Car Care Products

The Art of Detailing Paperback Book by Mike Phillips

October 31, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Mike Phillips’ – The Art Of Detailing
Proper Techniques, Tips and Tricks to Achieve a Show Car Shine

Mike Phillips is a leading expert in the field of auto detailing and reconditioning with 33 years of real world experience and a true passion for automobiles. Now he shares with you everything he knows about achieving a show car shine in his book, The Art of Detailing.

Mike honed his skills first as a hobbyist, then as a trainer at Meguiar’s, and now as Autogeek’s resident expert and Director of Training. But all you have to do is download his e-book! It will walk you step by step through the process of choosing the right tools, identifying paint imperfections, selecting products, and the application and removal process of those products. Mike’s detailed explanations are simple and straightforward – just like his classes here at Autogeek’s Show Car Garage. While there is no substitute for hands-on training, The Art of Detailing gives you a powerful reference guide at your fingertips.

This book is designed for do-it-yourself hobbyists and professional detailers.

Download The Art of Detailing today and you can instantly begin learning Mike’s professional techniques for turning an ordinary vehicle into a show car!

125 pages
Full color images
Step by step instructions
Glossary of detailing terms

Mike Phillips Autogeek.net

Filed Under: Car Care Products

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System on a boat?

April 27, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

The answer is absolutely! You can use the Meguiars DA Microfiber System on gel coat and get great results.

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System is a two-step process designed to correct auto paint (and gel coat) without leaving any swirls- guaranteed! Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System consists of microfiber pads, DA Microfiber Correction Compound, and DA Microfiber Finishing Wax.

This system is formulated to work with minimal dusting and no slinging. Cleanup is easy. When you’re polishing the vertical surfaces of a boat, you’ll appreciate how clean this process really is!

On a boat, Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System delivers comparable results to what you achieve on cars. It works well on light to moderate gel coat oxidation. On boats with heavy oxidation, use a more aggressive compound first, such as Meguiars Mirror Glaze #95 Speed-Cut Compound. After using the compound, use Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System to refine the gel coat and then seal it.

Depending on the size of the boat and the amount of oxidation, you may need multiple pads. Meguiars DA Microfiber Pads resist loading up so you can work them longer before switching pads, if you need to switch pads at all. To be on the safe side, have extra pads on hand. Toss used pads into a bucket of water and Detailer’s Pro Series Pad Rejuvenator.

Meguiars DA Microfiber Correction System works well with the Meguiars G110v2 Polisher.

For the best results, always keep a coat of wax on your boat to prevent oxidation and maintain a clean, shiny boat.

White wax stains and what you can do about them.

April 5, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

White wax stains on plastic trim come from solvents in the wax. These solvents are not meant for cleaning the paint. They are actually just there as a carrier for the protective ingredients in the wax. Once the wax is applied to your car, the solvent evaporates, leaving the wax on the paint. The problem is, the solvents stain plastic trim.

The best defense against wax stains is to prevent them in the first place! You can tape off plastic trim if you’re applying your wax with a buffer. You can just be very careful when applying wax by hand. Accidents still happen so your other option is to choose a wax that will not stain trim. Many WOWO (wipe on, wipe off) waxes will not stain trim and you can identify them by the fact that they also do not dry to a white haze. Examples are Pinnacle Souverän, Pinnacle Signature Series II, Detailer’s Pro Series Max Wax, Wolfgang Füzion, Poorboy’s Natty’s Paste Wax, and P21S Concours Carnauba Wax.

If your wax of choice is an apply-and-dry wax, you can still remove wax stains from trim by acting quickly. You can use a dedicated wax remover, like Griot’s Garage Dried On Wax Remover or you can opt for Detailer’s Pro Series Cleanse-All Exterior Cleaner. It will remove everything from the trim, including any dressings, so you’ll want to reapply protection after cleaning the trim.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles, Car Care Products

Eco Touch Conscious Car Care

March 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Who says car care products can’t be natural? Carnauba wax has been proving for decades that sometimes the best product for your car starts with Mother Nature.

Eco Touch Conscious Car Care is a collection of detailing products made of plant-derived ingredients. Each cleaner contains natural surfactants to clean without hazardous chemicals. Essential fruit oils and, yes, carnauba wax round out the earth-friendly ingredients used to make these products.

But you’ll never know the difference. Try Eco Touch products and you’ll see that you can have a clean, well-kept vehicle without all the petroleum distillates and such. Eco Touch products do a great job; it just so happens that they are environmentally conscious.

All Eco Touch products are safe on your vehicle and safer for you to use. No harsh fumes or skin-irritating chemicals. Isn’t that refreshing?

Learn more about Eco Touch at Autogeek.net.

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight

DP is now Detailer’s Pro Series

March 8, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Detailer’s Pro Series is the next generation of professional detailing products.

DP, short for Detailer’s Pride, has a new name and a new look. Detailer’s Pro Series was unveiled today at Autogeek.net. With all new labels and updated formulas, Detailer’s Pro Series continues to represent the excellent value and performance that are the hallmarks of this complete line of car care products.

Detailer’s Pro Series is truly designed for the professional detailer in mind. All Detailer’s Pro Series products are designed for speed, effectiveness, and value. Several multi-surface products save users time while delivering outstanding results. Large 32 oz. and gallon bottles encourage bulk savings. Whether you are a professional detailer or a do-it-yourself hobbyist, you’ll find that Detailer’s Pro Series makes your detailing budget go further while still giving you results you can be proud of.

New to Detailer’s Pro Series

Detailer’s Pro Series includes all the same products you’ve enjoyed as DP with updated formulas. To complement our complete detailing collection, we introduce Detailer’s Pro Series Dual Action Odor Eliminator. This innovative air freshener and odor remover eliminates odors two ways: as a quick burst air freshener or as a complete release fogger. A proprietary counteractant agent in the formula breaks down odor at its source to permanently eliminate foul smells.

Detailer’s Pro Series Dual Action Odor Eliminator is available in:
French Vanilla
Just Detailed
Cool Mint Chocolate
Tropical Breeze
Cinnamon Stick
New Leather is coming soon.

Learn more about Detailer’s Pride at Autogeek.net.

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight

Do I need to use detailing clay?

March 1, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

If you’re asking yourself this question, most likely you do need to use detailing clay. If your vehicle has never been clayed or hasn’t been clayed in a year or more, it’s time to use detailing clay. If you need more evidence, try the bag test:

Wash and dry your vehicle, put a plastic sandwich bag over your hand and lightly rub your fingertips over the paint. The plastic bag increases your tactile sensitivity so can feel things you might otherwise miss. If the paint feels gritty or rough, your paint is contaminated.

Vehicles can accumulate industrial fallout, brake dust, rail dust, and other contaminants any time. Maintaining a coat of wax or paint sealant helps protect the paint, but these persistent little particles can still get through the wax barrier. To maintain smooth, silky paint, use detailing clay twice a year. You can clay more often if you have Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay, our ultra fine clay bar.

For more info on detailing clay and clay lubricants, read our Detailing Clay How-To.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles, Car Care Products

Cyclo Orbital Polisher Model 5-Pro Variable Speed

January 3, 2011 By Autogeek Leave a Comment

The Cyclo Model 5-Pro Orbital Polisher has a variable speed controller. Start your new year off with a new Cyclo Orbital Polisher Model 5-Pro! This new Cyclo has a variable speed controller to set the speed from 650 to 3000 OPM. This is the first Cyclo with more than one speed! Now you can perform swirl removal and compounding or slow, fine polishing. The new Cyclo Model 5-Pro has all the durable features and heavy duty construction you’ve come to expect from Cyclo.

The Cyclo Model 5-Pro has the Vibration Elimination System to allow smooth, fluid motion. This system is composed of a completely redesigned counterweight and precision matched, weighted inserts. The Cyclo includes all three VES weighted inserts: yellow, silver, and blue. The Cyclo 5-Pro comes with the ProGuard backing plates, which are compatible with the blue weighted inserts. If you want to use the traditional Cyclo pad holders, DoublePrecision Pads, or carpet brushes, you already have the necessary weighted inserts with the purchase of the Cyclo 5-Pro.

The Cyclo 5-Pro includes all 3 weighted inserts. The Cyclo 5-Pro gives you what no previous Cyclo has – versatility! Try out the Cyclo 5-Pro with variable speed controller for everything from ultra slow buffing to high powered compounding.

The Cyclo Model 5-Pro Polisher is one of the polishers that will be featured at Mike Phillips’ Detailing 101 Class on January 29, 2011. Sign up here!

Filed Under: Car Care Products, Detail Classes, New Products Spotlight Tagged With: cyclo polisher

Explanation of Forced Rotation of the FLEX XC 3401

December 14, 2010 By Autogeek Leave a Comment

FLEX XC 3401 VRG Orbital Polisher The FLEX XC 3401 VRG is an orbital polisher with forced rotation. What is forced rotation? Let’s compare it to a polisher without forced rotation, like the Porter Cable 7424XP.

A Porter Cable 7424XP and the FLEX XC 3401 VRG are both described as orbital polishers, but there’s a noticable difference between these two machines. Both machines are constructed so that the pad rotates and orbits around the central spindle, but the FLEX features forced rotation.

To understand forced rotation, it’s helpful to think of a bicycle. The back wheel of a bicycle is connected to the chain and sprocket and it’s driven by the pedals. There’s a mechanism forcing the rotation of the back wheel. This is like the pad’s rotation on the FLEX XC 3401 Orbital Polisher. The front wheel of the bicycle is just along for the ride. It rotates when the bike is in motion but there’s no mechanism driving it. That describes the pad rotation on the Porter Cable 7424XP it rotates freely as it orbits because of a free spinning bearing assembly.

In practice, the forced rotation of the FLEX XC 3401 VRG and the free rotation of the Porter Cable 7424XP feel quite different. The FLEX pad completes full rotations and has a lot of power behind it to force that rotation. The FLEX XC 3401 VRG, even though it?s still an orbital machine, can remove a lot of imperfections. The Porter Cable?s motion is often described as jiggling, but it still achieves the dual action?that is, orbiting and rotating ? that will keep you from burning the paint. The Porter Cable 7424XP is great for minor defect removal, waxing, and general polishing.

Learn more about our entire selection of orbital polishers at Autogeek.net.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles, Car Care Products Tagged With: FLEX polisher, Polishers

New at Autogeek! 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher

December 6, 2010 By Autogeek Leave a Comment

You’ve relied on 3M polishes for years to give you professional results on auto finishes; now you can apply them with the new 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher! The 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher has a powerful 11 amp motor with 37.5% more power than 8 amp polishers. Superior construction and user-friendly features make the 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher a true professional grade polisher.

The 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher is a paint-correcting machine! It’s built for fast, effective removal of paint imperfections with the 11 amp motor and operating speeds of 1,000 – 3,000 rpm. The electronic variable speed control maintains speed and power even under load. The variable speed control trigger allows the operator to vary the speed below the selected maximum speed for greater control over polishing speed. Work at a slow speed for general polishing or speed it up for paint correction. A heavy duty trigger lock allows you to lock in your desired speed.

To make the 3M Electric Variable Speed Rotary Polisher more comfortable to use, 3M gave it an easy-grip flexible side handle that absorbs vibration. This reduces arm fatigue over the course of long detail jobs. There are three support handle positions to suit the job at hand. The polisher weighs just 7.9 lbs. but packs all the power of a much larger machine.

For more information, go to Autogeek.net!

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight Tagged With: buffers, detailing tools

Autogeek Gift Guide

November 19, 2010 By Autogeek Leave a Comment

If you’re counting down, it’s 5 weeks until Christmas. It will be here before you know it! Don’t worry – Autogeek.net has you covered. Autogeek’s Gift Guide has a wide variety of gifts to suit detailing enthusiasts, car lovers, travelers, and any driver on your list. Here’s a list new items that will be a big hit this year!