Good morning,

What do you use to detail your car to get the perfect finish for a car show? The day at the car show or to wipe down when you get to the car show?

Thanks

 

Turtle wax ceramic.....use the day before the show so it cures...

 

I know a lot of Corvette owners use Adam's Polishes products, but I'm a Griot's Garage guy ... have been for many years.

Assuming you've done proper paint correction and then applied a ceramic coating or conventional wax, all you need at the show is an instant detailer-type product. Griot's new Ceramic Speed Shine is excellent.

I'm sure Adam's Detail Spray is a good choice as well. The purist in me tends to avoid detailers that can be purchased at the local big-box store.

 

I used Griots ceramic......until I tried TW. I also agree about prep work....👍 👍

 

Check out the Car Care Discussion a little further down in the General Topics. Those guys have tried everything and really know what to reccomend. They will not bite.

 

I use Florida Sand Gloss, for that wet look!

 

Fortunately, my owing a chain of auto parts stores for 16 years allowed me to try a massive quantity of car care products and in most cases always came back to Meguiars.

 

For a wax, I use Turtle Wax Ice. To remove road dust between waxings, I use a California Duster followed by some Adams Detail Spray and a microfiber towel.

 

I have also used Adams, Griots, and others, and always come back to Meguiars!

As for detailing for a car show, if my car is being judged, I detail the interior on Friday, the exterior on Saturday, and the Final Detailing at the show. It is amazing how dirty a car will get driving 20 minutes to a show, especially, if you go on the Freeway.

 

Personally I like Griot's Best of Show Detailer due to it's tolerance to application on warm paint. Seeing that my Vette is black, it is hard/impossible to ensure the paint is cool enough for typical detailers, at a show when often times the sun is out.

 

I am an OCD car care enthusiast, and I also do paint correction as a side gig to supplement my income. I use a plethora of products to get the perfect finish, but the quick answer is...

1) Compound with microfiber cutting pads by machine
2) Polish with foam polishing pads by machine
3) Glaze with foam waxing pads by machine
4) Carnauba wax with foam applicators by hand

The night before a show, I apply a top coat of carnauba spray wax. I have a ton of different brands, but most often use Optimum Polymer Technologies, Adam's Polishes, or Griot's Garage.

I have a trunk bag with all my show gear in it. The two products I use the most are from Optimum Polymer Technologies. "Opti-Clean" is a strong waterless wash cleaning product that I use to remove any road grime, dust, or bugs that I accumulated while driving to the show. "Instant Detailer & Gloss Enhancer" is exactly what it sounds like. I use this on the paint and glass as the final step. It boosts gloss, adds a little protection to what is already on the paint, and helps reduce static so my paint doesn't attract as much dust while sitting outside at the show.

 

I use McKees 37 products and I use their waterless wash when I get to a show. I also sometimes use the detail spray and extender wax if it’s. Highway road trip.

 

Like our resident Jedi Master detailer @FYRARMS I've used many products and used to have waaaaayyyyy too many at one time on my shelf. I suffer from OCD - obsessive compulsive detailing as the scan grip is my best friend and yet still, my dream smashing enemy. Just to break my *****, and comically poke fun at me, some of my other Corvette brethren at shows and in the club have commented to others about my car "if you can still actually see his car, it's probably not clean or reflective enough for him"

All that being said, I'll try my best to answer your questions without going off the deep end as I have a tendency to do

If we are talking about just the clear coat and not the engine bay, trim and tires I have a custom 3 product stack that I have been using for almost a year now that I have come to trust. I refer to it as the Holy Trinity Of Gloss

*Please know that my car is paint corrected and sports Modesta Glass Coating's Flagship product the BC-05 ceramic system. Their BC-06 is on the rims.

On top of the ceramic coating is the first product in the stack, a sacrificial layer/topper to the coating called TAC Systems 1 Step Master. This product will last for six months before I will reapply.

So for show prep (again just for clear coat), I will give the car a thorough snow foam pre wash with Griot's Foaming surface wash, and then my contact wash will be CarPro Reset. The car is dried with forced air. Since 1 Step is already on the car, I will bust out the second product in the stack -the PolishAngel High Gloss.

Before I reach for the final product of the stack, I will use Adam's Ceramic Waterless Wash to get rid of any contamination the car has picked up on the way to the show. Then comes the final product of the stack - back to TAC Systems for their Shinee Wax.

If you follow any detailing channels on YouTube you likely know Brian from Apex detailing, who is at the top of the food chain for paint correction and coaxing every bit of gloss and radiance out of a car. Simply put in my opinion the man is the "guru's guru" when it comes to making a car look it's absolute best. I was honored when he was kind enough to use my car in one of his videos where he talks about stacking products to get compelling results. The first link below should take you directly to the part of the video where he refers to my car should you want to see the stack in action at an actual show. I believe it starts about the 12:57 mark. In all actuality, the video should be viewed in it's entirety to fully appreciate Brian, his knowledge, and the aim of the video itself. The entire video starts on the second link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=766&...ature=youtu.be




Here are some photos of the products:


The Holy Trinity of Gloss: TAC Systems 1 Step Master, PolishAngel High Gloss, TAC Systems Shinee Wax



You’ll have to pry this bitch out of my cold dead hands to get me to stop using it Conjured in small batches from the finest German Crack and Witch Craft

Here are some photos of the car after I've detailed it at home and at shows:


Cars In The Garden Nov 2020

Cars In The Garden Nov 2020

Cars In The Garden Nov 2020

Experimenting with PolishAngel High Gloss to develop Gloss and Reflectivity

TAC Systems Shinee Wax

TAC Systems Shinee Wax


Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help you.

Loki6

 

Thanks to everyone for the helpful information.

Off to buy some products

 

I'm always happy and eager to help out Keith. Let us know what you purchased.

 

Your #1 mission at a show is to meet new friends, have fun, and learn a few things. Bring a chair.

I arrived at my first Corvette show (NCCC), 30 years ago, with the car done. I had all the time in the world to walk around and meet the guys in my class, (C3) parked around me. I noticed a lack of finishing touches on many of them. I took out my tire shine and applicator and went around and helped a number of them pickup their "tire game". I did win my class.... 4 years in a row and gained a handful of friends I still see at shows. I have not participated in a show in 25 years. I can't sit still for a whole day. I show up, walk around, visit with friends, take pictures and leave when I want.

 

LOKI, your car looks amazing! What a shine.... i have used Chemical guys products and enjoy their shine and odors of their products, but want to give polish angel a try. thanks!

oh awaiting some groits waterless wash just to use till spring and warmer weather.. but look forward to trying some new polish angel products... my car is wrapped so not sure if they have something recommended or not recommended for wraps...

 

Sincere thanks for the compliment JXP. Try some TAC Shinee Wax too, it is a go to for me as well as PA HG.

I would clean PPF just the same as ceramic or un coated...I'd look for a waterless product with good lubrication, and some added SiO2 for water behavior characteristics like sheeting or beading to minimize the water spotting and make it easier to dry.

@BudgetPlan1 is who I would ask for any PPF specific questions, he's got a acute understanding of PPF car in general; If I'm not mistaken, his C7 is PPF'd.

 

Generally maintaing a PPF'd car is pretty much the same as any other car...with a few caveats.

I keep my PPF notes here: https://budgetplan1.wordpress.com/li...ek-dynoshield/

Cliff notes:

1. If you use pressure washer/foam cannon be aware of any seams/edges and steer clear of them with pressurized water.

2. Stay away from waxes or products that will lead to buildup along seams/edges.

That's really about it actually.

Since PPF'g/coating the C7 in April 2019, its really done well...quite pleased.

Things I've used on it:

Shampoo: Gyeon Bathe or CarPro reset. I'll generally use those in foam cannon as well as usually no need for foam-specific soap as car is never really that dirty.

I started using Polish Angel Glasscoat Shampoo late last Summer in the buckets and I quite like it. While it is a SiO2-infused shampoo I'm not much concerned about any additional protection, I just enjoy using it and it seems to add a little luster to the paint...in my mind anyway 😄

To maintain the PPF/Coating I've used (in no particular order)

1. Kamikaze Overcoat
2. Polish Angel Cosmic Spritz
3. Polish Angel High Gloss Spritz
4. Polish Angel Carnauba Arts Black Wulfenite Spray Wax

All are easy to use, especially the Polish Angel stuff which is somehow sensationally entertaining as well each time ya pull the trigger 😎 I've been using them for past 2 years with excellent results, both asthetically and functionally.

There's lotsa other products out there that'll be OK for PPF but double check before use as i think petroleum based products are not good for PPF. Mfg website for your brand of PPF would have specifics as would your installer.

I don't do any rinseless/waterless stuff though so can't help ya there...i know my limitations 😁

 

thanks for all the info BP, its about 4 degrees outside so i wont be washing anytime soon. My car has been out in the snow a few times and has water spots, i figured i would use a little of that griots waterless carwash just to clean it back up, while it sits in the garage... looking at your black car and Lokis blue cars shine i would like to give that polish angel a try... ive used mostly chemical guys quick shine and other CG products with good results, just thought id try something else for a change..

i have a soaper canon but hook it to the hose no pressure washer use.

thanks again for the info and links...