Above 1200 Sq/FT DFB's Garage

[D.F.B]

Having ran the updated wide-mouth MTM foam cannon for a few months now, there is only one problem I have encountered, something I actually discovered very quickly.

I use a foam cannon with either soap or Brake Buster for wheel cleaning. I'm also seated when cleaning wheels, the stool and bucket on wheels so I can shuffle from wheel to wheel without getting up. This will sound like a first world problem, but with a bucket full of water and tools, there was nowhere to put the foam cannon when not in use. That was until Maxshine and MTM started offering a bracket to hang the foam cannon from the bucket. This of course was the perfect solution.

MTM VELOCI VENTUNO FOAM CANNON HOLDER Stainless Stee

Get your hands on the MTM Veloci Ventuno Bracket, a stainless steel spray foam gun holder. Purchase now from Detailing Shed.

detailingshed.com.au

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Holder Mount

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Mount Carry your foam cannon around with ease! Maxshine’s new Foam Cannon Mount allows you to attach your Maxshine Snow Master or Lance Foam Cannons to your wash bucket. Keep all your detailing products together and organized while washing your vehicle. Features: ·...

detailingshed.com.au

Having searched for something like that for ages, I even considered having one made for me, you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered the updated MTM bottle and cap arrangement is not compatible with either the Maxshine or MTM bracket. :doh



I can't see how an updated version would work considering the lack of clearance between the foam cannon body and the black adaptor cap. So, I've been back to fumbling from wheel to wheel managing the stool, the pressure washer gun/hose, bucket and foam cannon.

My latest idea involves a foam cannon wall bracket that I spotted online.

Amazon.com

These work different to regular quick connect fittings in that they a simple push to engage-release rather than pulling down the outer sleeve. I can't link a video, but the Amazon listing has a video showing it in action. These are actually very slick, way more precise than the budget price would indicate.



The plan is to mount the bracket to my detailing stool, which will have the foam cannon resting between my legs for quick and easy retravel. I think this should work, but like anything, it will be a case of trial and error.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

Not in my "garage", rather at work...................

A couple of months ago, one our supplier reps left a display stand with the intention of showcasing in-season plants. The rep has then been supplying advanced potted specimens to give customers an idea of what they can expect each plant can do. This is all well and good, but my creative brain spotted the potential expand on the idea...................

This plant stand was made by a men's shed, presumably from reclaimed timber. Well, we have plenty of that on hand, with a stack of un-used pallets taking up space in the yard. Pulling them apart was going to be the challenge, so I bought a lever bar from eBay..................

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/355034833921



Before starting the project, I had measured up and drew out a layout plan mimicking the original, I then knew what amount of timber I was going to need.

It took me a bit to figure out the best way to use the lever bar without ruining the timber, but the tool made short work of stripping the pallets down. Following this, I removed all the nails and docked everything to length. Then the fun part of putting it together...............









Including the re-used timber, I also used up an assortment of odd-bod screws, so excluding the pry bar and my labour, I made something from nothing.

I plan to make more of these as time allows, which will be used around the nursery as needed. I was hoping to have a few of these made prior to the bare root roses arriving, they would display well in these.

Those lever bars for pallets are fantastic. I bought one a couple years back to dissemble 20 pallets of similar quality to save for building things out of. Took no time at all.

 

[D.F.B]

Vision achieved!



The goal wasn't to house all of them, rather to create some visual interest rather than a collection of black pots dumped on the ground. It also makes them more "shoppable".

I have had to shell out on some screws after raiding the odd-bod bucket, but even still, the outlay is minimal.................and I'm enjoying work again.

Those are "bare-root" roses by the way, a very old-school nursery practice. Roses are grown in fields before being dug up, bundled and sent out to retail nurseries throughout the winter months. We then unpack, label and group them together in holding pots. Because the plants are dormant, this means we can sell them without soil and a pot, each plant is simply pulled from the holding pot, which in turn saves the customer money. What we don't sell through the winter, we pot up and for sale through the rest of the year.

 

[D.F.B]

It's amazing how driving and making noise with this car drowns out all the other "noise" that life throws at you.

 

[D.F.B]

Surely the highlight of the winter landscape, Camellia Japonica season is in full swing....................



Camellia's are my favorite plants, mainly because they remind me of my mentor, my wonderful grandmother. Her garden was full of Camellia's, mainly of the larger flowering Japonica variety. While they are slow growing and relatively nondescript for most the year, the color they bring to a bleak winter is so special. I also love the variety of flower colors, shapes and sizes. My favorites tend to center around the variegated colorings, they are just so distinctive.

Margaret Davis -



Tinsie, a relatively rare variety that absolutely flowers it head off in my garden -



Emperor of Russia, variegated form (one of my absolute favs) -



Unknown variety, but look at how many flowers this large established plant is carrying -



Yuletide, a Sasanqua variety that is another heavy flowerer in my garden -



Look Away -



Betty Sheffield Supreme -



Guilio Nuccio -



Kramer's supreme -

 

[D.F.B]

Having ran the updated wide-mouth MTM foam cannon for a few months now, there is only one problem I have encountered, something I actually discovered very quickly.

I use a foam cannon with either soap or Brake Buster for wheel cleaning. I'm also seated when cleaning wheels, the stool and bucket on wheels so I can shuffle from wheel to wheel without getting up. This will sound like a first world problem, but with a bucket full of water and tools, there was nowhere to put the foam cannon when not in use. That was until Maxshine and MTM started offering a bracket to hang the foam cannon from the bucket. This of course was the perfect solution.

MTM VELOCI VENTUNO FOAM CANNON HOLDER Stainless Stee

Get your hands on the MTM Veloci Ventuno Bracket, a stainless steel spray foam gun holder. Purchase now from Detailing Shed.

detailingshed.com.au

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Holder Mount

Maxshine Foam Cannon Bucket Mount Carry your foam cannon around with ease! Maxshine’s new Foam Cannon Mount allows you to attach your Maxshine Snow Master or Lance Foam Cannons to your wash bucket. Keep all your detailing products together and organized while washing your vehicle. Features: ·...

detailingshed.com.au

Having searched for something like that for ages, I even considered having one made for me, you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered the updated MTM bottle and cap arrangement is not compatible with either the Maxshine or MTM bracket. :doh



I can't see how an updated version would work considering the lack of clearance between the foam cannon body and the black adaptor cap. So, I've been back to fumbling from wheel to wheel managing the stool, the pressure washer gun/hose, bucket and foam cannon.

My latest idea involves a foam cannon wall bracket that I spotted online.

Amazon.com

These work different to regular quick connect fittings in that they a simple push to engage-release rather than pulling down the outer sleeve. I can't link a video, but the Amazon listing has a video showing it in action. These are actually very slick, way more precise than the budget price would indicate.



The plan is to mount the bracket to my detailing stool, which will have the foam cannon resting between my legs for quick and easy retravel. I think this should work, but like anything, it will be a case of trial and error.

Problem solved!

 

[D.F.B]

After a week of lovely sunny days, naturally, it just had to rain for my "weekend". :nothappy Rather than rearranging the garage and getting clean cars wet in order to get the Mustang into the wash bay (read - driveway), I decided to go rinse-less today.



One of the things I love about detailing is that there are many ways to reach the same conclusion.................a clean, shiny car. After laying into the brakes pretty heavy yesterday, the front wheels were just too dusty to go untouched. Normally when doing rinse-less, I would give the wheels a blast with the pressure washer and either washed as usual, or give the wheel faces a wipe down with whatever rinse-less I was using. Not wanting to play musical cars, I left the car where it was, filled a bucket with a solution of NV Snow and my usual brushes, then without the machine turned on, I used the pressure washer hose and gun fitted with a rinsing tip. After a pre-rinse, I scrubbed the tyres with Green Star, then cleaned each wheel before rinsing again and applying Atom Mac to the rotors. This proved to be a relatively mess free solution.

For the rinse-less wash, I went with ONR again today, then dried with a few spritzes of Meguiar's Last Touch. The door jambs got a quick wipe over, again using Last Touch. Glass was attended to using True Vue, wheels blown dry and wiped with NV Boost, tires dressed with OG TD. Final step was a quick vac of the driver's floor mat and an interior wipe down with Carpro InnerQD.

Refreshed and back under its cover, all without moving cars and creating more work for myself.

 

[D.F.B]

The Ranger missed it's wash last week after lending it to a family member. Covered in road grime from a few rainy days, plaster dust and potting mix in the tray, muddy floor mats.................it's been a while since the Ranger has been this dirty.

The tires got scrubbed with P&S Undressed, I even scrubbed the visible section of the spare tyre, then the wheel and wheel arch foamed with Brake Buster. The ADS coating is doing a splendid job on these wheels, making them super easy to clean.

It was then onto the pre-soak, Gtechniq W4 Citrus Foam, the cold and overcast conditions meant a long dwell time was possible. I normally just hose out the tray, but today I foamed it down too, then went over the sides and rubber mat with the Detail Factory Fender Brush.

After a through rinse, I re-foamed with DIY Incredible Suds for the contact wash.



Flowing the post wash rinse, I went over the tray, wheels and wheel arches with Carpro Hydr02 Lite. After a blow down, I followed with OG Drying Aid and the Microfiber Madness Chipmunk Jr. The engine bay, door jambs and tray were then wiped/dried with Carpro ECH20, glass wiped down with Stoner Invisible Glass.

After a vacuum, I went over the interior with P&S Swift. Instead of removing the floor mats, I simply vacuumed the loose debris and then soaked them down with Swift and scrubbed with a multi-purpose towel. Swift is so good on rubber floor mats, providing just enough "enhancement" without making them slippery.

Returning to the exterior, the wheels got a quick onceover with NV Boost v1, tyres re-dressed with OG Tire Dressing. Finally, I sprayed Meguiar's Hyper Dressing on the spare tire................yes, yes, I know.

 

[D.F.B]

Latest haul!



This is actually two orders, one from both Waxit and Detailing Shed. With the exception of NV Onyx and OG Drying Aid, these are all new-to-me products. You will note most of these are soaps, in particular soaps with "protection" in them. Of those, I'm most eager to try Hydr02 Foam and Ethos Ceramic Shampoo.

 

[customh]

@D.F.B I've read a lot of your stuff and I'm glad you've brought it to GJ in addition to the other forums.

I'm also interested in your experience with both the Hydr02 and the Ethos Ceramic as well. Mostly conceptually since I'm in the States and able to get Griot's products easily, that's where I've started my journey. I used their Ceramic Wash and Coat on the first wash of the wife's new car before a long road trip and am quite happy with the results despite what a lot of people say about the soap/coating products and claims that they get streaks with them. I bucket washed with it- half the car at a time (per the instructions) and rinsed promptly, no issues.

 

[D.F.B]

@D.F.B I've read a lot of your stuff and I'm glad you've brought it to GJ in addition to the other forums.

I'm also interested in your experience with both the Hydr02 and the Ethos Ceramic as well. Mostly conceptually since I'm in the States and able to get Griot's products easily, that's where I've started my journey. I used their Ceramic Wash and Coat on the first wash of the wife's new car before a long road trip and am quite happy with the results despite what a lot of people say about the soap/coating products and claims that they get streaks with them. I bucket washed with it- half the car at a time (per the instructions) and rinsed promptly, no issues.

I really wish someone would take on distribution of Griot's in Australia, there are so many products I would love to try.

 

[D.F.B]

Despite the evil winter weather outside today, I had two cars to do and new products to test, so the show had to go on!



With the exception of the truly wonderful OG Drying Aid and NV Onyx, the above is all new to me. It's been a while since I went on a mass shopping spree for new products, in recent months I have focused on burning through some of my backlog of stock.

The main reason for these two orders from Waxit and Detailing Shed was to try out some of the modern wash-and-coat style soaps on the market, which will ultimately be added to my soap review thread once I get through with testing. These soaps have never really been on my radar, mostly because they are largely redundant in my style of detailing. But I do see where and when these can be useful, and after being quite impressed with P&S Radiance, I wanted to explore the concept further.

First up was Ethos Ceramic Shampoo.

https://detailingshed.com.au/products/ethos-ceramic-shampoo?_pos=6&_sid=0b7a55321&_ss=r



The "cucumber-melon" scent of Ceramic Shampoo is quite subdued compared to other Ethos products, and has a medium consistency when pouring. Unlike other "ceramic" shampoos I have tried, this product actually foams.........................



So, having it properly foam immediately made it a winner for me. I ended up using Ceramic Shampoo to wash the wheels and the paint, its slick and rinses freely. Because the Jaguar is coated with Gyeon Pure EVO, it was always going to be difficult to tell how much it left behind. The following line printed on the label provides a clue......................

.....You will notice gloss, shine and water repellency increase with each use. Hydrophobic effects increase with every wash, water beading effect does not appear instantaneously upon first use.

That is something noted in a couple of videos I watched prior to ordering this soap. So, if you buying this soap thinking it will instantly transform bare paint, look elsewhere. But I really liked using this soap, the fact it foams is its best feature compared to competitor soaps. Speaking of which..................

Carpro Hydr02 Foam takes their successful Hydr02 spray and rinse sealant and mixes it with a pH neutral soap. Like Reset, this product is a clear, runny liquid. Unlike Reset and despite the name, Hydr02 Foam doesn't actually foam.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/carpro-hydrofoam-500ml-1l?_pos=5&_sid=c86ba7b2d&_ss=r





Compared to Ethos Ceramic Shampoo, Hydr02 Foam is said to last up to 3-months, Carpro clearly choosing longevity over foamability here. The above shot was taken seconds after application, the foam generated is super thin and simply does not cling to the surface of the vehicle. I actually aborted using this soap to clean the wheels, grabbing Brake Buster instead.

Hydr02 Foam(ish) is decently slick, but overall, I just couldn't get past the lack of foam on the surfaces I was cleaning. I think I will reserve this soap for neglected customer cars as a final step instead of maintenance washing my own coated vehicles.

Onto another Carpro product, their new Darkside Brush.

https://www.waxit.com.au/products/c...e-rim-brush?_pos=2&_psq=darkside&_ss=e&_v=1.0





This is an ultra-soft, ultra dense brush for applying dressing to tyres and trim. Carpro have branded this as a companion to their solvent based Darkside tyre sealant, which is ultra sticky and requires a effort to properly apply. I didn't actually use it with Darkside today, instead grabbing KCx Plast Star, the density of bristles and how they hold their form makes it ideal for getting into that ledge between the wheel and edge of the tyre.

This brush is hardly unique to Carpro though, so if you aren't the brand snob I am, you can often get this brush cheaper from Amazon, eBay and Temu. Although having said that, its not like Carpro are asking that much for this brush.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Filiverco...rds=tire+dressing+brush&qid=1721111291&sr=8-5
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3558609...jmGH0EvUu8SHy9I6irYZnsig==|tkp:Bk9SR-SM46OXZA
https://www.temu.com/au/high-densit...&refer_page_id=10009_1721111556741_kvy0th5g8e

And finally, 3D SiO2 Ceramic Matte Tire dressing.

https://detailingshed.com.au/produc...eramic-matte-tire?_pos=2&_sid=b6ec60069&_ss=r



This is hardly a unique concept, there are now plenty of "ceramic" tyre dressings on the market including Carpro Perl and Darkside, OG Tire Dressing, Gyeon Tire, even Meguiar's has one now. For the most part, the addition of Si02 improves durability and increases the darkening effect. What drew my attention was the promise of a matte finish, which as you can see, was not really achieved on the Ranger's Michelin Agilis, but that's a common theme with those tyres. I did however love how easily this creme-like product applies and spreads, and the heady fragrance a real treat, the same used in 3D Bead it Up. They also make a high gloss version if that is more your style..............

https://detailingshed.com.au/products/3d-glw-series-sio2-ceramic-tire-gloss

The GLW series from 3D is relatively new to the market, a range focused on the enthusiast market instead of the bulk-focused professional user. In addition to the tyre dressing, I also decided to try the Ceramic Wash and Ultimate Wash shampoos.

 

[D.F.B]

Soooooo excited to see the full Armour Detail Supply range go on sale at Detailing Shed today!

ARMOUR Detail Supply

At Armour Detail Supply, we are dedicated to providing the best possible experience for our customers and we believe that it is this commitment to quality that sets us apart. From the sourcing of premium raw materials to the extensive testing and development of our formulations, our team puts in...

detailingshed.com.au

Armour Detail Supply (ADS) are only a young company, but they have certainly made an impact, many calling them the next Carpro or Koch Chemie. What I love about this company is the gusto they have brought to the industry, a young bloke with a passion and drive to succeed. Well, its paying off because products like Hero and Amplify are huge demand across the US.

While the coating line has been available for a few months now, including THE best wheel coating on the market, the maintenance line has only just arrived. I basically ordered one of everything to sample and I can't wait to try them out, especially the above-mentioned Hero rinse-less wash and Amplify quick detailer. I haven't been this excited for a new detailing brand for a while now.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

That is quite the new collection of production to sample.

I ordered some of the Ethos Ceramic wash to try out on the girlfriends car to keep it touched up and to see if I could reduce one step on a car I am not keeping up to the same level as some others.

 

[customh]

I ordered some of the Ethos Ceramic wash to try out on the girlfriends car to keep it touched up and to see if I could reduce one step on a car I am not keeping up to the same level as some others.

Ceramic Wash & Coat, 48 Ounces

Effortlessly clean and protect your vehicles' exterior with Ceramic Wash & Coat. Infused with SiO2 polymers for durable, hydrophobic shine.

www.griotsgarage.com

I'd recommend the Griot's- it'll foam less than Ethos but I felt like it left an adequate amount of protection to make it to the next wash.

 

[littlebean]

We shall accept nothing less that your usual exhaustive and in depth assessment of all these products by, lets say, Friday?

 

[D.F.B]

These are the wheels that will come on my S650, which will be black because I ordered the Black Package (Night Pony Package). I hate them.......................................





Unlike other markets, Australian customers have no choice of wheels other than having them in Carbonized Gray (standard) or black as part of the Black Pack.

I would love a set of the optional Y-Spoke Performance Pack wheels, which are the same sizing with a machined face and Tarnished Dark finish. Being an OEM wheel, it's very unlikely any of the Mustang modifying companies in Australia importing these, and it would be very difficult to import them myself as the import taxes above $1000 are extremely steep............................ask me how I know this.





I also really like the Darkhorse wheel..............................



Last night I found an aftermarket 20-inch forged version of the Darkhorse wheel, which are painted satin grey. Two things make me hesitate, one I would prefer a gloss finish, and the $5500 price for a set of four. That's before tires.

MMS Forged 2015-24 DH Handling Pack Wheel Set (mustangmotorsport.com.au)





I sort of back myself into a corner with wheels as I prefer an OEM look. For the first time, I have been considering aftermarket wheels, but as usual, the ones I like are not sold here, have been discontinued or simply too expensive.

 

[D.F.B]

That is quite the new collection of production to sample.

I ordered some of the Ethos Ceramic wash to try out on the girlfriends car to keep it touched up and to see if I could reduce one step on a car I am not keeping up to the same level as some others.

I've never done the "I'll have one of everything" thing, so I thought this brand would be a great place to start. For clarity, the above image is not mine, just an ADS promo image I used to illustrate.

With the Ethos Ceramic Wash, don't expect a night/day transformation after using it once. From what I have read, its an accumulator over multiple washes, so a great maintenance soap for existing protection. It's a fantastic product though, for my methods, I love that it foams properly.

We shall accept nothing less that your usual exhaustive and in depth assessment of all these products by, lets say, Friday?

I wish!

The stock is coming from Sydney, which is about 8 hours north of where I live, and shipping time frames are often pathetic in Australia. I would expect to see it by next Wednesday or Thursday, so about 7 days.

 

[cccoltsicehockey]

I've never done the "I'll have one of everything" thing, so I thought this brand would be a great place to start. For clarity, the above image is not mine, just an ADS promo image I used to illustrate.

With the Ethos Ceramic Wash, don't expect a night/day transformation after using it once. From what I have read, its an accumulator over multiple washes, so a great maintenance soap for existing protection. It's a fantastic product though, for my methods, I love that it foams properly.


I wish!

The stock is coming from Sydney, which is about 8 hours north of where I live, and shipping time frames are often pathetic in Australia. I would expect to see it by next Wednesday or Thursday, so about 7 days.

About 9 months ago I coated the car with this when it was new to her. I only bought it really cause the reviews seemed to be decent and it was on sale for $27 for 3 bottles at the time.

Amazon.com

It claims a year's worth of life with 2 coats which is what I did. I have been doing a reload every 3 months since then and so far have been rather impressed with the water beading its ability to help dirt stick less for the amount of time involved compared to regular ceramic. Not going to say it is perfect by any means but with a car that only gets washed every 3-4 weeks it has seemed to hold up decently. Will be interested to see if I can skip the quarterly reload by just using that soap from now on instead.

 

[D.F.B]

It's amazing how easy it is having the right tool for the job, these pincers made short work of the job at hand. I even managed to extract several nails that I couldn't get to budge, and none snipped off. Win-win!!



I'm still knocking these things out, I have made seven of them now, with timber cut for an eighth. This week I have focused on making them with shorter legs, 500mm instead of 750mm. While the 750mm versions are at the perfect height for customers to shop from, I like to display plants at differing heights to create visual appeal.



Because the companies impact driver and drill were being used elsewhere, I brought in my own this week. That Milwaukee M18 Surge is the BOMB! It's just so smooth and quiet, in my mind this would be less fatiguing for someone who uses one of these all day long. The hydraulic gearset means you can creep up on the fastener rather than just smashing it into oblivion, handy for soft timbers or when using it on plastic. Money well spent!

I also found an old stencil of the company name in the shed, previously used to brand tools and equipment from when we had a landscaping division. The lettering is about 90mm high and 300mm long, which fits within the central board. After centering the stencil across facing sides, I applied a thin dusting of satin black spray paint. In keeping with the rustic look, the stenciled company name in black really finishes them off. I would also love to have a stencil made of the company logo to complete the look, perhaps in a contrasting color.

 

[D.F.B]

Got a surprise text message yesterday morning from the guy I sold my TS50, almost 10 years ago now. It seems he and the car won 1st place at the All-Ford-Day yesterday as well.

I sold the car with just on 48,000 km's (30,000 miles) on the clock, in that time he's put just over 10,000 kms (6200 miles) on it. The original exhaust was only recently replaced, but bless him, he kept the sound tame and retained those special square exhaust tips. It's now on its 3rd set of tyres, the original owner replaced the factory fit Dunlop SP 9000 with the same in about 2004, so the second set would have been close to 20 years old!













I really miss that blue interior, from a time when Ford had no trouble providing customers with choices. This particular car was also optioned with Premium Sound, ESS Auto and Brembo brakes. Probably exactly how I would have spec'd it from new, perhaps swapping Blueprint for Narooma or Venom Red..................sound familiar?

No Falcon I have driven before or since has handled and rode like the TS50. A lot of that came down to the double wishbone IRS and the long travel springs being matched to the double wishbone front end. The Control Blade IRS that followed simply didn't have the suspension travel to do ride AND handling, it was one or the other. Hence the brittle R-Spec tune on my XR8, or the saggy softness of the non-performance Falcon's. I also think the 250 kW / 500 Nm outputs were well matched to the suspension and 245/40/R18 tyres, so you weren't always fighting the rear end for grip and traction. FPV would later term this fine balance "Total Performance", and that mantra is most evident in the T3 T-Series.

The engine used in these cars were a caged beast! They didn't like idling, rocking in protest against the engine mounts. And despite the bigger lungs afforded by the unique inlet manifold and plenum, they were pretty breathless up top, I guess the 2-valve layout and OE cast heads were at their limits. But it didn't half sound good! Be that thump-thump-thumping away at idle, or wailing back through the firewall and exhaust like a cut cat! And all that from a factory stock engine and exhaust system. Just don't ask about its hellacious thirst for 98-ron.

I'm so pleased the guy still owns this car, he got a screaming deal on it when I sold it to him, and I'm so happy he is looking after this special car. I wish I still owned it, but I'm content with having sampled my hero, my boyhood poster car.

 

[sean Buick 76]

Awesome work! Now I know who to ask for detailing advice!

 

[D.F.B]

This is what happens when you say “I want one of everything”!



With the exception of the coatings (no current need), iron remover (they’re basically all the same) and the tyre cleaner (it was sold out), this is one of everything Armour Detail Supply makes.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/armour-detail-supply

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the roll out of this brand for quite some time! As always, it takes a long time for products to arrive in Australia, in fact I actually spotted an Instagram post of Australian-bound ADS products being prepared for shipment to Australia several months ago…………..it takes that long.

Armour Detail Supply (ADS) is the sister company to the Naples Auto Armour detailing facility in Southwest Florida, both started by a young bloke called Bradley Nilsen.

https://www.naplesautoarmour.com/
https://armourdetailsupply.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@NaplesAutoArmour
https://www.youtube.com/@armourdetailsupply



I have no idea who is making these products for ADS, clearly that doesn't matter if the product is right. From what I have seen and heard, products like Amplify, Pilot and Hero have been garnering plenty of fans, but what about the rest of the line? Well, that's what I'm about to find out.

 

[D.F.B]

The arrival of the Armour Detail Supply range to Australia and DFB's garage.

I first discovered the Armour Detail Supply (ADS) brand while watching an episode of Obsessed Garage. Matt had just taken delivery of his stunning Brewster Green GT3 Touring and was using it as a test subject for a new wheel coating. Previous to this, he had been using a variety of paint and wheel-specific coatings, but nothing really hit the nail on the head. The attraction to this ADS coating was the one-layer application and a slick, hydrophobic surface............. often missing from wheel coatings.

My own first taste of the Armour Detail Supply brand was with that same wheel coating, which I applied to the XR6. At the time, I had imported it direct from ADS at a very reasonable shipping rate, I'm guessing they were eating the cost of international shipping to gain traction and spread the word. I immediately fell in love with this coating, it delivers the slickness and extreme hydrophobic qualities I found deficient in other similar products. I went on to use that coating on the Ranger’s new wheels, and even a brand new lawn mower.









Earlier this year, Detailing Shed began importing the ADS coating range, which includes two paint coatings, a glass coating and the aforementioned wheel coating. The wider chemical range was due to arrive later in the year, which has just last week reached our shores.

https://detailingshed.com.au/collections/armour-detail-supply



To say I was highly anticipating the arrival of the ADS range would be an understatement. The brand has exploded into prominence in the last 12 months, getting rave reviews on a variety of the ADS lineup, in particular Hero rinse-less wash and Amplify quick detailer. I also love how the brand is the work of an enthusiastic young bloke who clearly has high standards and ambition to succeed. I suspect we can all think back to a time in our younger years when we felt on top of the world and that anything was achievable. Some of us capitalize on this energy and go on to create big things……………this is what I see in Armour Detail Supply.



With many calling Armour Detail Supply “the next Carpro or Koch Chemie”, I decided my usual cherry picking of key products wouldn’t do this brand justice, so I basically ordered one of everything. Missing from my order was the tyre cleaner (it was already out of stock), the iron remover (they are basically all the same) and the coating range (no current need).

First of all, lets talk scent! This aspect of detailing is completely unnecessary and often has no effect on how a product functions. But I can tell you 100% that it can make or break a product, there are plenty of decent performing products that I have sidelined because of how they smell. With the Armour Detail Supply range, its extremely clear that scent played a huge part of the product development. For me, ADS have knocked it out of the park, the range all featuring a selection of pleasant, but most importantly, MODERN scent profiles. There seems to be an unwritten rule among detail supply companies that car shampoos should all smell like bubble gum and interior cleaners have a lemon scent urinal cake aroma. The ADS scents are not completely unique, the watermelon aroma of Hero is similar to P&S Dream Maker, but they are not overpowering and for the most part refreshing. I especially love the earthly scent of Pilot, more like a men’s cologne than an interior detailer. Ten out of Ten ADS!!

So, enough of the backstory and scent indulgence, what are these products like to use? Today’s test subject was to be the Ranger, it not being overly dirty but the only car the needed a wash this week. I ended up using all but two of the products I ordered, the Wheel Cleaner and Decon soap, those will have to wait until next week. Even so, I think I got a very clean and clear picture of this brand!

Starting off with the wheels, I used Shampoo+. This is a high foaming pH neutral pure wash soap that is easy to pour and features a subdued fruity aroma. Full notes on this soap will have to wait as I only used it on the wheels, but it felt slick and rinsed easily.

Verdict - Winner

ARMOUR Detail Supply Shampoo+ (detailingshed.com.au)
Shampoo+ – Armour Detail Supply



With the wheels cleaned, instead of using soap for the rest of the vehicle, I wanted to sample Hero rinse-less wash. Hero has already sold out, which considering the hype surrounding this product, is not surprising.

ARMOUR Detail Supply HERO Rinseless Wash (detailingshed.com.au)
HERO - Rinseless Wash – Armour Detail Supply





From what I can gather, Hero is a hybrid surfactant-polymer product. The polymer aspect helps with lubrication, the surfactant chemistry helps dissolve grim without leaving behind residue like a soap would. It also contains Si02, which boosts slickness WITHOUT leaving behind additional protection, in turn preserving the characteristics of your coating/wax/sealant.

Mixed the usual 256:1, I soaked down the car with pre-soak, then went ahead with the wash using TRC Eagle Edgeless 500’s. I loved the smooth feeling across the paint, it not having the slight stickiness that other surfactant-based rinse-less products seem to exhibit. The scent is of sweet watermelon, one that lingers in the garage for a few hours. I can see where all the love is coming from regarding Hero.

Verdict – Winner!



For the drying aid, I selected Amplify, which is an Si02 quick detailer. This is another product that has been getting rave reviews, so expectations were high. I’ve tried so many detailing products now that I can literally tell within 30 seconds if a product is good or not, Amplify is one of those products that instantly impressed me. It’s not the glossiest or slickest out there, but it would have to be one of the easiest Si02 detailers I have ever used. Spray, wipe, done! The scent is hard to describe but is sweetly pleasant without the overpowering aroma some products in this category posses. Amplify is said to last up to 2 months and can be used as a topper to any LSP.

Verdict – Winner!

ARMOUR Detail Supply AMPLIFY - Detail Spray (detailingshed.com.au)
AMPLIFY - Detail Spray – Armour Detail Supply



Next up, Adapt…………………….

ARMOUR Detail Supply ADAPT - Waterless Wash (detailingshed.com.au)
ADAPT - Waterless Wash – Armour Detail Supply



Adapt is an Si02 waterless wash solution that can used across every single surface of the car, including glass and interiors. Speaking with Nick at Detailing Shed, he has been using Adapt after each wash as a drying aid, and in that regard, I can see why. In my case, I used it as a waterless wipe down of the tray, door jambs, wheels and engine bay. Like Amplify, Adapt is supremely easy to wipe on, wipe off. It has a similar mango-melon scent to 3D Bead It Up, and offers about 2 weeks of protection, perfect for drying aid duties.

Verdict – Winner!



By this stage I was four products in and was wondering when the winning streak would end.

Panel Prep is an isopropyl alcohol cleanser that also contains a lubrication package to reduce towel marring prior to coating. I’m not sure if ADS intended for this to do double duty as a glass cleaner, I see they recommend using Adapt for glass, but seeing as Carpro Eraser and Gyeon Prep also serve glass cleaning roles, I expected the same from Panel Prep. And so it proved, the product flashing away quickly and leaving a slick, streak free finish. The scent is like minty mouth wash, again, something totally unique. I’d need to also try it on paint, but at this stage, I really like it.

Verdict – Winner!

ARMOUR Detail Supply Panel Prep (detailingshed.com.au)
Panel Prep – Armour Detail Supply



Next up, Pilot interior cleaner/detailer. Wow, what a delightful product! The first thing I noticed was the scent, a rich and luscious cologne-like aroma with masculine earthiness, totally unexpected and a refreshing change from all the citrus scented interior products on the market. Sadly, the scent doesn’t linger, so its only for the users pleasure. In use, I love how Pilot wipes on and flashes away with no residue or greasiness, leaving a completely matte finish.

Verdict – Winner!

ARMOUR Detail Supply PILOT - Interior Detailer (detailingshed.com.au)
PILOT - Interior Detailer – Armour Detail Supply



The final product I tested today was Tire+, this was the only product I didn’t immediately fall in love with. While the product is sprayable, its slightly thicker in consistency, much like Obsessed Garage Tire Dressing, my current favorite. Unlike OG Tire Dressing, Tire+ needs a little extra effort to distribute, but the extra work to deliver a uniform coating is totally worth it! The thicker consistency also means a mess free to application with no dripping like, say, Carpro Perl.

ARMOUR Detail Supply Tire+ (detailingshed.com.au)
Tire+ – Armour Detail Supply



Directly after application, the initial impression was that Tire+ a touch too glossy. However, after letting it sit for 10 minutes and giving it a knock-back wipe, I love it! The images shown some glossiness, but in person its more of a satin sheen. I also love the Banana scent, the yellow colouring a nice linking touch.

Verdict – Winner!



To say that I’m mighty impressed with the products I tried today would be a massive understatement. I don’t think I have tried a more cohesive range of products from the one single brand. Carpro comes close, which sort of makes sense as Armour Detail Supply used Carpro as their benchmark. Typically, a brand will have two or three standout products that will carry the rest of the lineup. For that reason, I have never welded myself to any one brand. But, if I had to chose one single brand right this moment, where previously it would have been Carpro or Gyeon, its now Armour Detail Supply. If you asked me which three products from ADS that I consider a must, it would be Hero, Adapt and Pilot.

I’ll leave you with the following image, the end result after using brilliant products that were a total pleasure to use.



Final Note - For Australian readers, Detailing Shed is the importer of the ADS line, but is also supplying Autobuff. At the moment, stock is limited and is apparently moving. More will be on the way soon.

Armour Detail Supply (autobuff.com.au)

 

[littlebean]

ok, firstly you're early - i thought we agreed on Friday
great write up (as usual) finished Ranger looks great, I'll have to look out for ADS over here

 

[ajohno]

Thanks for the write up mate. You make it easier to read and understand how each product is best used.
With the carpro tyre brush you have, I already had 1 from Amazon I got about 6 months ago. I liked it so much I got another 4 as spares. Mine is black not red like yours.

 

[D.F.B]

Couple of shots after a rainy afternoon................

This one is 15-month old Gyeon Can Coat EVO, topped with Bead Maker.



This is 9-month old Gyeon Pure EVO topped with Armour Detail Supply Amplify.

 

[D.F.B]

After sitting for 81 days, I finally got my Blue Rocket on the road again.

 

[D.F.B]

After having my poor back crunched back into shape, I was free to indulge in some me-time. First port of call, end the 81-day XR6 drought.



Even after such a long time, the big Falcon still feels like home. Today's takeaway, steering. While its hydraulic power-steering requires more effort to muscle than the EPAS setup on modern Ranger's, the Falcon is actually less work to maneuver in tight spaces. At 2.6 turns lock to lock and a turning circle of 11.0 metres, this easily outclasses my daily driver Ranger and it's 3.5 turns lock to lock and 12.0 metre turning circle. The Wildtrak is even worse, an abysmal 12.6 metre turning circle.

Moving on, the Wildtrak was the test subject today. The goal was to continue sampling the Armour Detail Supply range, in particular their wheel cleaner.

https://detailingshed.com.au/products/armour-detail-supply-wheel-cleaner





ADS Wheel Cleaner is of the iron-remover type, and while it does have some stench to it, I would say its not as bad as some. I don't normally use this sort of wheel cleaner, only breaking one out as an occasional deep clean. I would say that this product does it's job very well, but I think I still prefer NV Purge. It will be interesting to try this on a set of neglected wheels to see what its fully capable of.

Today, I teamed the ADS Wheel Cleaner with Shine Supply Wise Guy to deal with the tyres and wheel arches. After that, the whole car got doused with Bilt Hamber Touch-less. After rinsing, I the foamed with ADS Shampoo+.



Last week, I used Shampoo+ as a wheel cleaner, so I was curious how it would perform on the rest of the car. Firstly, the consistency of Shampoo+ is ultra runny, making it super easy to pour. Foaming ability is exceptional, it delivers thick and consistent foam that is ultra clingy. Slickness is decent, cleaning ability impressive.

[VIDEO]

At the moment, I'm just trying to keep the Wildtrak protected until I have more time to properly re-coat it in Spring when I take leave. So with that in mind, I decided to try another of the ceramic soaps I bought to test recently. In particular, I wanted to see how 3D Si02 Ceramic Wash would function as a foam-rinse type application after a contact wash.

https://detailingshed.com.au/products/3d-glw-series-sio2-ceramic-wash



This soap is of the runny kind, much like KCx Nano-magic rather than the disappointing Carpro Hydr02 Foam, or the ultra foamy Ethos Ceramic Wash. However, it doesn't quite transform the paint like Hydr02 Foam does, at least how I used it without contact. I also didn't care for the dated fragrance, so overall not a winner for me.

After the wash, I then continued with cycling through the ADS line. Amplify was the drying aid, Adapt used on the door jambs and roller-tonneau, Tire+ on the tyres. For me, Pilot interior detailer stands out, I just love how it wipes on and flashes away, and the fragrance is addictive. This is easily my new favorite interior product.

It seems my love of the ADS line caught the attention of the company owners last week too.

 

[shakenfake]

What products are you currently using and actually liking for interior work? It's time to clean my older pickup truck, it is so ******* gross in there I actually am embarrassed.
Probably need a whole lineup of products, leather cleaner, carpet cleaner, plastics cleaner, probably some sort of drill brush or regular brush kit. It is getting nasty in there...

I hate doing interior. It is way too hot in Texas to ever want to do interior. I hate doing interior.

 

[D.F.B]

What products are you currently using and actually liking for interior work? It's time to clean my older pickup truck, it is so ******* gross in there I actually am embarrassed.
Probably need a whole lineup of products, leather cleaner, carpet cleaner, plastics cleaner, probably some sort of drill brush or regular brush kit. It is getting nasty in there...

I hate doing interior. It is way too hot in Texas to ever want to do interior. I hate doing interior.

I could sprout a number of products at you here, but like you, I hate interiors too. So, lets keep this simple.

There two "cleaner" products I have in mind that can do all of that -

1. Koch Chemie Pol Star.

This product needs to be diluted, so you would need to order it with a couple of spray bottles. Pol Star is primarily a textile cleaner, doing great work as a leather, fabric and carpet cleaner. But it also functions well as general interior cleaner for plastics as well. It's pH neutral, so incredably safe on all of the surfaces mentioned. It's also largely fragrance free. I use it at a somewhat strong 6:1, mainly because I want to be a deep cleaner, but you can lean it out to 1:10 if you want. I'd suggest that if your interior is as bad as you describe, go with 6:1. Make sure to mix your dilution with distilled or demineralized water.

Koch-Chemie - Pol Star | The Rag Company

Effective neutral cleaner with protection formula for leather, alcantara and textiles such as upholstery and carpets.

theragcompany.com

Trigger Sprayers | The Rag Company

Professional iK Trigger Sprayers: Great Looking, Fantastic Performance

theragcompany.com

2. P&S Xpress -

If you want something pre-diluted and ready to use, grab some Xpress. This is also pH neutral and can be used across all surfaces, including leather. Like Pol Star, you can use this as a spray and wipe type of product, or team it with a brush of some sort to lather it up and increase the cleaning ability. Xpress is scented, I like it but I know some find it a bit strange. I would order the Quart size to start with, you will blow through plenty of it on a dirty interior.

P&S Xpress Interior Cleaner | The Rag Company

Buy P&S XPRESS interior cleaner, from P&S, perfect for cleaning all surfaces of the interior of your vehicle, excellent for leather, vinyl and plastic

theragcompany.com

I've actually stopped dressing interior plastics, I find it a tedious job. Most of the interior detailers have some UV protection and mild dressing in them these days, and they are basically used as a spray and wipe product, making them more convenient. I use these as a weekly wipe down, which negates the need for more intensive cleanings with the products above. A little and often sort of deal. Again, two products -

1. Carpro InnerQD -

I really like how this wipes on and flashes away to a streak free finish. It also leaves a completely matte finish, so you might feel like its not doing anything, but it does leave behind some UV protection and has an anti-static effect to reduce dust accumulation. If you have a lot of glossy finishes in your interior, this is your product because it wont streak. You can use this on all surfaces, including screens.

CARPRO InnerQD Interior Quick Detailer 500ml (17oz)

Announced during SEMA week of 2021, CARPRO InnerQD is a quick and easy to use, antistatic and antimicrobial interior detailing spray! InnerQD can be used throughout the cockpit on nearly any surface to easily remove fingerprints, dust and light soiling.

www.carpro-us.com

2. P&S Swift -

This product is all of the above, but has that little extra dressing potential, not shiny but more of an "enhancement". Smells great too. I love this on rubber floor mats too, enhancing them nicely but without being slippery. Again, multi-surface suitable, it can be a bit smeary on glossy surfaces thought. I wouldn't use it on screens either.

P&S Detail Products - Swift Interior Clean & Shine | Rag Company

SWIFT Clean & Shine is the All-In-One interior quick detail clean and shine product. SWIFT quickly and effectively removes dirt and grime from leather, vinyl and plastic. Once cleaned SWIFT leaves behind a conditioned dressed appearance. The pleasant fragrance of SWIFT makes using this product a...

theragcompany.com

For leather, I hate most leather conditioners on the market because they create an unnatural shiny, greasy appearance. I get some like to see that, but clean leather should be matte in finish. So, after you have cleaned the leather, you want something that is going to provide some protection without the oil-slick appearance. Think ColourLock Leather Protector or NV Nourish (buy the smaller bottle, it will last you for years).

COLOURLOCK Leather Protector

Introducing COLOURLOCK Leather Protector, a nourishing cream enriched with a potent UV-Filter complex and antioxidants.

www.carpro-us.com

Nv Nourish | Interior Leather Cleaner and Protectant

Nourish is a user friendly leather cleaner and protectant. Nourish can be applied on all leather surfaces, both pigmented and non-pigmented. This interior cleaner functions as a...

parkscarcare.net

Towels and Tools -

You will blow through lots of towels doing this, so I would make sure you have a good stock of them, say at least ten. Something like the TRC Car Wash Towel or Edgeless 365 are great choices because they are big enough for the job, not expensive while still being a quality towel.

Car Wash Microfiber Towel | The Rag Company

Premium commercial car wash towels specially designed by car wash owner / operators for commercial car washes and auto / rv / marine dealerships.

theragcompany.com

Edgeless 365 | The Rag Company

The Edgeless 365 by The Rag Company is an outstanding edgeless dual-pile towel that doesn't mind doing the dirty work for you. Use the plush side for delicate surfaces and the tighter, short knap side to buff out your finished surface.

theragcompany.com

You will also need a boars hair detailing brush, and some form of leather cleaning brush. The soft scrub pads are good to have as well.

Detail Factory - Boar Hair Detailing Brushes | The Rag Company

The Boar Hair Detailing Brushes are best for cleaning engine bays, brake calipers, exhaust tips, wheels, and any other surface or vehicle that needs heavier cleaning action.

theragcompany.com

Vinyl & Leather Interior Scrub Brush | The Rag Company

Leather & Vinyl Interior Scrub Brush - Jitterbug motion cleans vinyl and leather of dirt, grime, and mildew. Gets the hard-to-clean deep grain on leather and vinyl. Also works wonders for removing mildew and other buildup from marine seats and vinyl.

theragcompany.com

CARPRO InnerScrub Glove

an extremely effective interior mitt tool designed to clean nearly all-interior surfaces with ease

www.carpro-us.com

https://www.amazon.com/Autofiber-Scrub-Ninja-Max-Scrubbing/dp/B0BS79NTGH/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Good luck!

 

[D.F.B]

Up for attention today, the XR6 and Ranger.

After washing the wheels with NV Snow (the non-event Halloween edition) and the tires scrubbed with Undressed, I mixed up a bucket of ADS Hero rinse-less wash. You are going to hear this a lot, but "this is my new favorite" rinse-less wash. It's not as slick as the Absolute/Bead Maker combo, but I feel Hero glides over the surface smoother and doesn't appear to leave as many (harmless) polymer spots if you haven't dried the panel quick enough. I then used Adapt as the drying aid, it having no issue flashing away on this cold winter morning.



Finishing the exterior, I used Amplify to top the ADS coating on the wheels, then used ADS Tire+ on the rubber. I'm finding this product behaves very much like OG Tire Dressing, it having a similar application feel and finished result, it also benefitting from a wipe over after 10 minutes. Tire+ seems to have similar longevity on wet roads too. So which one? While I love the banana scent of Tire+, I just can't get the scent of OG Tire Dressing out of my head (can anyone pickup the song title I referenced in bold there? ).



After attending to the glass, the interior got wiped down with Pilot, "this is my new favorite" interior detailer.

After (sadly) returning the Blue Rocket to storage, I switched attention to the Ranger, it being covered in traffic film after a miserable wet week. In this case, I again used Undressed on the tires but used Carpro Reset to clean the wheels. After a soak with Bilt Hamber Touch-less, I washed with Reset...........still a favorite of mine.

Drying aid on the Ranger was again ADS Adapt, the wheels topped with Amplify and tires with OG Tire Dressing. Once again, ADS Pilot sorted the interior, but to switch things up, I used DIY Detail Waterless on the tray and door jambs.

With having a week to think about it, backed by using them repeatedly over the last two days, I'm convinced the Armour Detail Supply lineup is the real deal. That doesn't mean you should go and throw all your existing products in the bin and start again with ADS stuff. But it does throw another highly credible brand into the mix. So, if you have enjoyed products from the likes of Carpro, DIY Detail and NV, you are going to love the Armour Detail Supply lineup.

 

[shakenfake]

Thank you for your in depth response. Of the choices you listed I definitely think the Koch Chemie Pol Star, CarPro Inner QD, and the NV Nourish are going to be my best options. I really like that glove you posted as well, that would be very easy to use on something like a car seat. I am interested in seeing the anti-static properties of the Inner QD as well because this graphite interior attracts tons of dust. I'll be swiping the credit card tomorrow then

What are you using as a carpet brush?


And yes I love Kylie Minogue.

 

[D.F.B]

Thank you for your in depth response. Of the choices you listed I definitely think the Koch Chemie Pol Star, CarPro Inner QD, and the NV Nourish are going to be my best options. I really like that glove you posted as well, that would be very easy to use on something like a car seat. I am interested in seeing the anti-static properties of the Inner QD as well because this graphite interior attracts tons of dust. I'll be swiping the credit card tomorrow then

What are you using as a carpet brush?


And yes I love Kylie Minogue.

Bingo! She's my savior!



The song for those bemused...........................

[VIDEO]

 

[D.F.B]

Thank you for your in depth response. Of the choices you listed I definitely think the Koch Chemie Pol Star, CarPro Inner QD, and the NV Nourish are going to be my best options. I really like that glove you posted as well, that would be very easy to use on something like a car seat. I am interested in seeing the anti-static properties of the Inner QD as well because this graphite interior attracts tons of dust. I'll be swiping the credit card tomorrow then

What are you using as a carpet brush?

Ok, back on topic.

I forgot to comment on the drill brush in your earlier post. I have one but never use it. They are harsh and very messy.

If you are trying to use a drill brush to dislodge sand and debris, I would use compressed air with that. Ideally, a Tornador will do it more effectively, but a standard blow-out gun will be fine. Hold the gun in one hand and the vacuum in the other to **** it up. You will make a mess of things to begin with, you just have to go over things a couple of times. This method works best on carpet mats, just spray them with some Pol Star or Xpress, then agitate with your brush, then go over them with the compressed air and vacuum. Compressed air is great for getting debris from down between the seats and center console.





For a carpet and fabric brush, have a look at the Detail Factory Interior Scrub Brush -

ProGrip Interior Scrub Brush

Pro Grip Interior Scrub Brush Key Details: Curved head profile for better clearance, soft bristles, rubber grip for maximum stability and comfort, easy to store

theragcompany.com

And yes, the InnerScrub is perfect for seats, door trims, or anything with ingrained dirt. This is it in action, I don't recommend using Multi-X though, All Purpose Cleaners are just too harsh for interior surfaces.

I wrote this article last year, in particular it outlines my workflow when doing interiors -

How To Clean Car Interiors – A Start to Finish Guide.

From carpets, seats, glass to screens, dashboards to door trims. This guide provides a step-by-step process on how to clean your car interior. Learn more.

detailingshed.com.au

 

[D.F.B]

Armour Detail Supply have been sharing my Instagram posts on their page. I guess they are still small enough to notice things like this, the larger companies basically ignore me because I'm not making reels or videos, or pushing a "personality" agenda like a lot of social media detailers do.

 

[ajohno]

Great stuff mate.
I think it also has a lot to do with break down of the product information you provide.
I know I find the information you provide easy to understand.

 

[D.F.B]

Great stuff mate.
I think it also has a lot to do with break down of the product information you provide.
I know I find the information you provide easy to understand.

It's too easy to just say "this is the best product, and you should buy it" or "this is product is ****, avoid". Those statements do nothing to describe what it does, how it does it or how it compares to other similar products. I'm also cognizant of how geeky and **** the detailing scene can be, so I try and break it down so as to soften that a little.

 

[shakenfake]

You also aren't getting a cut every time you talk about a product lol
When you share here or on IG it is because you have passion. ObsessedGarage is great because he literally can't help himself LOL

 

[jonshonda]

So I've been looking more into ceramic coating for my 94 Miata, which is a single stage urethane paint. From what I understand the majority of ceramic coatings are formulated to bond with clear coat, so not everything would work perfectly to give me the protection I am after. Since the act of polishing is physically removing paint, I am wanting to protect the paint as best as I can as even though I pressure wash and two bucket the car before washing, it still gets micro marring.

So I was all set to move forward with Gtechniq C1 Crystal Laquer topped with EXO V5 as the reviews and the conversations with the Gtechniq reps I've had all point towards that offering great protection. Then I look up dealers and find a local detailer shop who is a dealer, and strike up a conversation with him. He suggested to just skip the C1 and just to EXO. But reading up on EXO, it doesn't seem to have been formulated to resist scratches or protect the paint, but rather to top other coatings for the hydrophobic effect.

All it took was one person's "opinion" to make me discount the advice I was given before, and changed my mind to just use EXO. I'm not sure why but coating the Miata fell to the back burner, but I just now started thinking about it again. All my research points me towards my original findings of C1 topped with EXO. Interesting that the local detailer skips the ceramic coating....hmmm.