Washing/Waxing/Detailing

[DFB5.0]

Does the word “psychiatrist” mean anything to yo?

Sure does, the psychiatrist gave up on me though.

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[GT 550]

Sure does, the psychiatrist gave up on me though.

Dr...thank you for explaining the cause of my obsessions with such clarity and perspective. Now can I detail your car...?

 

[DFB5.0]

Dressing tires at the end of a detail is probably my favorite detailing task. It just completes the look of a clean car.

I have tried more tire dressings than I care to admit.

Water based dressings are what I favor these days. While they don't have as much longevity, water based products are less likely to sling onto the bodywork.

Nv Onyx is my absolute favorite tire product, giving a satin to gloss appearance depending on taste. Onyx is one of the easiest tire dressings to work with, spreading over the rubber with minimal effort. The caramel scent is also very pleasant.

https://www.waxit.com.au/collections/nv-car-care/products/nv-onyx-tyre-dressing
https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/concours/products/nv-onyx-tyre-dressing

In terms of applicators, the larger one in the above pics are available from a few places under different brands.
https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/maxshine/products/speed-master-applicator
https://www.bowdensown.com.au/all-sorts

The small applicator pictured is actually a wax/sealant applicator. I like these for low profile tires to prevent smudging onto the wheels.
https://www.waxit.com.au/collections/sgcb/products/sgcb-coating-applicator?variant=32087524671577

 

[DFB5.0]

Just like tire dressing, clean and polished exhaust tips complete the look of a freshly detailed car. I always wonder why some forget this little detail.

For well maintained tips, I use the normal car soap to keep them looking great. For dirtier and neglected tips, use a wheel cleaner such as IronX or Brake Buster. Using wheel brushes helps to get in and around the pipes with ease.

For those with the later quad tips, a brush like this would be a great choice -

Once clean but still wet, I use this P21S Polishing Soap every 12 months or so to shine them up and remove any carbon stains. This stuff is very easy to use, simply wet the supplied sponge, wipe on some of the product, then scrub the tips. Rinse of with water and your done.

And if that wasn't enough, I use a water activated spray sealant to add some protection and gloss.

After each maintenance wash, I will also give them a wipe over with some quick detailer, helping to dry up any left over water and adding some shine.

And with that, you will have completed the look! And keep weirdo's like me satisfied.

 

[trumpeteer_au]

I am a dedicated Bowdens afterglow user and I tend to find something I like and stick to it.

I have been wondering lately if there is something else I can use for a better gloss shine, either by itself or even something to use in conjunction with the afterglow to deepen the shine.

Bowdens offer some advice on how you can use extra products in conjunction with afterglow but the advice all gets a bit jumbled after you look at all the options. I prefer real-world advice from real users.

I am not in @DFB5.0's world of extreme detailing. I just want to get a deeper shine on the Ruby Red. Mine is a daily driver, well it used to be before Covid. Now it's more like a monthly driver. I have taken it out of the garage and dusted it off more often than washing it over the last 4 months.

Appreciate any advice.

 

[DFB5.0]

I am a dedicated Bowdens afterglow user and I tend to find something I like and stick to it.

I have been wondering lately if there is something else I can use for a better gloss shine, either by itself or even something to use in conjunction with the afterglow to deepen the shine.

Bowdens offer some advice on how you can use extra products in conjunction with afterglow but the advice all gets a bit jumbled after you look at all the options. I prefer real-world advice from real users.

I am not in @DFB5.0's world of extreme detailing. I just want to get a deeper shine on the Ruby Red. Mine is a daily driver, well it used to be before Covid. Now it's more like a monthly driver. I have taken it out of the garage and dusted it off more often than washing it over the last 4 months.

Appreciate any advice.

My first though for you would have been the new P&S Dream Maker, but it's sold out at the moment. This product has little to no protection on offer but was created to massively increase gloss, exactly what you are looking for.
https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...cts/products/p-s-dream-maker-extra-deep-gloss
https://www.detailstore.com.au/coll...-gloss-amplifier-473ml?variant=39442309546039

Another product that comes to mind for increased gloss would be P&S Bead Maker. I was late to the Bead Maker Party but it has become a staple. Bead Maker is very hard to beat for gloss.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/p-s-detail-products/products/p-s-beadmaker

Both of those products can be used as drying aids, although I would perhaps use the Bead Maker every second wash to avoid building it up too much and potentially causing streaking issues. Bead Maker and Dream Maker are both only available through dedicated detailing stores so you will have to pay for delivery, so do what I do and order some towels to make it worth while. I would recommend Creature Edgeless or FTW's for use with both of those products.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...cloths/products/rag-company-edgeless-creature
https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...ftw-twisted-loop-drying-towelmicrofiber-towel

 

[GT 550]

Hi Graham I'm a Bowden's user and have also found their website info jumbled and dated to the point of sometimes being impossible to comprehend. A case of more is less. Conversely I've found Bowden's staff to be patient and helpful, on a couple of occasions when I've been unable to decipher the website info I've called up and they were excellent. I was quite straightforward with my feedback on the website and they actually made some changes that cleaned it up a bit (!). My personal experience with them is one of the main reasons I'm happy to support them.

I reckon they'll suggest using Lazy Wax or Boss Gloss over the After Glow.

Good luck!

 

[Bulutt]

I am a dedicated Bowdens afterglow user and I tend to find something I like and stick to it.

I have been wondering lately if there is something else I can use for a better gloss shine, either by itself or even something to use in conjunction with the afterglow to deepen the shine.

Bowdens offer some advice on how you can use extra products in conjunction with afterglow but the advice all gets a bit jumbled after you look at all the options. I prefer real-world advice from real users.

I am not in @DFB5.0's world of extreme detailing. I just want to get a deeper shine on the Ruby Red. Mine is a daily driver, well it used to be before Covid. Now it's more like a monthly driver. I have taken it out of the garage and dusted it off more often than washing it over the last 4 months.

Appreciate any advice.

The advice given and products suggested are absolutely correct but the shine comes from the initial polish/correction. Get your paint 100% and then seal with a top wax which “wets” the paint is what I find gives the deepest gloss. Once you have that base top ups help maintain the shine. Drawback is low longevity and hence why sealants and ceramics have become so popular but I find their shine is less deep; more plastic looking. I am talking about depth of gloss as compared to level of gloss. That‘s why show cars/ garage queens often go with high end waxes. Only my opinion of course.

 

[DFB5.0]

The advice given and products suggested are absolutely correct but the shine comes from the initial polish/correction. Get your paint 100% and then seal with a top wax which “wets” the paint is what I find gives the deepest gloss. Once you have that base top ups help maintain the shine. Drawback is low longevity and hence why sealants and ceramics have become so popular but I find their shine is less deep; more plastic looking. That‘s why show cars/ garage queens often go with high end waxes. Only my opinion of course.

That is the best I have read explaining the difference in look between wax/sealant and Ceramic coatings. I also like the term "warmness" when describing a waxed vehicle.

For the most part, I tend to get more than the stated longevity of a wax or sealant due to my cars living a pretty pampered life. For example, Collinite 845 wax is said to last 4 - 6 months but I can get a year out of it on a car that is garaged and only driven dry days.

And yes, to allow your LSP (Last Step Product) to provide shine to it's fullest potential, have the car polished prior to application. You won't need to polish every time you apply a wax or sealant though, you may only do that once every few years.

I recently gave my XR8 it's first polish since I took delivery of it brand new in 2014. No major correction was needed so I only used a light finishing compound.

Once polished, I went with a new generation wax, Gyeon Q2 which blends old fashioned wax with newer ceramic technology.

The end result of both actions means beautiful glossiness.

Going forward from here, I will use products such as Bead Maker or OG Drying Aid as a topper.

 

[Bulutt]

My first though for you would have been the new P&S Dream Maker, but it's sold out at the moment. This product has little to no protection on offer but was created to massively increase gloss, exactly what you are looking for.
https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...cts/products/p-s-dream-maker-extra-deep-gloss
https://www.detailstore.com.au/coll...-gloss-amplifier-473ml?variant=39442309546039

Another product that comes to mind for increased gloss would be P&S Bead Maker. I was late to the Bead Maker Party but it has become a staple. Bead Maker is very hard to beat for gloss.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/p-s-detail-products/products/p-s-beadmaker

Both of those products can be used as drying aids, although I would perhaps use the Bead Maker every second wash to avoid building it up too much and potentially causing streaking issues. Bead Maker and Dream Maker are both only available through dedicated detailing stores so you will have to pay for delivery, so do what I do and order some towels to make it worth while. I would recommend Creature Edgeless or FTW's for use with both of those products.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...cloths/products/rag-company-edgeless-creature
https://detailingshed.com.au/collec...ftw-twisted-loop-drying-towelmicrofiber-towel

Looks like Dream Maker still available from Autobuff and Carcareco

 

[trumpeteer_au]

Looks like Dream Maker still available from Autobuff and Carcareco

Thanks everyone for the advice. I knew I would get some constructive advice from those that have found the best products. I now have a fair shopping list of things to try.

When I got my Ruby Red I was a little disappointed in the colour, which is why I went looking for something to enhance it. It was just a little bit flat. Now, I can't wait to see the true Ruby Red in the sun after it has been cleaned and treated as it should be.

 

[Bulutt]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I knew I would get some constructive advice from those that have found the best products. I now have a fair shopping list of things to try.

When I got my Ruby Red I was a little disappointed in the colour, which is why I went looking for something to enhance it. It was just a little bit flat. Now, I can't wait to see the true Ruby Red in the sun after it has been cleaned and treated as it should be.

Check out the how to videos on YouTube if you need tips on preparing the paint etc. plenty of info there.

 

[DFB5.0]

Looks like Dream Maker still available from Autobuff and Carcareco

I just want you to know this post just cost me $160.00!!!

 

[GT 550]

Let's see if we can send @DFB5.0 broke by Xmas

 

[DFB5.0]

Let's see if we can send @DFB5.0 broke by Xmas

Ha ha!! I can do that on my own!

Ordered and payed a deposit on a new floor for my garage last week, that should help send me broke just before Christmas.

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