Fellow Detailers, What Is Your Favorite Product For.........
 

Just gathering some information from you fellow detailers (both professional and amateur) and am looking to find out what your favorite product is for the following:

Car Soap:

Claybar:

Polish (light cutting):

Polish (medium cutting):

Polish (heavy cutting):

Glaze:

Sealant:

Wax:

Tire Dressing:

Wheel Sealant:

Interior Protectant:

Leather Care:

Quick Detailer:





I realize that your product of choice may vary from situation to situation and will also depend on what color of vehicle you are detailing, however just your overall favorite product for the category is fine. Just cut and paste the above into your post and fill in your favorite product. Thanks. :)

Car Soap: Chemical Guys Citrus Wash and Gloss with P21S Total Auto Wash Presoak

Claybar: Clay Magic - they're all great!

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna 106FF

Polish (medium cutting): Menzerna Super Intense Polish

Polish (heavy cutting): I have not tried any yet but I'm going to try Meguiar's M105 first then compare to Menzerna Power Gloss when I get a chance

Glaze: If you can polish, what's the point in glaze?

Sealant: Jetseal 109

Wax: I don't have much experience with this, but I've seen such great Swissvax jobs that I'm going with Swissvax Consoro.

Tire Dressing: Optinum makes a good one

Wheel Sealant: Jetseal 109 works great on wheels too

Interior Protectant: don't do interior detailing but 303 would be my first choice

Leather Care: no idea

Quick Detailer: Clear Kote Quik Shine is my top choice at the moment but that may change with Finish Kare #425 getting such a great rep

Car Soap: Meg's Gold Class

Claybar: Sonus Fine Green

Polish (light cutting): Optimum Polish

Polish (medium cutting): Optimum Compound

Polish (heavy cutting): Optimum Hyper Compound

Glaze: Megs #7 Show Car Glaze

Sealant: Megs #21 Synthetic Sealant

Wax: Optimum Poliseal(not a true wax but has carnuaba)

Tire Dressing: Megs Endurance

Wheel Sealant: #21

Interior Protectant: 303 Aerospace Protectant

Leather Care: Lexol Leather Cleaner/303 Aerospace Protectant

Quick Detailer: Megs Last Touch Quick Detailer

I just started getting into detailing. I haven't done all the stuff on your list. Here is what I've used so far:

Sealant: Wolfgang deep gloss 3.0

Wax: Pinnicle souveran liquid

Interior: 303

Leather: Lexol

Tire dressing: Black magic

Clear bra cleaner/wax: Plexus

Use Lake county pads w/PC, Prefer foam applicators over MF applicators

Great idea Garnett...I get so stuck in what I use, that I have a lot of trouble trying to pick new products to try. This should help...and make sure you put your choices on here too.

Soap: Mostly Megs...but not picky here. Use mostly OTC stuff.

Claybar: I don't notice the difference between any of the quality ones. Use mostly Megs because its OTC and easy to find.

Polish (light cutting): 106ff

Polish (medium cutting): SIP

Polish (heavy cutting): haven't gone there yet.

Glaze: not sold on glaze yet...tried it and just seemed like too much work for the bang.

Sealant: Zaino Z2

Wax: P21s

Tire Dressing: Zaino Perfect Tire Gloss

Wheel Sealant: Wheelwax

Interior Protectant: 303. Recently tried PBs Natural Look though, and I really like it.

Leather Care: 303

Quick Detailer: Z6 has always been my favorite...but leaning hard toward FK425 lately.

^ Thanks. The reason I wanted to start a thread like this is that I have my own detailing business and am always looking to try new products. I just wanted to gather some information and see what other detailer's favorite products are. As for me, the best products for each category that I have used so far are the following:


Car Soap: Poorboys Super Slick & Suds

Claybar: Clay Magic (fine grade)

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna P0106FF

Polish (medium cutting): Menzerna SIP

Polish (heavy cutting): Menzerna Power Gloss

Glaze: Don't use it, but have ordered Menzerna's Finishing Touch

Sealant: Menzerna FMJ

Wax: Poorboys Natty's Blue

Tire Dressing: Poorboys Bold N Bright

Wheel Sealant: Poorboys Wheel Sealant

Interior Protectant: Aerospace 303

Leather Care: Lexol leather cleaner/Zaino Z10

Quick Detailer: Zaino Z6

I have Poorboys entire SSR lineup of polishes as well which I find are very good, but I think Menzerna's are a step above. Another product worth mentioning that I really like is Optimum Car Wax. It's a spray carnuba that is quick and easy to use and also gives you great added depth and gloss.

Menzernas are awesome products :biggthumpup:

Car Soap:megs gold

Claybar:clay magic

Polish (light cutting):menzerna 106ff

Polish (medium cutting):menzerna sip

Polish (heavy cutting):megs 105

Glaze:rmg

Sealant:fmj even though it dosent last very long

Wax:souveran

Tire Dressing:megs endurance

Wheel Sealant:wheel wax

Interior Protectant:303

Leather Care:sonus

Quick Detailer:megs ultimate

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the responses so far, keep em coming. :)

Car Soap: Megs Gold or NXT

Claybar: Fine Grade Clay Magic / Megs

Polish (light cutting): Einzett Metallic

Polish (medium cutting): Megs 80 Speed Glaze

Polish (heavy cutting): Megs DACP

Glaze: Megs New or Show 5/7

Sealant: Megs 21 Syn

Wax: Megs Pure Carnuba 26 or 16

Tire Dressing: Megs Endurance

Wheel Sealant: Mothers Wheel Wax / Megs 21 Syn

Interior Protectant: 303

Leather Care: Lexol

Quick Detailer: Megs NXT Spray

Car Soap: Chemical guys citrus wash and gloss

Claybar: Meguiars

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna 106ff

Polish (medium cutting): Menzerna SIP

Polish (heavy cutting): Hi-temp Extreme cut

Glaze: Danase wet glaze

Sealant: Duragloss 111,105, NXt 2.0 and Z2

Wax: Pinnacle Souveran

Tire Dressing: 303, Meguiars edurance gel, FK1 108,

Wheel Sealant: Duragloss 111 or Klasses AIO

Interior Protectant: 303, FK1 108

Leather Care: Lexol PH leather clean

Quick Detailer: FK1 425

I forgot to mention i do use DWG also as i can layer a sealent over it.

If this takes off I would say this would be a GREAT sticky. I unfortunately have not really detailed a car(only wash/dry ha) so I can not contribute. But I would LOVE to learn how. This seems like a good start for knowing products. Thanks!

Man, picking favorites. Always tough. Here goes!

Car Soap: Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss (amazing in a foam gun or lance)

Claybar: Riccardo Clay, by a long, long, long shot.

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna PO106FF (with PO8RD and FPII being right behind)

Polish (medium cutting): Menzerna SIP

Polish (heavy cutting): Meguiars M105

Glaze: P21S Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser, although I am liking the new Blackfire glaze.

Sealant: Zaino Z5pro

Wax: Zymol Vintage

Tire Dressing: Poorboys Bold 'n Bright

Wheel Sealant: Poorboys Wheel Sealant

Interior Protectant: Aerospace 303

Leather Care: Leatherique Rejuvinator Oil & Pristine Clean

Quick Detailer: Optimum Instant Detailer

I'll add a new favorite: Cutting Pads: Lake Country Purple Foamed Wool.

^ Kevin, I was really hoping you were going to see this thread and respond.......thanks buddy. :biggthumpup:

Lots of appreciation for PB Bold and Bright on the tires. Anybody have a direct comparison of it to Zaino's Perfect Tire? I have a feeling they are very similar for some reason, just wondering if anybody has used them both.

Car Soap: Megs gold class

Claybar: Meguiars

Polish (light cutting): Menz 106ff

Polish (medium cutting): Menz SIP

Polish (heavy cutting):

Glaze: DWG, Meguiars #7

Sealant: Z-2, UPGP

Wax: Megs Tech Wax 2.0, P21s

Tire Dressing: Z-16

Wheel Sealant: Z-2

Interior Protectant: Eagle One Nano Protectant

Leather Care: Eagle One Nano Protectant


Quick Detailer: Z-8, Megs Quick Detail Spray

great thread.....being a newb to more involved detailing(polish, glazes ect) its good to see what other people are using...

but with that being said... does glazing pay off? i noticed some of you guys are not sold on it yet... and are the more expensive waxes worth it? (souveran, 50/50, ect...?) or would going with a lesser expensive was like nattys blue be just as good?...

Has anyone used the mothers california gold clay bar? I used it once and it was amazing! I bought the meguiers claybar and it seemed so fine that it didn't even do anything. With the mothers i could hear it working...

-Sean

Yes the mother clay bars works really good.

I'm a Pinnacle guy...

Car Soap: Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo

Claybar: Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay

Polish (light cutting): Pinnacle XMT 1+2

Polish (medium cutting): Pinnacle XMT 3

Polish (heavy cutting): Pinnacle XMT 4

Glaze: Pinnacle XMT Carnuba Glaze

Sealant: Z-2

Wax: Pinnacle Liquid Souveran

Tire Dressing: Pinnacle Black Onyx

Wheel Sealant: Poorboys

Interior Protectant: Aerospace 303

Leather Care: Lexol/Woolite

Quick Detailer: Pinnacle Carnuba Detail Spray

Here is mine (most is just what I own though; too broke to get anything else)

Car Soap: Meguiars Gold Class (wash), ONR (rinseless wash), and Black Magic Carwash (foam gun; really foams well)

Claybar: Mothers California Clay bar (will be Ricardo soon enough!)

Polish (light cutting): Poor Boys SSR 1.0

Polish (medium cutting): Poor Boys SSR 2.5

Polish (heavy cutting): Automagic XP Compound (might be a medium cut)

Glaze: N/A

Sealant: Klasse Sealant Glaze

Wax: P21S Concours Wax

Tire Dressing: Meguiars Tire Shine Endurance

Wheel Sealant: Klasse AIO followed by Klasse SG and P21S Concours

Interior Protectant: Meguiars Quik Interior Detailer/303 Aerospace Protectant

Leather Care: Lexol Leather conditioner and Cleaner

Quick Detailer: Mothers Quick Detailer

Plastic Trim Restorer: Mothers Back to Black

Exterior plastic protectant: 303 Aerospace Protectant

Car Soap: i like meguiars shampoo plus in the bucket, and meguiars super soap in the foam gun

Claybar: meguiars smooth surface clay kit, or meguiars blue clay with last touch diluted 1:1 as clay lube

Polish (light cutting): meguiars m09

Polish (medium cutting): meguiars m80 and m83

Polish (heavy cutting): meguiars m105

Glaze: meguiars m07 or dc2

Sealant: meguiars m20 or m21

Wax: meguiars m26 or nxt 2.0

Tire Dressing: havent found one that i really like yet

Wheel Sealant: waste of money... just use your car wax for your wheels

Interior Protectant: meguiars m39 to clean and m40 as a topping

Leather Care: meguiars 2 step leather care for other cars and for the g i use all purpose cleaner diluted 6:1 to clean the seats... no scrubbing needed

Quick Detailer: lots of them... meguiars last touch, ultimate quik detailer, and m135

Lots of great info here IMO, I thought it was worth a sticky.

Ohh yea, just like I stated above. Because it always seems like I see, what is the best wax. Or what is the best sealent. Now people can see this thread and PM the people to ask for their personal opinion instead of starting a new thread.

Just a thought. Maybe you could have people post up the best product for the different colors they use. Because it seems like different products work better on different colors. That is why I started a word document that separates each color with the best products.

I have to add optimums poli-seal to the list as i just tried it is super easy to work with.

Guys: I agree with AGT, never really owned or leased a car of real quality as the 2007 G35X I have now. After 35 years of "driving" (my Dad's car first, then my own) always washed, waxed, & occassionally polished the finishes with the typical commercial products. Referring to this site has been enlightening. I'm in the NY Westchester County area, my G needs to be detailed (I have to admit - the paint finish on this car, that I love, is very light.) Seems to scratch so easily.... Good recommendations for a Pro Detailer???

Oh Yeah: What is Claybar?

We changed buffing systems at our body shop last year, and got GREAT results from it! I just thought this would be a good spot to put the info out.

We only buff about 10% of our cars, because we dont 'bake'. Any trash is nibbed out and spot buffed after letting the finish cure completely.

Presta is a water based buffing system of compounds and pads. All color coded labels. They all cut very smoothly and produce great results.

The best part is that since it not oil-based, residue in cracks washes right out with soap and water!


Polish (light cutting): Presta Swirl Mark Remover

Polish (medium cutting): Presta 1500

Polish (heavy cutting): Presta Ultra Cut

Glaze: Presta Fast Wax

What do you think about presta uccl.(ultra cutting cream light)with a rotary for light swirls.

What I use on SLICK!
 

Car Soap: Nothing other than cold water on painted surface....ever.
Inside wheel wells/inside wheels....Advangage mixed 50% to remove everything....and it does!

Claybar: Zymol 4.50 oz

Polish (light cutting): Zymol HD-Cleanse pre-wax cleaner

Polish (medium cutting):

Polish (heavy cutting):

Glaze:

Sealant:

Wax: Zymol Concourse wax applied the way zymol recommends....by hand.

Tire Dressing: Meguiar's Endurance High Gloss

Wheel Sealant: The same Zymol concourse wax applied with applicator.

Interior Protectant: No suprise....Zymol Leather Cleaner

Leather Care: Zymol leather Conditioner

Quick Detailer: Adams Detail Spray....used with clay application too!

You wash your car with no soap? Maybe I'm misreading that? You just spray your car, and start wiping it down?

I've never actually heard of or used a UCCL from presta... for light swirls, like the ones you get from washing with a brush? I will typically use Swirl Mark Remover on a foam pad...

And I have 'washed' a car with no soap before... if it is just dusty (like in a body shop) it is Presta again, but they make a Spray N Shine product. If you go panel by panel, you can spray and wipe the car clean... its not perfect, but it's WAY quicker than washing in a pinch...

I have the bottle in front of me and it says......Presta Strata ultra cutting creme light....part # 133432.I havent tried it yet but was just wondering how it works.Thanks anyway.

Well as some of you know, I am not that "knowledgable" about detailing but my dad showed me something that he picked up from Sunoco the other day. I forget what it is called(I am going to try to find it tomarrow) but it shined everything right up. BEST stuff I have EVER seen. NO lie. I sprayed it onto the dash of his work truck and wipped it off. As a result, no more finger prints/dust/dirt sticks to it. I also used it on his tires and it left a clean wet shine with no drip. We went to a job site and it was still pretty shinny(Drove through mud and stuff so it did get some dirt but it wipped right off and still had the shine to it). Now I know some of you may say he is a nub so I will not give it a try but I would suggest someone to try it. One bottle sells for ~$13 but we bought a case for ~8 each. When I get the name and you can'tfind it I will be willing to ship them out with making no profit. Worth a try IMO. I cleaned the dash of our boats and not one single drop of blood hardened on it or one finger print was left. It brought out the clean shine as if it was new. The salt did not even penatrate it. I'll update with the name tomarrow. Thanks guys.

-AGThing1227

So what polish would I use to get rid of a couple fine swirls and wax removal? Menzera 106FA, 87MC or 85U? I would go right to sealant application with no glaze. I want to give the Menzera line-up a try.

AGT: Do you have the name of the Sunoco Wonder product ?

Hey man, sorry I just got in from an emergancy over the past week. I placed a call into my dad, still waiting to hear back. Sorry, but will get it.

Optimum No Rinse is quickly turning into my favorite product for everything. I'm washing my car about 2 out of 3 washes with it, using it as a quick detailer at times, and just used it as a clay lube this weekend for the first time.

Just invested in my 2nd gallon of it...I can't believe how much I like this product.

Hey, I just got the stuff. It is called FW1 Racing Formula. They make a whole detailing kit that includes: Cleaning Wax with Carnauba, Tire and Wheel, Interior, and one other that I forget. I only used the Cleaning Wax and Tire cleaner. The tire cleaner works ok if you have nothing else to put on. Personally it is not my favorite but does last a while. The Cleaning Wax on the other hand works GREAT! It is an all purpose type deal that does a decent job. Highly Recommended.

Dude, i totally agree with this... ONR has proven to be a great asset, with multiple uses (i.e. waterless wash, clay bar lubricant, quick detailer)... I've spent close to $1k in the past year in detailing supplies, and I must say that ONR and UPGP are by far the best items that I've purchased...

Car Soap: CG Wash and Gloss

Claybar: Clay Magic or Griots

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna FP or Ceramic CC

Polish (medium cutting): Menzerna IP

Polish (heavy cutting): Menzerna Power Gloss

Glaze: CG Acryilic Glaze

Sealant: FMJ

Wax: P21S

Tire Dressing: Blackfire Long Lasting Gel

Wheel Sealant: Poorboy’s Wheel Sealant or JetSeal

Interior Protectant: CG Natural Shine

Leather Care: Leather? It’s 112 degrees today!

Quick Detailer: Meguiars in a pinch but dying to try the CG stuff.

Okay, noob question: what's the difference between Menzerna 106ff and P091e? Near as I can tell they are both called 'Intensive Polish'. The latter is a 32oz size and being sold in Canada, does that change the designation at all?

Wayne, the P091E is Menzerna Intensive Polish and the P0106FF is called just that. The IP will have more cutting power than the P0106FF. This chart should give you a good idea of the differences between the Menzerna polishes. I hope this helps.

http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/autog...chartpopup.jpg

Immensely, thanks Shane. I was going to just PM you but it turns out maybe this chart is good info for others as well.

GC this is the best chart I've seen in a long time. I commented on another thread how there are too many Menzerna products. This gives a great idea of what each does...but also shows how close some of them are. SIP and 106ff FTW!

Glad I could help gents. Wayne, if you are looking for a light to medium cutting polish, I couldn't recommend the P0106FF enough. It finishes extremely well. If you need a little more cutting power, I would recommend Super Intensive Polish. It also finishes extremely well, and most of the time you won't need to follow it up with a lighter pad and polish.

Car Soap: Zaino Z7

Claybar: clay magic blue or zaino Z-18

Polish (light cutting): 3m ultrafina via rotary or ZPC via PC.

Polish (medium cutting): SIP via foam or presta 1500 via wool

Polish (heavy cutting): 3M Extra cut compound

Glaze: n/a

Sealant: Zaino Z5pro

Wax: collonite 956

Tire Dressing: Zaino Z16

Wheel Sealant: Zaino Z2pro

Interior Protectant: IZ cockpit premium

Leather Care: Zaino Z9/10

Quick Detailer: Zaino Z6

Spray Sealant Zaino Z8

Car Soap: Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss

Claybar: Chemical Guys or Zaino

Polish (light cutting): Menzerna 106ff

Polish (medium cutting): Meguiars M205

Polish (heavy cutting): Meguiars M105 new formula

Glaze: none

Sealant: Zaino Z5pro

Wax: Siwssvax Concorso

Tire Dressing: Zaino Z-16

Wheel Sealant: Zaino Z5pro

Interior Protectant: none

Leather Care: Leatherique

Quick Detailer: FK1 #425

So where do you find these products? I went to a couple of local auto parts stores and they didn't have any of them except for Meguiars.

^ Use Detailed Image. That's where I get my detailing stuff from.