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So I hear this Karl guy knows his way around car care products. How does he get cone marks off his car? I have some marks that wd40 and goo gone and bug/tar remover doesn't take off.....is polishing or using cleaner wax my only options? Thanks.

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2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

There's a bunch of different ways to do it. In rough order of least aggressive to most:

1. Duragloss 501 "Marine and RV Polish." Sometimes West Marine and Overton's stock this stuff - I bought mine at the Car Quest paint supply place in Raleigh. It's an excellent paint cleaner, and leaves behind some sealant protection to boot. Great stuff - I'll have some with me at the next event, you're welcome to try some.

2. Permatex hand cleaner. It's in a white tub with blue print on it, looks like mayonnaise and smells like petroleum spirits or turpentine. It does NOT have any abrasive like pumice in it. This usually works on the stubborn ones. Wax the area afterwards.

3. A clay bar. Whichever one is on sale is fine. Majestic Solutions in Raleigh has them in differing degrees of aggression.

4. 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover. White can, red printing on it. Often found at auto parts stores near the bondo and spray paint. This is wonderful stuff for taking off old tint, window vent shades, anything with stubborn adhesive.

If the mark won't come out with the above, it might need to be polished out. Show it to me next time I see you, maybe at the meeting next week.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

what about sd-20? it takes rubber marks off my both my white cars with ease. dunno if that's the same as cone marks though. i bought a case recently, can spare a few if anyone wants some.

3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover is AWESOME!

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02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Wow, 3 responses and no "Don't hit cones!" comments.

A miata.net poster said rainx works....something about needing a polar cleaner to clean a polar compound. Has anyone tried that?

_________________
2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Buy a gallon of this and call it a day! Just wet car, spray, and wipe away.

Yeah, that stuff is the bomb! When I'm actually at an event, though, I prefer to stick with something that isn't quite so "wet."

I've started bringing my bottle of Duragloss 501 to events with me - you guys are welcome to try it. Bring your towel of choice, though, because I usually only carry a couple with me to an event.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

I'm heading to Majestic later most likely and that place to me is like a candy store to a kid.

I've got to re-up on soap, Bug Off, and the duke blue tire shine. Any recommendations on any other items that I shouldn't leave there without. I still have plenty of the industrial wheel cleaner, Kick Acid, and the Spray Shine.

How does that stuff work on plastic? I've got a bunch of "tire worm" marks on my rear bumper cover that regular soap and water just won't touch. They are a little more stubborn than a cone mark it seems. Also, any idea on cost?

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Stephen Westerfield
2009 Infiniti M35 | 2007 Honda Fit Sport | 2005 Ford Mustang GT |2000 GMC Sierra |1992 Acura Integra LS | Super Westerfield Bros Acura Integra

To hijack this thread a bit, I plan to go to Majestic today too.

What stuff should be on my essentials list? I mainly need a buffer pad for my new Makita, but I'm really interested in the Bug Off product too...

Any other recommendations? I'm quite happy with _most_ of the stuff I currently use but I'm open to suggestions.

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Mike Whitney
whit32@gmail.com, 919-454-5445
V10, V8, V8t, I6, I6, V6, F4t, I4, I4, I4, I4, I2, 1, 1

Congrats on the Makita! You'll love it.

Here's the stuff I wouldn't be without:

1. Ultra Gloss soap. Awesome, awesome stuff. Super slick, lots of suds, and has a high polymer content. Meaning it's like washing your car with a high end quick detailer. And since it's polymer and not wax, it won't smear all over your windows.

2. Super Green Stuff all purpose cleaner. I use this for engines, wheels, anywhere you use an APC. Cut it with water to suit your needs.

3. Extraction Plus carpet cleaner. This stuff is flat out amazing. I use it around the house more than the cars.

4. Their clay. It seems expensive, but it's a huge bar of it. They offer it in different grades, too.

5. Malco "UFC Foam Restoration Compound." When I'm performing any serious correction, this is now my go to. It cuts hard. It finishes down better than everything else I've used at its level of aggression, but you *will* have to do another quick pass with a finishing compound to get rid of the holograms.

6. Mike, for you in particular, look for stuff even more aggressive than that. They have one called "True Grit" that feels like play sand.

7. Wheel Brite. CAUTION is necessary with this stuff. It is very acidic and should only be used as a "last resort." You don't even want to breathe this stuff.

Stuff I don't like:

1. Most of their microfiber is junk.

2. The waxes and sealants. They're okay, but there's much better stuff out there.

3. Poly Protectant vinyl and plastic dressing. It's a Vinylex workalike, it's just too shiny for me.

4. Their leather conditioner, the blue lotion stuff. Too greasy for me.

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

What wax do you like?

As much as I like working on suspension and engines etc, I hate detailing my car so bear with me.

Seems most of the more aggressive cone mark removal procedures require a waxing afterward (hmmmm, I haven't waxed the car in 1 year and use turtle wax car wash with wax....probably crap).

_________________
2011/2012 Autox VP
2013/2014.5 President
2013 Top Gun

2015 Fit

22R-EC => 4G63 => D16Y7 + D16Y8 => EJ255 + K24Z2 => K20Z3 + K24Z2 => K24Z2 + M54 => L15B

Oooo...It's a "Detailing with Karl" thread!

I've probably been overpaying for wax/polish from Griot's Garage, so if you know of equivalent quality and cheaper (or better quality and cheaper) maybe you could share your opinions?

Much thanks in advance!

edit...just checked your blog/website. good stuff. thanks!

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Steve Carter
1972 Datsun 240Z-- resto pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/srcartermd
2007 GPW Honda S2000-- STR 86

James - Autoglym High Definition is the best wax on the market as far as stuff you can buy in retail stores. It's close to $40. The clear leader for a value play is the Duragloss line. They're actually headquartered in Burlington. You can find their stuff at Car Quest and NAPA stores. I've yet to try anything by them that wasn't outstanding, price independent. #111 is what my F250 has on it now, and it's five months in and still beading up nicely.

Willing to order online? If so, the product I always recommend to people who ask me "what wax should I buy" is Werkstat Acrylic Jett Trigger. It's so easy that it feels like cheating. It looks great. And it lasts well too. Many people have bought it on my recommendation, and they've all been thrilled with it.

I tried Zaino for the first time last weekend, on a customer car. It's an excellent product. But, there's plenty of stuff out there that's just as good, and doesn't require me to play "chemistry set" when I start.



That's actually like asking me what's the "best" flavor of ice cream. Everybody has a favorite. And everybody has different priorities. For waxes, the above two suggestions should get you started.

I'd say that polishes are even more subjective

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Karl S.
2014 Baby, 2014 House, 2013 Ford Focus ST, 2013 BMW 328i, 1994 Mercedes E320
(Insert passive aggressive signature line here)

How about the best thing to remove ground-in sunscreen from pebbly vinyl?