Well it's all here the tips your fellow NECOA members left. :D

OK, I'll bite...

- Check out autopia.org, the largest online detailing community, you'll learn a lot
- The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser along with a good window cleaner will do wonders for your glass
- When claying the car use car wash and not detail spray for lubrication
- Proper surface prep is the key to a good shine
- There is no better line of polishes, glazes, sealants and tire shine than Zaino
- Of course use a Grit Guard in your bucket so you don't transfer grit back onto the surface and cause scratches
- The safest way to dry the car is to use a leaf blower
- Buy American!
- And of course the best towels money can buy...

More to come...

Good one "Kid", nice to see you bouncing back.

I use a Sheepskin Mitt and premium quality Car Wash (Meguiars NXT) after a thorough rinse. A separate Mitt is used for around the wheel arches and the lower parts of the body and another for wheels and inside wheel arches. Do not mix these tools up. I rinse after I wash a section. Currently I use a pressure washer drawing water from a bucket (grey water - the run off water from the shower while you get the hot water & washing machine rinse water) due to the drought we are experiencing here in OZ and the harsh water restrictions.

I dry with Microfibre (MF) and Waffle Weave Microfibre (WWMF) towels only.

In a later post I will post what products and techniques I use for preping, polishing and waxing the paint.

Didn't know they made NXT gen. Car Wash. guess I never paid attention. 8O



Keep it coming guy! Like I said this is going to be organized and sent to the NECOA magazine for easy access. :lol:


P.S. LeoC2 got any more links or favorite articles from autopia.org

OK, "Kid", I'm gonna take you up on that promise! As your "editor" for the on-line El Camino Magazine article, I'm going to be a tough grader. Your first assignment is to read every one of the 90 threads on detailing that have been posted here on ECC over the past four-plus years. You will find them by using the "Search" button and typing in the term "detailing."

Many of our members have already taken the time to share their ideas and experiences here and all you have to do is read those prior posts, evaluate them, and put that information into a coherent, well-articulated technical article. You might want to write to some of those authors and ask them for more details and input, for which you will have to give them credit when appropriate. This isn't going to be a simple, easy task; it will be several months of work at least. If it's thorough and well-written, we'll be glad to publish it on-line and then send you off to your next assignment.

Glad to have you as a member and a volunteer on this aspect that you seem to really have a deep interest in. Good luck!

I'll just add a few comments as they occur:

The two-bucket method works great (described elsewhere in this forum). Give it a try.

If you're a cheapskate and won't spring for a Grit Guard, buy a plastic baseball cap washer at WallyWorld for $3 and use it. It's not as good as a Grit Guard, but it does the job.

Never use dish washing detergent unless you intentionally want to strip the paint of protective chemicals and leave it vulnerable to further damage.

Cheap wax is just that. Cheap wax. Still, I suppose it's usually better than nothing.

Armour All is only good for, ah, well, uh, nothing really. Yea, it may look ok, but your vinyl and rubber don't like it. It can actually be dangerous on floor mats and tread and can void some warranties.

Buy 303 and give your Armour All to your mother-in-law as a peace offering.

Never use any alcohol based window cleaner on anything but glass. It will damage (check) Lexan, Plexiglass, etc.

Buff your chalked signal lenses with mild abrasive lens refinisher. They'll look like new - almost.

Buy quality windshield wipers to minimize damage to your windshield. The new Bosch models are absolutely the best. Of course, for $40-50 a set they should be.

High pressure water hoses in the wrong place can do more harm than good.

Use soap. Brush your teeth.

If you find a good looking woman who will do all this stuff for you - marry her. Later in life, this is what teenage kids are for. They aren't good for much else.

Take care.

:P

I'm not a fan of the "leaf blower" drying method, one shot towards the ground and debris can be shot back up onto the car.

I'm not a fan of the "leaf blower" drying method, one shot towards the ground and debris can be shot back up onto the car.

Hi Brian! In all the years i've been doing this I haven't once kicked up any debris or done damage... and my driveway isn't even paved, it's hard packed earth, almost as hard as concrete. Even though the air stream can hit the ground I've noticed that any pebbles or debris seem to stay put or move along the ground. I think it also has something to do with the ground being wet.

I've only been using the blower method for a little over a year (when Leo mentioned it in another post) and have to admit, I like it.

First, because it's so darn quick; it gets ALL the water, and I've found if I use towels, it takes longer, and you never quite get all the moisture. I too, have never had a problem with debris, but then, I haven't been using it all that long.

The only drawback I have, I hate having to drag out the extension cord - I know, there are gas powered ones, but I hate that noise.

Always seems to be something. . . :P

C'mon guys need more info. LeoC2 I know you know alot. :lol:

Buy 303 and give your Armour All to your mother-in-law as a peace offering.




AGREED!!! Great stuff!!!

As for the leaf blower, not a fan of that at all. Since I use Zaino Z5 all I have to do is take a ten minute drive and 98% of the water will blow off. All it takes then is an "Absorber" cloth to finish and I'm done!!!

Here is what I need. Pictures everyone doing their detailing tip on their El Camino.