Hi, id like to know the best place to buy cleaning material. I need a set, so probably meguiar's gold class car wash, meguiar's wax (forget which one), and meguiar's smooth surface clay kit.

Also, are turtle waxes good? I found this on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AMBOOY and pepboys is having a sale for them for only $2


edit: Also, how often should i claybar? And do i claybar after wash and before waxing?

 

Pepboys or most any other autoparts store should have the Meguiar's or Mothers products.

For OTC, I was very partial to the Meguiar's Clay Bar and Quick Detailer (for use during clay) and the Mother's Reflections Car Wax followed by Mother's Reflections Top Coat.

I think clay bar use is somewhat subjective and really depends on the type and amount of contaminants your car picks up each day. A decent cycle is about once every 6 months though.
1. Wash
2. Clay with QD
3. Wash (optional but helps)
4. Apply Wax(es)

 

Does the mother's reflection top coat act as a clearcoat? Has anyone used the Turtle wax i posted above and knows how long it lasts on the car for?

There are so many brands/kinds of clay bars as well as waxes and i dont know which is best.

 

Clearcoat is already on the car as part of the painting process. What the wax is basically doing is helping to protect the paint from the elements while providing a nice luster.

 

I would suggest you spend some time reading this section of the forum. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to waxes/sealants/clay bars, etc. It is best to educate yourself and discover what you prefer for yourself.

 

www.detailedimage.com & their a sponsor here.

 

I get Turtle Wax Ice soap, wheel cleaner and applicators from my local autozone, (they are always on sale for some reason at rediculously low prices) and everything else I get from detailed image. They are awsome to deal with, very reliable, and offer competitive prices.

I have tried both the turtle wax liquid wax and black magic wax and I was not very impressed. They both left a film on my car, than didn't come off untill the 2nd time I washed it. (Turtle wax more so) From then on I have been using Natty Blue Paste Wax.. from detailed image, The water still beads off my car and its been about 3 and 1/2 months.

I usually clay everytime I do a complete detail, which is about every 3-4 months. Wash, clay, polish, glaze, seal, wax.

 

+1 these guys have EVERYTHING you could possibly need

 

We offer a wide selection of high quality detailing supplies at www.detailedimage.com. We also have a coupon code for 10% off "10off350Z". I would be happy to help you select some products that will help you get the most out of your detail. I think we do a great job of understanding your goals and select corresponding products. I hope to hear from you.

Greg @ Detailed Image

 

Definately take the time to research the different options out there. For all the money you might spend store bought stuff that leaves you wanting more, you could just as easily make the initial investment in quality products that give you great results every time. I have posted several times that I still used ICE polish and Meguiars NXT on my work vehicle, simply because I am happy with decent results on a vehicle that does not represent a real financial or emotional interest. There are also Meguiars products that work well, but unfortunately will not be found in stores and cost about the same as some of the better boutique brands out there. Dealing with Greg will save you a lot of headaches and provide plenty of answers to your questions. If you are looking for a basic hand polish, wax, and quality wash, it would be hard to go wrong with the following:

Soap:
I always have Meguiars Gold Class in my garage for most washes, but my new favorite soap has to be Chemical Guy's Citrus Wash. If you check their site you will see a lot of people really like it. Seems like a small amount, but again, with most Chemical Guy's stuff it's super concentrated and goes a long way.

Clay:
The Meguiars clay kit is a joke, the clay is itsy bitsy. The clay magic kit you can find at the stores works just as well for less. Or invest in a large bar that you can cut up into multiple pieces to use as needed. Clay Bar is second to only the Griots Garage clay bay in terms of bang for the buck. You can use any QD as lube or mix in a healthy dose of car soap in a bucket and use it as your lubricant after your preliminary wash and scrub.

Polish:
Final Polish- the polishes with more cutting power will not have much of an effect if you are applying things by hand.

Glaze:
Since you are applying by hand, you will probably want a glaze to help fill in the minor swirls and scratches you were unable to remove. EZ Creme Glaze is a great glaze as is the slightly less expensive Finishing Touch Glaze.

Wax:
P21S Carnauba Wax or Natty's Blue Paste Wax. The Poorboys does an awesome job of beading and can be applied in direct sunlight, but the P21S goes on and off like butter and I think it takes two coats of Natty's to equal the depth and shine of one coat of P21S, making them fairly cost competitive.

 

Zainooooooooooooo