it tries to emulate the characteristics of your coating when it was first applied.

The layer also helps against water spotting, Boost will break down after a PH Neutral wash taking surface contamination off with it, reducing the chances that minerals will etch into the coated surface. Concours Nova Boost is the easiest of the spray coatings to apply, as it effortlessly flashes off with a couple of wipes making it extremely quick to apply."

So, the concept of the product was to provide lubrication during the drying process and adding to the coating without masking it. At the next wash, the product would be removed and the cycle repeats.

Boost v2 is different, more like the rest of these spray sealants used as drying aids.
Nv BOOST V2 | Quick Detailer – Nv Car Care USA

It will add gloss, slickness and protection but unlike v1, it will stay bonded to the paint during the wash process, even when subjected to high pH soaps and chemicals. As a standalone, Boost v2 will give 3 - 6 months of durability. Think of Boost v2 as a watered-down version of NV Nova Jet.

In use, I was never wowed by Boost v1, it was ok but not fantastic. Boost v2 is much nicer to use, offering better gloss, slickness and seems to have more lubrication.

Boost v2 is well worth a look, especially if you already use other NV coatings.

 

[radar]

Thx for your comments.
I had the wheels ready. Drove direct to VicRoads on delivery to get rid of those ugly plates and US bracket. Wheels then fitted.

 

[radar]

I concur with @DFB5.0 , you can't go wrong with Reset or NV Snow, I love them both although Reset has a slight edge.

D: I am glad to see your recommendation for Boost, I have been wanting to try it. That is on my list of ones to try out. Might get some and use next drying cycle instead of S0.02, Beadmaker, or Relaod LOL. UGH, I have way too many products but I love trying them all out

Good info.
I return Melbourne late September for few weeks so I’ll be keen to try the NV Snow/Boost V2 and CarPro Reset.
Due for BGS replacement so might go the 70 x 100 cm CarPro during microfibre.
I’m frugal most areas of my life - except for acquiring Mustangs.

I will try and use remaining Bowdens/Megs as I can’t stand disposing half used product.

I was heavy user of Fully Slick for few years. Over Melbourne Covid lockdown one of the few pleasures I had was detailing my convertible.

Therapeutic, although we could only drive 5 km.
In that time I logged my detailing and applied 17 coats of Fully Slick. There was also a couple of coats of Lazy Wax.

I only did half the boot lid as kind of a control panel. I found there was not a huge difference across the bootlid in terms of beading/sheeting etc, so I am a bit dubious about some manufacturers claims.
Had “plenty of time” to follow the application instructions.

It actually makes me wonder if regular maintenance washing, finished with Boss Gloss or Boost is sufficient.
Both my cars are returned to locked indoor storage and covered with light dust cover when I travel.

How have you found Fully Slick?
My Lightning Blue vert doesn’t seem to “glow” anymore with 2 coats of Lazy Wax - it does smell good putting it on.
On its own, Lightning Blue is pretty mesmerising itself, so I don’t get the buzz from the Bowdens vids.
As a novice I’ve been impressed with Nanolicious and Boss Gloss - from someone who previously washed their fleet company car in Supermarket Armorall.
I think someone pointed out onetime if you followed the Bowdens protocol from pre Foam to final coat it’s something like 17 applications/washes/rinses.

All seems a bit superfluous to me, as I doubt I get any benefit from my annual 2 coat application of Wet Dreams.
Anyway, thanks to you and the other posters for your info - I’ll be trying the NV on return.
Two questions - does the CarPro reset strip the other Bowdens Sealants from the Lightning Blue vert and, is Reset ok on cars without ceramic coating.
Thankyou

 

[DFB5.0]

Thx for your comments.
I had the wheels ready. Drove direct to VicRoads on delivery to get rid of those ugly plates and US bracket. Wheels then fitted.

WHY WHY WHY do dealers insist on fitting full size plates to these cars! It's not like they wouldn't get their money back on the sale, customers don't want them and would happily pay for the upgraded slim plates. Just no logical reason for them to do that. Then, the hassle of dealing with Vic Roads...........................I would rather a walk on glass than go in there.

Good info.
I return Melbourne late September for few weeks so I’ll be keen to try the NV Snow/Boost V2 and CarPro Reset.
Due for BGS replacement so might go the 70 x 100 cm CarPro during microfibre.
I’m frugal most areas of my life - except for acquiring Mustangs.

I will try and use remaining Bowdens/Megs as I can’t stand disposing half used product.

I was heavy user of Fully Slick for few years. Over Melbourne Covid lockdown one of the few pleasures I had was detailing my convertible.

Therapeutic, although we could only drive 5 km.
In that time I logged my detailing and applied 17 coats of Fully Slick. There was also a couple of coats of Lazy Wax.

I only did half the boot lid as kind of a control panel. I found there was not a huge difference across the bootlid in terms of beading/sheeting etc, so I am a bit dubious about some manufacturers claims.
Had “plenty of time” to follow the application instructions.

It actually makes me wonder if regular maintenance washing, finished with Boss Gloss or Boost is sufficient.
Both my cars are returned to locked indoor storage and covered with light dust cover when I travel.

How have you found Fully Slick?
My Lightning Blue vert doesn’t seem to “glow” anymore with 2 coats of Lazy Wax - it does smell good putting it on.
On its own, Lightning Blue is pretty mesmerising itself, so I don’t get the buzz from the Bowdens vids.
As a novice I’ve been impressed with Nanolicious and Boss Gloss - from someone who previously washed their fleet company car in Supermarket Armorall.
I think someone pointed out onetime if you followed the Bowdens protocol from pre Foam to final coat it’s something like 17 applications/washes/rinses.

All seems a bit superfluous to me, as I doubt I get any benefit from my annual 2 coat application of Wet Dreams.
Anyway, thanks to you and the other posters for your info - I’ll be trying the NV on return.
Two questions - does the CarPro reset strip the other Bowdens Sealants from the Lightning Blue vert and, is Reset ok on cars without ceramic coating.
Thankyou

Firstly, this thread, among many, is the result of Covid lockdowns. If there was a positive aspect to Covid, it's that I got more time to hone my skills and hide away from "people". So "therapeutic" is a conservative word here.

Don't stress about unused bottles of product, just use them in different ways. For the soap, just use it in your wheel bucket..........................I now old products to wash the wheely bins.....................

In terms of regular washing and using a drying aid, that is often enough to have your car protected. That statement applies to products like Boost and not quick detailers like Boss Gloss. Detail Sprays or Quick Detailers are about lubrication and gloss enhancement but don't really have much, if any, protection to them. As such, I'd be favoring Boost over Boss Gloss for protection as it can last up to 3-6 months from one application (beyond 6 months going by your usage patterns). On the other hand, you could alternative between the two.

For the towel, may I suggest a couple of alternatives, I'm not a huge fan of twist loop towels as they can be very grabby. Most of Waxit's drying towels are twist loop towels, I was all set to recommend the Tempest, but that is sold out. As such, I would highly suggest picking up a variant of TRC Gauntlet. The Detail Store is also in Melbourne and they carry TRC towels, but I'll link you to other suppliers as well -

The Rag Company The Gauntlet Microfibre Drying Towel – The Detail Store
Search: 4 results found for "gauntlet*" (autobuff.com.au)
Buy Now - The Rag Company - The Gauntlet Microfiber Drying Towel (detailingshed.com.au)
The Rag Company - The GAUNTLET Drying Towel 38x61cm - Prime Finish Car Care

The Gauntlet is actually a hybrid twist loop, so you get the ultra-absorbent nature of the twist loop design, but without the grabby nature. I run the small 30x30 size for wheels, the medium 38x60 for drying.

As for Afterglow, it's been a VERY long time since I used that product, and I wasn't won over by it. From memory, it was a touch smeary for my application methods and taste. If I had to guess, I would say Afterglow has an element of carnauba wax in it, most spray wax type products exhibit similar application traits.

Armor All soap, I think we all started there.

In terms of Reset, it's been noted to be a stronger cleaner despite being pH neutral and is said to speed up degradation of waxes.

Having said that, I've been using it on ceramic coated and non-coated vehicles for years now and haven't noticed any adverse effects from using it regularly on waxes. If you end up using Boost as a drying aid, then you end up replacing waaay more than it potentially removes. Reset was also designed for use on other Carpro Si02 products, including Hydr02 and Reload, both of which are spray sealants.

I have said this in the past, but the name "Reset" was probably a misstep by Carpro as it gives the impression that the product is stripping or "resetting" the paint back to bare. Perhaps "Refresh" would have been better.

 

[50ALM]

Damn you DFB!!!
You've got me down the rabbit hole.
Bought some Bead Maker many weeks ago, and keen to finally give it a go on the next wash.

I do note your pH meter.
Interestingly, Detailing Shed nor The Detail Store (and most likely others) do not stock these, despite many of the products they sell specifically mentioning pH. It seems like an obvious accessory to sell.

Yours looks like any generic meter (and you should see all the cheapo yellow Ruolan knock-offs out there), but where did you get it from, and have you done any comparisons to validate accuracy and what is the reading repeatability like?

I'm wary of the cheapies on ebay and AliExpress.

Keen to get one after seeing your recent posts... and I could do with one for the swimming pool anyway.

 

[DFB5.0]

Damn you DFB!!!
You've got me down the rabbit hole.
Bought some Bead Maker many weeks ago, and keen to finally give it a go on the next wash.

I do note your pH meter.
Interestingly, Detailing Shed nor The Detail Store (and most likely others) do not stock these, despite many of the products they sell specifically mentioning pH. It seems like an obvious accessory to sell.

Yours looks like any generic meter (and you should see all the cheapo yellow Ruolan knock-offs out there), but where did you get it from, and have you done any comparisons to validate accuracy and what is the reading repeatability like?

I'm wary of the cheapies on ebay and AliExpress.

Keen to get one after seeing your recent posts... and I could do with one for the swimming pool anyway.

Welcome to the rabbit hole, it only gets deeper from here!

The pH meter is indeed a cheapie from Amazon which I got along with a TDS meter.

PH Meter, 4 in 1 Water Quality Tester, Water Quality Test Kit, Water Quality Meter TDS PPM EC Meter and High Precision Drinking Water, Garden, Aquarium, Swimming Pool with 3 Powder PH Buffer Pack : Amazon.com.au: Kitchen & Dining

The kit comes with a calibration buffer -

I'm sure there are more accurate meters, but from my perspective, I have been using this to provide a baseline number so as to compare between products rather than providing a definitive number.

 

[DFB5.0]

More work on tool organization today.

Ideally, I would love to do the following with Tool Grid, a super flexible and customizable grid system that allows you to move or add tools around as needed. The system involves a plastic peg-board style insert, with various tool holder attachments held in place with screws. This system is brilliant because it works with any tool brand and is also extremely space efficient.

Toolgrid - Tool Organization and Tool Storage, Toolbox Organizer (toolgridsystem.com)







But to get it shipped to Australia is just too much for a collection of small plastic parts. I'm not ruling it out, so hopefully someone brings the system to Australia in the future.

Now, I looked at a few different options, in fact far too many hours trawling the internet. I found something similar to Tool Grid on Amazon, but it just looked cheap and nasty. I was also going to do more Kaizen foam, but that's a tedious task. For now, I settled on the following -

GEARWRENCH 4 Piece Trap Mat Universal Tool Drawer Liners - Bunnings Australia

I'm actually happier with it than I expected....................

I still have some Wera magnetic socket rails to come, which I will section out the foam to allow the Torx sockets to stand upright.

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