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Daily Deals All Weekend!

May 28, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Daily Deals for Memorial Day Weekend!This Memorial Day Weekend only, a new Daily Deal will be featured at Autogeek.net each day from Friday through Monday. These are incredible deals you won’t find anywhere else! Click here or click on the Daily Deal banner on the front page of Autogeek.net to see each day’s special. The first Daily Deal is up now, but a new one will appear at midnight tonight.

Hurry! Each special ends at midnight EST and a new one begins, but only through Monday!

*Daily deals are not subject to additonal discounts. Ended May 31, 2010.
Filed Under: Car Care Products Tagged With:

Donate to Operation Comfort and You Could Win!

May 26, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Support Operation Comfort

Since May 13, Autogeek has been taking donations for Operation Comfort. With Memorial Day coming up, we want to strengthen our effort to help this important organization.

From Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31, everyone that donates $10 each day will be entered to win a daily prize! Every day, all the $10 donors that day will be in the raffle for one prize. One winner will be chosen every day. Prizes are valued between $300-$350! Help out a great cause and enter to win a great prize!

If you would like to help Operation Comfort, you can donate at Autogeek.net here or at checkout. Your contribution will be added to your order for your convenience.

In recognition of Memorial Day, Autogeek.net has made a donation of $1000 to Operation Comfort, a nonprofit organization that offers support services to wounded veterans of the military operations in Iran and Afghanistan. But that’s just the beginning. We’ve asked all our vendors to contribute whatever they can to Operation Comfort. Operation Comfort reached out to the automotive community in 2006 with the launch of their Automotivation program, which teaches wounded veterans car restoration and refinishing. Their call was answered with donations of equipment and tools from a few generous vendors. We want to continue to answer that call to meet the needs of our wounded veterans.

So far, we have received commitments or money and products to help Operation Comfort from Lake Country, P21S, Cyclo, Black WOW, Metro Vac, Optimum, Grit Guard, and Danny Braums, ESQ. We would like to thank these vendors for their generosity.

100% of the donated money will be presented to Operation Comfort next week. Learn more about Operation Comfort’s programs at OperationComfort.org.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Operation Comfort so far. Your contributions allow Operation Comfort to continue providing wounded veterans with the support they need.

Filed Under: Auto Industry News, Car Care Articles, PBMA News Tagged With: ,

Bugs and Tar

May 24, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Love bugs

Yes, bugs look awful dotted across your front bumper and hood, but they?re also very destructive. Maybe it?s revenge, but bugs can damage the paint long after they hit the car. As insect remains decompose, they produce enzymes intended to break down the carcass. These enzymes also break down automotive paint, resulting in etching. (Removing etching requires polishing, a topic you can read about in our Dual Action or Circular Polishing Guides.)

Here in Florida and across most of the Southeast, love bugs are the primary culprit. Love bugs in particular have very fatty bodies, which produce a lot of enzymes. Plus, their sheer number and affinity for busy roads make them unavoidable. And, since they are love bugs, they hit your vehicle two at a time.

Besides bugs, your vehicle regularly encounters tar, tree sap, and bird droppings. All of these things are detrimental to the paint and should be removed ASAP (no pun intended!).

You have many options for bug and tar removal. Visit Autogeek.net’s “How to Remove Bugs and Tar” tutorial for step by step instructions and product recommendations.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles

Polishing Metal Wheels

May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Here’s a quick explanation of different wheel finishes and what metal polishes are best suited for them.

Aluminum: Aluminum is a relatively soft metal and its one of the easier metals to polish and get a bright shine. Aluminum oxidation shows up as a white chalky coating over the metal. To keep polished aluminum wheels looking good, you have to polish them regularly with a metal polish for uncoated metals. This may be a multi-step process, depending on how long it’s been since you last polished your wheels. The Wolfgang Metallwerk Aluminum Polishes offer you a complete series of metal polishes for bare aluminum.

Anodized Aluminum: Anodizing increases the thickness of the aluminum oxide layer to strengthen the underlying aluminum’s natural resistance to corrosion. The resulting finish is very porous and is therefore usually sealed or dyed. Many metal polishes cannot be used on anodized aluminum because they would damage the unique finish. Flitz Metal Polish, Fiberglass & Paint Restorer is one of the few that can be used with excellent results.

Chrome: Chrome is actually a plated metal. Chromium, the metal used in chrome-plating, is highly resistant to tarnish and retains a reflective shine better than any other metal. Eventually, chrome can rust so it’s best to remove any minor rust spots before they turn into a major problem. Again, Flitz Metal Polish, Fiberglass & Paint Restorer is a great choice as is Mothers Chrome Polish.

Stainless Steel: Stainless steel is another metal that is highly resistant to corrosion, staining, spotting, and rust. But, like anything else, maintenance is needed to keep it looking sharp. We recommend Wolfgang MetallWerk Fine Aluminum Polish. Though it says aluminum, it is safe and effective on stainless steel. The only noticeable difference is that it will not create a black residue as you polish, like it would on aluminum. Another excellent metal polish is Wenol Red to polish out oxidation and stains on stainless steel.

Read Autogeek’s Metal Polishing How-To for more tips and step-by-step instructions.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles, Car Care Products Tagged With: ,

The Difference Between Carnauba Waxes and Paint Sealants: Part 2

May 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Paint Sealants

Paint sealants are kind of the anti-carnauba. They last a lot longer, they are easy to apply, and there’s nothing natural about them. This is surface science at its best.

A paint sealant is made of polymers, which are composed of tens of thousands of synthetic particles that are linked together. When a sealant bonds to your vehicle’s paint, it forms a glossy surface coating. It is not the warm carnauba that seems to melt into the paint. Paint sealants sit on top of the paint like a transparent chain metal suit. They are glossy and slick, but carnauba lovers will tell you they do not have the warmth and depth of a carnauba.

Paint sealants have gotten progressively more popular as time goes on. Some people really love the hard-as-glass look. In an industry that is driven by technology, it seems appropriate that an engineered paint protector is the new favorite among many detailers.

However, the real selling point of a paint sealant is the durability. A premium paint sealant can last 4 to 6 months, sometimes longer. Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze, for example, can last up to 12 months. Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant 3.0 lasts the more typical 4 to 6 months. By “last”, I mean that water will continue to bead and the paint will remain protected from UV rays and contamination. For people that spend more time driving than detailing, the paint sealant is the way to go.

Paint sealants are extremely easy to apply. They are always in liquid form and they spread easily by hand or with a polisher. This time-saving feature makes paint sealants an attractive choice for those who like instant gratification, and who doesn’t?

Note: While a carnauba waxes have polymers and manmade additives, they are different from a paint sealant because paint sealants are not made from natural waxes at all.

As you’ve seen, there are a lot of differences between paint sealants and natural carnauba waxes. Glassy, hard shell or deep, liquid shine? Six months or six weeks? These are the basic questions you have to answer before selecting your paint protection.

However, a growing number of enthusiasts simply refuse to choose. Instead, they coat their vehicles with a layer of sealant for long-lasting protection and then top it with a layer of carnauba for the dazzling shine. Even if you forget to reapply carnauba in 6 weeks, your paint won’t suffer. The Forum Favorite Kit will give a prime example of the shine you can get from a sealant topped with a carnauba. It’s the perfect marriage of beauty and longevity!

Remember, paint protection is one of your vehicle’s basic necessities. No matter what kind of product you choose, Autogeek.net has your vehicle covered.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles

The Difference Between Waxes and Paint Sealants: Part 1

May 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Paint protectants are divided into two general categories: carnauba waxes or synthetic paint sealants. Here you’ll find information on each so you can choose the paint protection that’s right for you.

Carnauba Waxes

Carnauba wax is the preferred car wax of collectors and concours enthusiasts because it creates a rich, warm glow. It doesn’t appear to sit on the paint. It transforms the paint into a deep, liquid pool that shimmers under changing light conditions. The more carnauba wax, the more shine.

The wax is produced by the Brazilian Tree of Life, a palm tree, in order to coat its leaves. The wax provides protection from the sweltering sun and it sheds water so it falls onto the ground and is absorbed by the tree’s roots. If you think back to junior high science class, you might remember that plants release oxygen through their leaves. For this reason, carnauba wax is breathable. Good for the tree and good for your paint.

Carnauba is rock hard in its natural form. When the leaves of the Tree of Life are harvested, the wax flakes off as the leaves dry out, or they are put into a machine that removes the wax. It comes off in hard flakes. Car wax makers have to blend the wax with oils, petroleum distillates, or a solvent called naptha (commonly used to thin wood varnishes and paints) in order to make the wax workable. The very best carnauba-based car wax is only about 1/3 natural carnauba. It’s probably for the best since the price gets higher and higher as the concentration of carnauba rises. When a product advertises pure carnauba car wax or 100% carnauba car wax, they are referring to the purity of the carnauba that is in the product, not the product as a whole.

That brings us to grading. Carnauba is harvested and then graded according to color, purity, and where it was grown. Trees grown in the northern area of Brazil produce the highest grade carnauba. The yellow wax is the most pure and therefore receives the highest grade. This is the grade most commonly used in high end car waxes and in the pharmaceutical industry as a pill coating (The process is quite different. Obviously, a car wax should never be ingested.).

Some manufacturers refine the yellow wax again into an ultra-pure white wax to ensure that the wax produces the clearest, most reflective gloss once applied to the paint. Such is the case with Pinnacle Souveran and Pinnacle Signature Series II.

As you’ve already read, carnauba protects the leaves of a palm tree from the intense heat and humidity experienced in Brazil. The carnauba car wax repels water and, consequently, most contaminants. When applied to any surface, carnauba retains these characteristics. Therefore, an application of a carnauba-based car wax to your vehicle will protect it from UV rays, heat, moisture, oxidation, and environmental contamination. And it looks like a million bucks!

The drawback of carnauba waxes, if you can call it a drawback, is that it does not last as long as a synthetic sealant. An average carnauba car wax finish will wear off in approximately 6 to 8 weeks (longevity varies by formula). It depends heavily on the climate in which you live and whether or not your vehicle is garaged. Daily commutes in a hot, humid climate mean a shorter life span for your carnauba wax coat. If you enjoy regular waxing, then the life span of a carnauba wax is just one more reason to indulge in your favorite hobby!

In a nutshell, carnauba car wax is the wax of enthusiasts. It appeals to people who want the absolute most stunning show car shine available and are willing to spend a couple of hours every month or so to get it. Most of them will tell you it is time well spent.

Filed Under: Car Care Articles, Car Care Products

Tornador Accessories

May 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

New Tornador accessories are in stock. Now if you need any replacement parts for your Tornador Car Cleaning Gun or Tornador Air Foamer HP, you can find exactly what you need at Autogeek.net.

Plus, we now carry Tornador Turbo Enzyme Cleaner to use with your Tornador Car Cleaning Gun. This enzyme-powered cleaner removes stains and eliminates odors on car upholstery, carpets, vinyl, plastics, rubber, even glass! The concentrated cleaner is pre-measured for maximum potency.

Upgrade your Tornador Cleaning Gun with the Cone with Brush. The air flow from the Tornador vibrates the bristles for constant, effortless cleaning. The soft bristles are safe on any surface, making it perfect for cleaning the headliner or delicate instrument panels.

The folks behind the Tornador have developed a new tool to aid in car cleaning: the Tornador Blow Out Gun. The Tornador Blow Out Gun works with your air compressor to blow debris and moisture out of hard-to-reach areas of a vehicle. The cone channels air into a powerful tornado-like motion that quickly lifts dirt and moisture from any surface. The cone covers a larger area than the air flow coming directly from an air compressor, yet it is still targeted enough to concentrate tremendous air power right where your vehicle needs it.

Visit Autogeek.net to read more about the Tornador line of products!

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight Tagged With: ,

New Lake Country Hydro-Tech Crimson Finishing Pad

May 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Hydro-tech Crimson Finishing Pad and DP Poli-Coat

Lake Country has added a new pad to their Hydro-Tech line-up: Crimson Finishing Foam. So far, we have the 6.5 inch pad in stock. It’s perfect for wax, sealant and glaze application using your dual action polisher. Purchase it alone or in our Hydro-Tech 6.5 Inch Foam Pad 3 Pack.

Lake Country Hydro-Tech 6.5 Inch Foam Pads are made of imported European pre-polymer foam. This long-wearing, high quality foam is less absorbent in order to keep the majority of polish on the pad’s surface. You’ll experience a longer working time with your water-based polishes and compounds, resulting in less product used to achieve the perfect finish.

Water-based products can soak into some foam pads like, well, water. That requires you to keep reapplying polish to the pad. With Lake Country Hydro-Tech 6.5 Inch Foam Pads, water-based products work longer and you use less. You’ll save time and polish!

Click here to see Mike Phillip perform a full detail on a 2004 Custom Kodiak Truck, finished off with the Hydro-Tech Crimson Finishing Pad and DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant.

The Hydro-Tech 6.5 Inch Finishing Pad is available right now at Autogeek.net!

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight Tagged With: ,

Autogeek News

May 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Free Shipping at Autogeek

Memorial Day is coming up and you know what that means – a long weekend of detailing! Order now to be sure to receive your products in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Spend just $95 and shipping is free to all military APO addresses and the entire United States, including Hawaii and Alaska, and Puerto Rico! You too, Canada! Spend Victoria Day detailing! Shipping is on us.

This is an unprecedented free shipping event! For the first time ever, we are able to offer free shipping outside of the contiguous United States. This is a great chance to choose from thousands of car care products and have them delivered for free!

Don’t delay! This offer ends Monday, May 17, 2010.

*All U.S. orders and Puerto Rico, please choose ground shipping. Canada orders, please select the Canada option.
Expedited shipping excluded. Click for details.

Save on all Flitz Products!

Now on Autogeek.net, you can see the new video showcasing the incredible results of Flitz polishing products. Oley Jentzsch, president of Flitz Metal Polishes, visited Mike Phillips recently in the Show Car Garage to demonstrate how to restore the shine to oxidized aluminum mag wheels using Flitz.

Click here to view the video.

You can repeat this process on your own wheels using Flitz products, on sale at Autogeek.net through Monday, May 17, 2010!

New from DP!

DP Seal & Shine Kit

The DP Seal & Shine Kit includes our new DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant, DP Xtreme Foam Formula Shampoo, and DP Final Gloss Quick Detailer at an incredible value! This kit is a perfect wash-and-wax kit for any vehicle. Use the DP Seal & Shine Kit on recently polished or newer condition vehicles to clean and protect the paint.

The DP Seal & Shine Kit includes:DP Seal and Shine Kit
12 oz. DP Xtreme Foam Formula
16 oz. DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant
32 oz. DP Final Gloss Quick Detailer
3 All Purpose Microfiber Towels, 16 x 16 inches
2 Poly Foam Wax Applicators

Retail Value $83.92 | Our Price $49.99

DP Gloss Tire Gel – New Formula!

DP Gloss Tire Gel is a long-lasting rubber dressing and protectant that gives tires a sleek, satin shine. The durable polymer formula contains powerful UV blockers and ozone protectants to keep tires, wheels wells, and rubber trim looking like new.

Retail $19.99

DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant –
Now available in 32 oz.

DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant preps and protects your vehicle in one simple step. A cutting edge, built-in bonding agent creates a longer lasting, more durable protective finish. The depth of gloss and rich color will turn heads regardless of color or type of paint.

16 oz. Retail $19.99
32 oz. Retail $34.99

Operation Comfort

Join Us in Supporting Operation Comfort

Autogeek.net is teaming up with the Speed Channel’s “Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U” to support Operation Comfort, an organization that provides support to wounded veterans of the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan who are being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center. Operation Comfort has been serving veterans since 2004 with programs designed to aid in recovery while providing some of the comforts of home. Projects include remodeling 11 waiting rooms at Brooke Army Medical Center for the families of wounded service members and a Tranquility room where the burn staff can take a quiet break during their work day. Operation Comfort also sponsors a softball league and participates in sled hockey, amputee surfing, river rafting, and adaptive Nordic and alpine skiing to assist veterans with their physical recovery. Financial assistance is provided for veterans and their families in need.

Autogeek.net is pleased to participate in Operation Comfort’s AutoMotivation program, which gets veterans out of the barracks and onto a ranch outside San Antonio to work on cars. In conjunction with CarQuest, Autogeek.net is sponsoring Mike Phillips’ upcoming trip to San Antonio to teach wounded veterans paint correction skills that they can use to pursue a career in auto detailing.

You can help Operation Comfort by making a donation in the amount of your choosing at Autogeek.net. Any amount helps. All money collected will go directly to Operation Comfort. If you would like to donate, select an amount from our Operation Comfort page and it will be added to your order. There will also be an opportunity at checkout to donate. Join us as we help Operation Comfort provide valuable recovery services to our wounded veterans.

Visit OperationComfort.org to learn more about their work.

Autogeek.net is growing again!

Thanks to you, our loyal customers, Autogeek has expanded our space and our staff to provide better service and selection. Our 15,000 sq. ft. facility, finished just two years ago, was already overflowing with products and our office space was stretched to its limits! To accommodate current and future growth, Max has purchased an additional 5,000 sq. ft., which houses the Autogeek Show Car Garage classroom, testing center, and webcast/photo studio. Detail Fest guests got a personal tour of the addition and were part of the inaugural detailing classes taught in the new classroom.

We’ve hired 12 new employees. New office space has just been added for our new administrative and customer service staff. Now when you call or email Autogeek, we have more customer service representatives to assist you with placing an order or answering your questions.

In the warehouse, eight new employees have been added to our order fulfillment team. By expanding our staff, we will continue to fill your orders quickly and accurately.

Visit our About Us page to see an interactive map of the entire Autogeek/PBMA headquarters and pictures of our staff.

As Autogeek grows, so does our commitment to our customers. After all, your support has created this success. As we expand, your experience should only get better. If you need assistance with an order, a product, or car care advice, our team is here to help. Contact us toll free at 1-800-869-3011, by email or via Live Support. As always, thank you for choosing Autogeek.net for all your car care needs!

Take a tour of Autogeek headquarters.

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight Tagged With: ,

DP Seal & Shine Kit

May 12, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Ready to try the new DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant? Save money when you buy it in the DP Seal & Shine Kit!

Keep car care simple with the DP Seal & Shine Kit, including DP Xtreme Foam Formula, DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant, and DP Final Gloss Quick Detailer. Each product is designed for maximum efficiency and maximum effect. In just three steps, the DP Seal & Shine Kit keeps auto paint looking like new.

The DP Seal & Shine Kit is a perfect wash-and-wax kit. It’s all you need if your vehicle is in good shape with no need for polishing. Use the DP Seal & Shine Kit on newer vehicles or on recently reconditioned finishes to maintain the paint in its present condition.

The DP Seal & Shine Kit includes:
12 oz. DP Xtreme Foam Formula
16 oz. DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant
32 oz. DP Final Gloss Quick Detailer
3 All Purpose Microfiber Towels, 16 x 16 inches
2 Poly Foam Wax Applicators

A total retail value of $83.92. Save $33.93 when you purchase this kit!

Get your DP Seal & Shine Kit at Autogeek.net!

Filed Under: Car Care Products, New Products Spotlight
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