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There pricing is very good, especially on gear with the return policy you receive. Part pricing is still good, especially if you make the free shipping on the smaller moto-specific items like chain lube, etc. Beats Amazon's price by several $$.
Maxima Chain Wax
Amazon - $14
RevZilla - $11.50
Not to mention I have to pay tax on items sold by Amazon which really sours the deal.
Every product you bought you returned? Every product was $50-$100 less when you bought it somewhere else? Why did you keep buying from RevZilla and keep returning their items? Why didn't you do research before you bought it?
Arm-R-Seal is an oil-based urethane. You wouldn't want to use a polyurethane over it; you're essentially finished. 3 coats of that stuff should be fine, adding any more is kind of unnecessary. The only time you add more layers of finish is when you're working with tung oil, shellac, or high-end finishes like conversion poly/lacquer.
Your best bet would be to possibly shine this up with some Johnsons Paste Wax that you can buy at Lowes or Home Depot if you don't use Amazon. Wait a week or 2 to let the finish gas off, and dry up a bit more, and use this paste wax every 6 months to a year. It's been around forever, and works really well.
Edit - If you haven't, make sure you've sealed the bottom of the butcher's block as well. You don't want one side sealed, and the other unsealed; granted, this type of butcher's block with multiple pieces glued together will not move as much as a panel glue up would, but it's still a good practice to always finish the bottom as well.
A bucket, Optimum No Rinse in two gallons of water, and a bunch of microfiber towels to apply and dry. I’ve been doing this for over two years and my paint still looks new. Just don’t skimp on using a lot of the towels. See https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GG9FB8U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 for the ONR.
To be honest? If it's a dusty as mine was after 6 months, I might let it keep sitting. However, that risk might not be worth it to you.
Edit: Mine has 3 layers of protective wax. So eh, I'd probably wash it! And if you have a garage indoors, slap some layers of Collinite 845 on it yourself https://www.amazon.com/Collinite-845-Insulator-Wax-Fluid_Ounces/dp/B000JK2D06/
On the other hand, you should have been taking it out for a drive once every 3-4 weeks to get the tires rolling, gas flowing, and burning off any condensation in the motor -- albeit with the most important factor being your battery.
Besides, your battery is probably dead unless you unhooked it or had a tender on it?
I have a few questions on ONR:
1.) Can I use regular tap water?
2.) What about the wax ONR stuff, is that any good? https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-NRWW2012Q-Rinse-Wash-Wax/dp/B00GG9FB8U/ But it seems like most people prefer the blue stuff?
3.) Does the ratio of ONR matter much ? Does it mess it up if I over-dose my ONR ?
4.) Can I use ONR on glass and everything?
First photo looks like they removed some of the clear coat.
As for the scratches, you can use Meguiars Ultimate Compound to remove them.
You can find it here. The green one is wash and wax, blue one is just the wash with some gloss enhancers.
Wax wax wax. Grab a can of Johnsons Paste Wax and give your bed and in/out-feed tables (if you have them) a nice coat or two.
The Meguiars suggestion is spot on. I was carefully putting all the ridiculously priced car care treatments on my 3 month old tesla (because tesla paints cars about like my 6 year old paints the concrete on our sidewalk you either treat the hell out of it, or wrap them) and apparently caught a small rock or solid fragment in the microfiber drying towel. Fortunately it didn’t do a number but it was into the clear coat (that not hard to do on their cars). I had buffed it out with that same compound then treated with all the overpriced crap I had bought originally and 7 months later you can’t tell. Meguiars makes some good products.
Now that said I would be shocked if your company is burdening employees for the fleet wear and tear. I don’t drive a company owned car but have worked for companies where we have 500-700 leased vehicles on the road. People do some really dumb stuff, and the fact you were actually washing the car is a +1 compared to my employee operators. Good luck
Though I would not suggest doing it if you car is really dirty, if it's lightly dusty as it tends to get in the summer there are pretty good waterless car washes available.
This meguiars wash combines a waterless wash and a spray wax in one and does a pretty decent job.
This waterless wash is a pretty good value since it includes quite a bit as well as the microfiber clothes you'll need.
You can watch a few youtube videos on the technique too but it's pretty simple, really you just spray it on, let it dissolve dirt for a minute, and then wipe it off with the cloths. The only trick is to fold the clothes into fourths and only use each side once, flipping the towel around to a clean side each swipe so you're not just rubbing dirt in and scratching up the paint.
Sorry to hear about your swirls. Generally best to avoid automatic car washes. You might try this: Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Project Farm (on YouTube) gave this high marks.
For washing at home, I find this works well, especially if you're in a drought-affected area or if you're in direct sun: Optimum No Rinse. You just need a bucket and any type of microfiber cloth (you could probably get 100 at Costco for cheap). If your car is really filthy, a quick rinse before using Optimum can help.
Good luck!
I started using Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions after seeing it on Project Farm. It is probably the easiest wax I ever used on a beater, and lasts a long while.
Judging from the palm trees in your pic, you dont have the snow, salt, sand issue we have in the north. Either way, after your future dirty pic, give this a go. I use it for salt removal up here in the midwest. Car washes shut down at 15 degrees LOL...
https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G3626-Ultimate-Waterless-Wash/dp/B006FUT0CS
Hey! Is this it?
Turtle Wax 53409 Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Spray Coating - 16 Fl Oz. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XYPS3PS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AZvxFbFDYD0E2
I couldn't find it at Walmart, seems like they ran out. They had other 3 in 1's
Echoing what others say re touchless washes not really doing much.
My recommendation is that you pick up a bottle of Optimum No Rinse. It's a rinseless system, so all you'll need is a bucket of water and some microfiber towels. No driveway and no hose required. That 32oz bottle will last a long time, too, and it is really the absolute best way to ensure your paint stays looking great. I can do my whole car in 15-20 minutes (so, less time than it would take to drive to any touchless car wash). My detailer recommended it to me and I won't use anything else now.
I must link these paint sealants for your application Collinnite 845 and Collinnite 476 These actually last I personally use 476 on all vehicles in house and ones i detail and i dont have a garage so all 3 cars are outside and in 74F sun,
it lasts 8+ months of heavy beads only thing that beads better imo is glass coatings Check out /r/AutoDetailing for more info lolol:D
If you can believe it, this was just after using this: http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-G3626-Ultimate-Anywhere-Spray/dp/B006FUT0CS/ref=zg_bs_15718431_1
Big fan of Meguiar's products; my paint actually has a number of imperfections already but their products do a good job of bringing that shine out.
Collinite 845 wax is a great value. It's by far the longest lasting wax I've ever used. For comparison, I tried some Turtle Wax stuff, and it lasted about a month, the 845 was still beading somewhat after a year. Applying twice yearly feels about right.
http://www.amazon.com/Collinite-Liquid-Insulator-Wax-845/dp/B000JK2D06
If you're in a drought area (or even if you're not) I highly recommend this low water option
Why do you recommend the 2-bucket method over a rinseless wash? There's no need to wash your car the same way Henry Ford did. Technology has advanced since then. Soap suds are meant for cleaning fibers, like in clothing, carpet, and upholstery. It's not a good lubricant, which is what's needed for a car.
I say knock out the wash and wax with something like ONR or Wolfgang Concours.
All it takes is 2 gallons of distilled water and 1 oz. of product into a bucket with half a dozen microfiber towels. Wipe down 1 panel at a time, flipping the microfiber as needed to keep a clean side against the paint. The half dozen towels are to allow you to switch to a fresh towel whenever you need. About every panel or so depending on the size of the panel.
Follow up with a twisted loop drying towel.
What's superior about this method is that you can do it in the sun. It works on hot panels. It's spotless. And the dirt gets encapsulated in polymers when washing the vehicle. If it dries on the panel it comes off easy with another wipe of the solution.
I'd argue that a rinseless wash is superior to the traditional wash method in every possible way. Also, for what it's worth, I'm a professional detailer.
I pressure wash my teal Ioniq and don't really have any issues. Just be sure as always to not pressure wash too close to the paint, as it'll chip off under too much force. I like meguiar's ultimate for use with the pressure washer. For a protectant, I added this instead of waxing it. It has made future washes a breeze, but takes two ish days to apply(and one to polish back down if you overdo it).
Here is what I do. 1. I take a flexible putty knife and scrape off the surface rust.
If you are lucky and that gets most of it I would use some 600 grit paper and a random orbit sander to sand the surface. That fined of a grit will not change the flatness.
If you are not that lucky. I use some 400 grit wet or dry paper (the black stuff) and some WD 40 and I hand sand the surface using a block of wood. Once I got most of it clean I would wipe it down and use the 600 grit paper.
Apply a layer of SC Johnson's paste wax in the yellow can. It is solvent based rather than water based like a lot of car wax compounds. If you are going to use it soon apply the wax let it dry and buff it off. If the tool will sit for several weeks between uses apply the wax let it dry and buff it off just before you use the tool.
The Ioniq Guy on You Tube compared products and he says this is better than Rain X:
Pretty much any surface you don't want to crack/fade. Great for dressing engine bay too since it advertises dust/dirt repellant. Not your body paint or suede interior I don't believe. But any painted plastic/vinyl, rubber. I use on my parent's 34ft 5th wheel as well.
The godsend for me has been this stuff. I can't say enough about this stuff, pretty much the best autocare product I've used. I waterless wash my truck to prevent water spots so I primarily use this to wipe the truck down to clean it 90% of time. Very easy to use even in direct sunlight and leaves my truck looking and feeling waxed every time I clean it.
Due to water restrictions, I use Optima No Rinse , 2 bucket method with a Big Red Sponge. Works great and only use a few gallons of water.
Hey great job, could you please tell me what’s the difference between meguairs 105 & 205 product ? (Also what about this Meguiar's G17220 Compound, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W5HCZ9M/ref=cm_sw_r_api_i_58MYEMG8ZT7WYNSR6JCZ_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1)
I have a 2007 Lexus ES 350 it hasn’t been used for a 3 years sitting in the drive way I want to restore the paint, planning to clay bar and do a polish plus wax. Appreciate your recommendations for right products to use …
Check Fluids, electrical, tire rot or flat spots. Give her a good wash and when dry, use a whole damn can of SC1
https://www.amazon.com/Maxima-78920-High-Gloss-Coating/dp/B000WK5PWQ
I depend on the exact machine and also how busy it is.
I tend to go to mine at night when it's deserted. Then I can bring a bucket and wash mitt.
With mine I spray the wheels with wheel cleaner, use the Rinse setting to fill the bucket, then Rinse the car (not wheels), Snow Foam, clean the wheels with a brush, Rinse, wash with bucket and my own shampoo, them Rinse.
Then I spray some of this on as I'm towelling off the car.
If it's busier and I just want a quick wash I spray and clean the wheels while I'm waiting and the person before me is finishing up. Then drive in. Rinse car and wheels. Snow foam and clean the car using the snow-foam using a mitt. Then rinse. Then drive out, park up and was and dry using the same method.