IMPORTANT, READ THIS PART FIRST! :
This is not test results or a Review for what I'm doing with the kit Adam's sent me. Here I am simply going to be posting what I'm currently doing, problems I'm coming across to see if anyone else ran into similar problems, application tips people may have, current thoughts, etc. These will basically be my testing notes. Just because I posted an opinion here does not make the product bad. I may have simply had a bad day, used something incorrectly, etc.

When I am done, then I will post complete reviews of everything I have along with pictures. I'm taking a good amount of them too... anyone spare some bandwidth when I post them? I will post my final thoughts on the different products that day.

Please feel free to post anything you want in here but try to keep pictures to a minimum in this thread. They take time to load and are sometimes annoying if you post large ones. I don't need to see your before and after pictures. What I want to know is what you did to get the results you got, though and your feelings on these products. I also want you to suggest ways you want me to test the products out.

Notes

Now, let me be a hypocrite and post a picture Here is what they sent me:



The kit is very nicely packed inside the bucket and come with everything you'll need to detail. I have the following products incase you want to comment on a specific one.

Grey Foam Applicator Pads (For Dressings)
Waffle Weave Microfiber Towel (chamois, Drying)
Blue Microfiber Towels (Buffing Residue off)
Microfiber Applicators
Clay Bar
Scratch Out
Car Soap
Detail Spray
V.R.T.
Revive
Brilliance
Butter Wax

I've been speaking to Adam's via email so some questions and comments I may not post here. He may also choose to respond to what I'm posting through email but I would hope he would post in this thread. He does have an account here, right?

Today I had some extra time this afternoon so decided to try some products on a select area of by truck; the place I do all my other products testing... the bedcover.

Since it has been over a day since I washed my truck I had to do it again. I chose not to use Adam's Wash Mitt because I have not had a chance to do a CD test to it yet. Anyone use it before? How well did it work? How much soap did it hold? How well does it create suds? Did it leave any marks in the paint?

The instructions for the car wash say to squirt it right on the wash mitt. I though I'd be fair and do as it said and I did. When filling the bucket it created a LOT of suds. Very nice!

I noticed it didn't really rinse off the wash mitt during the filling. I kind of rinsed a little off into the bucket but the bucket was almost full. As I washed it laid down lots and lots of suds because of the soap on the wash mitt. I noticed that as I moved around the vehicle the suds became less. I think this might be because it was all on the wash mitt. If this is the way he wants it used, then I think it might put too much soap down and strip wax off quickly. Next time I'll put it in the bottom of the bucket and fill the bucket unless someone can offer a better idea. The soap does seem to be pretty concentrated though, which is good, more for your money.

I got a chance to try out the Waffle Weave Microfiber Towel. I didn't have time to do the CD test on it before I used it before hand. I usually do the CD test when the product is new so there is no chance that dirt from use is causing the scratch. I'll then follow up some time later with another CD test on the item after it has been used to see if it has changed with time at all. Some products, especially MF, tend to trap dirt over time that does not release.

I didn't drive the vehicle around the block like suggested and don't have any gas for my leaf blower so I had to use it to dry an extremely wet truck with the waffle weave. I started with tailgate since it was in the sun. It did a good job at getting the water off and hardly left any water behind (probably because it wasn't full of water or damp yet). I then did the back window. It left a good amount of streaking on the windows because of the water it didn't pick up. The problem I had was when I started on the bedcover. There was just too much water on there for this little chamois. I had to put it down on the cover, pick it up, and wring it out after each small section. I was really starting to miss my full sized bath towels for drying these large, extremely wet areas. Right now I feel this would be good for drying a vehicle without a lot of water. Next time I try it I will first use a Cotton Bath towel and then use the Waffle weave to finish up.

It did leave a good amount of lint on the paint too. It wasn't thick lint like the cotton towel does but it was the same amount. It hadn't been washed yet so that might have been the problem. It now has been washed though so I'll see what happens next time I use it.

Just for your information I normally use 1 large cotton bath towel to get the majority of the water off my truck. I then use a small cotton hand towel to dry all the windows and mirrors. I don't ever have problems with streaking. One side to get the water off and then flip it over to the dry side to wipe to a clean window. I'll then use two smaller cotton towels hand towels on the paint of the truck to get drips, etc.

I only had time to do small sections on my bedcover because the light was fading fast. I did several sections. I used the clay on a large area towards the back even though my paint didn't need it. After I was done I couldn't see any spots in the clay bar… go figure since I used the Acid Bath on it like 4 months ago. It did remove some light contamination from the paint though. You could feel it if you felt both sections. I didn't really notice any streaks from the clay on the paint.

My truck has light cobweb marks on it. I ended up deciding to do 3 small sections on the bedcover. Two sections I used Scratch Out on and one I did not use Scratch Out on but the rest of the system. I did two sections with Scratch-Out so I could get a good view of how well it did remove them. I then did the whole Revive, Brilliance, Butter wax thing. I only applied each product once.

The paint seems extremely oily when I was done. Kind of like when I apply P21S or use Mother's Instant Detailer. I will be interested in seeing how long it lasts. People who have tried this system before, how long does the oily feeling last? How many washes?

I did strip a small strip when I was done with Denatured Alcohol. It removed all of the oily feeling and the paint felt like it did when I started. If I noticed tomorrow a lot of the cobweb marks are gone, then I'll try some denatured alcohol to see if they are gone or hidden. Don’t get me wrong though, sometimes it is good to have some type of product that can hide imperfections. Show car people will appreciate it!

After I stripped the one area clean with Alcohol I noticed a mark on the paint from either tree sap or bird poop I hadn't noticed before I used the Denatured Alcohol. Now, it could have been there and I just not have noticed or it could have been hidden. This mark is also on a section I applied Scratch Out + everything else.

Also, I noticed I was using a good amount of the Quick Detailer. Guess that is because you use it along with the clay bar, use it to dampen each applicator, and use it for product removal. It seems to work pretty well. I'll try to quick detail with it to see if it leave streaks on the paint like Meguiar's Consumer Quick Detailer does.

 

Excellent evaluation Intel, well detailed info.

Just a quick question for you, when doing a CD test with a wash mitt or towel, does the mitt or towel have to be damp or dry???? Tks man

91

 

great thread intel i know a few guys at ftw are using the adams stuff and they all say its great, but you know how that can go
good to have a more unbias opinion from a pro detailer

 

I agree.............. I'm sure Intel will give the "straight scoup" on this stuff!

 

I usually doing it both ways, I'll do it dry and then with a car wash solution. I always use Pro's Cherry Suds.

I washed my truck today and the super slick feeling is gone from the truck. I used to proper concentration of their soap. The super slickness is gone and you can't feel a difference with your hand. You can fell a difference with a towel though when you go from paint waxed with Adam's stuff to no wax areas.

Their V.R.T. (vinyl, rubber, trim) goes on easily. The grey applicators work well especially for tires. The dressing did work on most of the trim on my truck to make it nice and dark. I did notice the tailgate handle kind of absorbed it or something because it didn't look that black and after awhile it looked spotty. I'll have to wait to see it in the morning. The dressing does not produces a high gloss on the tires. Makes them black though. I'll have to inspect fling off tomorrow and will work on seeing the durability.

The dressing also does not wipe off the paint easily as claimed... even when I used a quick detailer it seemed to leave some gummy substance.

I'll be doing most of my posting on this stuff over on FTW though so you might want to check over there. I'll post the full reviews at the end on both boards though.

 

Intel486,

Excellent post as always.


Intel486: 4 president!

-Moose

 

On another board (F150world) a distributor for adam's is upset about the review I'm giving his products and calling them "unfair" because I'm too attached to what I currently use and they were even unsure of sending me the products in the first place.

He is now saying he will send me a box to send the products to someone else who can provide a "fair" test... yhea... and if he does watch how much of this stuff I can use in a day

I just thought I would share how he is treating someone who is simply using the products as his intructions say and am posting what I'm seeing.

Also got something to say about V.R.T. I washed my truck the other day and applied the V.R.T. to the tires. It gave a black look but not a high shine. It really wasn't even all that black. I pulled up infront of a friends house and he could see I had washed my truck (Since it had been incredibly dirty for about a week before) and first words out of his mouth were, "Why didn't you dress the tires?"

I will say V.R.T. does work well on plastic exterior trim. Get something else for tires.

 

Yep, and he and his distributor are taking a little heat for their responses to your initial tests. I'm almost afraid to do a review on the same detail kit they sent me. I've got a gut feeling that my results will be similar............ but who knows?

Anyhow, I wouldn't let those remarks stop you Intel. You'd be doing a dis-service to the rest of the members. On the other hand, you don't owe those members anything, and what's the sense of getting in a heated debate.

Good Luck, and I thought you handled it very well!

 

"Anyhow, I wouldn't let those remarks stop you Intel."

I agree. I'm sure you have seen my posts on the other forum!

 

I believe poorboy put it best by telling me I stirred up a fire over there.

I plan on continuing a review of their products even if they do send me a box and I'll post what happens with the products.

Go read samiam513's post if you haven't. It is a good one.

I think Adam's will really hate me now

 

Well, they want an opinion, you gave an opinion... just that simple.

I value what you say intel. This is what puts food on your table thus, I know that you're going to be up front, honest, and most importantly, professional about what you say.

I thought it was a great review. Very well put and well communicated.

RP

 

ROFLMAO!!

anyway, thats the biggest reason i like this site over that one. don't get me wrong, i love both of the sites and at them all the time, but it seems that one anybody giving a negative or just not 100% positive opinion is like shunned at that site. Here people say what they think and give honest opinions. Adams should have been ready to have some negative feedback. This doesn't suprise me at all though.
Now to go find the post at ftw and have something to read while i eat my lunch cuz its blizzarding outside now

 

wow, i just read that thread over there.

no comment about the people who got afraid all of a sudden when they didn't get a 100% positive feedback comment on their product before it even got its full review

it just backs up further of the way i view things at that site

 

Yep, I agree totally with that...

 

oh boy, i'm not even gonna post over there in that thread anymore since they'll be all over my case also, but Intel, i totally agree with your last post in his apology thread. Just even MORE stuff to back up how i feel over there
we need a little smiley with a whip