Ultimate Detail

[rhersberger]

For you posh Londoners who want the Pagoda to look just right for that next Continental trip, here's your man:


http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-892782202661869342&hl=en

Rod Hersberger

Santa Barbara

'68 280 SL, red, tan, 4sp, two tops
'01 Jag S Type brg
'07 Cayman S Carmona red, sand beige (on order)

[jstuart]

That is pretty cool....interesting that he applied the wax by hand.

1969 280SL

[rhersberger]

I thought that wax applying by hand was interesting too.  Don't know that you'd ever get your hands clean or unsmelly after doing that!

Rod Hersberger

Santa Barbara

'68 280 SL, red, tan, 4sp, two tops
'01 Jag S Type brg
'07 Cayman S Carmona red, sand beige (on order)

[al_lieffring]

I like that only American soap buckets are good enough for use on exotic car detailing. My father was an engineer for a car wash company, owned and operated three automatic car washes, we threw away thousands of those buckets.

al

113-042-10-014715
built 11 Jan 66
904/396 blue, Ivory Tex
condition- rust bucket

[Douglas]

This is a thread right up Bob Geco's alley. The hand-applied wax this fellow was using has a high carnauba content. Carnauba wax is really hard (hence its protective qualities for your paint), so it has to be softened up (in this case, by body heat) before it can be applied.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[mdsalemi]

quote:Originally posted by al_lieffring

I like that only American soap buckets are good enough for use on exotic car detailing. My father was an engineer for a car wash company, owned and operated three automatic car washes, we threw away thousands of those buckets.

al

113-042-10-014715
built 11 Jan 66
904/396 blue, Ivory Tex
condition- rust bucket

...and I have lots of 5-gallon buckets available at MY car wash--as well as 15 and 30 gallon drums...just come and get them!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Jonny B]

Very cool indeed. A number of the products he is using appear to be Zymol. They have several waxes that sell in the thousand dollar (US) range. As Douglas mentions they are intended to be applied by hand, for the heat factor.

He also mentioned the use of microfiber towels, these are fabulous to use, and they clean up for re-use very nicely.

Interesting comment about the fellow with the black Porsche GT2 that likes to set and look at it while sipping a glass of wine.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[joelj]

Wow can you imagine thousand dollar waxes. And I thought classic cars are expensive...

cheers,

Joel

1969 280sl auto
White exterior
Blue interior

[mdsalemi]

Of course you all realize that a lot of the stuff mentioned was for dramatic effect.  As a car care professional myself, I find in a bit laughable when he goes on about a citric based wheel cleaner product (as opposed to some other low pH product)and then goes on to spray 1200 PSI water.  What ever "gentleness" he may have achieved by wheel cleaner selection is certainly offset by the violence of 1200 psi of water at 5 GPM!...there are other things in the video too that are kind of funny but all in all like the Top Gear videos, very entertaining!
 
If you want to try pure Carnauba, it isn't nearly as expensive (I told you it was drama)as they make it sound!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Block-or-Flake-Pure-Carnauba-Carnuba-Wax_W0QQitemZ320033812881QQcmdZViewItem

http://item.express.ebay.com/Vehicle-Parts-Accessories_Car-Truck-Parts__Harly-wax-Pure-Nbr1-Yellow-Brazilian-Carnauba-Wax_W0QQitemZ4548934116QQihZ002QQddnZVehicleQ20PartsQ20Q26Q20AccessoriesQQadnZCarQ20Q26Q20TruckQ20PartsQQcmdZExpressItem

From what I read, pure Carnauba melts at 185 degrees F so you really have to heat it up to use it...I'm not sure rubbing your hands together will do it.  That's one reason why manufacturers blend it with solvents to soften it and allow it to spread easily.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[enochbell]

I think the $1,000 service is really a $150 wax and an $850 triple-A for bird poop.  If I heard him right.

Wax on...poop off...wax on...

g

'64 230sl, fully sorted out...ooops, spoke too soon

[norton]

BIG $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ wax  http://www.calcarcover.com/product.aspx?id=1636&cid=110  

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

[Jonny B]

Yup, just US$1850 for the wax and $4.99 for gift wrap!

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[mdsalemi]

Yeah, but it's in a CRYSTAL container and has LIFETIME FREE REFILLS!  Just like the Super Big Gulp at 7-11!

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

[Bob G ✝︎]

I see the group has just got the news about Zymol's hand crafted waxes the one you are talking about is vintage list is $2100.00 per 18 ounce container with free refills for life or however long it takes you to go through a container. The next most expensive in line is Royal $5000.00 per container contains two waxes one for dark colors and one for light colors. the waxes are applied by the palms of your hands heating up the carnuaba.  Again free refills for life. Most of the money is donated to keeping the enviroment green.
all zymol waxes are made with out petro solvents that can dry out paint. Zymol waxess start at $46.00 per 8 ounce container.
If you think about it it is the Merral Norman of the care care products. Jay Leno is a Zymol fan. You could be too .
Bob Geco

[Bob G ✝︎]

I use the zymol vintage on my wifes W124 300-e black on black. And filtered water for rinse and shampoo. I alway get looks from other drivers especially ones with black cars. zymol is not cheap but quality is what they strive to bring you using natural ingreents from nauture to clean the paint with their special paint cleaner HD cleanse and their wash soaps and conditioners the interior and body molding and paint.
I been using Zymol since 1991 as my finishing product for my finicky clientel who can afford my services and drive only the best money can buy.
Bob Geco
Auto Detailing since 1970
Bob Geco's Auto Appearance Care
3728 Overland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-839-8337