A thick microfiber is best used for cleaning and dusting, while a thicker towel with a tight weave and short strands will hold a lot of water and can be used to remove a lot of water after washing and speed drying. A thin, smooth towel is better at polishing the finish after waxing or paint correction and is also a good choice for cleaning glass and mirrors because it will leave less streaking on the glass.

For cleaning sensitive surfaces like radio faces and lenses, use a loose weave, thin towel to avoid dragging grit across and scratching the surface.  A 16×16 towel folded in forth gives you several cleaning surfaces and fits comfortably in your grip.

While piped stitching around the edges can help the towel last longer, it is also more likely to leave scratch marks when used in paint correction and wax application.  Look for towels that are 80% polyester and 20% polyamide. GSM, or grams per square meter, is a measurement of the weight of the microfiber material and helps determine the towel’s purpose.

3D has recently started selling a wider variety of microfiber towel thicknesses.  We now have several at 230 GSM, 300GSM, 350 GSM and even a style at 400 GSM that has long and short Terry on the two sides.  Our new microfiber towels are also edgeless, so they will leave fewer towel marks.

The post The Right Towel for the Job appeared first on 3D Products.

Firstly, you don’t actually remove scratches. The process works by removing the clear coat around the scratch, so it’s no longer visible. Just as you don’t remove a valley, you take away the mountains around it. If there is a lot of damage, you may want to start by checking how deep the clear coat is with a meter.

If the damage is bad and there is still a lot of clear, you can sand the surface to even it out. If there isn’t too much damage, or there is not a lot of clear, you won’t want to sand the surface. Alternatively, instead of sanding, you may want to clay the surface to remove contaminates.

After clay or sanding, you can cut the surface out with cutting compound. We recommend our AAT 501 or ACA 500. While you can work faster with a wool pad, you can also use a stiff foam pad if you desire.

Next, you will polish the surface with a finishing polish, like our AAT 502 or ACA 520. Carefully inspect your microfiber towel when you go to remove the polish to ensure there isn’t any dirt or debris that could scratch the paint. Finally, you’re ready for a wax or a sealant to finish the whole process off!

The post Basic Detailing Correction appeared first on 3D Products.

You can either get a dilution system that adds the correct amount of chemical to the water as you fill your spray bottle, or you can measure and mix the chemical and water in the spray bottle. So, what is the easiest way to do this? Here are some helpful tips:

Car soaps can simply be added to the bottle of your foamer. Mixing deionized (DI) water with concentrated chemicals is best for car washes as it doesn’t have minerals floating in it that can cause residual water spot staining. If you’ve ever washed a car with water from a garden hose and let it dry on the vehicle, or if sprinklers hit your car overnight, you might see these watermarks after the water dries. This is a very important step when mixing a car soap or window cleaner for your car.

Fill the bottle to the correct amount of DI water FIRST, then add the correct amount of chemical. This technique will reduce the foaming that will occur if you add the chemical to the bottle first.

Get dispenser pumps that replace the cap for your chemicals that need to be diluted at a high rate, like our 3D NANO chemicals. Most of these pumps produce approximately 1oz per pump and are available with more exact measures. For closer ratios like 4:1, you can mark a line at the bottom fourth of your bottle. You can learn more about our NANO products here.

The great feature of diluting chemicals is that you can dilute to meet the needs of specific jobs.  You would not want a potent chemical mix to clean the headlights, just as you would not want a weak mix to clean the engine. Just don’t forget to properly label the spray bottle after filling it, so that everyone can tell what it contains.

The post Dilution Techniques: Cleaning Chemicals appeared first on 3D Products.

The new SUPER EMULSIFIED, ULTRA CONCENTRATED 3D NANO DRUMS formulations of soaps, cleaners, degreasers, and waxes not only produce higher quantities than a 55 gallon concentrated drum, but deliver even better results.

NANO DRUM ADVANTAGES

• SUPER ULTRA-CONCENTRATED: Low viscosity 6 Gallon NANO DRUMS produce more product than a concentrated 55-gallon drum… GOOD-BYE 55! 1 Gallon NANO DRUMS produce more product than two 5 gallon concentrated pails.

• SIMPLE STRAIGHT – FORWARD DILUTIONS: NANO DRUMs are low viscosity, clear and micro-homogenized, so they will not separate. NANO DRUMS don’t need to be mixed or poured into other containers, or remixed and then fed into dilutions systems or car wash systems.

• EASY INTEGRATION WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS: NANO DRUMS integrate directly into existing car wash systems. The super-concentrated, micro-homogenized formulas are fed directly into any system with a simple adjustment.

• SAVES TREMENDOUS SPACE: A 1-gallon NANO DRUM replaces two 5-gallon pails, and a 6-gallon NANO DRUMS will replace the much larger 55-gallon drums, so every detail shop, body shop, dealership or car wash will save 9 to 10 times the space with 3D NANO DRUMS. NANO DRUMS also reduce the chance of injury.

• SUPER LOW SHIPPING COSTS: 1- and 6-gallon NANO DRUMS will replace 2 – 5 gallon pails and 55-gallon drums, which are 9 to 10 times larger and heavier, so shipping and delivery cost will be drastically reduced. NANO DRUMS can be shipped through FedEx, UPS, and other similar carriers.

• OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE: The new super emulsified, ultra-concentrated 3D NANO DRUM formulations of soaps, cleaners, degreasers, and waxes not only produce higher quantities than a 55-gallon drum, but deliver even better results than our regular strength concentrated products. 

Available Products:

SUPER DUTY DEGREASER: #1001G01, 1001G06 – DK. Red color, Apple scent

Cleans exterior surfaces, engines, floors, machinery, and tools. Super concentrated, fast acting, powerful cleaning degreaser quickly loosens grease, tar, bugs, grime, and tough dirt. Super easy rinse-off, safe on painted surfaces.

SUPER CITRUS APC: #1091G01, 1091G06 – Yellow color, Orange scent

Powerful interior and exterior organic All-Purpose Cleaner uses D-Limonene to quickly loosen and clean dirt, grease, grime, tough stains from seat belts, leather, carpet, and upholstery. Super Citrus APC is strong enough to remove tough engine and wheel grease and grim. It’s easy to rinse-off and safe to use on fabric, carpet, leather, upholstery, plastic, rubber, metal, and painted surfaces.

SUPER WHEEL CLEANER: #1101G01, 1101G06 – No color, No scent

Super concentrated, environmentally safe, strong wheel cleaner removes, grease, oxidation, brake dust, grime, and tough dirt. Easy rinse-off. Safe for clear coated, painted, and aluminum rims. Does not contain hydrofluoric or sulfuric acids.

SUPER SOAP: #2021G01, 2021G06 – Purple color, Grape scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated, pH balanced cleaning soap can be used in automated car washes or by hand. This highly concentrated formula delivers rich, full bodied dense soap foam that easily removes grime, road film and dirt without dulling painted finish. This biodegradable formula delivers easy rinse-off and simple straight-forward dilution.

SUPER GLASS CLEANER: #9001G01, 9001G06 – Blue color, No scent

Industrial strength, super 50 to 1 concentration. Alcohol based, ammonia free Non-streaking, fog and smudge resistant formula is safe for tinted windows. Works great on windshields, mirrors, plastic, and headlights.

SUPER PRE-SOAK: #3121G01, 3121G06 – Grey Color, Lemon scent

High pH super Ultra-Concentrated cleaning degreaser quickly breaks down and removes grime, road film and dirt without harming the painted finish. Super easy rinse-off, simple straight-forward dilution.

SUPER RED POLISH WAX: #3021G06 – Red color, Bubble Gum scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated, pH balanced polish foam for automated car washes. This super concentrated formula delivers a thick, rich super foamy amphoteric surfactant that will add luster with water soluble wax. Its biodegradable formula will easily rinse-off while adding shine.

SUPER YELLOW POLISH WAX: #3031G06 – Bubble Gum scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated, pH balanced, polish foam for automated car washes. This super concentrated formula delivers a thick, rich super foamy amphoteric surfactant that will add luster with water soluble wax. Its biodegradable formula will easily rinse-off while adding shine.

SUPER GREEN POLISH WAX: #3041G06 – Bubble Gum scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated, pH balanced, polish foam for automated car washes. This super concentrated formula delivers a thick, rich super foamy amphoteric surfactant that will add luster with water soluble wax. Its biodegradable formula will easily rinse-off while adding shine.

SUPER SEALER WAX: #3101G06 – Tan color, No scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated clear coat sealer creates a water beading paint protection barrier. Super Sealer Wax is a simple straight-forward dilution.

SUPER DRYING AGENT: #3111G06 – Brown color, No scent

Super Ultra-Concentrated formula. This biodegradable product, reduces drying time and eliminates the chance of water spotting, which also saves labor to dry a vehicle.

The post Nano Drums – Forget those 55-Gallon Drums appeared first on 3D Products.

For instance, if you want to avoid creating a lot of heat we recommend our Dark Purple Spider Pad. When you combine the glide with the ceramic abrasive technology, the friction will remove scratches without a lot of micro-marring. You can then finish up with a finishing pad to get to the finished product much faster.

If you’re looking for heavy scratch removal and there’s a lot of clear left, you’ll want to use a wool pad (a trick for polishing products). However, if there is not a lot of clear left, you won’t want to use a heavy cutting pad. Our light purple pads, either spider or non-

spider, will get pretty much everything done in one step. You’ll see around 80% scratch removal, light micro-marring, and all the holograms out with a great shine.

As far as the best overall pads for cutting and polishing, you’ll want to use a wool pad on a rotary or our Dark Purple K56SDP pad, and microfiber pads on a Dual Action Polisher. The best part of using 3D ONE is that there is no petroleum or kerosene in it that will break down foam pads, meaning you will get a longer life out of the foam pad.

The bottom line is we suggest getting a wool pad, heavy cut pad, polishing pad, and finishing pad so with 3D ONE, all you must do is change the pad. You can find 3D ONE and all of these pads at our shop.

The post What Pad Should I Use with 3D ONE? appeared first on 3D Products.

Soap specifically designed for use on cars is more refined and specific to car paint, whereas dish soap will strip off the dirt, dull the paint over time, and remove protective wax you might have on the finish. Dish soap depends a lot on the hot water to enhance its cleaning power due to its low-cost, low quality ingredients.

We formulated our 3D car soap with high-quality, pH-balanced ingredients that foam well and remove dirt and grim from your vehicle. Our soap is exceptionally easy to rinse, conserving not just your time, but precious water as well.

Also, thanks to its high lubricity, you can avoid scratching the paint when washing and finish with a slick surface. There are a lot of high alkaline car wash soaps out there that may be harsh to your hands and rough on your automobile, whereas 3D Car soap is gentle enough that you can safely wash your dishes with it.  Like most 3D products, our car soap is environmentally safe and has a pleasant scent. For basic washing, we recommend our Pink Car Soap; however, if you want a little wax protection with your wash be sure to try out 3D Wash N Wax.

The post Can I Wash My Car with Dish Soap? appeared first on 3D Products.

Firstly, 3D ONE will replace HD Cut and HD Polish. Not only will it replace them, but it will do a much better job than the two products combined. HD Cut used an older Nano technology, while ONE features alpha ceramic technology of aluminum oxide fused with ceramic. The aluminum is a conductor of heat and ceramic insulates heat, meaning they counteract each other. You won’t have to worry about burning the surface nearly as much as you would with Nano technology or abrasives that only have the aluminum oxide.

ONE is also not HD Adapt with a fancy label; in fact, Adapt had some of the older Nano abrasive technology and we often heard that it would gum up heavy cut pads. ONE is actually designed to do everything Adapt was meant to, but without the associated flaws. Additionally, ONE won’t cut as well as ACA 500, but will polish similar to ACA 520. These professional body shop products are specifically designed for a single purpose and combining the function as we did with ONE means you won’t get as pure a result as you would from these individually.

But perhaps the number one question we’ve received is how ONE differs from HD Speed. 3D ONE does not contain a wax component, meaning it had no fillers, whereas Speed features Montan-based wax. Speed is a polish and wax product, making it a great secondary product to use after ONE if you see some towel marks left after.

Because ONE does not have any wax, you’ll want to finish the job with a product that does contain a wax or sealant. Since ONE cleans up the surface and creates a nice high gloss/shine, your wax, coating, or sealant can properly bond to the paint and will last longer. We recommend HD Speed or HD Poxy to finish it off.

The post What Makes 3D ONE Different? appeared first on 3D Products.

As a company whose paint correction system is found in several automotive, marine, aerospace, and recreational vehicle OEMs (like Fiat, Maserati, Kia, Hyundai, Mercedes, and Toyota), we recognize that even with the most sophisticated computerized spray/paint systems and debris-controlled spray booths, facilities are not free of contaminants, paint runs, and uneven or unmatched texture. It would be unfair to think that any collision repair facility would be able to effectively or financially stay within the same guidelines that OEM facilities do.

Even with their strict standards and guidelines, every automotive OEM facility requires a minimum number of steps on every gloss-painted exterior portion of the vehicle to achieve the factory finish, and every collision repair facility should be no different.

How to achieve a factory-level finish:

1. With proper lighting, identify any defects in the paint o r clear coat (i.e. debris, drip/run, uneven texture, unmatched texture and/or fisheyes).
2. Remove the above-mentioned defects with the appropriate refinish sandpaper. Use 3D sanding discs (p1200, p1500 and/or p2000 grits using either a D/A sander or by hand) for the most effective debris removal. Note: heavier grits may be needed to remove runs
3. To achieve a higher gloss, a refining sanding step is performed with a wet p3000 sanding pad. This refines sanding marks from step 2 while reducing the buffing time in step 4 and provides a more level surface to enhance gloss.
4. Using either a wool or foam pad and rubbing compound (we recommend 3D ACA X-tra Cut Compound #500), level the clear coat or painted surface until sanding marks are completely removed.
5. Using ONLY a foam pad and polish (use 3D ACA Finishing Polish #520) level the swirl marks left behind from the compounding step until desired clarity or gloss is achieved.

Finally, an additional process is needed to provide protection from the elements and extend the life of the paint or clearcoat. This achieved by using a D/A polisher, foam pad, and a glaze or wax, like 3D AAT Correction Glaze #505 is preferred.

The post How to: Properly Achieve a Factory Finish appeared first on 3D Products.

The old school method of using automotive wax was to get the short fat can of paste wax and hand apply a thin layer in circular polishing patterns, while on the other extreme, many go for a “clear armor” for their finish.  Which way is best, or can you have both?

A traditional paste wax would contain Carnauba wax, which is made up of myricyl cerotate and small quantities of cerotic acid and myricyl alcohol and is also

used to make candles and lipstick. Carnauba wax provides solid protection and the glossy, wet look due to the amount of residual oil it contains but will also provide the shortest amount of protection, between 50 days and 8 weeks.

When the label claims 100% Carnauba wax, it refers to the purity of the original wax used as an ingredient, not that the container is pure Carnauba wax. A paste wax will have a long open, or workable time before flashing over.

Did you know you can apply a paste wax with a machine polisher? 3D has a Carnauba Paste wax and a Carnauba liquid wax, but if you want a truly wet looking layer of liquid wax protection consider our Cherry Wax. Liquid Carnauba waxes are gentler on your paint finish

and generally easier to handle and apply.

Some 3D Products contain Montan wax, which is a mineral wax instead of an organic wax. The biggest difference is the melting temperature. For Carnauba it is 179.6°F, whereas the melting point for Montan wax is close to 200°F.

A common misconception is that by applying a wax on the finish, you are making your car shiny. While a basic wax will temporarily fill in some light scratches, to make the finish shiny you need to polish it, and to remove medium to heavy scratches you need to compound it.

To even out the finish and correct severe clear coat damage, you will be removing a super thin layer of clear coat by sanding it with fine sandpaper. You can also remove a lot of contamination from your paint by claying the clear coat. An easy way to get some quick paint correction is to use a cleaner wax or corrective wax, many of which contain synthetic wax.

3D SPEED is a lighting fast correction product that is designed to also leave a wax layer. A higher speed setting on your polisher gives more correction, while a lower speed is perfect if you are primarily applying 3D SPEED for a wax protection layer. AAT 505 Correction Glaze will also correct the surface and leave a protective layer behind.

If you’re after a longer-term solution than wax provides, a sealant coating will provide better protection and, as it dries, will tighten to the surface and create a strong bond with the paint. The downside is it can be harder to apply, and some sealants must be applied by a professional. Sealants are generally more expensive to purchase than a wax. While 3D currently has one product in this category, HD NITRO SEAL, we are currently developing a ceramic coating class sealant that should be available by 2019.

Some car owners believe that applying a sealant over a wax or a wax over a sealant will give them more protection, but applying a sealant over your wax, you will be defeating the point of both processes. Conversely, if you apply a wax over sealant it doesn’t hurt anything, but it is certainly not necessary.

Whether by hand or machine, liquid or paste, you want to spread a thin, even layer from edge to edge across the surface. It will flash, or cure out to an opaque, flat, and less reflective appearance.  After it flashes, wipe of the residue and enjoy the view!  Some feel that using the circular application by hand or machine leaves swirl marks, although it is possible the swirls were left by improper polishing before the wax was even applied.

Wax or sealant may in some manner protect your clear coat from UV rays, but any chemical UV protection has a limited lifespan. No wax or sealant is permeant and it will erode over time; therefore, making it a part of your routine is essential.

The post Wax vs Sealant appeared first on 3D Products.

The main concept of a car wash is not to strip the protective wax but to clean the dust and dirt off off the paint, tires, and trim of the vehicle. It is simple and easy to clean the exterior with a waterless car wash. This way, you can be clean and green, by cleaning your car and not waste water. You can even use waterless in your garage. If you are cleaning a vehicle with a lot of mud or salty sludge, you will need a car soap and water.

If you are going to do basic car wash with water; you can get soap, a bucket and a wash mitt. Eventually, you will want to have a tank for DI water and a pressure washing system with a foaming gun. For the tires, you will want a stiff round brush to scrub out the wheels and tires. One your first jobs, just clean the wheels and tires with soap and an all around degreaser. To dry the car, get a medium size chamois. Later you will be getting a claying towel for some surface deep cleaning. As you start your business, make it easy on yourself by using a liquid wax; It is faster and can even be done with a machine when you advance. An express wax is a good start because it comes in a spray and flashes over quickly. When you later need more
protection, go for a longer lasting wax. When the car is clean, you can put dressing on the tires and trim. You can use an all around degreaser to clean the engine bay at first, but later you will want a powerful degreaser for this job. A round flexible brush also helps in the engine bay.

An outstanding option when considering degreasers is an orange or citrus based degreaser. A degreaser is a cleaner that cuts through the gunk and buildup. With different dilutions, or watering the cleaner down, you could use it to clean just about anything. The citrus base also gives your work a natural clean smell vs a heavy chemical smell.

For the interior, you need at least a vacuum with a crevice tool. Also, Get a good all around degreaser, a bundle of microfiber towels, and three brushes that are dedicated to the interior work. You’ll need an all around stiff brush, a softer upholstery brush, and a detail brush. As you are working faster and time is money, consider a carpet extractor machine. You will also want a dressing to protect the dash and door panels after they are cleaned. Don’t forget the windows;
Inside and out.

This will get you started down the road to cleaning cars and making them look like new.

Here is a list of what you need:

• Bucket
• Wash mitt
• Hose
• Vacuum
• Pressure washer
• Foam gun
• Tire brush
• Chamois
• Dressing
• Microfiber towels 1.49 ea
• Int brushes
• Car Soap

Pink Car Soap – $13.99 16oz

Waterless Car Wash – $15.99 24oz

Orange Degreaser – $14.99 24oz

Express Wax – $9.99 24oz

Cherry Wax – $12.99

Ultra Protectanct – $16.99 24oz

Engine Degreaser: Grand Slam $25.99 1 Gal

Window Cleaner: Glass Cleaner $9.99

There are also a few good all around cleaning videos:

3D Products

Car Care & Professional Detailing Made Simple

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