avvblanc01

Just to put in my two cents supporting VRT and in and out spray, I use them to detail my truck engine and absolutely love the results.
It sees a LOT of dirt, dust, and the usual road grime but with those two products, I find that it stays cleaner much much longer than if I left bare plastic. 
They both do a fantastic job at repelling water and dust, and make subsequent cleaning really quick and easy! Very impressed 
 
 
As for shooting the hose in the engine bay, Ive done it a lot of times on a lot of cars and its totally fine. In fact, I hose out the engine on my trucks every four months or so with no issues. Its better than leaving them caked in dust and grime!  As long as you don't shoot the hose at the fuse box and electrical stuff for 20 minutes you'll be fine! haha

I'm a fan of their Cajun turkey breast but it doesn't clean my wheels as well as their deli mustard.

It sounds like you need counseling. And of course the best treatment is to face your addiction.  So get back out there and get to cleaning and polishing. You won't get better sitting inside. 

Just did this on the 2006 dodge ram recently bought. Mine were bad enough that they needed to be wet sanded first. 
I wet sanded with 3,000 grit sand paper, then did the two step correction that I would normally do on paint. After that, I topped the headlights with two coats of sealant.
It won't be a permanent fix, but they will stay clear for a few months. 

What kind of feels do these provoke to my fellow Adam's peoples? This is after a pH neutral foam wash because I just Machine Super Sealed it about 2-3 weeks prior and then Buttery V2 applied. 

WOW!  Untouched for 6 months with absolutely no maintenance, thats phenomenal guys.  I've said it once and I've said it again by and far the LPS is the best last step product in the entire Adams line, followed closely by HGG for maintenance.

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

We all have that friend that doesn't take care of their car. The ones that make us OCD perfectionists cringe and wince in pain.
I have one of these friends, and decided to give him a bottle of Liquid paint sealant this past christmas to use on his truck. Its a 2005 dodge ram with black paint, that at the time, was just beginning to show signs of clear coat failure since it has lived, and continues to live, its life out doors.
 
He washed his truck right after christmas, clayed it, and applied liquid paint sealant to the drivers side of the truck before deciding that this whole detailing thing was just too much work, leaving the rest of the truck unprotected. 
Fast forward to today (june aka six months later) he shows up at my house. His truck hasn't been washed since december when he applied the liquid paint sealant, so I decide to take matters into my own hands and wash the dang thing so I can sleep at night...
 
THIS my friends, is the ultimate test of Adams Liquid paint sealant. The photos you are about to see are of six month old Adam's liquid paint sealant that was hastily applied, and after application, the vehicle was not washed for SIX MONTHS, and lived the entirety of those six months outdoors. The sealant has seen rain, mud, dust, lots of southern California sun, and a ton of miles since application, but the stuff still beads water. I was completely amazed.
 
 
 
 
This is the side with NO sealant. (note the water is in a sheet)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
 
This is the side WITH six month old Adams liquid paint sealant: (note the beading)
 
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr
Untitled by Andrew Villablanca, on Flickr

I actually have both adams and megs soaps in the garage, and since I was washing a friend's car this weekend, decided to use the megs for the first time in a few months.
I seriously could not believe how much more megs soap I had to use to get close to the amount of foam I get from the blue adam's soap, and despite that, I ran out of water and soap in the bucket. Normally with the Adam's stuff, I have soapy water left over. 
 
Im not one to jump on a company band wagon, but adams soap is seriously amazing compared to the Megs stuff. 

^^^this^^^
 
 
I would love some die cut adam's stickers to throw on the cars!
preferably white since its super clean, simple, and minimal.         Any plans to make them?

So when you say "die-cuts", are you talking about ones like this?
 

Its not either/or Jason, I talkin' BOTH!  Free stickers with the new designs AND the logo stickers available for purchase.  Its win/win.
 
Here's my next sticker idea...
 

 
It may be more meme-like with the photo, so another option would be to use cartoon cars with one car door hitting the other car.

Welcome Brad!  Great questions!
 
The DeWalt machine that you got, I'm assuming it is a rotary buffer if it's running at that speed? If so, you will want to be very careful with that if you are new to polishing, as the heat it can generate can go straight through the clear down to the base coat of paint. Not all DA machines are "junk" as he said. The Cyclo Polisher offered here is an excellent dual head oscillating polisher that gives outstanding results. The Flex also offered here is another great option with slightly more correcting power than the Cyclo, but not as much versatility and more vibration. I personally own and use both. The Cyclo is perfectly balanced and does not fatigue my fingers or forearms like other DA polishers. There are a few other less costly options out there that can give results almost as good as these too.
 
As for polish, Adam's offers a very simple and effective two stage polish system. Orange Paint Correcting Polish with orange microfiber or orange foam pads will serve as the swirl and scratch remover. Then the white Paint Finishing Polish with white microfiber or white foam pads serves as the final stage polish to make the finish perfect and remove any tiny micro marring that the orange Paint Correcting Polish may leave on some clear coats with certain machines/pads. On some vehicles, you may not even need to go to the second step with the white PFP, or alternatively, if the finish isn't badly damaged in the first place, the white PFP may be enough to make it perfect and not need to use the more powerful Paint Correcting Polish. I hope that all makes sense.
 
Special waxes for black paint are mainly gimmicky marketing. Polishing with the correct type of polish and pad is what is going to remove scratches, swirl marks, and oxidation, and help bring back the deep, dark, black color of the paint, since you are smoothing out imperfections in the clear coat to bring back the true color.  
 
The wax part of the equation will offer protection and more depth to the finish after it has been polished...polishing does not offer any type of protection to the paint. Synthetic sealants and waxes like Adam's Liquid Paint Sealant and Buttery Wax can also be used in place of your typical carnuba-based wax, like the Americana and Patriot Wax offered by Adam's. Patriot Wax is more for your 'show car' finish on something that is garaged and maybe not driven every day.  It still lasts a while, but it won't have the longevity of something like Americana or Liquid Paint Sealant. LPS is going to offer the longest and most durable amount of protection that Adam's offers right now. Some people are seeing upwards of 6 months of water beading with it depending on the conditions you drive in. For the $100 vs. $70 between Patriot and Americana, the main difference is that the Patriot Wax is the finest wax Adam's has ever offered.  It's a concourse level wax, that goes on and off incredibly easy, even more so than Americana. It smells amazing, and offers incredible color and depth to the paint finish in my personal opinion. There's also a flash sale going on right now where the Patriot is only $74.99 plus another 15% off of that with the "15YEARS" discount coupon, but there's only 11 left on this deal as I'm typing this!
 
http://adamspolishes.com/shop/specials/flash-sale.html
 
Myself and many others on here like to do a full paint correction with this general process: Wash the vehicle with a good ph-neutral car shampoo and two-bucket wash method with grit guards in the buckets (all also offered here) to help prevent swirls while washing. The vehicle will most likely need claying with a clay bar and detail spray as a lubricant for the clay if it has not been properly polished in a while.  I believe Adam says the rule of thumb is to clay the vehicle twice a year. This will pull the layer of wax off, along with all of the little imperfections like tar, rail dust, bug guts, bird droppings, etc out of the clear coat, to have a perfectly clean, smooth surface to begin the polishing process. Some people like to wipe the vehicle down with isopropyl alcohol after claying, but it's not 100% necessary.
 
Then you would begin the polishing process, starting in a small test area with the white Paint Finishing Polish. If it gives the desired results you are looking for, then you can continue doing the rest of the vehicle in 2'x2' sections. If it does not give the desired results, then you re-do the area with the stronger orange Paint Correcting Polish, and then again with the white PFP. Since all 3 of your vehicles are black, and it's very difficult to keep black vehicles swirl-free, you might find that you need to go straight to the orange PCP. After the paint is corrected, that is when you want to put on the protective coat. Some will just throw on a coat of Liquid Paint Sealant and be done. Others that want the ultimate shine will do a layer of Liquid Paint Sealant, followed by a layer of Brilliant Glaze (the glaze just helps to slightly fill in any imperfections that may not come out with the machine polishing and is only a temporary product), and then finally a layer of Americana or Patriot Wax to help seal in the Brilliant Glaze and give the finish that eye-scorching POP!
 
I know I typed a lot, and it is a lot to take in, but hopefully that helps answer some or all of your questions.  If I've made anything too confusing, just let me know, but I'm sure Dylan and others will chime in with expert advice too!
 
Edit: Adam also offers a full series of videos covering nearly every aspect of detailing a vehicle.  Very informative and thorough video series!  http://adamspolishes.com/video

that looks AWESOME! 

I find there is to much work with a microfiber pad and the flex. It seems to "pull" to much since it is a forced rotation polisher. I stick with Adams new wavy pattern pads and some older style "flat" Adams pads that work great.No were near as much work and they glide smoother over the paint.I use my microfiber pads with my porter cable x7424

Come on guys. He's new in the forum and everyone jumps down his throat about using a different brand. Who cares. Everyone starts somewhere with some brand.... Everyone uses different brands, I myself use about 4 different brands, Adam's being my main one. If we can help people out here maybe they'll use more Adam's products but if everyone is going to chime in to just say "Wrong Place" then thats pointless, counter productive and will more than likely drive new people away. If I joined a forum and immediately was treated this way I'd probably be "curt" too. This isn't what Adam's Forums is.
 
Dan's got a good write up if you're interested in Adam's Correcting System. Paint Correcting Polish can be used with M205 as well.

I run my Flex at 5 to 6 for most paint corrections. I still use Adams Sever Swirl Remover (green in color and has been discontinued) for some real bad paint on 5 to 6, then the orange paint correcting polish usually on 5 and then the white paint finishing polish usually on 4 to 5. It will vary from vehicle to vehicle depending on paint condition. Don't forget you can vary the speed with the Flex as well so be careful on corners and edges at full speed.Go slow but keep it moving. 

everything came in the mail today! 
 
Flex polisher by 1991 1st gen, on Flickr

Yes, get some lights!  I think the halogen lights work better than LED, but they do get very hot.  This is a 50/50 of a white Toyota,  I know, it looks yellow, but it IS white!
 

Thanks for all the advice!
The truck is regularly clayed, waxed, and sealed as needed so thankfully claying it again for the PC should take me too long. 
I do plan on breaking up the project though since its going to be a slow process as I learn what I'm doing. Hoping to take maybe two days doing it.
 
thanks for the tip on the lights. My garage has fluorescent overhead lighting, and then Im planning on using some extra LED spot lighting to help me out. Hopefully Ill be able to see everything pretty well? 
Im curious to see how hard it is going to be to spot the flash point though. 
 
MC2HILL that photo is getting me all excited! I can't wait for everything to come in the mail!
 
I love photography, so don't worry, Ill be posting more pictures than you guys ever wanted to see of the truck haha

Thanks for all the advice!
The truck is regularly clayed, waxed, and sealed as needed so thankfully claying it again for the PC should take me too long. 
I do plan on breaking up the project though since its going to be a slow process as I learn what I'm doing. Hoping to take maybe two days doing it.
 
thanks for the tip on the lights. My garage has fluorescent overhead lighting, and then Im planning on using some extra LED spot lighting to help me out. Hopefully Ill be able to see everything pretty well? 
Im curious to see how hard it is going to be to spot the flash point though. 
 
MC2HILL that photo is getting me all excited! I can't wait for everything to come in the mail!
 
I love photography, so don't worry, Ill be posting more pictures than you guys ever wanted to see of the truck haha