Ask Detailer's Domain

[PushingTin]

wow, got it did you want to take this on yourself or have a detailer in your area do it?

It depends on your professional opinion I guess. I would like to do this myself but do not own an orbital. Either way I'd really like to hear what should be done to fix it. Do you need more pictures?

[DetailersDomain]

I believe you can

1. wash
2. clay
3. compound
4. polish
5. seal

here is the kit
https://detailersdomain.com/Griots-G...Kit_p_704.html

and detail spray and clay bar kit
https://detailersdomain.com/Adams-Cl...pray_p_62.html

Phil

[PushingTin]

Thank you Phil

[DetailersDomain]

no problem.

[TW_RS5]

Hi Phil,

Do you have any advice on how to properly care for alcantara seats? The seat in my RS5 is a mix of leather and Alcantara. Since my car only had 5k miles in it so far, I really haven't done much to clean the interior besides wiping the dust out (no cleaner). Is there any specific product I should use on the leather/Alcantara to make sure they last? The leather still looks really clean besides some wrinkles on the bolster from getting in and out of the car (is there a way to get ride of those?). I have only vacuumed the alcantara part of the seat, should I do more than that?

Thanks.

[DetailersDomain]

yes sure you can use the Sonax Alcantara Cleaner followed by the Leather Master Nubuck Protectant.

[Elliott]

Probably a dumb question.... but I recently waxed my miata and now the finish is completely dull. Did I remove an entire layer of polish or what? It had a stellar shine job before but now it looks like crap.

[DetailersDomain]

Probably a dumb question.... but I recently waxed my miata and now the finish is completely dull. Did I remove an entire layer of polish or what? It had a stellar shine job before but now it looks like crap.

you will probably need to compound or polish it out.

[Elliott]

This was done by hand. It took about a day for the haze to get this bad and I have tried clearing it up. It is definitely not residual wax. I simply washed it, applied this wax, and wiped it off. A day later I get this terrible hazing. This is the wax I used.

[DetailersDomain]

that's strange, have you called Meguiar's yet?

[ChrisFarleyGuy]

Hey Phil, you mentioned a product called "Sonax Perfect Finish EX" in your FB post with the S4 correction. How does it differ from the normal SONAX 4/6?

[DetailersDomain]

Hey Phil, you mentioned a product called "Sonax Perfect Finish EX" in your FB post with the S4 correction. How does it differ from the normal SONAX 4/6?

it's an improved formula which was designed for the orbital polisher.

the 4/6 is still amazing, the ex will just be even better for the orbital polisher, a little less thick for better use with the DA/Orbitals.

[Aydin23]

can you recommend a wash mitt? I looked at the nanoskin but is it only used as a substitute to clay barring?

[DetailersDomain]

this is the wash mitt we used at our shop Uber Wool Wash Mitt

with the NanoSkin AutoScrub Mitt you use the blue side to wash your car, then flip it to use for claying.

[aaronz]

How do you clean those, I have two and they are matted and I feel just holding in dirt?


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[b8audis4]

How do you clean those, I have two and they are matted and I feel just holding in dirt?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A wash mit. If you have the Uber one that Phil is talking about what I typically do is after I wash my car I try and rinse them out very well then either set them out to dry in the sun on a grit guard or I will typically (this is the preferred way) dry them with the Metro Master Blaster.

If they are dirty then I would spray them with some Adams APC.

[ChrisFarleyGuy]

Hey Phil-- following along on your Instagram at SEMA, does Rupes have a new polisher coming out soon? If so: what are the early details?

[DetailersDomain]

no new Rupes polisher yet, but maybe in the next 6-12 months from what they were talking about at the booth.

[DetailersDomain]

I would go for the Griot's or the Rupes.

Here is a starter kit we sell a lot of to our beginners
Griot's 6 inch polisher kit

Menzerna FG400 and SF4000 bundle

[DetailersDomain]

The Griot's and the PC are both orbital polishers, the Griots has a bigger throw and more power as well as a lifetime warranty.

[DetailersDomain]

you don't have to but it's not a bad idea to do it when its new, you will see some improvements in shine and gloss.

[b8audis4]

you don't have to but it's not a bad idea to do it when its new, you will see some improvements in shine and gloss.

Yes what Phil said. Also sealing your car right now with something like Opticoat is a good idea as well.

[rstein]

Hey Phil,
I'm hoping to detail the engine bay of my 2001 2.7T AllRoad in the near future and was hoping you had some tips/tricks for me. Seems like there is a lot of exposed electrical components, which makes me think I shouldn't just lightly hose it down. Should I attempt to cover the ICM's, battery terminals, etc etc or just be very careful with a brush and some good degreaser?

[b8audis4]

Thank you. Maybe you and Phil can tell me if this makes sense because to me it doesn't. I inquired from a local detailer about opticoat (but they like CQuartz ). Anyway, when I told them I was interested in getting a full front clearbra, they said I should get that first. Huh? Then how would they polish underneath? That means they get to skip polishing the whole front and charge me full price anyway? He said they would put the CQuartz on top of the clearbra.

Well they should polish underneath first. Then they should not use opticoat on any of the clear film surfaces or underneath. If you put it underneath it can cause adhesion issues with the clear film. You don't even need it on top. You should use XPEL sealer or Sonax polymer net shield. I would assume you are using XPEL clear film.

Every new car should be polished. Doesn't need to be compounded.

[b8audis4]

Can a car be polished without the orbital? I though I saw a Meguiar's pad on amazon.

An orbital is the best way to do it.

[DetailersDomain]

don't be afraid with an orbital it should not be hard at all.

[DetailersDomain]

Which color pad would I use on a new car that has no swirls? How about for a scuff mark? Thanks.

sure the uber green or blue to polish with.

the scuff mark would all depending - orange or yellow.

[DetailersDomain]

correct just remove with a clean microfiber towel.

[pandi]

The Griot's and the PC are both orbital polishers, the Griots has a bigger throw and more power as well as a lifetime warranty.

Do I have to buy a backing plate?


FG400 and SF4000---

^^ What's the chance you can briefly explain which is used for what?

[DetailersDomain]

the machine you buy in our store comes with a 6 inch bp, the kit that we sell including the pads will come with a 5 inch bp and 5 pads.

Griot's 6 inch random orbital polisher base kit

[DetailersDomain]

which one the Rupes LHR21?

[DetailersDomain]

yes those will have a backing plate on them.

[DetailersDomain]

the 21 will be a wider throw and will correct faster. we should have those back in stock in the next few days.

[DetailersDomain]

as you feel is needed.

[DetailersDomain]

well I can tell you in the shop we have 10 units out of the Rupes, 1 pc, that we have not used for 2 years, and a Griots.

It's that much better, it's like saying a Honda Civic can get thru the snow but an Audi A4 Quattro can do it that much better!

[DetailersDomain]

they are all over you tube I believe they are on the Rupes descriptions on our site.

Check out Larry from Ammo NYC video

[DetailersDomain]

we recommend and sell the Kranzles pressure washers.

[DetailersDomain]

sorry, all the home depot and lowes machines have always failed us.

[aaronz]

Phil,

Got around to using my foam cannon (purchased it about a year ago just never got around to getting a pressure washer), anyways looking to dial it in.

My PW is rated at 1400psi, I think I have been putting in too little soap, i have been doing about 3/4 -1" of soap, I notice you used nearly 2-2.5", so I will adjust and see if that makes it more "sticky"

My question is on the adjustability. I know the nozzle adjusts the spray pattern but not sure if mine is defective or there is no point in having the adjustability. If I close the two "clamps" on the inside of the nozzle all the way it creates a messy spray, so I have to turn it ever so slightly back to get a some what clean but "fanned" pattern. Any more than ever so slightly and it is way to direct of a stream. So I am assuming you really don't need this adjustability, you will only ever use it in the one position?

Also the top knob, I would guess determine how much soap to intake into the mix? or is it how much air it introduces? I have just kept it turned full lock clockwise, again not sure if it assumed this wont be used once set?

Here is my current use, just doesn't seem as "sticky" as your examples, it runs fairly quickly after the video ends. Also I have to have the pattern very narrow in order to get it to foam close to your examples, any wider of a spread and it has little streams that go amuck (not a clean fan shape).

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v...r&notif_t=like

Thanks for the clarification!

-AZ

[DetailersDomain]

AZ,

The link does not work to the video, can you post it up again.