RFD Official Detailing Thread - Post all Detailing/Paint Related Questions here!

[CatDog]

I'm looking at a car thats owned by a smoker and need some help!

I've read replacing the air cabin filters along with shampooing all the carpets may help, as long as the shampoo has protein in it to eat the smell.

What about the leather and everything else?

Is there any hope to make it seem like this car never had a smoker in it?

[Asad_A203]

how do you get the sandpaper to stick to the eraser? or do you wrap it around it?

You need to wrap it around it or hold the sandpaper with the sides of the eraser.

I don't believe there is any place in Canada where you can get the brushes for the PC; although there might be.

[KorruptioN]

Would Stoner's Invisible Glass (fantastic stuff, by the way, miles better than Windex) be strong enough to strip off a layer of Klasse AIO?

[jtcb]

I was trying to repair some stone chip scratches with a paint pen. I did a poor job so I use some Acrylic Lacquer Thinner to clean the paint and redo it. I move in a circular motion with a cloth and thinner. The area being cleaned with the thinner becomes dull. What damage did I do? I then try to make the area shine by applying some Gold Class Liquid Wax and it shines again. Any suggestion on what I should have done? Is it the correct way to shine the dull area?

[m4gician]

Would Stoner's Invisible Glass (fantastic stuff, by the way, miles better than Windex) be strong enough to strip off a layer of Klasse AIO?

Klasse AIO is an acrylic polish, while I do trust stoners to be concentrated enough to remove it. I suggest just use water from a pressure washer, or even a clay bar.

Clay bars remove waxes and sealants quickly and easily, and are great on glass.

[m4gician]

I was trying to repair some stone chip scratches with a paint pen. I did a poor job so I use some Acrylic Lacquer Thinner to clean the paint and redo it. I move in a circular motion with a cloth and thinner. The area being cleaned with the thinner becomes dull. What damage did I do? I then try to make the area shine by applying some Gold Class Liquid Wax and it shines again. Any suggestion on what I should have done? Is it the correct way to shine the dull area?

Yes and no.

Yes, you should be cleaning the area, but not with laquer thinner. To "clean" it, most use a combination of water + alcohol to wipe down the area of wax and residue.

What you should do, is fill the spots with a primer if possible, let that cure then use the nail polish applicator for paint.

After applying, please wait 24-48 hours for the paint to dry and cure somewhat. Then proceed to wetsand it, then follow it with a clear. A lot of nail polish pens have a clearcoat element within them, so you won't have to reapply twice.

[hOrnizuka]

Okay, my head is spinning after reading all pages. I'm new to this as well and I just got a new car recently. My main goal is to protect the paint and keep it clean (look new?). My budget is between $150 to $200. Here is what I'm thinking right now. Please add/subtract to within budget?

Copied from one of asad's post:

Wash:
Black ShMitt Wash Mitt (for lower body panels)
2 * Eurow Sheepskin mitt
P21S Bodyworks Shampoo
Optimum No Rinse (ONR can be used as a quick detailer, rinseless wash, and clay lube; very economical)
3 * Grout Sponge (from Home Depot; one for front bumper, one for rims and one for tirewells)
1 * Waffle Weave drying towel
2 * Cookie Monster buffing towel
Foam Applicator sponge
Zymol Pre Wax Applicator

Clay:
Ricardo Clay
Use the ONR diluted for your clay lube

Cleaner:
Klasse All in One

Sealant:
Klasse Sealant Glaze

Wax:
P21S Concours

Tireshine:
Meguiars Endurance Tire Shine



I think they are listed in proper sequence by asad.

wash->clay->Klasse AIO->Klasse SG

Can I do them all at once? I saw some posting about waiting 24hours or something.

[KorruptioN]

Klasse AIO is an acrylic polish, while I do trust stoners to be concentrated enough to remove it. I suggest just use water from a pressure washer, or even a clay bar.

Clay bars remove waxes and sealants quickly and easily, and are great on glass.

But I just put a layer of Klasse on the outside glass and wanted to know if Stoner's would be too strong to strip the protection. If it is, then no loss... it would just be a waste of my time

[m4gician]

I'm looking at a car thats owned by a smoker and need some help!

I've read replacing the air cabin filters along with shampooing all the carpets may help, as long as the shampoo has protein in it to eat the smell.

What about the leather and everything else?

Is there any hope to make it seem like this car never had a smoker in it?

Hi,

What you probably want to have done on your car is a after changing your cabin filter. Have your carpets steam cleaned or extracted (shampooed) as well as the leather.

Leather is like a skin that has pores which absorb certain odours. Have a detailer extract or shampoo them.

Lastly, have the headliner as well as dashboard steam cleaned or extracted.

[m4gician]

Can I do them all at once? I saw some posting about waiting 24hours or something.

If you're insane, you will.

However, you can do everything up to the first coat of klasse sg as it is recommended to leave 12 - 24hrs for the sealant glaze to cure.

[Asad_A203]

But I just put a layer of Klasse on the outside glass and wanted to know if Stoner's would be too strong to strip the protection. If it is, then no loss... it would just be a waste of my time

Honestly I am not sure on this myself. I think Stoners would be able to remove it. But you gave me a nice test idea . I have a dirty windshield so I will check this out after work (beading test to see if Stoners stripped it) today. Stay tuned!

[Asad_A203]

Okay, my head is spinning after reading all pages. I'm new to this as well and I just got a new car recently. My main goal is to protect the paint and keep it clean (look new?). My budget is between $150 to $200. Here is what I'm thinking right now. Please add/subtract to within budget?

Copied from one of asad's post:

Wash:
Black ShMitt Wash Mitt (for lower body panels)
2 * Eurow Sheepskin mitt
P21S Bodyworks Shampoo
Optimum No Rinse (ONR can be used as a quick detailer, rinseless wash, and clay lube; very economical)
3 * Grout Sponge (from Home Depot; one for front bumper, one for rims and one for tirewells)
1 * Waffle Weave drying towel
2 * Cookie Monster buffing towel
Foam Applicator sponge
Zymol Pre Wax Applicator

Clay:
Ricardo Clay
Use the ONR diluted for your clay lube

Cleaner:
Klasse All in One

Sealant:
Klasse Sealant Glaze

Wax:
P21S Concours

Tireshine:
Meguiars Endurance Tire Shine



I think they are listed in proper sequence by asad.

wash->clay->Klasse AIO->Klasse SG

Can I do them all at once? I saw some posting about waiting 24hours or something.

You can but it will take a good chunk of your day. You just need to wait 12-24 hours after Klasse SG application (only if you are going to layer Klasse SG with another application) like M4gican mentioned.

[Asad_A203]

Hi,

What you probably want to have done on your car is a after changing your cabin filter. Have your carpets steam cleaned or extracted (shampooed) as well as the leather.

Leather is like a skin that has pores which absorb certain odours. Have a detailer extract or shampoo them.

Lastly, have the headliner as well as dashboard steam cleaned or extracted.

+1. You can also buy odor absorbers blocks from Walmart/Home Depot that will just soak up the odor. Might not work 100% but worth a try (you can even just try a box of baking soda).

If you do get the carpets shampooed/washed; make sure you have an air circulator moving the air. You can also try extraction with an extractor. Some detailers use this for extracting carpets (not best but cheap):



For leather; it is hard to say. I personally would treat it like a regular fabric/plastic (since most are coated with a layer of plastic) and just use a steam cleaner with a MF towel over it to remove any odor on the surface. Keeping the steam cleaner moving to not burn your seats. You can play it safe and use more leather specific products but I personally wouldn't.

[Asad_A203]

I was trying to repair some stone chip scratches with a paint pen. I did a poor job so I use some Acrylic Lacquer Thinner to clean the paint and redo it. I move in a circular motion with a cloth and thinner. The area being cleaned with the thinner becomes dull. What damage did I do? I then try to make the area shine by applying some Gold Class Liquid Wax and it shines again. Any suggestion on what I should have done? Is it the correct way to shine the dull area?

You might have removed a thin layer of clear/paint. Only way to restore that is with paint/clear. To restore the dullness you just need to polish/wax; similar to what you did but you just have a smaller area of paint/clear coat now.

In the future make sure you tape your work area to prevent something like this.

[ElvaSoShexai]

wat kind of applicator should u use for interior plastic/vinyl/rubber cleaner/dressing?
foam applicator? mf towel? terry clothse applicator? 1 side of those double sided applicators? ( would it scratch it?)
rite now i use mf towel.

how about leather conditioner/cleaner?
cleaner: foam applicator? cutting side of those double sided applicator? (would it be too strong?)
conditioner: mf towel? hand? foam? finishing side of double sided applicator?
rite now i use paper towel for cleaner & hand for conditioner

& does ne1 use a wetvac 2 help clean carpets?

so do u hv 2 use ssr1 after u use ssr2.5? or is it only if u used 2.5 w/ a cutting pad?

n does ssr1 make a big diff compared to kaio?