What's In DFB's Cabinet?

[MrMike]

For cleaning, Sonax Alcantara & Suede cleaner with a leather brush. That’s what I use for my 350R wheel. For protection, I’d use an upholstery coating. Carpro makes one that I use on my cloth seats and Ford Performance floor mats. I’m sure D has tested other products, but thought I’d share what I use.

Thanks. I'm gonna assume that the Carpro product you're talking about is CQUARTZ Fabric? Looks super easy to use.

I'm hesitant to move away from the Griot's Interior Cleaner since it's clear and has zero smell, but if the Sonax stuff is also odor free I'm willing to give it a shot.

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[MAGS1]

Thanks. I'm gonna assume that the Carpro product you're talking about is CQUARTZ Fabric? Looks super easy to use.

I'm hesitant to move away from the Griot's Interior Cleaner since it's clear and has zero smell, but if the Sonax stuff is also odor free I'm willing to give it a shot.

Correct, CQuartz Fabric. Very easy to use and works well.

No smell on the Sonax and also very easy to use. After cleaning the wheel and other fabric with Sonax, you “rinse” with damp microfibers. I will follow with a dry microfiber as well just to pull some of the moisture out of the Alcantara.

 

[DFB5.0]

A while back you recommended ColourLock for leather protection and cleaning. I put it on my new steering wheel and it's excellent.

Is there a similar recommendation for alcantara/suede? I'm sure Griot's Interior Cleaner will be safe, but wondering if there's something like the ColourLock protector.

I'm planning new seats and I want to take care of them as well as the new wheel.

Check out this thread, there is an Alcantara segment.

(1) Hands On The Wheel – Cleaning Your Steering Wheel | 2015+ S550 Mustang Forum (GT, EcoBoost, GT350, GT500, Bullitt, Mach 1) - Mustang6G.com

But certainly look at the Sonax or Pol Star for cleaning. Koch Chemie have recently launched a fabric protectant that would be a great option -

Koch-Chemie - All Around Textile Sealant | The Rag Company

 

[MrMike]

Correct, CQuartz Fabric. Very easy to use and works well.

No smell on the Sonax and also very easy to use. After cleaning the wheel and other fabric with Sonax, you “rinse” with damp microfibers. I will follow with a dry microfiber as well just to pull some of the moisture out of the Alcantara.

Check out this thread, there is an Alcantara segment.

(1) Hands On The Wheel – Cleaning Your Steering Wheel | 2015+ S550 Mustang Forum (GT, EcoBoost, GT350, GT500, Bullitt, Mach 1) - Mustang6G.com

But certainly look at the Sonax or Pol Star for cleaning. Koch Chemie have recently launched a fabric protectant that would be a great option -

Koch-Chemie - All Around Textile Sealant | The Rag Company

Thanks. Sounds like the Sonax cleaner is the way to go.

That protectant claims to be longer lasting compared to CarPro fabric. Why does it say ColourLock on it? Did KCx and them merge or one buy the other?

 

[DFB5.0]

Thanks. Sounds like the Sonax cleaner is the way to go.

That protectant claims to be longer lasting compared to CarPro fabric. Why does it say ColourLock on it? Did KCx and them merge or one buy the other?

About 18-months ago, Koch Chemie bought-out ColourLock.

 

[DFB5.0]

Two weeks ago, I replaced the bag on the BG86 that's been set up for vacuum duties. This mostly cured the problem I was having with the inlet clogging up, in turn preventing material being discharged to the back of the bag.

However, I still felt like it wasn't performing as it should. For some reason, the discharge chute seemed to be blocking up more frequently than usual, and when unblocking, the material wasn't shredded. With the suction tube off to clear a blockage, I noticed the impeller was looking a little worn and went and ordered a new one.

Well, with the shroud off and the new part in hand, a comparison between old and new paints the picture.......................

So yes, I think I got my money's worth out of that impeller! :lol This is how it looked in January 2022..........................

Stihl uses the same impeller across the BG 56 and 86 blowers, as well as the SH 56 and 86 shredder vacs. The earlier BG 55/85 and SH 55/85 used a different fan, which had a different pattern and was orange in colour instead of black.

BG & SH 55/85 - 4229 704 3400
BG & SH 56/86 - 4241 704 3405

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07Q8JHW4S?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

The worn-down impellor would explain the more frequent blockages, the material wasn't being shredded properly. I have also gone and ordered the shredder blade, which I have a couple floating around somewhere but can't find.

https://bwmachinery.com.au/product/...3ATuHfPuOJuL_ClcW9nm9B1qC4Xq20DRPFR8Yu877bBg5

 

[skinnyb]

Thanks. Sounds like the Sonax cleaner is the way to go.

That protectant claims to be longer lasting compared to CarPro fabric. Why does it say ColourLock on it? Did KCx and them merge or one buy the other?

I have not tried the Sonax cleaner, but I can concur the Colourlock Fabric protector is really nice. I bought a bottle from KCx a while back and used it as a final step on a friend's convertible top. Have since topped another top with it as well... Coupled with the DIY Detail rinsless wash for cleaning, it was a great combo.

 

[DFB5.0]

I'm not sure why, but I don't often take interior shots. And on the XR6, it has a somewhat unique look.

For FG Falcon, XR sedans and utes were offered with 5 different interior trims. That might sound like a lot, but on the previous BF MK II model, an XR could be had with 13 different interior trim options, exterior colour dependant. In fact, on BA MK II, there 16 different options.

This customization was very much a strategic play for the BA Falcon. Ford wanted to reengage with the more profitable private market rather than flogging base models to fleet and rental customers. Ford gave buyers a chance to order their new car exactly how they wanted, something usually reserved for higher end brands. That's why there were so many interior and exterior colour options during this era. Today? Yeah, you can have black, or black, or black with black........................

For the BA Falcon, Ford were offering a range of cloth trim colours, which were NCO options, as well black leather trim with red stitching for $1980 (sedan) or $1050 (ute). In April 2004, Ford introduced "XR-Sport Leather Trim", which was available as a standalone option for $2495 (sedan), or via the XR Luxury Pack for $4595 (XR6T & XR8) or $5495 (XR6). This trim was a mixture of patterned leather and suede, and like the cloth trims, was offered in a range of colours. The XR-Sport Leather carried over into the BA MK II, BF and BF MK II models.

The really sad thing is, while some customers could see value in factory ordering their car, most didn't want to wait and simply purchased what was sitting on the lot. Further to that, most dealers would only order stock with the neutral grey or black trims. And this is why for FG, the choice of interior options was slimmed right down to just 5..........................

As with the B-Series, most dealers played it safe and ordered XR's with the Streetwise Graphite or the black Nudo Leather. Some did get made with Streetwise Red, in fact the very first FG I drove was a Silhouette Black XR6 with the red trim. Streetwise Silver was a happy medium in my option as it added some contrast to the interior without being in your face.

Streetwise Graphite -

Streetwise Red -

Streetwise Blue -

Streetwise Silver -

Nudo Leather -

I remember sitting with the salesman back in early 2008 looking through what stock was available in the Ford system, there being no Sensation with Streetwise Blue available. This is part of the reason why my car was a factor order. My choice of cloth over leather might sound like a strange move, but I was not giving up the chance to have some colour in an otherwise black dungeon. If I had the chance to order this car again, I wouldn't change a thing....................other than going for the turbo engine.

In March 2010, Ford discontinued the optional cloth trims, slimming down to the bland Streetwise Graphite with blue stitching and lettering. They even started using the same trim on the R6 Ute (which used XR seats), the base Ute lost its unique trim and adopted the XT sedans instead, and the G6 lost the Cashmere trim option. This was clearly a cost cutting exercise in an effort to reduce complexity on the line and with suppliers. A year earlier, they stopped painting the E-GAS engines green, instead used a strip of green tape across the front of the rocker cover. The turbo engine went from gloss to matte red paint.

So, if you ever see an FG with the red, blue or silver cloth interior, you are looking at something quite rare.

 

[Bikeman315]

I saw this on FB and immediately thought of you D. Think you can detail this one?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1187301212593008?fs=e&fs=e

 

[DFB5.0]

I saw this on FB and immediately thought of you D. Think you can detail this one?

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1187301212593008?fs=e&fs=e

I've come across those sorts of videos before, there is some suggestion that the person making the video is deliberately making them look like that to exaggerate the before and after.

 

[DFB5.0]

I’m a bit of a Nazi when it comes to using space efficiently. And when something is a functional annoyance, you can imagine how I felt about the following image…………………………..

With the fridge dictating the level of the shelf above, there was a lot of space going to waste. To partially remedy this, I decided to make use the horizontal cross bars of the shelving unit uprights to create narrow shelf. Again, the fridge dictated the situation as I only had about 190mm space behind it.

So, off to the dreaded big green shed to buy a 2.4 metre length of 190 x 45mm treated pine framing timber. The 45mm thickness should reduce the likelihood of it bowing under the weight of whatever ends up sitting on the shelf. Shock of shocks, I was actually served within 45-seconds of entering the timber shop, last time it took 45-minutes!

190 x 45mm Outdoor Framing H3 Treated Pine 2.4m - Bunnings Australia

With the timber cut to length, I then used the offcut to create two 45mm blocks which were then attached to the end of the board, this would boost the height of the shelf.

From here, I sanded the timber before applying two coats of paint, which I already had from previous projects.

Paint dry, I threaded the board into place……………………….

I love when a basic idea buried in my brain becomes a reality. A simple, easy to achieve improvement, exactly how I imagined it.

 

[DFB5.0]

My Saturday in pictures..............................

First up, a wash for old blue......................

Now clean, the XR6 swapped places with the Mustang and its cover put on. Time to make some noise, grabbing some fresh fuel on the way home.........................

It was then time for walkies....................................

A happy little boy.................................

Some offroad action on the way home, 4H selected for good measure..................

Ooops.............................

I couldn't help it......................................

It was bitterly cold morning, but that is almost always followed by clear blue skies and warm sunshine.

 

[DFB5.0]

Fitted the blade attachment to the BG86 this morning.

https://bwmachinery.com.au/product/...06GxI-4vHdDJvYDSQKB3zYC3G9zC3Lsep2MuizO5SGB5m

I wonder why it reminds me of these......................

 

[DFB5.0]

Today I went down to Nagambie to help my Dad pull the boat out of the river for winter. While this thing is just waaay to big, it's one of very few indulgent purchases he has ever made. When he bought it, my Mum and my sister were disgusted, but as far I'm concerned, he worked his ar.e off his whole life, let the man have his boat!

I have to say, even though it was quite chilly on the water this morning, the sun was shining and the air had that lovely sweet, fresh winter scent.

POWER! I love the sound of these at full tilt!

Considering I don't have a boat licence, someone had to wrangle the car and trailer into position on the ramp while Dad stayed with the boat. I'm over the moon to say that I did this in one shot! I struggled for years to reverse trailers until a client of mine broke it down into very simplistic terms. Am I confident reversing trailers? No, not really. But can I do it, well, I can now.

The trailer and vehicle were actually reversed further back into the water to allow Dad to drive the boat up onto the trailer. I even engaged 4H to drive it up the ramp.

You can see the Wildtrak is nose up with the boat and trailer hanging off the back. The 2.0 Bi-Turbo diesel engine has the torque to pull this rig, but it certainly works hard and makes its presence heard. The 10-speed auto becomes a great asset for towing as it keeps the engine in the torque band. Anyone who has towed with a 4 or 5-speed auto will know the compromise, you either labour the engine in top gear and lose momentum, or end up revving too hard in 3rd or 4th, making more noise and consuming more fuel. The 10-speed will seamlessly cycle through the upper ratios to keep the engine at peak performance. I also had it in S mode to help the cause.

Back home, both boat and Wildtrak are in need of some detailing love.

 

[DFB5.0]

I always forget how much extra work it is to maintain a car in winter. Wet or damp roads, and the road film and mud the comes from that, well it generally takes more time and more chemical aggression to deal with. In the Wildtrak's case, transporting a dog with wet and muddy paws every day, off roading and pulling a boat out of the river doesn't help the situation.

I actually pre-treated the wheels, tyres and wheel arches with Bilt Hamber Touch-less, followed by contact washing with P&S Brake Buster and Undressed. For the paint, I tried P&S Frostbite, which apart from the unique Eucalyptus-Green Tea scent, it's thoroughly unremarkable. Just shows you that even with benchmark products in their lineup, they can still make a dud.

Contact wash was via Reset, drying aid Megs HCD, windows via Invisible Glass. Tyres dressed with Carpro Perl.

The interior was filthy. I started by foaming and scrubbing the floor mats with Touch-less. After a vacuum, the plastics got wiped down with Nextzett Cockpit Premium, such an obscure product that is well worth tracking down. The leather was wiped with Bowden's Leather Love, although I had to break out the ColourLock Strong cleaner for the drivers seat, steering wheel, gear shifter and central armrest. I followed that with ColourLock Leather Protector.

Clean again.....................for now.

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