Just finished detailing........product review

ChrisNJ · 10-23-2005, 12:48 AM

Before the winter sets in I wanted to give the x a nice detail. I havent given it a full detail since I bought it almost 2 years ago and I'm sure the previous owner never did either given its condition when I bought it. I always forget the "before" pics and this time around it was dark out when I finished so I dont even have any good "after" pics (i'm useless, i know, lol). But, I can give a pretty good review of the products i've used considering i've done numerous details on my z car and my dads s15 and tahoe with various products. This time around I used all pinnacle products after the initial wash. btw, they not only work well, but their products smell good too

take this review for what you will..i'm not a pro and dont claim to be...i just like a clean car

ps, i also did this by hand, so a different result may be obtained if using a porter cable.

I always start out my details by washing twice with a dish detergent. This will strip the car of its wax and give a good starting point. I also tend to hit any large areas of tar with either bug/tar remover or stoners tarminator.

From there I go on to the clay bar. This time I used the Pinnacle Poly Clay with Clay Lube . Previously i've used the mothers or megs clay system. Pinnacle claims to use a bar made of polymers that wont dry out and wont break down over time. What it did do was basically fall apart by the time I got to the end of the truck. It was a slow deterioration that probably wouldnt have lasted through a big suv, but was just enough for the x. That was my only real complaint about it. It did its job perfectly, even better than the mothers bar. I had a stain on the rear bed rail that I tried to get out w/ the mothers bar and for whatever reason, it did not take it out. This time the pinnacle bar took it out with no complaints. This bar seemed to pick up more tough to get out debris than previous bars. It also seemed to clean up the paint a little bit more than I'm used to as well. I will assume that is from the bars composition since there arent any steps I vary before claying, just the car itself that changes.

Next I used the Pinnacle paintwork cleansing lotion . I have grown to like the s100 SEPC, but this stuff seemed to work just as well. It filled in some minor scratches/swirls, although this is not its main intention, it still did a good job. The paint cleaners/polishes really do the most for cleaning up the paint and making it shine. This stuff didnt dissappoint. The white on the truck really looks brilliant now. I would like to try this (and the wax) on a darker colored car as that is where they are supposed to really do their best work. Overall, the cleaner did a great job on brightening up the white.

Finally, I used Pinnacle Soveran Wax . Application was really easy, there was no need to let it dry or fully haze over. This makes for a nice quick application if you're pressed for time. The finished product looked fantastic however, since it decided to rain 4 hours after my detail, I think the water repelling capabilities could be a tad better. The water beaded very nicely, but doesnt seem to run off the paint like other waxes have caused water to do. Regardless, I would still use it again, its a great product. Again, aparently works even better on dark paints. I may attempt to use collinite before the winter as that stuff is supposed to be awesome at repelling water (snow too hopefully).

All in all, i'm very pleased with the Pinnacle products. The truck is looking the best it has in years. Remember though, with all good details, a lot of it is in the applicators/towels you use, so dont cheap out on those. I would recommend this process to you guys for a good basic detail. There are obviously more in-depth processes you can use, but this works well for a truck whos paint is in decently good shape already.
Anway, take that review fwiw, i'm just bored at work and thought i'd write a little somethin up. I'll try to get a pic or two up after I rewash it after the rainstorm is over.

LikeaRock · 10-23-2005, 01:47 PM

Nice review! I'm anxious to see pics, I wanna see what Souveran looks like on white. . Souveran makes reflections just melt like crazy on darker colors, you gotta love it. I'd like to try it, but I can't cough up $70 for an 8 oz. jar. I'm going to order me some Poorboys Nattys Blue in the next couple weeks, it's supposed to give very similar results to Souveran for less than half the price!

dropped1 · 10-23-2005, 03:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by LikeaRock

Nice review! I'm anxious to see pics, I wanna see what Souveran looks like on white. . Souveran makes reflections just melt like crazy on darker colors, you gotta love it. I'd like to try it, but I can't cough up $70 for an 8 oz. jar. I'm going to order me some Poorboys Nattys Blue in the next couple weeks, it's supposed to give very similar results to Souveran for less than half the price!

I <3 Poorboys Nattys

ChrisNJ · 10-26-2005, 02:58 PM

Here are a couple pics i took today after washing it. Not exactly very representative pics, but hey, at least i remembered to take a few

first one probably turned out the best in terms of showing the results.

Derek@2020Kustoms · 10-26-2005, 03:36 PM

Well I'm with LikeARock... I just can't bring myself to pay $70 for an 8 oz. jar. However, I just did a detail on my truck before the fall a few weeks back mainly using PB SSR & EX. Turned out good.

LikeaRock · 10-28-2005, 06:27 PM

The first pic is sweet! I don't think I've ever seen a white car with that much depth, at least in a picture

Quote: Originally Posted by Derek@2020Kustoms

Well I'm with LikeARock... I just can't bring myself to pay $70 for an 8 oz. jar. However, I just did a detail on my truck before the fall a few weeks back mainly using PB SSR & EX. Turned out good.

Man, the more pictures I see of paint topped with EX the more I want to order some. I'm waiting on a local Detal City member to make another PB order so I can throw my list into the ring too. I think I'll add some EX

10-23-2005, 12:48 AM	#1
ChrisNJ Registered User Age: 30 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 254 Location: jersey User is: OffLine	Just finished detailing........product review Before the winter sets in I wanted to give the x a nice detail. I havent given it a full detail since I bought it almost 2 years ago and I'm sure the previous owner never did either given its condition when I bought it. I always forget the "before" pics and this time around it was dark out when I finished so I dont even have any good "after" pics (i'm useless, i know, lol). But, I can give a pretty good review of the products i've used considering i've done numerous details on my z car and my dads s15 and tahoe with various products. This time around I used all pinnacle products after the initial wash. btw, they not only work well, but their products smell good too take this review for what you will..i'm not a pro and dont claim to be...i just like a clean car ps, i also did this by hand, so a different result may be obtained if using a porter cable. I always start out my details by washing twice with a dish detergent. This will strip the car of its wax and give a good starting point. I also tend to hit any large areas of tar with either bug/tar remover or stoners tarminator. From there I go on to the clay bar. This time I used the Pinnacle Poly Clay with Clay Lube . Previously i've used the mothers or megs clay system. Pinnacle claims to use a bar made of polymers that wont dry out and wont break down over time. What it did do was basically fall apart by the time I got to the end of the truck. It was a slow deterioration that probably wouldnt have lasted through a big suv, but was just enough for the x. That was my only real complaint about it. It did its job perfectly, even better than the mothers bar. I had a stain on the rear bed rail that I tried to get out w/ the mothers bar and for whatever reason, it did not take it out. This time the pinnacle bar took it out with no complaints. This bar seemed to pick up more tough to get out debris than previous bars. It also seemed to clean up the paint a little bit more than I'm used to as well. I will assume that is from the bars composition since there arent any steps I vary before claying, just the car itself that changes. Next I used the Pinnacle paintwork cleansing lotion . I have grown to like the s100 SEPC, but this stuff seemed to work just as well. It filled in some minor scratches/swirls, although this is not its main intention, it still did a good job. The paint cleaners/polishes really do the most for cleaning up the paint and making it shine. This stuff didnt dissappoint. The white on the truck really looks brilliant now. I would like to try this (and the wax) on a darker colored car as that is where they are supposed to really do their best work. Overall, the cleaner did a great job on brightening up the white. Finally, I used Pinnacle Soveran Wax . Application was really easy, there was no need to let it dry or fully haze over. This makes for a nice quick application if you're pressed for time. The finished product looked fantastic however, since it decided to rain 4 hours after my detail, I think the water repelling capabilities could be a tad better. The water beaded very nicely, but doesnt seem to run off the paint like other waxes have caused water to do. Regardless, I would still use it again, its a great product. Again, aparently works even better on dark paints. I may attempt to use collinite before the winter as that stuff is supposed to be awesome at repelling water (snow too hopefully). All in all, i'm very pleased with the Pinnacle products. The truck is looking the best it has in years. Remember though, with all good details, a lot of it is in the applicators/towels you use, so dont cheap out on those. I would recommend this process to you guys for a good basic detail. There are obviously more in-depth processes you can use, but this works well for a truck whos paint is in decently good shape already. Anway, take that review fwiw, i'm just bored at work and thought i'd write a little somethin up. I'll try to get a pic or two up after I rewash it after the rainstorm is over.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2005, 01:47 PM	#2
LikeaRock Rustbucket Club Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 772 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Just finished detailing........product review Nice review! I'm anxious to see pics, I wanna see what Souveran looks like on white. . Souveran makes reflections just melt like crazy on darker colors, you gotta love it. I'd like to try it, but I can't cough up $70 for an 8 oz. jar. I'm going to order me some Poorboys Nattys Blue in the next couple weeks, it's supposed to give very similar results to Souveran for less than half the price!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-23-2005, 03:53 PM	#3
dropped1 bagged1 Age: 23 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 2,214 Location: Yokosuka, Japan User is: OffLine	Re: Just finished detailing........product review Quote: Originally Posted by LikeaRock Nice review! I'm anxious to see pics, I wanna see what Souveran looks like on white. . Souveran makes reflections just melt like crazy on darker colors, you gotta love it. I'd like to try it, but I can't cough up $70 for an 8 oz. jar. I'm going to order me some Poorboys Nattys Blue in the next couple weeks, it's supposed to give very similar results to Souveran for less than half the price! I <3 Poorboys Nattys
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2005, 02:58 PM	#4
ChrisNJ Registered User Age: 30 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 254 Location: jersey User is: OffLine	Re: Just finished detailing........product review Here are a couple pics i took today after washing it. Not exactly very representative pics, but hey, at least i remembered to take a few first one probably turned out the best in terms of showing the results.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-26-2005, 03:36 PM	#5
Derek@2020Kustoms Registered User Age: 28 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,536 Location: Windsor, Ontario User is: OffLine	Re: Just finished detailing........product review Well I'm with LikeARock... I just can't bring myself to pay $70 for an 8 oz. jar. However, I just did a detail on my truck before the fall a few weeks back mainly using PB SSR & EX. Turned out good.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-28-2005, 06:27 PM	#6
LikeaRock Rustbucket Club Age: 22 Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 772 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: Just finished detailing........product review The first pic is sweet! I don't think I've ever seen a white car with that much depth, at least in a picture Quote: Originally Posted by Derek@2020Kustoms Well I'm with LikeARock... I just can't bring myself to pay $70 for an 8 oz. jar. However, I just did a detail on my truck before the fall a few weeks back mainly using PB SSR & EX. Turned out good. Man, the more pictures I see of paint topped with EX the more I want to order some. I'm waiting on a local Detal City member to make another PB order so I can throw my list into the ring too. I think I'll add some EX
	[Reply w/Quote]