Car show prep

Detailing tools?

I really like long-stem q-tips: Amazon.com: Wood Stem Costmetic Swab: Beauty



OK, give me a few minutes, I think I can give you a more helpful response.

I assume you're a rookie at this Car Show stuff...

First you have to understand there's a HUGE learning curve for prepping. MUCH MUCH more involved than you might expect.

It's not just, "What products do you use?"

For starters, specific product recommendations can be misleading.

Examples:

--I used Zaino Z7 Show Car Wash & Z6 Detail Spray on my long-gone Corvette. But that is probably all wrong for you. (Don't put polymer sealants over wax, and vica versa.) Zaino is great, but expensive and can be a lot of work.

-- I really like Wheel Wax for simple-style chrome wheels. But not for painted wheels. And no way would I use it on wire wheels or wheels with lots of nooks & crannies (too much work for me).

-- Porter Cable makes very useful polishing kits. But polishing is only one part of paint prep. And you can damage your paint if you do it wrong.

My Suggestions:

-- As suggested by 69bossnine, a trip to Walmart will get you started. But don't get carried away... it's easy to spend $100's before you have a clue.

-- For your first Show, don't get crazy... just do a common-sense thorough cleaning.

-- Until you're more knowledgeable & experienced, choose basic products from ONE well-known manufacturer... Meguiars, Mothers, Turtle Wax, whatever. Just pick one & stick with 'em. Later you might branch out, with more specialized products and/or high-end stuff.

-- Talk with people at Shows. Yes, you can watch them do their ritual day-of-Show prep. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. The real work is behind-the-scenes, days & weeks (and sometimes months) beforehand.

-- Maybe later (if ever) you can try to compete with the experienced highly-motivated obsessive-compulsive Car Show folks. In the meantime, relax & enjoy the Show.

-- Lots of useful specific info, like How to Detail an Engine. Some good stuff on youtube too. But some info is weak, just a product ad.

-- Browse these:
Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides
CAR DETAILING & FINISH CARE - Autopia
Car Care Discussion - Corvette Forum

ponies said:

Not to steal the post, but somebody want to explain "Clay bar" to me?

Click to expand...

A bar for Clay-mation characters.





Sorry, couldn't resist.