DFB's Detailing Garage

[DevilDog]

You never cease to amaze me. Love how the labels on all of your cleaning products are perfectly straight. I do the same thing. I even do it with all the stuff in our refrigerator. My wife thinks I'm nuts, which I probably am.

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[DFB5.0]

Old Blue's turn today...................

Carpro Reset teamed with the Carpro DabDab.

IMG_4689 by D B, on Flickr

After blow drying, I decided to apply ADS Ceramic Sealant. This stuff couldn't be easier to apply, no streaking, no excessive buffing, no hokey pokey application method...................just spray, wipe, done. You then end up with lovely gloss and slickness. I'd say something like Carpro Reload has more slickness, but the easy application counts for A LOT.

ARMOUR Detail Supply Ceramic Spray Sealant 6 months Durability - Detailing Shed
Armour Detail - Ceramic Spray Sealant | The Rag Company

IMG_4696 by D B, on Flickr

For some reason, I had a hankering for some AMMO Mud today, which smells delightful, is easy to apply and looks fantastic.

AMMO Mud Tire Gel – AMMONYC AU

IMG_4699 by D B, on Flickr

IMG_4703 by D B, on Flickr

Somewhere in my travels over the last week, I managed to lose a valve cap.................

IMG_4701 by D B, on Flickr

Now, this is a perfect example to describe the thought process that goes through an OCD mind. A seemingly insignificant, tiny little detail that in no way will stop the world from spinning................and yet it will eat away at me until I have the problem sorted. Yep, a valve cap can cause that sort of thought process. It's both a blessing and curse.

Anyway, I replaced all four with some black anodized items from Repco, of which I bought two different sets because I couldn't decided which to buy. :doh

IMG_4706 by D B, on Flickr

Halfway through the detail, I had to stop and wonder how long I have been washing this car....................17 years this June. That also means 17-years washing F-series Falcon sedans. I don't know if this applies to others, but I tend to end up with a specific routine with each vehicle. As in, you know where the water collection points are, what areas trap soap and need to be flushed out during the final rinse, drying door jambs a certain way, which exterior surfaces that collect grime, needing a specific brush for the wheels, and so on and so on. Well, on I have washing these cars down to a fine art. If someone was watching me move around an F-series sedan, you'd witnesses something close to auto-pilot.

 

[DFB5.0]

Despite having the saw set up out in the driveway yesterday, the Falcon got showered with a layer of sawdust. In hindsight, I probably should have moved it out of the garage, but then I wouldn't have had something to do today!

Soap of choice today was NV Snow.

Snow | pH-Neutral Foaming Shampoo – Nv Car Care USA
Nv Snow | Foaming Car Shampoo – Parks Car Care

Nv SNOW | pH Neutral Wash | Waxit – Waxit Car Care

If I had to name my absolute favorite soap, the response would be a very quick Carpro Reset. But you certainly pay for Reset's top drawer user experience. However, when you throw purchase price into the equation, the balance shifts towards NV Snow for the following reasons......................

- The consistency of the soap is thin, so it's easy to pour, just like Reset.

- A unique but subtle fragrance..............also like Reset. Both differ from the usual berry or bubblegum scents used in most soaps.

- The foaming ability is seriously impressive, producing slightly thicker foam compared to Reset.

- Slickness is exceptional, not quite Reset slick, but not far off. If Reset was 10/10, Snow would be 9.5/10.

- Free rinsing, like Reset.

- Excellent cleaning ability, if not more so than Reset.

- Snow is significantly more cost effective in the 4-litre size.

AUD
SIZE	NV Snow	Carpro Reset
500ml	$21.95	$24.95
1-litre	$33.95	$39.95
4-litre	$78.50	$129.95

USD
SIZE	NV Snow	Carpro Reset
500ml	$15.99	$15.99
1-litre	$22.99	$26.99
4-litre	$64.99	$89.99

After the wash, ADS Amplify was used for drying aid duties (paint, engine bay, door jambs and wheels), OG Tire Dressing on the rubber, ADS Pilot for the interior. On this occasion, I also had to get after the interior glass. For this, I went with Carpro Eraser to hopefully deal with the light film that had built up. After the detail, the XR6 swapped place with the Mustang and then covered up.

I've been using the Falcon as my daily over the last two weeks, which after a short acclimatization, has been so nice due to the comfortable seats, decent ride quality and that smooth, torque rich engine. Despite the 8-year age difference, jumping back in the Ranger is such a downgrade in drivability. Just the other week, I nearly got t-boned due to the horrendous turbo/throttle lag in the Ranger, how Ford signed off on the 2.2's calibration beggars belief! Apparently the 6-speed automatic is even worse.

And it's not due to a lack torque as both produce similar numbers, 385 Nm for the Ranger and 391 Nm (420 Nm on 98-ron) for the Falcon. Where the Barra builds torque very naturally off idle, absolutely nothing happens till 1800 rpm in the Ranger, then it falls on it's face at 2200 rpm. Now, 1800 rpm might sound reasonable for peak torque to arrive, but the problem is how long the engine takes to reach that number due to the turbo lag and the throttle being absolutely dead. And with such a narrow 400 rpm power/torque window, it means you are constantly shifting gears to keep it productive.

Speaking of the Ranger, due to it doubling as a sawhorse, it too has that layer of sawdust. However, the workhorse will have to wait until after my mowing run next week for a wash.

 

[DFB5.0]

Autumn, the best season for garage pottering!

I couldn't take it anymore, the Ranger just HAD to be washed. And yes, there was some mud to be dealt with....................

Today's theme was using up some odd-bod products. Soap of choice was P&S Wide Open, which was used for the wheels, a pre-wash and the contact wash. Drying Aid was 3D Bead It Up, which smells so nice. Moving to the inside, DIY Interior Clean & Protect took care of wipe-down duties. Gyeon Tire Express was the finishing touch, a product that never really won me over.

I then made a start on changing the crappy perforated drawer liners that come with these Maxim cabinets, swapping to a more stable solid non-slip material.

ADYAWEN Professional Tool Box Liner and Drawer Liner, Easy Cut Non-Slip Foam Rubber Toolbox Drawer Liner Mat - Adjustable Thick Cabinet Liners,Black (21.6 inch × 236 inch) : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

 

[DFB5.0]

Mustang's turn, and for some reason, I just didn't feel like playing with foam today. However, I still wanted something more than a rinse-less to properly flush out the door jambs and address the wheels. So, I did a bit of a "hybrid" wash.

Starting with the wheels, Carpro Reset went in the wheel bucket and Brake Buster for the tyres. Despite not using the foam cannon, I still used the pressure washer for rinsing. Atom Mac went on the rotor after finishing each wheel.

With the pressure washer hose still out, I gave the Mustang a good rinse, in turn flushing out the jambs, windscreen scuttle and grills.

For the wash, I went with ADS Hero. With this car wearing an ADS coating, Hero plays exceptionally well here. Despite rinsing beforehand, I still went around with a pre-soak using a slightly richer dilution to account for the water already on the surface of the vehicle.

On the XR6 yesterday, I used the TRC Ultra Black Sponge, but today I went with multiple TRC Eagle 500's.

I've been using the EGO after rinse-less washes to blast water and solution out of the panel gaps, grills and windscreen scuttle. This helps reduce some of towel work when drying.

I recently picked up a bottle of this Stoner Invisible Glass Hybrid Ceramic glass cleaner, which is a newer version of their Clean & Repel. On first acquaintance, it seems to be very easy to use and doesn't require special technique to get a clear result from..............cough, ClarifyPhobic, cough, Trace-less.

Invisible Glass Hybrid Ceramic 473ml - 92183 - Windscreen & Glass Cleaner | Repco Australia
Invisible Glass Rain Repellent - 643mL | Supercheap Auto

Interesting to note Stoner Car Care now have an official website and store in Australia, previously only a very limited selection of products from the brand were sold via auto stores and detailing retailers.

Australia Stoner

Again, it was such a nice day to be outside, so after finishing the Mustang I decided to make the most of it and took my best friend for a walk along the river.

 

[DFB5.0]

My Most Used Products

The following products are the ones I gravitate toward the most. While I do like to mix and match, these are products that I know give the best performance, make the task quicker and easier, excel at the “user experience” and deliver me the end result I’m looking for. A nice scent plays a role as well. Important to note that this is not everything I use per wash, just the ones I instinctively go for.

In no particular order, these are my staples ………………………………..

P&S Brake Buster – I’ve been in love with this product from the moment I tried it. Back then, I didn’t have much use for wheel cleaners, and I still don’t to some degree. However, Brake Buster has become a staple due to its versatility and affordability.

I like how this product gives you options, as in it can be used neat or diluted, sprayed or foamed. When used neat, it’s a very capable tyre cleaner that lathers up beautifully under agitation. When required, undiluted Brake Buster can do some heavy lifting, I’ve found it quite effective as a follow up to an iron remover on neglected wheels. When diluted via a foam cannon, you also have a great maintenance wheel cleaner, the foam helping to increase your working time. Backing this up, Brake Buster is exceptionally slick and contains corrosion inhibitors.

I know there is a perception that Brake Buster is only suitable for light maintenance cleaning, but most people who say that have only ever used it diluted, which in turn removes some of its capabilities. When required, I haven’t been left wanting more out of Brake Buster when used neat.

Brake Buster’s only major drawback is its tendency to kill spray heads, a byproduct of its alkalinity, even with chemical resistant spray heads.

Carpro Reset – I’ve said this multiple times, but I keep trying new soaps wondering if Reset can be beaten, and while some come close, no other maintenance soap can tick all of the boxes like Carpro Reset. It’s easy to pour, foams like a champ, offers exceptional slickness, cleans well, rinses freely and smells amazing. Reset is also highly concentrated, which negates its price premium.

It’s biggest claim to fame comes from it registering pH neutral, but offers the cleaning ability of an alkaline soap. For that reason, there is some suggestion that Reset will degrade wax, but that’s not something I have noticed. In my opinion, the worst thing about Reset is the name, many mistakenly assume that it’s a strip wash. “Refresh” or “Revive” would have been more fitting.

If I could only pick the one soap, Reset would be my choice.

Carpro Hydr02 Lite – I can’t remember where I learnt about this stuff, but what a discovery! Hydr02 put an end to using waxes or specific wheel sealants (Poorboys), a simple spray and rinse application was a revelation. Keep in mind this was before ceramic coatings became mainstream, and certainly before dedicated wheel coatings. So, for the average weekend warier, Hydr02 allows you to get something onto your wheels and calipers without having to do a full wheels-off detail.

Now, it's debatable as to how much “protection” is being provided here, especially next to a stout high-temp wheel coating. However, it does help make cleaning and drying your wheels much easier. I also use it as a topper on exhaust tips. While I don’t use Hydr02 on my own vehicles paint, for completely bare vehicles, using this product after a wash can drastically assist the drying process.

My initial use of Hydr02 was in concentrate form, which was diluted using demineralized water. However, I’ve found the pre-diluted Hydr02 Lite and its Gyeon Wet Coat cousin to be more stable and less likely to streak or spot. It is more expensive this way, but it's also more convenient as you don’t need to buy two different liquids. There is also a Hydr02 Foam, but its junk.

Bilt Hamber Atom Mac – I really only discovered the need for a product like this after taking delivery of a car with gloss black wheels. You see, as the brake rotors dried, a thin film of rust would develop on the surface of the rotor. So, as soon as you next apply the brakes, that rust was turned into orange dust that would undo your wheel cleaning efforts. And on gloss black wheels, this exaggerated the situation.

At some point I discovered Obsessed Garage and a product he was using to help prevent this flash rust, Hydes Serum Rustopper. But of course, it was off limits to Australia due to it being restricted to ground shipping. Actually, I ordered a bottle as an experiment and somehow this shipping restriction slipped through the cracks. Shortly after this, Detailing Shed started to carry Hydes, then Bilt Hamber Atom Mac became available. I chased a product like this for two years, then suddenly I had access to two options.

At its core, Atom Mac is a corrosion inhibitor with many applications. On cars, it helps prevent the flash rust from developing on rotors and won’t impede the safe operation of the brakes or affect the finish of the wheels. I apply this immediately after cleaning each wheel, then again after washing the rest of the vehicle and prior to using a leaf blower to dry. This double pronged application all but eliminates flash rust, nor do you need to do the old backwards and forwards antics to dry off the rotors.

Granted, a 500ml or 1-litre bottle of Atom Mac is very expensive. However, the dilution rate is high, so a bottle will last you for years. At the recommended 5% dilution, you are adding 25ml into 475ml of demineralized water.

Armour Detail Supply Amplify – I’m at the point now where I can tell if a product is good or not within the first 30-seconds of use. Well, I think Amplify was closer to 15-seconds! This has to be one of the easiest and best ceramic toppers/detail sprays on the market.

The first thing that gets you is the amazing scent. Yes I know, a scent doesn’t necessarily have a bearing on how a product works, but it contributes to the overall user experience. There are products on the market that are quite good at their intended role but are totally ruined by the scent or odour that I refuse to use them. That doesn’t apply to Amplify.

In use, Amplify is just so dam easy to apply. In my case, I use it as a drying aid after removing the bulk of the water with a blower. A few sprays into the towel, maybe one or two onto a section, wipe, flip, wipe, done! It’s this simplicity that wins me over as it significantly reduces towel work. And backing it all up is supreme gloss and slickness. There is literally nothing to hate with Amplify. In addition to drying aid, I also use it on door jambs, engine bays, exhaust tips and wheels.

Armour Detail Supply Pilot – This has been another instant hit for me! While technically called an interior “detailer”, I’ve found Pilot to have plenty of cleaning ability beyond mild wipe overs or dusting. In most cases, I use this product in a spray and wipe manner, however it can be teamed with a brush and lathered up if needed. I use it on just about every interior surface including plastics, gloss trim, leather, fabric and screens. Pilot also has UV inhibitors and anti-static properties, and the final finish is completely matte, OEM look. And the spiced pear scent is to die for, I would use it for the scent alone!

Overall, I’ve found Pilot to be a very well-balanced product, easily one of ADS’s best! You can tell it’s a serious contender when I move a product into a good Kwazar or Pressol sprayer.

Stoner Invisible Glass –For me, glass cleaning is a necessary evil, it’s a job that needs to be done rather than something I look forward to or enjoy. For that reason, I want a product and towel that makes it as painless as possible.

After trying so many glass cleaners over the years, from cheap to expensive, the conclusion I’ve come to is to keep it simple, stupid! There is a definite correlation between heavily scented and coloured glass cleaners and a streaky, hazy finish. Invisible Glass on the other hand is as basic as it comes, a cheap bottle and sprayer, no fancy scent, no lurid colouring. It’s just a glass cleaner, nothing more, nothing less. The fact it it’s cheap and can be bought from any auto store are added bonuses.

Optimum No Rinse – I was late to rinse-less washing, and ONR was my first attempt at the method. Ironically, I use ONR for jobs other than rinse-less washing. In my opinion, even if you don’t like rinse-less washing, having a product like ONR in your arsenal is essential. Why? Because it's so versatile; rinse-less washing, water-less washing, clay lubricant, glass cleaner, interior cleaner, quick detailer, water softener, household cleaning………………………..

For me, I always have a bottle of ONR mixed up at the quick detailer rate. This then gets used for wiping benches, dealing with bird bombs, cleaning tools, engine bay wipe downs. I also love it as an ultra-gentle interior cleaner, from plastics to gloss surfaces, leather to screens, even rubber floor mats. And as a rinse-less, I like ONR for its lubricated feel, and in the latest generation, its easy drying properties.

A staple everyone should have!

Carpro ECH20 – This product is here for similar reasons to the above ONR, as in cost effective usability. Originally designed as a water-less wash concentrate, many also like ECH20 for rinse-less washing and as a drying aid, however I don’t love it in either role.

I’m primarily using ECH20 at the water-less wash rate to wipe down door jambs, engine bays and the tray of my Ranger. In a technical sense, using ECH20 for this helps clean and dry these areas that don’t actively get “washed” with the rest of the vehicle. In that regard, the mild cleaning ability and high lubrication make it perfect for this role. ECH20 also leaves behind some mild protection and works so nicely on unpainted black plastics.

When used on paint, it adds high levels of gloss and slickness that is hard to beat. And to cap it all off, ECH20 smells amazing and is surprisingly cost effective. In some instances, ECH20 can be a little streaky, which is undoubtably due to the carnauba wax content. However, being a concentrate means you can play around with the dilution until you find the sweet spot. For water-less washing, I’m using it at 15:1, for quick detailer/drying aid duties I would move that to 25:1.

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