SmokinVette.com Forums - Corvette Detailing

'95 stock saw blade wheels

Giddyup Ginger — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:52:26 GMT

I've now had my '95 vette for a week (first time owner) and have seen enough pictures of the saw blade wheels to wonder about mine. All of the pics seem to show the aluminum as brushed where mine have been polished. Did they come with 2 finish options or did the previous owner polish the brushed finish? While I'm on the subject, are there any online sources for the center hub piece with the emblem. I'd really like to replace mine unless they're very expensive.

Question About Tire Detailing

Fire_n_Ice — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:13:05 GMT

What products can I use to:

1. Get wax/buffing polish off the tires. I have tried several products but no luck.

2. Get the raised white lettering back to white. They are closer to beige now.

Thanks!

Detailing Tip of the Week!!

Dylan@Adams — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:09:37 GMT

THIS WEEKS TIP - Stubborn Water Spots on Glass?

No matter how hard we try, sometimes you simply can't avoid those random water spots on your glass. These can be some of the most annoying spots to deal with as in some cases they won't come off no matter what you try. Heres some simple remedies to get your glass from spotty to clear. There are many approaches to tackle this common problem, here we've outlined some solutions that will remove light water spots and methods for even removing the most stubborn and harsh spots.

Start simple... use a professional level glass cleaner. Adam's Glass Cleaner actually contains a micro-fine polishing agent instead of the normal chemical agents found in other cleaners. This mechanical approach to cleaning will generally be more effective on light water spots.
Try a mixture of white vinegar and water. Dilute a bottle 50/50 with normal white vinegar (available and any grocery store) spray on the spotty area and wipe away with a clean microfiber glass towel. For very stubborn spots the process may need to be repeated.
Clay bar! This handy detailers tool is good for removing spots and contamination from paint, but it works on glass too. Water spots are, afterall just embedded minerals left when the water drop dried. Many times clay will be more than effective enough at removing spots.
Polish away the spots. For very stubborn spots an polishing compound may be necessary. The good part is that no paint polishes sold on the market are abrasive enough to damage the glass, but they are aggressive enough to remove minerals from the paints surface. If all else has failed, give polish a shot.
Method of last resort - 0000# Steel wool. This is a very aggressive approach, but worth a shot when water spots don't respond to other methods. Use a Detail Spray or Glass Cleaner for lubrication and take the fine grade steel wool to the glass, use caution near paint and trim, perhaps even taping edges to avoid accidental damage.

When you finally get those stubborn spots off be sure to apply a high quality glass protection like Adam's Concentrated Glass Sealant. A sealant will not only help prevent spots in the future, but also enhance optical clarity making driving towards the sun on those late, sun soaked, summer afternoons a little more tolerable.

Adam's NEW Brilliant Glaze - Behind the scenes testing.

Dylan@Adams — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 22:13:02 GMT

On sale starting today!! www.AdamsPolishes.com

This is a product we've been testing extensively and are really starting to fall in love with. Figured I'd share some of the pictures from our testing to show you guys how good this new glaze is.

Highlights -

Now a hand glaze, we found the new formulation liked to clog sprayers so we've gone to a pour top.
Much shorter cure time than our Spray Glaze - which could take upwards of 20 minutes - this stuff is dry in under a minute and ready for removal.
Deeper/Wetter/Darker shine... especially evident on reds and blacks. Does really good on metallics.
Filling ability is off the charts. Obviously not the ideal process, but if you don't have the time or willingness to polish out light defects this stuff masks very well.

Starting with this Camaro (belonging to my brother) we did a quick wash, clay, and single stage correction using Adam's Fine Machine Polish, White Pad, and a Makita BO6040

Next... the NEW Adam's Brilliant Glaze... both my friend Ryan and I have spent some significant time playing with this product and its blown us away!! It was applied liberally using an Americana foam applicator, it was even tested on the matte black stripes with VERY positive results.

Last came a coat of Americana to seal the whole thing up... this combination has been one I've played with a lot lately (Glaze under Americana) and it yields some seriously stellar results:

What the new glaze does for metallics is nothing short of amazing. The paint appears darker and the blues and greens in the CGM paint just came to life:

Cleaning the wheel barrels?

Sailfish — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:15:40 GMT

How are you cleaning yours with out taking the wheels off the car? Just checking to see if there is any super tools to make the job easier.

What do you use for dust

Jasons06 — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 14:04:55 GMT

What do you use to dust off your cars? California duster, micro fiber, detailing spray??

Personally I have a duster that I use, then I will spray with detailing spray and wipe down.

Anyone put Armorall on body of car?

frogman49 — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:05:12 GMT

I have heard that this takes care of or atleast hides clear coat issues?

Rag top care questions

Yellowragtop — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 15:14:07 GMT

What chemicals do you use on your rag top?

Condition?

Clean?

Do you use a brush to clean?

Winter storage detailing tips?

Yvonne — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:20:17 GMT

I know this a early to ask question, but will ask regardless.

With winter a few months away, those that park their car for a few months under the elements. Do you detail it differently the last time before storage?

Cleaning and conditioning leather

Valleygirl — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:23:50 GMT

My first post here had to do with replacing the leather that my dog destroyed in my car. I was wondering what is the best way to take care of leather?

John says

john hood — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 06:19:15 GMT

I appreciate the concern which is been rose. The things need to be
sorted out because it is about the individual but it can be with
everyone.
-----------
John Hood
----------
:backstabber:

Detailing Tip of the Week!!

Dylan@Adams — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:28:22 GMT

At the request of SVF management these will all now be separate threads.

THIS WEEKS TIP - Proper Microfiber Care

If you're serious about your paint care, then microfiber towels are the only way to go, but many people out there don't know how to properly care for them. Improper care can shorten the life of the towels, render them ineffective, or in some cases even harmful to your paint!! Microfiber washing/drying is easy... it just needs to be done right and certain things should be avoided.

MACHINE WASHING:

Separate microfiber towels from all your other laundry. Microfiber should only be washed with other microfiber materials.
Use only liquid laundry soap, no granulated, and if possible use a low dye/low scent/allergen free detergent.
Run the washer on low heat/warm water setting and select an extra rinse cycle if your washer is equipped with that feature.

MACHINE DRYING:

Clean the lint trap thoroughly and make sure to keep microfiber separate from all other types of materials.
Use a low heat or air fluff setting
Never use Fabric softener!!
If the towels come out a with a static charge use a light mist of detail spray or waterless wash prior to use to cut down the charge.
Always store in a safe place, free of dust, and debris until they're ready to use.

THATS IT!! If you take the time to maintain your towels correctly they'll give you a long swirl free service life.

Adam's Secret Sale - This Weekend Only - 15% Off!!

Dylan@Adams — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:20:31 GMT

Psssst.... hey you. Yea... you. Want a deal on some Adam's goodies? Here you go.

YOUR MISSION: Get 15% off now thru Sunday 8/22.

YOUR SECRET PASSWORD: TGIF enter this discount code at checkout.

YOUR ASSOCIATES: Adam's Sponsored Forum Members... this isn't going out in emails. This isn't going to be sent as a flyer. This ones for the forums and friends only. Trust no one else.

Come See Adam's - Corvettes @ Carlisle!!

Dylan@Adams — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:21:47 GMT

Its that time of year again!! Corvettes @ Carlisle!!

Come on out and see us, get great show only deals on product, meet our team including Adam himself and The Junkman, get tips on detailing, even get one on one advice on your vette!!

Aug 27 - Aug 29, 2010

Adult Admission:
Th.- Sun. $14 /4-Day Weekend Pass $40
Child Admission: 8 and under - FREE
Gate Times: Th.-Sa. 7am-6pm / Sun. 7am-3pm

Be sure to join us for our 6th Annual Customer Appreciation Dinner!! This has become a tradition for Adam's as we say thank you to some of our most loyal and enthusiastic fans, the Corvette owners!!

Friday Night, Just outside Gate#3
1338 Bryn Mawr Rd
Carlisle, PA 17013

Come by and enjoy a full catering spread from Marcello's Ristorante & Pizzeria. We look forward to showing you a little Adam's hospitality.

From Clay to Wax - A Step by Step Video Tutorial

Junkman2008 — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:57:25 GMT

Hey boys and girls! The Junkman is back with another video series that answers those frequently asked questions, "What order am I supposed to use the products to fix my paint issues? What do I use first? What do I use second?"

Well, these 5 videos will finally put an end to those questions for those who are novices to the Adam's line. In these videos, I explain and give a short demo on which products to use, and the order to use them in if you have swirled and scratched up paint. For any novice to the Adam's line of products, I can guarantee that this will eliminate any confusion on what to use and when to use it!

One important note. In the videos, you will hear me talk about "perfecting a spot" before moving on to an adjacent spot in the area you are working. What I mean by that is to get rid of all the swirls, haze or scratches in the very first spot that you start working on using Swirl & Haze Remover (SHR), BEFORE moving to an adjacent spot using SHR. Do not do the whole routine in one spot and then move to an adjacent spot and do the entire routine again. Do the entire car with each step of the process.

The reason I say to do this is that you must develop an effective technique the first time you start using a polisher to remove damage from your paint. That's why you want to ensure that the first spot that you start on is as perfect as you desire before you apply your technique to the entire car. If your technique is bad or ineffective, you don't want to apply that bad technique to the entire car because you'll end up tired an disappointed with your results. Once you are satisfied with the way your results turn out in the very first spot you start on using SHR, apply that same technique over the entire car. Remember, perfection may very from owner to owner so set a level of perfection that is realistic and to YOUR satisfaction.

So, without further delay, grab you some popcorn and kick up your feet. The Junkman is about to break it all down for you. I promise that by the time you're done with these videos, you WILL know which order to use the polishes and waxes.

If your paint is in excellent shape with very minor swirls or scratches, you may be able to skip the use of the Swirl & Haze Remover (SHR) and go straight from claying to the Fine Machine Polish (FMP). If your paint does not need to be clayed (which is determined by the baggie test), then you can start with SHR. If your paint does not need claying and only has very, very little paint damage, you may be able to skip both claying and SHR and start with FMP. All this will make much more sense once you watch the videos and see the order that the products are used. Thus, take them in first, and come back to this paragraph after you have finished. It will all become clear to you at that point.

For those who want to implement Revive Polish into this routine, it would come right after FMP. I usually use Revive Polish when doing very dark colors to give the paint that last touch of finesse.

There are 2 other waxes that you can use in place of Machine Superwax (MSW, which is what I used in these videos). There's the Americana Carnuba Paste Wax and the Buttery Wax. Either can be used in place of MSW. The Americana goes on fast and comes off fast. You don't wait for it to dry or haze. If you do, you will need a chisel to remove it! It does not protect as long as MSW but it does last quite a while depending on how often you wash the car and whether or not the car is garaged or not.

Buttery Wax goes on easy and comes off easy. You will allow it to dry before removing it. It does not last as long as the Americana or MSW, however, it is easy to apply and remove. MSW is the longest lasting protection that Adam's has to date as it is more of a sealant. It also has the ability to mask very small imperfections in your paint.

One more time on the order! :doh:

1. Clay
2. SHR
3. FMP
4. Revive Polish (if you want - was not used in this video series).
5. One of the three waxes of your choice.

Okay boys and girls, let's see those shiny rides!

The Junkman :cheers:

seat scuffs

joefcorvette — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:37:09 GMT

I bought a 2007 this year and the balck leather drivers side had a gray scuff in the seat due to previous owners rear end rubbing the leather when he got in. Dealer had it fixed, but it did not last. I found this to work even better. Got Esquire black shoe dye and rubbed this into the leather to take away the gray discoloration, then followed up with Esquire black shoe polish to smooth surface and add gloss and lubrication. Looks great can't see the scuff any more. This tip came from internet leather repair site.

DETAIL CLINIC : Sacramento August 21st 2010

Dylan@Adams — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:56:57 GMT

Date: August 21, 2010

Venue: Tognotti's Auto Truck World
2509 Fulton Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95821
Hours: 11:00am Detail Clinic starts, 4:00pm to 8:00pm Show and Shine w/ Live Demo's

Got a tough detailing challenge? Looking for advice from the pros?
Bring your car and get one on one advice, tips, tricks, and learn how to care for your car. As always, admission is FREE and so is the advice!!

Wheels

mc_883 — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:32:09 GMT

I have an 85 with the stock aluminum wheels
Did these wheels have a clear coat from the factory and whats the best way to clean them?
I remember a few of my Harley's with the aluminum
mag style wheels they were hard to clean they had a clear coat you were not cleaning the aluminum but trying to clean the clear coat that used to get wormy after a while.

Battery Operated Buffer

threeoreighty-eight — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:00:48 GMT

I am looking for a battery operated buffer / orbital.

Cleaning in door jams?

Vette Venom — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:14:20 GMT

How are you all cleaning your door jams? Such a PITA to reach everything and I see dust in mine which bugs me!