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19 comments on What Is The Best Product? My Thoughts

  1. Joseph Picillo says:

    I am not a fan of the SIO2 products. Every time i try using them all it does is stain the paint. Unless im doing it totally wrong.

    • Abraham says:

      Happens to me with many of them as well.

      • Rodney Tatum says:

        This is a common issue with many (not necessarily all) SI02 type products. It is another reason why I may suggest products like Jescar Powerlock+ as opposed to the flavor of the year.

        It is not that one is better than the other: when people talk of ease of use, one person may be referring to speed of application and not necessarily how finicky a product is to apply. This is often the case when people describe SI02 products. But just like different SI02 products can be unique, different brands of traditional sealants are unique as well.

  2. Chris Bastianson says:

    Fantastic *rant*. Rodney delineates the differences between him as a professional and a lot of people that “want the best product”. There’s plenty of posts that argue “why would I spend X dollars when S & S lasts 6 months and costs $5. I really appreciate an article that is this well written and can ask the reader – what do you want from your car? Can you invest the time? Or can you pay a professional with years of experience? Thank you, Rodney!

    • Rodney Tatum says:

      Thank you! This is relatable to other industries as well. “It’s the best!” That statement in a vacuum is rooted in bias and needs that are uniquely applicable to the individual.

  3. murtaza says:

    Turtle Wax Seal n Shine is truly a Hardcore product. it can beat any expensive product in its or above category. i keep habbit of using on my personal car 2010 Kia Sportage since last 16 months and it had given always tremendous results. i had experienced 6-7 months of its durability on my car even with on windshield. it always gives my car wet and gloss and many even ask the secret behind it, and i would easily say its Turtle Wax seal n Shine.

  4. Abraham says:

    Another great write up Rodney!

    On Blacklight – is it purely a filler, or does it have any abrasive qualities to it? I have a car that’s ceramic coated, and wondering it I can use it to temporarily hide some light swirls that have shown up, without removing the coating. Thanks!

    • Rodney Tatum says:

      I do not believe it has any abrasives in it. I would not recommend that products with a ceramic coated car though. It may or may NOT accomplish this task due to being applied to the coating literally versus paint. But it will affect the other positive attributes of a coating; self cleaning, hydrophobic properties.

    • Rob says:

      Are you talking about Chemical guys Blacklight? Is has abrasives. Check out their website, they list the ingredients in all their items.

  5. Michael McCrea says:

    Really enjoyed Rodney story and will be looking forward to more advice like this.

    I am 59 Years old and detailing my car or friends’ cars is my favourite thing to do. I love taking a filthy dirty inside and outside cars/trucks/SUVs with paint that has never been detailed and sat in the sun for years. When I get a car like that from a friend to do and give it back to the owner and they freak out and can’t believe it’s there car, mission accomplished.

    I loved it so much I opened a Detail Shop in 1997 for a few years. We were doing really, really well because of our location and our specific targeted clients. Business Leaders with Cash and Bespoke Service to High-End Cars like Benz, BMW, Porsche, Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. (the must have SUV) Corvette’s, Range Rover, etc. Our business model was CEO’s, Business Leaders who would stop at the shop early AM which was on the core entrance to Downtown. I would drive them to work and bring their vehicle back to the shop at the end of there day I would have their vehicle in their parking spot for them or out from their office and hand them there keys. One of my employees would pick me up and bring me back to the shop.

    This was a very good service for us and many of our High-End Customers paid a weekly or monthly rate for this service. It was usually a once a week service but could also have emergence calls in between if someone got sick (babies milk) dirt and pollen inside a vehicle because window left open. We covered it 24/7 even if the shop was closed. Damn we even had a website when many shops and suppliers only an email address from AOL!

    We had no fancy Ceramic Coatings but we did use imported waxs from Germany and amazing customer service. We also did paint correction but the DA’s and products now would have been such a great help.

    We lost the amazing Location with 5 Bays and Car Show Parking Lot in very short notice that was the busiest Traffic area of our City. We could not find another location to run the same business model so I had to close. I miss those days and often think where would I be now as my plan was to do a 5 shop Business Model but the Bespoke Location was key to it all.

    We had to rope off the parking lot because people would stop in the lot just to take pictures of them selves beside a high-end cars & Jeep Grand Cherokees that we’re freshly detailed. I had 2 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. during this time and every person in the City that had one came to my business just to get there Jeep to look like mine, even the CEO & GM of the local Jeep Dealership. One Time we had 16 Jeeps in our parking lot all detailed up and people stopped to ask if they were for sale.

    Now I detail for fun at home for friends and family so I will love to catch up with all the great content you produce here a DetailedImage.com my shop back in the Day was DetailPlus Automotive Detailing!

    I will look forward to all your tricks and tips on product and processes.

    Ciao for now!

    • Rodney Tatum says:

      This is a common issue with many (not necessarily all) SI02 type products. It is another reason why I may suggest products like Jescar Powerlock+ as opposed to the flavor of the year.

      It is not that one is better than the other: when people talk of ease of use, one person may be referring to speed of application and not necessarily how finicky a product is to apply. This is often the case when people describe SI02 products. But just like different SI02 products can be unique, different brands of traditional sealants are unique as well.

    • Rodney Tatum says:

      Michael I apologize, this comment was intended for the first question (oops).

      I do look forward to contributing with detailing product ideas.

  6. Rob says:

    I just thought I would put in my two cents worth. I have very good luck using Sonax polishes and Menserna Powerlock. I use an orbital and I prefer microfiber.

  7. Frank Fazio says:

    My car has 5 coats of ceramic on it. What is the best product to use between washes to remove dust or pollen

    • Rodney Tatum says:

      This piggybacks somewhat on the theme of this article and previous comments, I would like to know more about the ‘ceramic’ product that is?

      What I can mention, when in doubt, trust the company’s maintenance product. That would be the first reccomendation. 2nd recommendedation use a car soap that you are CERTAIN that has no gloss enhancers or fillers.

  8. JOHN keturoskey says:

    morning Rodney…hope u and your loved ones are safe and WELL…hove u tried jim lafeber’s(dr beasleys) NSP line….NSP150, NSP95, NSP45….the #’s relate to the size of the abrasive(1.5 – .95 – .45 microns respectively….reviews are off the charts and is being regarded as a game changer in preparation/correction/polish….and it lays down a bonding matrix for ALL coatings and si02 products. since the abrasives are all the same size the cut is even and results in the most level surface ever achieved providing the flattest surface giving u the highest level off gloss and reflection possible. a costly process to make uniform abrasives…but the time savings and results speak for themselves. mike phillips(autogeek) when reiviewed was amazed – best he has ever seen. due to bonding matrix – NO PANEL WIPE NEEDED also. ck it out as jim’s site and also click on blog tab

  9. peter says:

    Is Gtechnic’s EXO v4 compatible over 22ple’s HPC ceramic coating? I have both in stock and would like to use them together but I am not 100% sure they would not cause a problem in tandem. I understand the standard safe answer to this question is to stay with the recommended products of the manufacturer. But isn’t siO2 ceramic coating basically the same as are top coats.

    • Reece @ DI says:

      Peter – EXO is not as durable as HPC, but will sheet water better. EXO is designed to be used more as a topper to other coatings, but can also be used as a stand-alone option if desired. If you wanted to use the HPC, EXO would be great to put over the top. For coating toppers (i.e. CarPro Reload, 22ple VS1, Gtechniq C2V3, etc.) these are formulated with sio2 just like coatings, just at a much lower concentration for easier spray on, wipe off application.

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