What order of products?

[P_G]

So Santa has left me some cash now burning in my pocket with which to buy some more detailing products. Thing is, I am quite happy using my CG Mirror Glaze or EZ Creme with Collinite 915 Marque D'Elegance over the top, but I do need to invest in a pre-cleaner product. Problem is, which one?

My choices thus far are Zymol HD Cleanse or Dodo Lime Prime, are there others better? Given all components are being applied by hand to Audi Sprint Blue paintwork, does anyone have any recommendations for what I use between claying and glaze? I realise that both are supposed to have oils and some glazing properties and HD Cleanse has fillers as well, however I would like the best combination of cleaner which my CG and Collinite will actually bond with.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[ahaydock]

I would go for the Dodo Lime Prime as I really like this product especially if you can use it by machine.

AG SRP should not be forgotten, in fact by hand this would be my preference as it also contains fillers. I used this here then topped with EZ Creme and Dodo Rainforest Rub:

[P_G]

Thanks for the speedy reply. The only thing that stops me getting LP is exactly what you have commented on, using a machine polisher to apply. I have read on DW about LP taking ages to properly break down with its macro cleaners if applying by hand whereas using a machine facilitates this. Even with rigourous elbow grease I am a little hesitant, have you used LP by hand application? And does it work?

[steelwind101]

Hi PG, they do a version called Lime Prime Lite and has no abrasives!

HD Cleanse is a bit of a pain to work with and really its hard to justify the cost given it gives so little back looks wise.

Personally i would prefer to choose something compliments the colour of my paintwork or what i want to get out of the paintwork etc, warmth, depth, metalic pop etc. But of all the jack-of-all trades the Lime Prime lite is pretty good.

SRP is likely to be the best choice if you dont have a machine polisher. It refines the finish very slighty so it will make things a bit easier to deal with. It fills a bit so minior defects become less visable and finally it creates a reflective finish which makes defects less noticeable and the whole car will look better.

In general terms topping SRP with a glossy or wet look wax gives a nice reflective wet look if with out any warmth or real metalic enhancement.

Has for CG EZ GLAZE, nice product, hardly any fill old bottles have a cleaning action. 915 will bond over it no problems.

IMO i would skip anything from the paintwork cleaner (SRP/Lime Prime etc) to 915 as 915 is a bit of a flat wax and it generally tends to mute whats beneth it.

Geoff

[P_G]

Interesting Geoff.

So basically if I am using LP don't use either of the CG products (EZ Creme or Ultra Slick Mirror Glaze)?

Otherwise use SRP, then a CG product and then 915? I still use SRP and EGP on my alloys as it has the best dust repellent properties of anything I have used thus far including Rim Wax, Poor Boys Wheel Sealant, CG Jetseal 109 and Collinite 476, just got a bit sick of it on the car because of the volume of chalk dust. I suppose if the thinking is SRP I could really use AG Ultra Deep Shine instead?

[steelwind101]

HI PG!

You can use UDS as your base if you want, you can slip your CG's products in if you want to. Really what i was trying to say is if you put EZ Glaze before 109 then you get a wetter look, IME putting it before 915 will make little difference.

Geoff

[ahaydock]

This time of year using SRP, then 2x coats of Colly 915 would be a good bet