Newbie - Which "tools" do I need

[db9]

Newbie and I'm confused... since I don't own a DA polisher (yet - maybe someday) however for the moment ...

what 'tools' are recomended for..

1) a drying towel - I see so many different ones about - and everyone has a favorite - Am I better off with using a 100% cotton or a microfiber towel.

2) what type of applicator for polish and wax - I'll get one for polish and another for wax. (and maybe an extra one in case I drop one)

3) remover of polish or wax - and on average how many 'towels' should I need to have around to do the job

4) is a buffer cloth used to rub down the finish after the final wax haze is removed?

5) what is a detail cloth and when is it used?

what did I miss?

TIA

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie - Which "tools" do I need

Originally posted by db9
Newbie and I'm confused... since I don't own a DA polisher (yet - maybe someday) however for the moment ...

what 'tools' are recommended for..

1) a drying towel - I see so many different ones about - and everyone has a favorite - Am I better off with using a 100% cotton or a microfiber towel.

Here are some options, all are good, sometimes it just comes down to personal preference,

Microfiber Drying Towel

The Absorber

Hi-pile 100% Cotton Towels

Dry/Soft English Chamois

2) what type of applicator for polish and wax - I'll get one for polish and another for wax. (and maybe an extra one in case I drop one)

Meguiar's recommends soft, clean foam applicator pads like these,

Hi-Tech Applicator Pad

Or a piece of soft, 100% cotton terry cloth.

3) remover of polish or wax - and on average how many 'towels' should I need to have around to do the job

It's a good idea to have 2-3 microfiber polishing cloths or soft cotton towels on hand depending upon how large your vehicle is and your skill level. It's better to have more than you need than to run out and continue to use a towel, or polishing cloth that is full of excess product.

4) is a buffer cloth used to rub down the finish after the final wax haze is removed?

If by buffer cloth you mean a microfiber polishing cloth like this, Ultimate Wipe, then yes, high quality microfiber polishing cloths help you to achieve a clear, high gloss finish when removing wax or polish and for the last final wipe to remove any haze or smears.

5) what is a detail cloth and when is it used?

See above...

what did I miss?

TIA

Here is a list of some important product to have on hand when detailing any car,

Car Wash
High Quality Wash Mitt
Grit Guard for the inside of your wash bucket
Paint Cleaner like ScratchX
Pure Polish like Deep Crystal Polish
Car Wax like NXT Tech Wax
Quik Detailer
Vinyl Conditioner/Protectant
Leather Cleaner/Conditioner/Protectant
Tire dressing

Hope this helps...

Mike

[db9]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Just what I was looking for - maybe this kind of list would be helpful as a sticky for newbies


Thanks

[Paddington]

grit guard

My bad english fail to come up with what a grit guard is(Norweagian) any picture or link to one?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: grit guard

Originally posted by Paddington
My bad English fail to come up with what a grit guard is(Norwegian) any picture or link to one?

Your English is fine!

Here's a picture of a Grit Guard in action...



Basically it a grill held about 2" off the bottom of the bucket that allows heavier grit particles removed from a car while washing it to fall past the grill where they are trapped on the bottom of the bucket.

The vanes that hold up the grill help to prevent the trapped grit from swirling back up to the upper water when you're swishing your wash mitt around. Ingenious invention and a must-have to help prevent re-instilling swirls and scratches into your car's finish while washing it.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Here's another picture...

[Paddington]

Cool so many things we dont have here in Norway.
I have a small company myself so maybe i should start importing all the washing gadget things.
Wool washing mitt = not here.
MF drying towels = not here. or any MF products for cars

will take a look for the grit guard but my guess is its not here either.
I read somewhere that it could be smart to have 2 buckets when you wash with a mitt, so you have the clean soapy water in one bucket and rinse it off in the other one.

[jchetty]

i would also pick up some clay as it will make applying remove wax either and you end up using less, a degreaser to help clean the tires and wheels, and a good assortmet of brushes to clean wheels, scrub tires, clean wax from crevices

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Paddington
…I read somewhere that it could be smart to have 2 buckets when you wash with a mitt, so you have the clean soapy water in one bucket and rinse it off in the other one.

Yes! This is very popular with detailing enthusiasts. I always use two buckets to wash the car’s body and a third to wash the wheels.

Originally posted by Paddington
…I have a small company myself so maybe i should start importing all the washing gadget things….

Sounds like a great idea. A member of our car club was visiting from Norway and told us that because of the weather and the roads it was difficult to keep his cars clean. A country full of dirty cars must also have many people who need better car washing tools.


PC.

[Paddington]

What car club is that?

I have actually started talking to xxxxxxxxxxxx about getting his towels here.

[the other pc]

Sorry db9, I didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Paddington,I'm in The Jensen Healey Preservation Society


If you'd like to sell Meguiar's products The Dealer Locator on Meguiar's Website lists the Norwegian distributors as:

for consumer products:

Panvulk AS
Aslakveien 20
Oslo, Norway
0753
Lars R. Midtbo
Phone: +47 22 51 48 00
Fax: +47 22 51 48 01
Email: post@panvulk.no


for professional products:

Norsk Prol A/S
URL: www.norskprol.no
Linnestranda 75
3400 Lier
Terje Huse
Phone: +47-32842700
Fax: +47-32842701
Email: norskprol@online.no



PC.

[Paddington]

Yeah i found that out today. That its 2 importers that is confused me alot that did.

[Karl SS]

I'm really sorry to say that "Norsk Prol" really priced these products out of the market.. The retail price for a 32oz bottle of 83 is $100.00 (662 NOK) .. And that's not including taxes.. which is another 25%.. No.. I'm not kidding! I didn't believe my own ears when I heard at a local shop yesterday..

Is that even Legal?

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Karl SS
I'm really sorry to say that "Norsk Prol" really priced these products out of the market.. The retail price for a 32oz bottle of 83 is $100.00 (662 NOK) .. And that's not including taxes.. which is another 25%.. No.. I'm not kidding! I didn't believe my own ears when I heard at a local shop yesterday..

Is that even Legal?

Hi Karl,

Seeing this is your first post... Welcome to Meguiar's Online

I'll forward this to our International Department.

[Karl SS]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
Hi Karl,

Seeing this is your first post... Welcome to Meguiar's Online

I'll forward this to our International Department.

Thanks Mike.. I'm not new to the forum, I've bin surfing for tips in here for months..
And it has indeed helped me out with some major swirl-problems on my black second hand 2001 bmw..

I didn't register because I felt that I didn't have anything to add to this forum.. and most questions I wanted to ask was already answerd, cause someone else had asked them before me

But when I heard that price at the local dealer.. I just felt I had to say somthing..