DaveVY

This past weekend spent a day doing this: Before: After:

Currently around 4 months...

I would first talk it over with my Bride and expect that we would give it to help others.

It might be due to my OCD perfectionist tendencies but I don't like the idea of a bead of silicon caulk since I know that the silicon surface can tend to hold mold/mildew and other dirt - and getting a perfect smooth bead is difficult for me. So I what I am normally do for rinseless is use a non-Adams bucket (gasp!) so that I can skip the GG. In my earlier post I was stating what I did when using ALL Adam's products. I do not know the particulars of the method you mentioned but I NEVER put a used wet towel back in the rinseless bucket, hence I have no reservations not having a GG in there - I know my non-Adams and non-Gamma seal bucket is very clean so a GG is not needed. I love the Adams rinseless product as we have water restrictions here in central Florida every year. Makes washing the panels much better - though I still have to sneak in a quick hose wash for the wheels.

I use the grit guard when using the Adams Bucket as I find the gamma seal lid has a lip that makes it impossible to fully rinse/empty the bucket (and be assured that all dirt/grit is removed from the bucket).

I usually do not use the washer fluid - the exception is long road trips when getting road spray after a rain storm. But at the end of the day or when stopping to get gas will then get the glass cleaning cloth out and clean it properly. My Bride knows this... And in the rare occasion that she might use it she will tell me and then apologize for making me go through the work of cleaning up after it. :-)

Very cool! I still have lots to learn!

Great thread and pics! I have been missing from the forum for some time. Been getting involved with Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, FL. Great organization providing guide dogs for the visually impaired and providing service dogs for veterans - they do this at NO cost to the recipients of the dogs and they do not receive any gov't funding. In addition to being a great cause and helping make a huge difference in people's lives it has also been a great opportunity to get some fun puppy pics. Here are a couple - these are taken with a Canon 7D keeping the aperture wide open and using as much focal length as possible to reduce the depth of field. ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/80s, 100mm ISO 3200, f5.6, 1/50, 135mm ISO 3200, f3.5, 1/30s, 35mm We are now volunteer puppy raisers with Southeastern Guide Dogs - so you may get to see more puppy/dog pics in the coming months. :-)

I agree with the comments about not needing a DSLR. Using a DSLR will not produce noticeably better photos than a camera phone or a "point and shoot" pocket camera...unless you dedicate the time to study and learn how to use the DSLR. We have a DSLR and I love using it, but I also still use the iPhone for many pics since it is always with me (vs the DSLR which I don't take with me everywhere I go). This pic was taken with an iPhone in the morning hours. As I was walking into work I noticed the lighting and snapped this.

I ran out of waterless and have been trying diluted rinseless. IMO diluted rinseless is not as effective in removing bug guts (as others have said) and I also like the smell of the waterless much more than the rinseless. That rinseless smell sticks to my hands for more than a day, which if I liked the smell wouldn't be a bad thing but the rinseless smell is my least favorite. I like the rinseless product performance for being able to wash a car in the garage and also conform with the water restrictions when they are in effect. I like the waterless for pre-treating bug guts and also for quick touch ups on the garage kept car. (And also like the smell too)

I have lost some enjoyment and don't detail as much anymore. What triggered this for me was my neighbor cutting down the tree that provided my Saturday morning shade. Trying to wash and detail in the Florida sun is so blazing hot. But I have been missing detailing so I have been considering getting a good quality pop up canopy or two so I can have my Saturday morning shade back.

Removing badges is definitely a personal choice. I like at least some of the extra "noise" removed from a car but don't think it always looks good for every car/color combination. Even other items like the wheels and window tint can influence when debadging will look good. Sometimes I also like debadging for the purpose of removing "bragging" and being less conspicuous.

Reminds me of the "shrinky dink" arts product that I played with as a kid. Wonder what a 4 oz bottle would looks like... :-)

Welcome! Great looking Benz!

My brush is around 3 years old... Slightly darker than it was when new. I clean it every use with APC by liberally spraying it, letting it sit a couple minutes and then brushing a section of rough clean concrete. That roughness from the concrete seems to provide the agitation needed to clean some of the gunk from the bristles. Then a thorough flushing from the hose nozzle and it is ready to drip dry. For me the gunk has seemed to accumulate mostly when cleaning other's cars where they had heavy thick tire dressing.