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20-09-2023, 08:28 PM
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Donating Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,634
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Ok, a rant. DFB, for the first time in a while I gave some advice today and instantly regretted it.
A "professional detailer" who runs a business wet sanded factory paint on an AU. Checked out his profile, the kid is 20 and running his own detailing business (excellent for a young person). I politely asked him why he wet sanded 23 year old factory paint as the clear will be almost non existent as it is. I then went into my experience with Ford paint and why I would only do it in very controlled circumstances. I received a smart ass reply saying just because he is young doesn't mean I have more experience than him. Then he took it to PM and said I know nothing about paint correction etc etc etc. Anyway, I didn't even reply again, no point. Told him to keep enjoying wet sanding Ford paint and all the best with his business. Perfect example of why I don't bother. I'm not a professional, neither are you DFB, but we both have a fair amount of experience. The whole detailing world is unregulated anyway. We could go pro tomorrow simply by opening a business. It's why so many "pro" hacks ruin cars and the great detailing businesses make so much money fixing other peoples stuff ups.
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Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made Last edited by fordomatic; 20-09-2023 at 08:37 PM. |
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20-09-2023, 08:40 PM
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Donating Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
 He may defend his age, but I can guarantee he still has much to learn, "professional" or not. I've been detailing cars since I was 15, so over 20 years now. At age 20, I didn't know squat, and I'm still learning at age 36. If the guy in question is not receptive to learning from others, then his business won't last long, and if it does, he will be doing it the hard way. And that statement is not confined to detailing, but all industries that require hands on experience. Just to offer the flipside, I have been grateful for the times when you have provided me advice, it wasn't taken for granted.
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22-09-2023, 09:07 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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The latest version of Optimum No Rinse (ONR) has landed in Australia.
https://detailingshed.com.au/product...37851556872351 https://autobuff.com.au/products/opt...r&_ss=e&_v=1.0 ONR was the original rinse-less wash many, many years ago and is now on revision five. The latest version is said to offer more slickness and an easier drying process. Even if you don't perform rinse-less washes, ONR is super handy to have around. I mostly use ONR for door jambs, engine bay wipe downs, and as a super safe interior cleaner/duster. I also like it for quickly maintaining leather between more serious deep cleaning. For interior work, ONR doesn't create a greasy or glossy appearance. Because this product comes as a concentrate, you can tailor it to suit a variety of tasks. Quick Detailer: 16:1 Rinse-less Wash - 256:1 Waterless Wash/Pre-Soak - 128:1 Clay Lubricant - 64:1 Glass and Interiors - 256:1
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03-10-2023, 01:33 AM
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Quote:
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13-10-2023, 10:07 AM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 6,881
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Hey guys, if I want to just polish a panel, is it safe to use "wax and grease remover" to prep the area rather than having to give it a wash?
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Rides (past and present) Current: 2004 Ford Falcon 5.4L 3v Barra 220, Manual Past: Mitsubishi Sigma (m), Toyota Seca (m), Toyota Seca SX (m), Toyota Vienta V6 (m), Toyota Soarer 4L v8 (a), BA XR8 ute (m), T3 TE50 (m), BMW Z4 (m) AFF motto - If contrary views trigger, please use ignore button. 
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13-10-2023, 08:45 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
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Quote:
https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...g_q=gyeon+prep https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...20flash%20prep   I wouldn't recommend Flash Prep though, probably one of my least favorites in the category. If you have a Sydney Tools near you, they also sell Rupes Reveal which is a very nice product. I would stick with the yellow Lite version. https://sydneytools.com.au/product/r...esidue-remover  Keep in mind dedicated prep sprays have been designed to have a longer flash time to better break down oils, while also having a lubricant that won't leave a residue behind. While 50/50 IPA and Distilled water can be used, there has been some suggestion that its use can soften clearcoat. It also doesn't have any lubricating element to it, so you may re-introduce minor marring during the wipe off. Also, the faster evaporation rate of 50/50 IPA mix tends to flash too quickly to effectively break down polishing oils.
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13-10-2023, 07:52 PM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,624
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A isopropyl alcohol mix would be ideal. But wax and grease remover won’t hurt it.
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13-10-2023, 11:05 PM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: W.A.
Posts: 1,710
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The Rupes is available at Repco as well.https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...gion_id=100465
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His: 2019 Ford Focus SA Trend with Driver Assist Pack: 1.5 Ecoboost 3-cylinder (yes, 3 cylinders!), 8-speed automatic in Ruby Red.  Hers: 2020 Ford Puma JK: 1.0 Ecoboost 3-cylinder, 7-speed DCT in Frozen White. |
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13-10-2023, 11:22 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...kwSearch=rupes The Lite version is for pre and post polishing, where you can spray onto the surface in a more liberal manner. Smells nice too. The Strong version is pretty expensive, but you do use waaaay less product than the Lite version. Strong is in fact very strong and should never be sprayed direct, rather into the towel. It's good for that final wipe down prior to coating or wax application. I actually really like these two prep sprays, more than I was expecting. Strangely, none of the usual detailing suppliers who are Rupes dealers bother to stock Reveal.
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18-10-2023, 09:11 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Well..............................
  
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19-10-2023, 04:42 PM
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Starter Motor
Join Date: Feb 2023
Posts: 2
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Touchless in a pump sprayer is S tier.
Did you get any of their microfibre buffing cloths? they don't seem to be available in Aus but are highly regarded. |
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19-10-2023, 08:25 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
Interesting to note the clay bars were packaged with wax paper and some sort of talcum powder to prevent them sticking to the plastic containers. Never seen that before. The soaps certainly smell potent with no scent to speak of. That sort of makes sense as these are heavy duty soaps, no bull in other words. Strangely, I'm most excited to try the waxes, along with the Atom Mac corrosion inhibitor, which I would use on brake rotors.
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21-10-2023, 09:45 AM
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Barra Turbo > V8
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,482
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Thoughts on this product.
https://www.autoglym.com.au/polar-blast  Bought it as i ran out of NV Snow and didnt really find anything else i wanted locally. And i was too late ordering online Used it on the better halves car. It was fairly dirty and i feel it was average. I might try it on my car which only has a light layer of dust  Also bought their foaming car wash which i found worked pretty well.
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2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Manual - Lux Pack - Twin 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Antz Turboside Intake - CCForged Phatlux wheels - Tuned by LS Tuning and Performance |
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21-10-2023, 08:13 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
I think the best auto-store soap on the market is Gyeon Bathe, but that isn't offered in larger quantities at Repco, just the tiny 400ml bottle. https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...g_q=hyper+wash While I haven't used it for a long time now, I do remember enjoying Meguiar's NXT, which is on clearance at Supercheap at the moment. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...cgid=SCA010112 If your Repco has stock, Meguiar's Hyper Wash is apparently very good. From what I have learned, it's not pH neutral, leaning slightly alkaline at around 8.5 or so. Super thick like NXT though, making it harder to measure out. https://www.repco.com.au/car-care-pa...001/p/A5466213 And, against my normal Chemical Guys stance, their soaps are apparently very good. I have a mate who swears by Honeydew Snow Foam, and Mr. Pink is good also. https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...cgid=SCA010112 https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/...cgid=SCA010112 Like the Meg's though, the CG soaps are pretty overpriced for what they are. When you look at what NV Snow offers for the money, even when shipping is factored in, it's such a remarkable product for price and performance.
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21-10-2023, 10:17 PM
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Barra Turbo > V8
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,482
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Quote:
I used it on my ute, although as i said it was hardly dirty as not been driven, worked well. But on the missus car, it battled to removed much if anything. Lesson learned. Ill order some more NV Snow next week, ive loved the results its delivered. Even on missus car thats driven daily i agree its one of the best ive used. The foam wash isnt 'too' bad ill admit. But had its work cut out on a dirty car, and the foaming aspect wasnt that great.
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2011 XR6 Turbo Ute - Manual - Lux Pack - Twin 2.5" Stainless Exhaust - Antz Turboside Intake - CCForged Phatlux wheels - Tuned by LS Tuning and Performance |
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23-10-2023, 03:09 PM
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Regular Member
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 46
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Quote:
A few drops of Bathe to prime my TRC Cyclone wash pad and its super slick and sudsy. I am preferring it over Snow and Reset when the car is relatively clean and only dusty. A bargain when Repco have the 30% off, its around $22. Another hidden gem is their Gyeon Restart, I find it freshens the coating up similar to Reset but smellier and sudsier. To complete the trio I am waiting for the next sale to try the Gyeon Bathe+ for my friends who don't coat their cars. Also, Autobarn (https://autobarn.com.au/ab/search/?text=303 have the superb Aerospace Protectant and Graphene Nano Graphene Sealant (as recommended by Sandro) at 25% off . Its a pretty good saving. You can see the black graphene in the sealant and you need to let it flash to white over 5-10mins. The result was very nice gloss and slickness, I will see how it beads and lasts.
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ex owner of: Mk1 Escort, Mk1 Capri, BA Falcon but Fordless at present and punished by having 3 black cars and 2 teenage daughters. |
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25-10-2023, 06:26 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Latest article on a topic that I find so fascinating, vehicle decontamination -
https://detailingshed.com.au/blogs/a...inate-your-car If there is one area of detailing where I have evolved the most in recent years, save for pressure washing, it's the preparation of the paint prior to polishing and the application of an LSP, ie decontamination. I remember my first uses of a clay bar back in the mid-2000's, a California Gold Clay Bar kit sold at Autobarn.  At the time, I thought that using a clay bar was 100% necessary 100% of the time. When in fact the use of a clay bar is best used on as-needed basis. Truth be told, I never liked using a traditional clay bar, they are hard to manage and just feel all wrong. Naturally, they still have their place on heavier contamination. But with so many advancements in both chemical and clay technologies, using a lump of clay is increasingly less likely these days. Listening to a chemical expert talking about this subject the other day confirmed my thoughts on the whole decontamination topic. To truly decontaminate your car, you need to tackle the problem from different angles in order to remove each type of contamination effectively and deliver that clean slate to work from. Hence the topic of the article, exploring a more holistic approach rather than washing the car with a strip wash, rubbing the paint with a clay bar and calling it done.
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29-10-2023, 07:55 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Unveiled pre-SEMA, Rupes have finally joined the battery party with the release of the HLR-15 and HLR-21.
https://www.rupes.com/new-bigfoot-ib...s-hlr21-hlr15/  While the electric LHR-15 and LHR-21 are widely considered the benchmark long-throw polishers, Rupes have been conspicuously absent from the larger battery powered sector. Rupes launched their first battery powered polisher many years ago, the revolutionary iBrid Nano. The term iBrid refers to the dual power ability, running on battery or as a corded machine.  That same iBrid concept continued with the 3-inch HLR-75, or the "Stiletto" in reference to its rather unique design.  Rupes are now finally fleshing out the range with the HLR-15 and HLR-21. I say finally because the likes of Flex, ShineMate and Milwaukee have had a big head start with their battery powered 3, 5 and 6-inch dual action polishers.  Considering how late they are, here's hoping that has allowed Rupes to study the market and build the best possible machine. Prices have yet to be announced locally, but I would expect these two to be $1200 to $1500 machines, perhaps even more.   For a hobbyist, I still think the ShineMate machines provide a better value proposition, although Flex seems more competitively priced compared to when I went shopping a few years ago. So, it will be interesting to see how the new Rupes duo will land on the market.
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29-10-2023, 10:00 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,634
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Sister dropped off her 2008 Subaru Impreza RS today. My job is to prepare it for sale. Manual, 140,000km, pretty clean for its age, she’s the second owner. I corrected it 11 years ago, checked out the paint today and it’s not actually that bad. Plan is for a one step with minimal decon as the buyer won’t appreciate it, just need to make it shiny. Needs a deep clean as well. Will do my best to document as I go and share the pics.
She offered it to me for 4k, was tempting to use as a daily for about 5 seconds.
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Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made |
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29-10-2023, 10:18 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
Believe it or not, I have a gen-3 Forester booked for a pre-sale in a couple of weeks. I'll never get it perfect, but the aim is to get the paint nice and glossy so it presents well for the sale. While I have some Carpro Essence in stock, I want to try the Uno-Protect + Bead Maker combo. Uno-Protect can be used on varying foam or wool pads depending on what sort of cut you need. https://sydneytools.com.au/product/r...sh-and-sealant https://www.waxit.com.au/products/ru...32113941184601 The method is to work your way around the car, panel by panel without wiping the residue off. By the time you have worked the last section, the sealant will have bonded on the first, you then mist the panel with Bead Maker and wipe the residue, again, panel by panel. The Bead Maker aids the removal of the Uno-Protect, while bonding to the sealant and giving a huge increase in gloss. You won't achieve the highest level of correction, but that's not the goal. In theory, you could do the same with Essence, teamed with EliXir as the wipe off agent.
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30-10-2023, 11:10 AM
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Donating Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Checking out soft furnishings....
Posts: 8,634
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Quote:
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Proud owner of the ugliest Ford ever made |
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30-10-2023, 03:36 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
With Bead Maker, I get it. That product is a victim of its success and I think people expect too much from it. Bead Maker is a polymer sealant rather than a ceramic sealant, longevity will never be its strong suit. It can be a bear sometimes, but that is normally Bead Maker not playing well with what has been laid down previously. The Uno-Protect-Bead Maker combo is proven to work though. But the gloss, slickness and scent are the hallmarks. For that size of car, you would probably get by with the 473ml bottle, but you do need to be generous with the application, so probably go the 946ml size to be sure. You never know, you may end up loving it?  Just be careful with you towels, wash them ASAP afterwards, both Bead Maker and Uno-Protect will turn them into product pushers if allowed to dry in the fibers.
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30-10-2023, 06:31 PM
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Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 317
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https://cerakoteceramics.com/cerakot...paint-coating/
Cerakote has released their own ceramic coating and has a 40% discount at the moment. You can get a kit with two bottles shipped to Australia for around $140. A friend and I am sharing a kit which means its essentially $70 per bottle. I'm going to use this as a practice coating on a less important car. A dip my toe into ceramic coating pond so to speak. |
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30-10-2023, 11:11 AM
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Regular Member
Join Date: May 2023
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 46
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Quote:
Love to see and hear your UNO-Protect experience.
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ex owner of: Mk1 Escort, Mk1 Capri, BA Falcon but Fordless at present and punished by having 3 black cars and 2 teenage daughters. |
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03-11-2023, 10:08 PM
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FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In Front of a Monitor
Posts: 1,628
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Thanks for the updates on these products.
I don't know why, but I was thinking CarPro might have done some sort of incremental improvement on their Hydro2. Not that it really needs it, just that it has been around a while now and there is plenty of competition now in that market that it didn't have when it 1st came out.
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2004 Mercury Silver Falcon XR6T - 5 Speed 2017 Platinum White Mustang GT - 6 Speed 2022 Blue Thai-Special for Daily Duties - Auto |
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03-11-2023, 10:26 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Quote:
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04-11-2023, 06:56 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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A couple of extra Carpro items surfaced last night -
 I'd be up for this wheel brush............   Gyeon also added revealed a new interior Purify line. No readily available images at this time, if you are on Facebook, then follow this link - https://www.facebook.com/gyeonofficial "CLEAN. PROTECT. MAINTAIN. REMOVE AND PREVENT BACTERIA, MICROBES & FUNGI. REMOVE ODOURS AND UNWANTED SMELLS."
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04-11-2023, 07:16 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Ok, it would seem Carpro's new G-Force glass coating is based on the nano-diamond technology, and only requires a single application compared to the older FlyBy Forte, which required multiple layers.
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04-11-2023, 11:02 PM
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Donating Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,005
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Koch Chemie (KCx) have been busy too.
The biggest news being that KCx have acquired ColourLock Leather Care, absorbing the company with the intent of taking the brand to the next level. Some of the following products surface pre-SEMA, but worth mentioning. First, an alkaline wheel cleaner to rival Brake Buster and Megs D143.  Next, a new line of exterior brushes with removable heads.     A ceramic foaming soap (ala Carpro Hydr02 Foam)  Reactivation Shampoo is a highly acidic coating maintenance soap, apparently even stronger than Carpro Descale.  A new high-gloss tyre dressing - 
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Re: Car Detailing - What products are your go to?
Hybrid Mode