Alright guys...i have given up on the consumer stuff...im ready to try some professional products...i have been doing some research on what i need to get

Here is what i am looking for:
My truck sits out in the elements so protection is #1 but i am looking for the most reflective, wet looking wax i can possibly get. I have been looking on Chemical Guys and it looks like their stuff is pretty good...

Price Range
I am already going to replace my Gold Class soap with Meguiar's Shampoo Plus from here
http://www.autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiar's%20Detailer%20Line%20Prices.htm

Next is the sealant...this step is seeming more important to me...i need to know from you guys what is the best sealant??

Finally....i would like to keep the wax, soap, and sealant cost under 100.00 is that possible and get great stuff? Any help please!

 

What color is your truck? There are a lot of really good waxes out there. I would get a good cleaner/polish like Klasse All In One or Zaino All In One then top with Poorboys EX-P Sealant and since your truck sits outside 24/7 I would use Collinite IW845 or Poorboys Natty's Paste Wax. Poorboys also makes great car wash, Super Slick & Suds.

 

My vote is for...drum roll please...you guessed it.

Try some Poorboys and Optimum.

 

I just ordered the following things.....

Meguiar's Professional Detail Final Touch Spray Detailer Concentrate...16.99
Meguiar's Professional Detail Shampoo Plus Soap....14.99
Poorboy's EXP Sealant...16.99
Chemical Guy's Butter Extreme Shine Carnauba Wax (Gallon)...29.99

I am about to get Meguiar's Professional Swirl Remover...i have just a few..never use the car wash foaming brush though!

My next question is about an orbital/DAP......what kind of mitten do you guys put on here because i am really worried about swirling the paint when applying these products...any help thanks

 

What kind of orbital do you have? There are a plethora of them out there and, you're right in thinking that the bonnet can introduce more of a problem than it solves...

Also, Last Touch really isn't very 'concentrated' although, you can dilute it out around 1:1. My recommendation with that particular product is that you not do that... it gets very streaky with the introduction of additional water.

Shampoo Plus is okay. Be CERTAIN to dilute it to the correct ratios as it is more of a professional grade shampoo. In short, if you mix it wrong, it'll work like a professional grade wax remover (caustic).

-RP-

 

So did i make a mistake in buying both of those? I just like to use the quick detailer spray between waxes...however i prolly wax once a month with NXT and #26...i know that is too much but i love doing it. I am currently using Gold Class Soap but just figured i would try this stuff...i like meg's stuff a lot, even SOME of the consumer stuff. I have neglected the sealant step thus far and i know that hasnt been smart...im just trying not to let my Dark Stone color fade...i just wondered about these things because i am guessing that any actual unit would work..it is the bonnet that is in contact with the paint that really matters. How much difference can you see when polishing, sealing, or waxing with a DAP then by hand? Is it even worth it for someone with no experience using one to try it just for this reason?

 

Nah... they're both usable products but, in my honest opinion, commonly available 'off the shelf' chemicals will rival both on a pretty good scale. For the shampoo, Gold Class is much better and honestly is much more slick. D-111 is designed more for a bulk detailer or a car dealership... you really need to pay close attention to your dilution.

Gold Class will offer a slicker soap, less potential for error, a shinier end product, and, overall, more suds in my opinion.

Last Touch is probably one of my least favorite detailer products but, it certainly has it's place. While some guys will swear by it, I find it to be much to streaky on darker colors. Further, it's one of those products that you *MUST* use on a cool surface because of the quick dry and 'blotchy' end look that it may leave behind. As I mentioned, diluting it at 1:1 will further enhance the blotchy look (streaks).

When you say DAP, I'm assuming that you're saying 'dual-action product'?

With your wax schedule, I really don't think you have to worry about any fading -- actually, you could potentially be doing more harm than good from the standpoint of having a towel to remove or an applicator to apply continuously on the paint... hear me out.

You see, swirls are scratches that are typically introduced during the drying, applying, or QD'ing stages of taking care of a vehicle. I could show you my truck right now to drive this home. The more you're touching your paint, the more chance you have to introduce these problems. Honestly, your wax is probably very present on your paint and, by going in and putting it on again, you're likely only removing what was there and replacing it with the new coat -- hence, it's a tad wasteful and probably isn't yielding much help to your overall situation.

As for the orbital -- I'd recommend trying to go with a Meguiar's or Lake County pad fitted to your machine. Not knowing what you have, it's tough to make a match. Also, remember that your machine is for APPLYING only -- not removing. Also, be sure that you realize that an orbital's power is very limited and you're likely to not gain much over a simply machine to apply wax -- not a machine to remove swirls and deal with other paint problems.

-RP-

 

Great...thanks for the insight...i am going to def keep my gold class and me and my friends do a few vehicles around town for some extra cash...so i just wanted to try this stuff on our vehicles and then on theres....i like the meg's QD so if anything i am getting more product for my money...not too bad i just want the best stuff on a decent budget. I think the poorboy sealant will be good..cant wait to get it in...well i dont have any machine yet...i didnt think a walmart one would be good but like i said i didnt think it really mattered...just as long as it ran and i could put a really good bonnet on it...but again was worried about swirls since i literally have no idea what im doing...i can always figure stuff out but not gonna practice on my paint...not anyone else's either..so im kinda screwed....i was thinkin about either a 10" or 6" orbital and hit up one of those bonnets that you were talking about...how does that sound?