Detailing: How to Wax/Favorite Wax/Favorite Detailer

[Treburkulosis]

So I am in the testing and developing. Here is a new Elixir that I am helping test and develop. Both of them are coating with Undrdog Protective Coating. It is very similar to Carpro Elixir for that added gloss in between the maintenance details.

 

[Dave Haddon]

What is the best tonneau cover cleaner/protector. We have winter coming and want to get it ready.

 

[aeromax4]

Anyone have any idea how thick the clearcoat is on my 5th Gen Ram? I have swirls in the paint and used a polish with buffing wheel set at 4. This did not remove the swirls and I'm not looking to burn through the clearcoat. TIA

 

[Treburkulosis]

What is the best tonneau cover cleaner/protector. We have winter coming and want to get it ready.

I would use Shine Supply Clutch on it or coat it with Undrdog Pro. I did my wifes black trim on her jeep and it has roughly 24k miles on it, and they are jet black still. Its been on there 18 months now. I coated it and about every 3 months I use Undrdog QD on it and call it good.

 

[Treburkulosis]

Anyone have any idea how thick the clearcoat is on my 5th Gen Ram? I have swirls in the paint and used a polish with buffing wheel set at 4. This did not remove the swirls and I'm not looking to burn through the clearcoat. TIA

There is no way of truly telling without putting a gauge to it. This is what I have.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Professional-Thickness-Industrial-818-Measuring/dp/B07XXRV5BZ/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=2PUFF2LR4GGDD&keywords=paint+thickness+gauge&qid=1699366346&sprefix=paint+thick%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-7-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.c3015c4a-46bb-44b9-81a4-dc28e6d374b3&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

I dont remember exactly what mine was on my 12 ram, but I had to rotary some areas, and I had to work some areas very hard and they got hot. It was fine. What are you looking to do? A foam pass you will be fine, just make sure you keep your DA moving and apply roughly 8-10 lbs of pressure. I would highly suggest going this route. It is what I just used on my Flex. I totally expected to have to bust out the microfiber pads, but it worked great!

I also put Undrdog Pro + coating on it, but if you just wanted to finish with a excellent wax use this with the orange pad.

https://www.amazon.com/Koch-Chemie-High-Gloss-Polishing-Simultaneous-milliliters/dp/B08P2DQW2B/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2UNDGBT0UO4S5&keywords=koch%2Bchemie%2Ball%2Bin%2Bone&qid=1699366719&sprefix=Koch%2BChemie%2Ba%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-6&th=1

If you have any questions let me know. I know my Ram was a PITA to get the paint to work with. Ford seems to be a lot more forgiving.

On my ram, I used a rotary on the bed and a spot on the door with Meguiars 105. Then I went to my Rupes 21" machine and bounced between 105 and Rupes Blue Course on the cutting. Koch Chemie H9.01 was used as well. Pads that I used were Meguiars red cutting microfiber, Meguiars Black Finishing microfiber, and a Rupes Blue wool pad. To finish before I coated it, I used Koch Chemie F6.01 and a white Rupes foam pad. The Yellow wasn't giving me the clarity I wanted. Then I coated it with Koch Chemie C0.02. It has been on there almost a year now. I love it.

 

[bcbouy]

Anyone have any idea how thick the clearcoat is on my 5th Gen Ram? I have swirls in the paint and used a polish with buffing wheel set at 4. This did not remove the swirls and I'm not looking to burn through the clearcoat. TIA

Don't know the thickness,but I can tell you it is really "soft".I've never had a truck with clear coat that is this easy to scratch.

 

[quickster2]

Anyone have any idea how thick the clearcoat is on my 5th Gen Ram? I have swirls in the paint and used a polish with buffing wheel set at 4. This did not remove the swirls and I'm not looking to burn through the clearcoat. TIA

As @Treburkulosis has said you have to measure it. A good rule of thumb is 1.2 or more on the verticals and 1.5 or more on the horizontals. These values take into consideration strike in or soak in of the CC to the BC. Without a calibrated PELT gauge of the exact layering system you will just get total film build. What compound did you use?

 

[Treburkulosis]

Don't know the thickness,but I can tell you it is really "soft".I've never had a truck with clear coat that is this easy to scratch.

Then it should be good to work with. Its all in the combo you use. I have done a few TRX's and H9 and F6 Koch Chemie with a meguiars black micro fiber finishing pad worked really well, but again it all comes down to temp and humidity.

 

[aeromax4]

As @Treburkulosis has said you have to measure it. A good rule of thumb is 1.2 or more on the verticals and 1.5 or more on the horizontals. These values take into consideration strike in or soak in of the CC to the BC. Without a calibrated PELT gauge of the exact layering system you will just get total film build. What compound did you use?

Meguiars

 

[aeromax4]

There is no way of truly telling without putting a gauge to it. This is what I have.

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Professional-Thickness-Industrial-818-Measuring/dp/B07XXRV5BZ/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=2PUFF2LR4GGDD&keywords=paint+thickness+gauge&qid=1699366346&sprefix=paint+thick%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-7-spons&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.c3015c4a-46bb-44b9-81a4-dc28e6d374b3&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

I dont remember exactly what mine was on my 12 ram, but I had to rotary some areas, and I had to work some areas very hard and they got hot. It was fine. What are you looking to do? A foam pass you will be fine, just make sure you keep your DA moving and apply roughly 8-10 lbs of pressure. I would highly suggest going this route. It is what I just used on my Flex. I totally expected to have to bust out the microfiber pads, but it worked great!

I also put Undrdog Pro + coating on it, but if you just wanted to finish with a excellent wax use this with the orange pad.

https://www.amazon.com/Koch-Chemie-High-Gloss-Polishing-Simultaneous-milliliters/dp/B08P2DQW2B/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2UNDGBT0UO4S5&keywords=koch%2Bchemie%2Ball%2Bin%2Bone&qid=1699366719&sprefix=Koch%2BChemie%2Ba%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-6&th=1

If you have any questions let me know. I know my Ram was a PITA to get the paint to work with. Ford seems to be a lot more forgiving.

On my ram, I used a rotary on the bed and a spot on the door with Meguiars 105. Then I went to my Rupes 21" machine and bounced between 105 and Rupes Blue Course on the cutting. Koch Chemie H9.01 was used as well. Pads that I used were Meguiars red cutting microfiber, Meguiars Black Finishing microfiber, and a Rupes Blue wool pad. To finish before I coated it, I used Koch Chemie F6.01 and a white Rupes foam pad. The Yellow wasn't giving me the clarity I wanted. Then I coated it with Koch Chemie C0.02. It has been on there almost a year now. I love it.

Many Thanks for your time and information. I'll try your suggestions asap and post results.