## DETAILING QUESTIONS/FAQ - MUST READ ## - Detailing and Car Care Forum

Let me be the first to welcome you to Roadfly's Detailing Forum. We hope that you'll enjoy the information that we share here, and we hope that we'll be able to exchange friendly, helpful and useful information with you.

We love to talk about detailing products, techniques and results. However, a lot of questions are asked pretty regularly, so we've put together this Frequently Asked Questions post. Please take a moment to review the FAQ and check out some of the links - we welcome your questions, but we ask that you take a moment to do a little bit of backend research first.

Again, welcome to the board, and we hope you enjoy your stay.

For help with POSTING PICTURES, click here

FAQ v1.7 (updated 15-OCT-04)

1. What is a Porter Cable Random Orbital Buffer, and how do I use it?
Click here for background information and a "how to" guide.

Brief review of PC7424/PC7336 Random Orbital Buffer

2. What is a Porter Cable Rotary Buffer?
Click here for a brief review of the Porter Cable 7428 Rotary Buffer

3. What are all of these abreviations that you guys use?
Click here for a guide to the common abreviations

4. What is clay, and how do I use it? Is it safe?
Click here for a guide to clay use

5. What steps and products do you guys use to detail?
Here's one person's steps

Here's another person's steps

Here's another person's steps

6. What's the best way to detail my wheels?
Wheel Detailing tips

7. What's the preferred method for drying a vehicle?
Use water to dry your car

California Water Blade opinion

8. What are my leather care options? What products do you use?
Short list of leather care products

Napa Leather Care Suggestions

9. Anyone wash their car at a coin-op? What are my options?
Coin Op Detailing tricks

10. Should I use Wheel Wax on my wheels? Is it any good?
Wheel Wax info

11. How can I polish my headlights or other plastic lenses like foglights?
Guide to polishing plastic lenses

12. How do I get the white residue off my black trim?
Links (you'll have to keep clicking) for wax residue removal

13. Does anyone have a "kit" for complete detailing supplies?
A list of products

Another list of products

14. I just got a new car, can I start waxing it?
Short answer, yes. Click for more info

Info about waxing new paint

15. What is paint protection film? Can I use it with wax?
Direct from a manufacturer

16. What is Zaino? How do I use it?
Zaino Simplified

More Zaino info

Zaino vs Caranauba Wax (good info)

Zaino 10 Commandments

17. I still have questions about detailing. Help!!
16 simple answers/guides

18. How do I touch-up my paint?
Try the Autosharp Paint Pen

Detailed paint chip repair steps

19. Having problems with Klasse Sealant Glaze (SG)?
Click here to download Wayne's Klasse SG instructions.

20. Is the California Car Duster safe for my car?
Generally speaking, yes. Here's one post about it, or try our search function.

21. Tips and Tricks from Wayne's Towels
Wayne's washing and drying techniques

Wayne's suggestions for proper microfiber care

22. Ever wondered how dings are repaired? Here's a thorough explanation with great photos
A friend's BMW 850 is repaired by another friend (filler, primer, paint)

Another great example of a typical body repair (straightening, filler, primer, paint)

23. How do I post photos to the board?
Click here for a thorough how-to. Please PRACTICE in the test forum.

24. What happened to that "TESTED: 4 Products" thread?
It was removed from "sticky status" and is now located in the archives. You can find the results of the test by clicking on this link.

25. What happened to the 7-Product Mini Test?
The test that you're looking for can be found here. Tested were products from Eagle One, Einszett, Meguiar's, Tropi-care, Turtle Wax, Wolfgang and Zaino.

26. What is Guru Reports, and why are they on the board?
Guru Reports is owned by JUMP Media Group, who also owns Roadfly. Guru Reports is an independent, unbiased, impartial product testing group that buys, tests and reports on the performance of car and car care related products.

Guru Reports earns 100% of it's income from reader support. Without report sales, Guru Reports will fail to exist. Each report has tons of detailed test information and results, tips and tricks, frequently asked questions, "auxilary articles" (articles related to the test subject), and lots of great advice for novice and experienced detailers. It contains absolutely no advertising, and is dedicated to providing the truth through "real world" test conditions.

Readers report that the Guru Reports are easy to read and understand, and most are pleased with the information and the manner it's presented in. One of our readers has suggested a way to get a free copy of a Guru Reports.

It is not necessary for you to purchase a report, but Guru Reports can not and will not exist without continued reader support. If you find the info here interesting, consider purchasing a Guru Reports Test for yourself.

Additional links, tips and tricks
CMA's tips and tricks

I hope that this information is helpful. Again, welcome to the board, and remember, we all love pictures, so share pictures of your work with us! :-)

-Steve

GURU REPORTS: Unbiased, impartial, practical testing and evaluation of car care products.