what is the best wax, cleaning products?
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 142
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RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
After reading ALL the threads on detailing I was very surprised of no one mentioning claying your hummer. All I really seen is the recommendation for ICE & NXT, which are decent products I will admit having never used either. However on the other forum I belong to it is well liked and used, in fact many prefer the ICE product. As mentioned here, the reason it is loved is its simplicity of application and removal and the fact that it gives off a nicer shine than NXT (so I read). That said, I cannot comment much futher on those products because I never used them. Their one advantage IMO IS the fact that they are synthetic, thereby lasting longer. Also considering the size of our vehicles it is understandable to use one product and get it over with as quickly as possible and minimal labor & the hope it will last a decent amount of time, by that I mean the water will bead for months. My question to the users of these products is durability, how often do you have to use it? How long does it last after each application? As a little info passing below, I'll post some info from a professional detailer on some facts: After some replies I'll tell you my procedure on detailing my H2, which is a bear and takes me all day, thats just for the outside--
Terms used in the car detailing industry;
Clear coat: the unpigmented paint that lays on top of your finish, extremely thin, about 4mils or less.
Synthetic: man made from chemicals, you use synthetic oil because it helps extend longer life of the engine, since it has man made chemicals in it. No different with your finish, synthetic is also used with the word polymer, which comes from the greek term Poly=many and mer= units, thus many units of different chemicals....also the word sealant compliments the two previous terms, so Synthetic polymer sealant classifies a product that consists of higher quality chemicals which will last longer on your car.
Wax: been around since automotive paint (early 1800's) most people don't know it hasn't changed much, still is a natural by product that comes from trees, has a melting point of 98* compared to a synthetic which is 392*, wax is being marketed like its something special when the reality is their is NO comparison with regard to wax and a polymer sealant. This is why car dealers are capitalizing on charging upwards of $800 or more to apply one coat of a synthetic, same stuff you can buy for 12 bucks, (only in America) in this business, which is educating people on car care.
Polish: isa product that restores shine to a finish, has no protective properties.
Looking forward on some feedback.
Terms used in the car detailing industry;
Clear coat: the unpigmented paint that lays on top of your finish, extremely thin, about 4mils or less.
Synthetic: man made from chemicals, you use synthetic oil because it helps extend longer life of the engine, since it has man made chemicals in it. No different with your finish, synthetic is also used with the word polymer, which comes from the greek term Poly=many and mer= units, thus many units of different chemicals....also the word sealant compliments the two previous terms, so Synthetic polymer sealant classifies a product that consists of higher quality chemicals which will last longer on your car.
Wax: been around since automotive paint (early 1800's) most people don't know it hasn't changed much, still is a natural by product that comes from trees, has a melting point of 98* compared to a synthetic which is 392*, wax is being marketed like its something special when the reality is their is NO comparison with regard to wax and a polymer sealant. This is why car dealers are capitalizing on charging upwards of $800 or more to apply one coat of a synthetic, same stuff you can buy for 12 bucks, (only in America) in this business, which is educating people on car care.
Polish: isa product that restores shine to a finish, has no protective properties.
Looking forward on some feedback.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,183
From:
RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
You started out mentioning "Claying your Hummer." I thought maybe you were going to touch on the importance of claying our Hummers. I for one don't know chit about claying and why we should do it. Can you provide some insight?
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 142
From:
RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
Instead of me writing the information, I'll provide you a url with a detail description of what claying is and what it does which was also the site where Iwas introducedof this "claying" phenom:
http://www.autogeek.net/clbaandlu.html
This site is where I buy most of my stuff BTW for all my vehicles. I guess they started the education for me on how to detail your car in every way.
By the way, I was pleasantly surprised that on page 2 of this detailing thread, this same company has posted here, albeit long time ago. In fact the wolfgand products is what I have been using for over 2 years now. Detailing a vehicle IS a labor of love I guess. I'm a detail fanatic I figure, and I am still learning tricks & things. The process I go thru is very much labor intensive. The results are good for 5-6 months, which means that bathing, claying, polishing & sealing is a 2 times a year deal for my H2, or when I see the water starts to stop beading. That does not include bathing when its needed, just means the process is done every 5-6 months or when needed. For me it has been about every 5 months down here in Florida with the heat, humidity & rains. Which comparatively speaking not easy or as quick as lets say ICE, but to me it is well worth it. Let me know what you think after you read the info.
http://www.autogeek.net/clbaandlu.html
This site is where I buy most of my stuff BTW for all my vehicles. I guess they started the education for me on how to detail your car in every way.
By the way, I was pleasantly surprised that on page 2 of this detailing thread, this same company has posted here, albeit long time ago. In fact the wolfgand products is what I have been using for over 2 years now. Detailing a vehicle IS a labor of love I guess. I'm a detail fanatic I figure, and I am still learning tricks & things. The process I go thru is very much labor intensive. The results are good for 5-6 months, which means that bathing, claying, polishing & sealing is a 2 times a year deal for my H2, or when I see the water starts to stop beading. That does not include bathing when its needed, just means the process is done every 5-6 months or when needed. For me it has been about every 5 months down here in Florida with the heat, humidity & rains. Which comparatively speaking not easy or as quick as lets say ICE, but to me it is well worth it. Let me know what you think after you read the info.
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7,579
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RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
My take on claying...Is that it will remove all the stuck on contamination that has built up and remove the film of oxidation that clouds the clear coat...So if this Liquid Ice claybar works as good, but only much easier than the traditional clay bar..I'll be doing it to it this spring after this hellatious winter we've had here in OKC.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 142
From:
RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
Keep in mind my friend that claying will not just remove surface contaminants, depending on what clay bar you use, it removes EVERYTHING, including any old wax, polish or sealant you have on the car at the time. First wash/bath the vehicle, then clay it, they then recommend another wash to remove any leftover claying soap & stuff, dry it, then you need to apply your preferred polish, wax, or sealant. I don't use wax, I use a polish to shine up the paint, then I seal it--Whooeee--Good stuff--[sm=happy046.gif][sm=happy046.gif][sm=icon_cheers.gif]
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,183
From:
RE: what is the best wax, cleaning products?
After all of the ranting and raving about Ice I decided to give it a try today. Here's the processI used.
First I drove my H3 to the local brushless car wash and did just the basic wash to remove the dirt. Did not use the wax and did not dry. I drove straight home.
When I arrived home I rinsed the whole entire truck with water. Now that the dirt and other debri was removed from my paint I started by using the ICE LIQUID CLAY BAR.
It only takes a very small amount. The directions say to use a firm back and forth motion. I used only a very small amount on the sponge.
That small amount covered this whole entire area on my truck.
Once I used the clay bar on the whole truck I then rince the suds off and dry it using my "ABSORBER."
After my truck was completely dry I applied the ICE LIQUID POLISH.
It went on and buffed off effortlessly and left a very smooth finish. As you can see I only used a small amount of the bottle and that was probably more than I needed to use.
I recommend two coats!
And the result.
A shiny H3!
First I drove my H3 to the local brushless car wash and did just the basic wash to remove the dirt. Did not use the wax and did not dry. I drove straight home.
When I arrived home I rinsed the whole entire truck with water. Now that the dirt and other debri was removed from my paint I started by using the ICE LIQUID CLAY BAR.
It only takes a very small amount. The directions say to use a firm back and forth motion. I used only a very small amount on the sponge.
That small amount covered this whole entire area on my truck.
Once I used the clay bar on the whole truck I then rince the suds off and dry it using my "ABSORBER."
After my truck was completely dry I applied the ICE LIQUID POLISH.
It went on and buffed off effortlessly and left a very smooth finish. As you can see I only used a small amount of the bottle and that was probably more than I needed to use.
I recommend two coats!
And the result.
A shiny H3!
