consumer DC1+DC2 versus professional #80 or #82

[searle]

Using the consumer DC system it seems pretty clear you normally want DC1 cleaner then DC polish before the wax. Using the professional system #80 or #82, it seems that the cleaner/polish does not really need an additional #81 polish. Does the 5-step process then really become:
1) Wash
2) Clay surface-clean (horizontal surfaces)
3) Clean/Polish paint-clean with #80 or #82 (assuming #83 not needed)
4) Wax

It seems strange that the professional detailer system would have less steps than the consumer system. Why does the consumer system need separate cleaner then polish, but not the professional detailer system (where you really want the optimum result and are willing to spend the required time+money)?

[deltascrew]

in the DC system the #2 is a pure polish with no cleanng ability similar to show car glaze

[TrufflePig]

i was under the impression of the following

if you have light light swirls the DC system works.

dc1
dc2
wax

but if you have heavier swirls then you stick with 80/83. its still a five step process.

1. wash
2. clay
3. 80
4. 83
5. wax

now i could be wrong, but it comes down to technique and how everything is applied.

the first time i did my MINI i used DC1 and DC2 system and it was good and all, and I barely had any factory swirls, but the second time i went with 80 and 83 and wow what a difference. i found a HUGE difference. it could be the fact i spent more time when i used 80.

the professional system still has its cleaners and what not.

[Murr1525]

You actualy have the wrong impression... the Professional products are for getting great results with less time and effort so you can actualy make a bit of a profit.

The big key is that the 80-series type products are meant for machine application, so that changes a lot of stuff, from the type of abrasives used, the oiliness/lubrication of the product, working time, etc.

The consumer products are meant for use by hand, so it takes seperate steps to get the most out of them. Seperate steps always get best results over combined steps, but it is the machine application that changes everything.

And Trufflepig, it is #83 then #80. . just a little typo there for you.

[searle]

I believe professional #80 has very mild abrasives whereas consumer DC1 has none (just paint cleaner). So, assuming i dont need stronger #83 abrasives, it seems the equivalent steps are:
CONSUMER:
wash
clay surface
DC1 cleaner
DC2 polish
wax
PROFESSIONAL:
wash
clay surface
#80 cleaner+polish combined (no #81 polish really needed)
wax
Although the professional #80 *can* be hand-applied (I believe), I suspect it is the machine application that helps break the abrasives down and just leave the polish, and I suspect this is a more costly product to create and produce in order to get this time-saving single-step cleaner/polish.

So it seems that the higher cost and machine application is what offsets the single-step advantage. Seem reasonable ?

[rascal]

I think DC#1 and even ColorX is a chemical paint cleaner compared to #80 and #83 that have a diminishing abrasive w/ a polish.

[Murr1525]

Not sure what you mean by higher cost, but yes, you pretty much have the right idea.

And DC#1 does have some very mild abrasives... nothing to get excited about though. With a polisher, DC#1 can remove some very light swirls, but not really by hand.

EDIT:
ColorX has abrasives also...

[rascal]

Originally posted by Murr1525
Not sure what you mean by higher cost, but yes, you pretty much have the right idea.

And DC#1 does have some very mild abrasives... nothing to get excited about though. With a polisher, DC#1 can remove some very light swirls, but not really by hand.

EDIT:
ColorX has abrasives also...

http://www.meguiars.com/?auto-paint-cleaners/Deep-Crystal-System-Paint-Cleaner

From Meguiar's website, DC#1 doesn't have any abrasives in it. The ColorX on the other hand, it doesn't say anything about having any or not. FWIW

[Murr1525]

For DC#1 -

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13172&highlight=Deep+Crystal+Abrasives

For ColorX -

It does.. And I am sure there is a link somewhere that dicusses it...

[TH0001]

Mike Phillips posted that DC1 does have very minor abbrasives, but these are more for cleaning the surface then defect removal.

IMO, when you transfer from consumer to professional, you get this

DC1=
DC2= #7/#81
DC3= #26
GoldClass= #16
NXT= #21

DC1 doesn't really have an equal in the professional line, because if you buff the car using a machine, its not really needed. Both #80 and #83 will do a better job "cleaning" the paint then DC1, while also polishing the paint.

#80 will usually not remove more severe defects (depending on paint hardness) so then the process would become...

#83 (= to both DC1 and DC2)
#80 (= to both DC1 and DC2, though milder)
#26/#21/#16 (= to DC3/NXT/GoldClass). So this way you are still using a three step process, but getting better results...

Also, in my bussiness, on certain dark solid colors, I see an apperance boost by applying a polish on top of #80. I usually use #7 or #5. I do this on most black paint jobs.

So then your looking at #83, #80, #7, sealent/wax. So now your at four steps.

In other cases, just #80 followed by a sealent/wax will work.

In conclusion, I think that the consumer line limits you to three steps, and locks you into a process. The professional line lets you customize your process to meet the needs of that specific paint by adding, subtracting, or subsituting different products.