Critiques welcome

[The D]

Alright, I’m getting closer to an actual detail attempt and I’d like some feedback. Don’t be too harsh, please. I don’t want my feeling to get hurt

Products just purchased:

Chinese knock-off SPTA da polisher kit. Don’t laugh too hard. I will use this to learn what I’m doing but eventually I will be buying a Flex 3401. The kit comes with a bunch of stuff that I can upgrade along the way. I know it’s cheap. I know it’s not as good as the big name stuff. I just need to get my hands dirty and learn, this is my compromise until I really jump in

Menzerna 3-in-1. And then I talk about buying one of the more expensive aio’s out there. It’s all part of my plan. Trust me, I’m a professional…

Products re-discovered in my garage:

Lots of Meguiar’s stuff. I only had to throw out some Ultimate Compound that was chunky and gross. I still have some trim restorer, #7 glaze, #26 wax, gold class wax, next gen paste wax, cleaner wax(not sure what I was thinking with all the wax but no correcting products), tire gel, wash shampoo, a clay bar, & several interior products

Mother’s Back-to-Black

Zymol leather cleaner and conditioner

Products I plan to use going forward:

Being something of a Germanophile(I was a Mercedes Benz mechanic for over a decade and love German over-engineered stuff) I plan to stick to Sonax and Menzerna products mostly. I’m not saying I won’t ever use other products, I’m just sticking to these mostly. If I get a recommendation for stuff that is definitely “head-and-shoulders above” better I will definitely give it a shot

I also plan to use some Collinite and Zymol waxes. No real reason, just because

If I don’t put some sort of ppf on a car we use to tow a small travel camper I will be using(and being a pita about asking for recommendations here) some sort of ceramic coating.

I think that’s it. Let me have it.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Hi The D,

Looks like you've put a lot of the thinking work into play and now have the tools and resources to start detailing again.

I'm simply not a fan of free spinning tools no matter what the brand simply because,

1. They are too slow.
2. The pad stalling when buffing curves wastes too much time and becomes frustrating.
3. The mental drain of having to continually look to see if the pad is spinning is what I call Bran Drain and I simply don't like this style of machine polishing.

But for everyone else? If you're happy that's all that matters.

Also - I would put any 3D product up against any other brand in similar categories. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with other brands, but I left Autogeek and joined the 3D Team on purpose.

 

[The D]

Hey Mike, thanks for the response.

I know what you’re saying about the free-spinning annoyance but I’m not . I have some time behind a da doing simple body work on some flat door panels and am familiar with what your talking about. If anything I’ll just be upgrading to a 3401 sooner than I thought. Then you can tell me, “I told you!”.

I’m sure I’ll use some 3D stuff at some point. I’ll just need to work through my biases first. The Sonax DTM racecars are some of my favorite cars ever so I probably won’t stray too far.

Actually. Do you know off the top of your head of any products from 3D that don’t have a Sonax or Menzerna equivalent? That could be my compromise. If 3D makes something that ze Germans don’t I’ll use that

 

[Mike Phillips]

Hey Mike, thanks for the response.

I know what you’re saying about the free-spinning annoyance but I’m not . I have some time behind a da doing simple body work on some flat door panels and am familiar with what your talking about. If anything I’ll just be upgrading to a 3401 sooner than I thought. Then you can tell me, “I told you!”.

I would never say that, in fact I was recently interviewed while in Germany and in the interview I was asked,

What polisher would you recommend for someone brand new to car detailing?

My answer was,

A simple 8mm, free-spinning random orbital polisher


Why? Because it's a great entry level tool that you will use forever. Also - short stroke free spinning random orbital polishers are less prone to pad stalling versus long stroke free-spinning random orbital polishers due to the leverage aspect the outside edge of buffing pads has over the reciprocation drive unit.

In simpler terms - the greater the length of the stroke - the greater the chance of pad stalling when buffing anything but flat panels.

I’m sure I’ll use some 3D stuff at some point. I’ll just need to work through my biases first. The Sonax DTM racecars are some of my favorite cars ever so I probably won’t stray too far.

SONAX makes great products but 3D has the edge when it comes to the abrasive powders.

Actually. Do you know off the top of your head of any products from 3D that don’t have a Sonax or Menzerna equivalent? That could be my compromise. If 3D makes something that ze Germans don’t I’ll use that

Our ACA line of products are unique compared to all other compounds, polishes and AIOs on the market as they use our in-house abrasive technology.

See this article,

3Ds Alpha Ceramic Alumina Products Whats the difference between ACA and AAT Abrasive Technology?