Senin, 08 Agustus 2011

Automotive Detailing Supplies and Equipment


Proper car detailing starts with the right detailing supplies. Whether you are just washing your car on the driveway or an experienced professional auto detailer, you are going to want to have the best of the best to work with. The supplies you use will depend on the level of experience you have.

The variety of automotive detailing supplies on the market is sometimes a little overwhelming, so lets look at some basic jobs you would normally do to a car. This applies to both the do-it-yourselfer and the professional.

As an example, let see what you might need for a basic Wash and Dry. You will need the following supplies to properly wash and dry your vehicle
• 2 wash buckets, with a grit guard or tray for each
• Micro fiber wash mit or Micro fiber covered sponge
• Micro Fiber drying towel
• Tire brush
• Wheel cleaning brush
• Water filtration ( optional )
• Drying Blower ( optional )

Most of the detailing supplies are not available at your local automotive supply store, often you will need to purchase them online or find a wholesaler in your area. Finding all the products and equipment from one location is often difficult, but if you find a local wholesaler that carries a wide variety of brands, you can easily get all the supplies you need.

If you are looking to purchase your detailing supplies for home use and are not getting into detailing other vehicles professionally, then a good start would be to check out some local detailing shops. There are professional auto detailers in every major city, and I bet there are a lot more then you think there are. Most of the detailers in the business love what they do, and if you contacted them to discuss detailing, I am sure they would love it. You should ask if you can buy some of the product they use, you will probably get a better deal then if you went and tried to find everything you need yourself. You will probably find that each detailer has a brand or line of products they prefer over others, this is either from experience or what they learned with. Many experienced detailers usually stick to a specific brand for the majority of their products. They will use other suppliers as well for all the specific function products that only select manufacturers produce.

Other detailing supplies that you can buy at your local automotive hardware store are the simple tools and products. Micro fiber cloths and towel are now very common. A few years ago, you would not be able to find a single micro fiber cloth anywhere but specialty stores. Micro fiber drying towels and polishing cloths are the standard for all your auto detailing jobs, don’t get anything else to wash, dry, buff or clean with. The characteristics of micro fiber make them non-scratch and super absorbent. You can also find decent cash wash soap and brushes at your local automotive supply store too. Never use dish soap on your car, only use car wash soap designed for automotive purposes. Dish soap will strip all the protective layers you apply to your car, such as wax, sealant, trim sealers and detailer sprays. Only use it if is your intention to prepare the car for paint correction and polishing, in that case, you want to remove all those waxes and sealers. 

Senin, 25 Juli 2011

Use a Rubbing Compound on Paint


How to Use a Rubbing Compound on Paintthumbnail
Rubbing compounds are effective at restoring painted finishes.
Rubbing compound is a loosely defined term referring to a growing group of polishes that are designed to remove minor damage, imperfections or oxidation, generally from automotive-type finishes. Rubbing compounds can also be used to remove layers of built-up wax from cars and boats, before recoating with new wax. For best results, use rubbing compound on paint when the temperature is at least 50 degrees, and out of direct sunlight if possible.

Difficulty:
 
Moderately Easy
By Guide Fisher

Instructions

Things You'll Need

  • Soap
  • Bucket
  • Sponge
  • Clean, soft cloths or towels
  • Rubbing compound
    • 1
      Select a rubbing compound approved for the surface, such as metal or fiberglass, and paint type, like acrylic enamel, lacquer or clear-coat finish.
    • 2
      Wash the painted surface with soap and water to remove dirt. Dry the washed surface with soft towels, or allow the surface to air-dry.
    • 3
      Apply 1 tsp. of rubbing compound to a clean cloth, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Some compounds call for a damp cloth while other compounds can be applied with a dry towel.
    • 4
      Rub the compound into the paint in short, circular motions, approximately 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Allow the compound to set on the paint according to the manufacturer's instructions, as some types of compounds need to be allowed to dry before being wiped from the surface.
    • 5
      Remove the compound, with a clean section of the cloth, by rubbing in the same circular motion used to apply the compound.
    • 6
      Continue applying and removing the rubbing compound in 12-inch sections, until the entire surface has been covered. To be sure no sections are missed with the compound, overlap the already rubbed section with fresh compound by approximately 1 inch. Use a clean area of cloth each time you apply compound to the paint, changing out towels as needed.
    • 7
      Inspect the entire surface for any areas you may have missed with the compound. Touch up any missed spots as needed.


Rabu, 13 Juli 2011

Car Tire Cleaning Tips

  • Keeping your tires clean can lengthen their lifespan and keep you safe on the road. Cleaning your tires involves much more than spraying them down with a hose; several car tire cleaning techniques can keep your tires in optimum shape. Pay attention to the wear and tear on your tires. Any visible degradation or noticeable wires sticking out of the surface indicate a need for new tires. Keep your tires in working order and free from obvious defects that could diminish performance.

Hosing Down

  • Spraying down the car tires with water removes surface debris. For best results, use a garden hose fitted with a pressurized spray handle. Once you've wet the tires completely, leave the water for several minutes to loosen surface debris. Scrub the tires with a wire brush to remove stubborn debris and brighten the white lettering of the tire company logo.

Special Tire Soap

  • Automotive supply shops sell special soaps made specifically for cleaning car tires. Use these soaps instead of a regular soap, which might contain tire-damaging acids. Also avoid wheel-cleaning sprays that claim to finish the job more quickly; most contain hydrofluoric acid that will damage the rubber. Used according to the manufacturer's directions, tire soap will help remove surface dirt and debris from your tires. Use a stiff brush coated in the soap to remove debris from the treads.

UV Protectant Spray

  • Ozone and ultraviolet (UV) light degrade car tires by breaking down the hydrocarbons in the rubber. To prevent tires from cracking or losing elasticity, coat tires with a special protectant once they have dried after you wash them. Automotive supply shops carry UV protectant sprays with varying degrees of strength. When shopping for a spray, avoid products that contain raw silicone oil or formaldehyde, which will eat away at the rubber of your tires. A car care specialist or mechanic can recommend the best brand for your tires.

References

Resources

  • Photo Credit tire treads close-up image by Kathy Burns from Fotolia.com;



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