Auto Detailing Guide - Detailing Dictionary
The definitions below were specifically created to help define various detailing terms, they are not general definitions. Understanding these detailing terms is critical to ensuring you have the information you need to detail at a high level. We recommend reading all of these definitions in addition to reading through the rest of our Detailing Guide and our Ask a Pro Detailer Blog.
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303 Brand
- Since 1980, when the brand was developed originally for the aerospace/aviation industry, 303 has been the premium choice for avid boaters, car enthusiasts, homeowners, etc. 303 products offer a diverse line of protectants and cleaners designed to keep the things you love looking and performing like new. From Protectants to Detailers, 303's top of the line products have been exceeding the highest expectations of even the most avid users. They can help you clean and protect almost your entire interior of your vehicle including carpets, seats, console, leather, etc. Not only are 303 products great for automobiles they are recommended by manufacturers of boat/RV awning, spa cover manufacturers, outdoor furniture manufacturers, 303 products are trusted and recommended everywhere. In fact, 303 Fabric Guard is the only fabric guard product recommended by leading outdoor manufacturer, Sunbrella for water repellency retreatment of their fabrics. 303 products is owned and manufactured by Gold Eagle Co, headquartered in Chicago, IL. Gold Eagle Co. was founded in 1932, and is the manufacturer of several leading brands, including STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer, HEET Gas-Line Antifreeze, and104+ Octane Boost. This great brand has created so many high quality products you are going to love!
3D Brand
- With over two decades of research and development 3D Car Care has established a solid name as a leader in the car wash, detailing, and car care industry. 3D works hard to provide innovative products at a great value to their customers. Products like the Speed (polish and protect) have taken the detailing world by storm and showed off their high-quality, value-based product development. With a large variety of products, you will find everything you need from shampoos to dressings, to polishes and much more!
3M Brand
- 3M is a global fortune 500 company whose many innovations have improved the daily life of people all over the world. They have made products that allow you to drive at night easier, made buildings safer, and made consumer electronics lighter, less energy-intensive and less harmful to the environment. 3M is always coming up with new innovative ideas that will continue to help shape the world as we know it.
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Abrasive
- A particle suspended in a liquid used to polish or compound paint.
- Aluminum Oxide particles attached to paper to form sand paper.
Adenna Brand
- Adenna founder Maxwell Lee bridged markets and cultures when his U.S. based company partnered with his uncle's Malaysian glove factory to bring affordable, quality gloves to the masses. You will find various material makeups and thickness constructions, allowing you to have the best glove on hand for any detailing step you are performing!
Adhesion
- The force between two objects that are stuck together.
"The paint has good adhesion to the substrate."
Anodized
- A metallic surface that has been electrically treated to produce a cosmetically pleasing, corrosion resistant finish.
APC
- All Purpose Cleaner. A cleaner that can be used in many situations for cleaning multiple surfaces.
APEX Steam Brand
- APEX Steam works hard to provide their customers with high-quality steam cleaners to help them save money and valuable time while on the job. Skipping on harmful chemicals, APEX steam cleaners will help you clean various surfaces using only high-temperature steam. APEX makes several high quality models that come standard essential accessories included with each unit and a fantastic warranty, APEX Steam is a company you will want to work with.
Applicator Pad
- A pad used to apply product. This could be a coating, sealant, wax, or anything else that is applied to a surface of a car, inside or out.
Aquatek Brand
- Aquatek Coatings are designed in the USA and made in Japan. The brand was founded by two passion driven detailers with a no-nonsense approach and a goal to provide customer service, value and quality products that professionals can depend on. As former reps and installers in the coating industry, they know the frustrations on both sides of the coating business. Aquatek works hard to provide what they want most as installers and as a coating manufacturer.
Autofiber Brand
- Autofiber is a family run business based in San Diego California. They have been designing, manufacturing, wholesaling and distributing the highest quality microfiber cleaning products for over 20 years and there is no end in sight. From their extremely popular Dreadnaught drying towel to their Saver applicators, Autofiber prides themselves on providing their customers with unique, high quality microfiber items. Everyone needs high quality microfiber when detailing, so look no further than Autofiber!
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Backing Plate
- The plate that is attached to a polisher. Polishing pads are attached to this plate with hook and loop material.
Baked Dry
- A term used to describe the use of heat to accelerate the drying or curing of paint, clear coat, chemicals or film.
Base Coat
- Also referred to as "Color Coat," the layer(s) of paint on top of the primer and below the clear coat.
Blackfire Brand
- Blackfire produces high quality detailing supplies that really help you take your detailing to the next level. Many of the products were upgraded at the end of 2017 as they revamped this already great line of products and refreshed the packaging. They also are now known as Blackfire Pro Detailer's Choice, to drive home their mission of creating quality products professional detailers will enjoy. They have some outstanding waxes, sealants, polishes, shampoos, quick detailers, wheel cleaners, tire dressings and more. Each product is uniquely well balanced so it's easy to use and achieves top-notch results.
BLO Car Dryer Brand
- Air drying your car has a lot of advantages over towel drying and BLO has released affordable, high quality options. You can find anything from handheld units great for cracks and crevices, to larger units designed to quickly blow standing water off your vehicle. BLO is dedicated to not only offering high quality units, but innovating over the years to guarantee they are always offering the best!
Blotting
- The process of placing a towel down on a surface and lifting it straight up when drying rather than dragging the towel over the surface, to help reduce the chance of marring the paint.
Blower
- Gas or electric power tool that forces warm air through a round tube to concentrate the air in one direction. They are commonly used to dry cracks, crevices, grills, spoilers, and other areas tough to dry with a towel.
Blowerband Brand
- Blowerband specializes in unique silicone bands, that attach to your leaf blowers and the Stubby Nozzle Leaf Blower Nozzles. This simple tool helps transform leaf blowers into tools you can use to dry vehicles and the silicone tip protects your vehicles paint from any scratches in the process. Using Blowerband helps you save money using a tool to dry our vehicles that many of us already have on hand!
Body Shop Safe
- Describes a chemical which will not interfere with the process of painting a car (i.e. cause fisheyes, adhesion problems, or other unwanted side effects).
Brush
- A tool comprised of either natural or synthetic bristles to displace dry particulates or agitate liquid cleaning chemicals. Commonly used on soft surfaces like carpets, mats, fabric seats, soft convertible tops and leather. Usually has a handle for hand usage but some brushes can attach to buffers.
Buff and Shine Brand
- Buff and Shine was founded by Richard Umbrell in the 1980's after he listened to his father complain about how poorly some pads were made for detailers. Richard designed and tested some pads that far surpassed some "leading pads" and thus a business was born. As the business evolved they developed a philosophy to focus on quality, listen to the users and improve the technology. They custom designed tools to make some of the best pads possible and detailers have been loving them for decades now.
Buff Brite Brand
- From innovative polishing lights and vacuum attachments, Buff Brite has taken their 40+ years of detailing experience and put that knowledge into products to increase the productivity of every detailer. The innovation will not stop at the Flamethrower and Fur-eel, Buff Brite is always working on the next and best!
Buffer
- A power tool which can be a rotary machine or a dual action machine. Used for applying protection, buffing, polishing, or sanding paint or clear coat.
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C6 Ceramics Brand
- C6 Ceramics works hard to make unparalleled gloss and hydrophobics a possibility. Utilizing state-of-the-art technologies, C6 has developed and will continue to develop high quality coatings and other coating based products.
Car Candy Brand
- Car Candy was started in 2010 and manufactures automotive detailing chemicals and supplies in Lakeland Florida. Their product lineup aims to offer high quality products at a great value to professional detailers and enthusiasts alike.
Carnauba
- A type of wax, commonly sourced from Brazil, which is mixed with other ingredients to form a paste or liquid automotive wax.
CarPro Brand
- CarPro has developed some of the most exciting products in the detailing industry that are loved by professional detailers and weekend detailers. They offer a wide range of detailing products including shampoos, tar remover, contaminant remover, glass polish, polishes, ceramic coatings, trim protection and so much more. The revolutionary IronX and Cquartz products combined with other top notch items have quickly made them an industry leader that detailers simply can't get enough of. Check out the CarPro products today!
CCS Pads
- A patented technology of Lake Country Mfg. which uses groups of closed foam cells on the surface of a buffing pad which do not absorb polishes or waxes.
Chemical Guys Brand
- Chemical Guys is committed to providing high quality detailing products that produce only the highest quality results. For over 30 years they have manufactured and distributed products to every kind of detailer around the world. They produce a wide variety of waxes, sealants, glazes, polishes, metal polishes, degreasers, dressings and so much more. Best of all Chemical Guys constantly refine their products and develops new ones, so you always have the latest and greatest. Chemical Guys keeps their finger on the pulse of the detailing community, which helps them develop products on the cutting edge of detailing technology. Their wide range of products is sure to help you throughout your detailing process. Try some of the Chemical Guys products and you'll know why they have a worldwide following.
Clay Bar
- A soft and malleable synthetic bar that can remove contamination from smooth and non-porous automotive surfaces (i.e. glass, clear coat). You must spray clay lube on the surface beforehand so the bar will glide over the surface safely.
Clay Lube
- Lubricant specifically made to assist a clay bar to glide over the surface it is being used on.
Clay Magic Brand
- Clay Magic produces some of the finest clay bars in the detailing industry. Clay Magic is the original, seven patented clay bar that was developed during the early 1990s. Clay Magic started making clay bars to help safely clean vehicles from the everyday contaminants that your vehicle comes in contact with. Contaminants such as brake dust, rail dust, industrial fall out, tree sap, paint overspray, bug smear, road grime, etc. can leave your vehicles surface dirty and rough to the touch. Clay Magic clay bars help safely remove these contaminants from your vehicle so it can be optically clear and aesthetically pleasing. Simply spray clay lube (quick detailer) over a small area and then glide the bar side to side and you'll instantly notice the surface is cleaner and smoother. It's safe to use on almost all paint, glass and clear coated surfaces.
Cleaner Wax
- A type of wax containing a chemical paint cleanser to remove very minor surface defects and contaminant build ups while leaving a layer of protection at the same time.
Clear Bra / Paint Protection Film
- Urethane film applied to painted surfaces to preserve them, specifically preventing chips and scratches.
Clear Coat
- Paint without color. It is the final coat in modern paint systems applied on top of paint to preserve it.
Coating
- Any product that adds measurable thickness to the top of paint, and creates a cross linked barrier with extended durability.
Collinite Brand
- Collinite is located in Utica, New York and was founded in 1936 by Charles H. Collins. Collinite has a long standing heritage to quality products. They believe that many manufacturers have been looking past the quality of their own products, instead focusing on marketing. Collinite took advantage of this and invested its time into quality of production. All of Collinite's products are made in the USA and hand poured in small kettle-sized quantities to ensure top shelf quality. The quality of Collinite products spread like wildfire via word-of-mouth and after 1994 and business really picked up. Along the way Collinite products collected 5 first place awards in industry-wide product tests. This success all came without advertising, modern packaging, and an internal sales force. Collinite products truly stand for "It's what's inside that counts."
Colourlock Brand
- With many years of research and development, coupled with a strong desire to deliver good, honest and efficient products has led Colourlock to become a leader in the automotive, furniture and leather goods industries. From leather cleaners, conditioners, protectants, dyes, along with fabric cleaners and protectors, Colourlock has various products in their product line to help you tackle not only detailing steps but around the house repairs as well.
Compound
- A paste or cream containing aggressive abrasive particles designed to quickly remove noticeable defects in the paint or clear coat.
Contaminant
- Any foreign particle rested, embedded, or bonded to any part of a vehicle that would ideally be removed when cleaning.
Counterweight
- The component in a Dual Action polisher that balances the eccentric orbital motion of the tool.
CR Spotless Brand
- CR Spotless is committed to providing you quality water that will not leave watermarks while cleaning your home, automobile, boat, etc. They produce high quality water filtration systems that de-ionize water and remove impurities. The CR Spotless water filtration systems allow you to wash without fear of watermarks and you don't even have to dry the surface. This type of innovation has made CR Spotless the premier name in the industry. Try one of their portable or wall mounted units and use it all around your home and vehicles.
Cure
- The action of a paint or coating cross-linking to form a stable matrix or film. Gases will evaporate from the surfaces during this process so you should not protect the surface until this process is complete.
Cure time
- The duration of the curing process, or length of time between application of a product and that product reaching a fully stable state.
Cutting
- Removing the top layer of paint or clear coat via polishing or compounding. This is done most effectively with a buffer.
Cutting Pad
- An aggressive pad that gets attached to a buffer to help remove noticeable surface imperfections in the clear coat or paint.
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DeFelsko Brand
- DeFelsko Corporation, a leading U.S. Manufacturer of coating thickness gages and inspection instruments, has been delivering Simple, Durable and Accurate gages since 1966. Family owned and operated in Northern New York, their state of the art facility houses research, development, manufacturing, quality, sales and service departments.
Over the years, DeFelsko has pioneered many technologies including the first combination ferrous/non-ferrous gage to automatically recognize the substrate and take a measurement and the first hand-held ultrasonic coating thickness gage for non-metal substrates including plastic, wood and concrete. Starting with the mechanical PosiTest FM and GM, DeFelsko has shown a commitment to excellence in manufacturing and after sales support. DeFelsko actively participates in several key organizations (SSPC, NACE, ASTM, ISO) to improve and promote the science of coating inspection.
DeFelsko is recognized as a premier American manufacturer of quality inspection instruments.
Detail Factory Brand
- Detail Factory strives to create high-quality tools that any detailer uses on a daily basis. From amazing brushes to high-quality microfiber, you will find the essentials needed to clean up your daily driver or take care of a client's supercar.
Detail Guardz Brand
- Detail Guardz, formerly known as Hose-eez, developed a product in 2015 to help stop an age old problem: cord and hose jamming under your tires. The Detail Guardz Tire Guard has helped pro detailers and weekend warriors detail frustration-free and pushed Detail Guardz to tackle other detailing steps, guarding you against frustrations. With innovations in pad cleaning and bucket filtering, Detail Guardz continues to release impressive products.
Detailer Brand
- With Detailer by DetailedImage.com, you can represent yourself as a detailer everywhere you go. Under Armour T-Shirts? Check. Under Armour Hoodies? Check. What about banners, stickers, tool bags? Check, check and that's right, you guessed it, check. The Detailer brand features various simple, yet functional and high-quality products that help you not only promote the detailing industry as a profession, but as a great hobby as well. Take pride in your profession or your favorite hobby and show it off to others! This is a Detailer brand you will want to support!
Detailer's Helper Brand
- Detailer's Helper specializes in belts that are paint safe and allow detailers to carry their favorite detailing products with ease. These belts were made by owner of Detailer's Helper, Kevin Davis, who is a professional detailer. Kevin wanted an easier way to carry items with him while detailing, while not having to worry about scratching the paint with the material, metal buckles, etc. After some testing, the Detailer's Helper belt was born and comes with various pocket configurations for professional detailers and weekend warriors alike!
Detailing Outlaws Brand
- The Detailing Outlaws brand was born in 2017 and excels in manufacturing high quality and innovative detailing products. Their focus is "outside the box" thinking and coming up with products that help solve a detailing problem. The Buckanizer helps keep your wash media organized and is only the first product with many more game changers to come!
Diamond ProTech Brand
- Diamond ProTech is a brand belonging to NGNT S.A. Switzerland. NGNT operates from a dedicated laboratory to research and develop nanotechnology composites. This innovation brought forth Diamond ProTech, which is the first brand to use enriched nanodiamonds in protective coatings. With this formulation, users will have a coating with greater hardness and durability, while still being easily applied. Diamond ProTech and NGNT are excited to continue to innovate and pushing their products to the limit!
DIY Detail Brand
- The goal of DIY Detail is to make detailing easy for everyone. Their pro-grade product line offers high quality items that are easy to use, no matter if you are a pro detailer or a weekend warrior!
Dr. ColorChip Brand
- Dr. ColorChip is a company specializing in automotive paint chip repair solutions. They offer a variety of kits designed to help you fix minor scratches and chips in your vehicles paint, restoring it to its original appearance. Their products are known for their ease of use and ability to provide a professional looking finish.
Dressing
- A product designed to moisturize and protect rubber, plastic, or vinyl surfaces which may also contain ingredients to leave some level of gloss behind.
Driveway Shield Brand
- Driveway Shield works hard to offer innovative products designed to help protect our driveway and garage floors. Their TireBib protects these areas from tire protection products and Driveway Shield is always working on new products to help solve everyday detailing issues.
Dual Action (DA) Buffer
- Refers to a polisher which both oscillates and rotates in order to remove paint defects or apply protection. Generally considered more user friendly than a direct drive rotary polisher.
Durability
- Refers to longevity. Length of time a product will last before evaporating or breaking down.
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Elcometer Brand
- Ever since the first Elcometer gauge was manufactured in 1947, their philosophy has been to provide industry-leading, innovative, high-quality products; supported by a best-in-class customer experience at a competitive price. By concentrating on these core values, Elcometer has grown into a global network with representation in over 170 countries. They have been responsible for creating many industry-leading devices that have made their name synonymous with quality meters and gages. Their products are absolutely essential for any professional detailer, body shop, car collector, restoration shop, etc. With a range of products, Elcometer has anything to meet your inspection needs!
Enamel Paint
- A resin-type finish which cures to a hard gloss. Can be either pigmented with color or a clear coat.
Engine Bay
- The compartment of a vehicle containing the engine and other mechanical components such as the alternator, air cleaner, battery, etc.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Department of the United States government responsible for protecting human health and the environment. As it relates to detailing the EPA regulates the allowable emission of pollutants into the environment from vehicles and the products that care for them.
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Fine Grade
- A term typically used to describe a clay bar or polish that is only mildly aggressive or abrasive.
Finishing
- The final step in the paint correction process, intended to remove any remaining fine surface defects or haze.
Flex Brand
- Flex tools is a leading designer of innovative and highly efficient power tools. Flex produces a wide variety of buffers, grinders and drills for over 80 years. They are a European based company that is now sweeping through the US. Their buffers produce outstanding results that have made them extremely popular with high end detailers. The remarkable balance of power and safety has led to the Flex XC 3401 VRG buffer becoming one of the the most desirable buffers in the detailing industry. It has plenty of power with minimal risks of burning or otherwise harming your vehicle. It can remove permanently remove the majority of the swirls and other fine imperfections in your vehicle's clear coat to reveal a deep and glossy shine.
Foam Gun
- An apparatus that connects to a typical garden hose which uses water pressure and a soap/detergent to produce suds, usually for washing automotive exteriors.
Foam Lance
- An apparatus that attaches to a pressure washer to produce suds from a soap or detergent to help wash the vehicle's exterior.
Foam Pad
- A pad produced with a cellular structure (can be either open or closed cell), used in paint correction or to apply protectants or cleaners to a surface.
Fortador Brand
- Fortador's company policy is to, "create effective solutions with no shortcuts". These units are powered by motors made by Lamborghini, yes you heard that right, the same company that makes those iconic sports cars! You will notice both companies have a similar logo as they are affiliated by sharing parts, styling and a commitment to excellence. These powerful machines help you save valuable time when cleaning. No more double cleaning or waiting for your steam cleaner to heat up, Fortador knocks out dirt, grime, bacteria, germs and more super fast and easy. One machine can even support up to three users at a time! This means you can save more of your valuable detailing time. State of the art features combined with incredible styling screams high quality professional work. Not only do they work incredibly well, but they run efficiently so you can save on operating costs. When you see and feel these units in person you know they will take your detailing business to the next level.
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Geist Brand
- Geist. product range focuses on innovations that are efficient and very safe for the surfaces treated, the client's health, and the environment. They are committed to using plant and algae derived ingredients wherever they offer high levels of performance and also not use forever chemicals.
Gel Coat
- A type of epoxy finish used to produce a smooth finish over composite materials such as fiberglass or carbon fiber.
Ghosting
- When a nearly invisible mark appears in or on the clear coat or paint. It is common to see ghosting when you remove a badge, sticker or decal because the clear coat underneath is preserved extremely well and the surrounding clear coat may be oxidized, creating a contrast.
Gilmour Brand
- Gilmour has been making top quality products for the auto, home and garden industry for decades. They are part of the Robert Bosch Tool Company and pride themselves on manufacturing nothing but the best tools. They invest the time in to developing top quality products made from only the finest parts. Rest assured anything you buy with the Gilmour name will work great and last for years to come. They are known to detailers for their foam guns, hoses, hi-flow shut off valves and more. Each one of their products is something you'll be using for years to come and they guarantee it on most products with their Lifetime Replacement Policy. Very few, if any, companies back up their products with this kind of guarantee and this is why they have been so successful!
Glaze
- A product containing a mixture of oils and solids designed to feed porous single stage finishes and/or temporarily mask minor surface defects in order to provide a high gloss finish.
Gloss
- An objective measurement of the "shine" of a paint finish, typically representative of reflective clarity.
Griot's Garage Brand
- Griots Garage has been making car care products since 1988! Whether they were just starting out in a garage or as an international recognized brand, they always focused on product quality. In the beginning stages of the company, if the product quality fell short then they would ask the manufacturer to make improvements. This set the tone for Griots to take matters into their own hands and start making their own products. Today they continue on as innovators of high quality products they can be proud of. With the Griot's line of products can always be sure they you will be able to have fun with effective detailing products.
Grit Guard
- A plastic screen designed to allow dirt and particulates to settle at the bottom of a wash bucket, reducing the risk of re-contamination of a wash mitt or sponge.
Grit Guard Brand
- Grit Guard provides washing solutions to help you wash more effectively and with less risks of adding swirls to your paint. The washing process is where the majority of new swirls are introduced to the paint. Help keep your washing mitt clean and safe with the Grit Guard inserts.
Gtechniq Brand
- In 2004, scientists at Gtechniq created a line of products aimed towards perfecting all surfaces on a car. After lots of time, testing, and hard work, Gtechniq is now a high end detailing system for car care professionals and enthusiasts alike. They stand out from the competition because of their Smart Surface Science, which combines micro-abrasive finishing technology along with unique bonding elements. These two features combine together to help produce a great finish on the various surfaces of the interior and exterior of your vehicle. Gtechniq offers a wide range of products designed to clean, polish, and protect the various materials on your vehicle with ease. They specialize in coatings that protect your vehicle for not just days, weeks or months but for years! If you have a love of science and cars you will really appreciate the Gtechniq brand!
Gyeon Brand
- Gyeon offers a range of premium quality detailing products designed to help you achieve outstanding results, every time. Each product customers purchase will come with all information to help you easily achieve the best results. This falls right in line with their mission, which is to always "deliver the most technologically advanced products, at very competitive prices". Whether it is product development, customer service, detailing education. or overall constant improvement in their products, Gyeon takes pride in detailing products and the detailing industry as a whole.
Here is more from Gyeon "While known worldwide for their Quartz Coatings, GYEON is a full range car care manufacturer offering innovative products used by weekend enthusiast detailers and top level professionals alike. With a focus on user-friendly products that deliver pro results, GYEON is growing rapidly with success in over 50 countries. The product line covers everything you would need to perform a full detailing and protection service from start to finish, from surface decontamination to coating, and everything in between. Stand out products like Foam, Bathe, Smoothie Wash Mitt, Iron, WetCoat, CanCoat, Mohs, and the Silk Drier are must haves in any detailing arsenal."
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Hack Job
- Generally, this is a detailing job not performed up to the standards of a high quality detail.
"Did you see the hack job the detailer from dealership did to that car?"
Hazardous Chemicals
- Any chemical that presents a significant threat to the environment or the health of those exposed to it without proper personal protection equipment.
Haze
- Lacking clarity, usually describing the appearance of the clear coat. A common effect of aggressive machine polishing that can be removed with a finer pad and polish combination.
Headlights
- Lighting which illuminates the area in front of a vehicle to provide visibility in dark ambient conditions.
Hi-Tech Brand
- Hi-Tech is a Detroit based company, dedicated to supplying the global professional car care industry with a comprehensive array of premium products. You can find over 500 products in their catalog and distribution established in 30+ countries across Europe, Latin and South America and Asia!
High End Detailing
- A type of detailing which involves an above-average level of dedication and effort to provide the best possible results.
Hook and Loop
- Fabric that has either a hook or loop attached, when touched together they temporarily join together.
Hyde's Serum Brand
- Hyde's Serum specializes in high quality and innovation. They recently opened their doors in 2013 and started off with the introduction of Rustopper, a quality solution for detailing wheels and braking systems. This product will fight rusty rotors that can happen after the wash process and it is not the only product they have on the horizon. Hyde's Serum will continue to innovate and come out with new and exciting products for the detailing community.
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IGL Coatings Brand
- IGL Coatings strives to not only offer high-quality automotive coatings, but cleaners and conditioners as well. You can find products for trim, wheels, windows, interior and so much more in their offerings. Best yet, most products contain all-natural ingredients or are formulated with reduced hazardous chemicals that can be found in other products on the market.
IK Brand
- Behind the IK brand there is an international group of people united by the passion to develop new ways of spraying. IK works hard to make it easier, safer and more efficient in various areas, along with car detailing. These high quality, innovative tools will help save you not only time but money as well.
Iron Remover
- A product used to remove ferrous material that gets adhered to the exterior surface of a car.
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Jenesco Brand
- Jenesco specializes in providing customers with high end ozone generators. Ozone gases are designed to help you remove odors, mold and mildew by destroying the molecules, bacteria, and spores associated with them. This ozone gas can actually go anywhere air can go (between fibers, into cracks, into the AC system), allowing it to penetrate hard to reach areas. The molecules of this ozone gas then attach themselves to the molecules of the mold, mildew or odors, chemically changing the structure and destroying them at the source. Jenesco offers various models to choose from and if you are having issues with mold, mildew, and or removing pesky odors, these units are for you!
Jescar Brand
- Since 1978 Jescar has been a leading distributor of high-end automotive polishing products. They were the first to introduce German quality to the automotive assembly plants and ultimately to the professional detailing market. With their unique understanding of the automotive products market, Jescar expanded beyond just polishes to develop its excellent range of car care products, and some of our fan-favorite products were born! Jescar Finishing Products is now manufacturing its own new high-performance compounds and polishes that take paint correction to a new level of quality. Jescar has expanded to waxes, cleaners, ceramic sprays and more!
With over 40 years of experience in industrial polishing and high-gloss surface applications, Jescar is committed to the automotive detailing market with innovative new product development for the ultimate in car care.
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Karcher Brand
- In 1950 Alfred Krcher invented the high-pressure cleaner. Since then Karcher has expanded and grown into a complete line of award winning pressure washers. They work hard to provide high quality machines at great prices to their customers. From small electric pressure washers to large gas units, Karcher has something for everyone to be excited about. If you are looking for an easy and effective way to clean your car, siding, driveway, decks, windows, and many other household jobs, Karcher Pressure Washers should be your choice.
Kevin Brown Method
- The original KBM article was delivered in e-mail form, outlining a simple set of instructions that enabled a polishing enthusiast to drastically increase the cutting and finishing performance of a typical random orbital polisher.
The KBM dictates that the simplest aspects of polishing are continuously considered or calibrated, including: frequent pad cleaning (to control paint residue build-up); the targeted use of a supplemental wetting agent (to extend the use of a single application of buffing liquid, to better distribute buffing liquid across the pad face, to increase cut); the implementation of machine tilt or the targeted addition of user-applied pressure (to equalize pressure across the pad face, to minimize the percentage of pad face contacting the polishing area, to increase the width of the pad's contact patch across a curved or crowned panel shape); the use of low polishing speed (for smooth, controlled, and comfortable machine operation, for lower pad and panel temperatures, and to allow more time for the pad to conform to the polishing surface, particularly when user-applied pressure or machine tilt is increased).
Koch Chemie Brand
- Koch Chemie was started in 1968 by Hans Koch. Hans was not happy with the products on the market, so he developed his own formulas for polishes in his personal workshop. With years of innovation and development under their belts, Koch Chemie works hard to provide detailing products for every surface across your vehicle!
Kospec Designs Brand
- Kospec Designs excels at making microfiber sleeves for every application. From sleeves for vacuum hoses, power cords, to air hoses, Kospec Designs aids the detailer in peforming detailing steps without the worry of implementing imperfections from rough hoses and cords!
Kranzle Brand
- Kranzle is a German-based company dedicated to providing high-quality pressure washing systems to users all over the world. Kranzle was launched in 1974 by Josef Kranzle. From the very beginning, the utmost importance was to always provide superior quality on all of their units. This amazing quality shines through even in their products today. Kranzle has established a high-end image in the cleaning industry and continues to innovate and grow.
Kwazar Brand
- The Kwazar Pro+ line has been available in over 100 Countries for years and they are well known for their high quality spray bottle designs. From marine to residential, and even commercial, Kwazar has a bottle for every situation. If you are looking for high quality, 360 spraying angle, chemical resistant spray bottles, check out the Kwazar Pro+ line!
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Lacquer
- A type of paint technology (typically single stage) which cures to form a thick, high gloss finish. Often referred to more specifically as "cellulose lacquer" in automotive finishes.
Lake Country Brand
- Lake Country Manufacturing is a privately owned manufacturer of buffing and polishing products. LC is driven to helping consumers find profitable detailing solutions through the development of high-end products and customized buffing systems. From microfiber pads to foam pads and even applicators and polishers, Lake Country has a vast array of products for any professional detailer or weekend warrior.
Layering
- Multiple applications of a paint or coating over a substrate, intended to produce a thicker final result or "film build."
- Multiple applications of a sealant or wax protecting the paint or clear coat.
LC Power Tools Brand
- LC Power Tools is a branch of the popular polishing pad brand, Lake Country Manufacturing. Lake Country always prioritized real world testing and user feedback when developing new pads and made sure they worked hand in hand with the popular polishers on the market. With LC Power Tools, they are taking the "Innovation to Make Life Easier" mantra, but instead of focusing on pads, they are creating innovative, user-defined tools to help you step up your polishing game. The UDOS Polisher is first in line of many more great tools to come.
Leather
- Material produced from natural or synthetic hydes that have undergone a finishing or "tanning" process. Can be finished and dyed in multiple ways and may or may not have a urethane protective top layer applied.
Leather Cleaner
- A chemical designed to safely remove dirt and foreign oils from the surface and pores of a leather surface. Often leather-specific cleaners are pH neutral in order to avoid damaging the material or causing accelerated wear.
Leather Conditioner
- A lotion-like product designed to feed a leather hyde with oils to keep it soft and supple, and prevent cracks or rotting.
Leatherique Brand
- Leatherique is a very special company that is run much different than most businesses you may encounter. George Pavilsko Sr. founded the business in 1968 and its still owned and operated by the Pavlisko family. However George did not start out looking to form a business, he simply wanted a solution for restoring leather. He developed leather care solutions that were producing exceptional results. His leather care products evolved into a business which is now currently operated by George Pavlisko Jr. These products have gained a world wide following and are used today by some exclusive organizations such as the Smithsonian Museum, Henry Ford Museum and The Old Harrah Collection. They are also the leading leather care provider for many car clubs like the Rolls Royce Owners Club, BMW Owners Club, Porsche Owners Club and many more. The Leatherique employees are far more than just employees. Leatherique has a group of highly talented, enthusiastic employees that really embody leather care. The employees are generally long tenured and use the products they work with. Many employees have personally restored leather and work on their own automobiles and furniture. Therefore when you call with a technical question you get a highly qualified response. We find this extremely rare in a day and age when calls are often handled overseas by someone reading from a manual. The Leatherique employees provide invaluable insight on leather care which continues to make their leather products top notch. The Leatherique products are developed in secret so the familys secret ingredients remain unknown. They have however shared that their products are made with a complex blend of collagens, animal proteins and absolutely no fillers. Many other brands use fillers that make the leather temporarily look and feel great but can have potentially harmful long term affects. Leatherique prefers to use only the most effective ingredients that truly care for the leather, not just make it look good for today. This has helped them develop some one of the best cleaning and conditioning formulas on the market with the Rejuvenator Oil and Prestine Clean. Leatherique also make a variety of leather dyes, crack fillers and other leather restoration products.
Lilly Brush Brand
- Lilly Brush tackles a life long problem, removing pesky pet air from various surfaces. With patented technology and high-quality construction and designs, Lilly Brush stormed the market with brushes for large surfaces, tight areas, and everything in between. These durable designs are just the start and Lilly Brush is working hard to always innovate to make pet hair removal easier for everyone, detailer or not!
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Makita Brand
- With nearly 90 years of experience in advanced motor design, Makita applies the latest innovation to engineer and manufacture the best power tools in the world. Makita Power Tools have more power and less weight, and are more compact and more efficient than any other. At jobsites around the world, professional users are dumping the old, getting the new and gearing-up with Makita. Makita offers more solutions for the professional trade.
Marine 31 Brand
- Some car detailing products can work great on boats, but yet they are not specifically formulated for marine use. With Marine 31, you get products designed for Marine usage and tested out in the toughest conditions. You'll be able to clean and protect your fiberglass, gelcoat, vinyl seats and so much more! Marine 31 formulated each of these products to work incredibly well while still being environmentally friendly. If you are looking for a detailing line of products for any of your marine toys give Marine 31 a try today!
Marolex Brand
- For over 30 years, Marolex has been producing sprayers that fit their slogan, "sprayers for years". Utilizing innovation, reliability, and ergonomics, their high quality sprayers can tackle almost any detailing job and these sprayers are truly designed to last many years. Whether it is applying a heavy degreaser, an instant detailer, or even applying a thick layer of foam from your favorite shampoo, Marolex has you covered.
McLaren Car Care Brand
- McLaren prides itself on consistently leading the way within the car industry and they spared no expense with their car care products. This lineup complements the McLaren team's ethos dedication to excellence.
Medium Grade
- Refers to the aggressiveness of a clay bar or polish, which is greater than that of a fine grade, They are more likely to mar the paint or clear coat but are stronger options than their fine grade counterparts.
Meguiar's Brand
- Meguiar's celebrated 100 years of business in 2001 and they continue to impress the world with their top quality products. It is still a family run business that is in it's 4th generation inside the Meguiar's family. They started with humble beginnings as a furniture polish laboratory and progressed into automobiles when horse carriages used the same wood as furniture. From there they expanded in to more car care products as the automobiles popularity rose. The Meguiar's family was committed to designing the best products on the market and they were rewarded with an ever growing customer base. The family worked hard and began selling to manufacturers, body shops, professional car detailers, consumers and more. As the Meguiar's name became synonymous with car care the customer base grew outside the US and they are now a globally recognized name in car care. The Meguiar's products have won countless awards and been used by many winners of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Company headquarters are in Irvine, CA but they have a 200,000 square foot state of the art production facility in Nashville, TN. This new facility helps them manufacture over 300 unique products to help you care for virtually every square inch of your car. Meguiar's is car care crazy and they definitely have the products to meet and exceed your needs.
Menzerna Brand
- Menzerna is one of the highest regarded brands in the automotive detailing industry. The German company was founded in 1888 and their current headquarters are still in Germany more than 130 years later. The continuous growth of this business has forced them to expand their operations in to France and Morocco. Menzerna has clearly established themselves as one of the worlds leading suppliers of polishes for automotive surfaces and more. These polishes help make many different surfaces smooth, clean and aesthetically pleasing. Many leading automotive manufacturers work closely with Menzerna to develop the most effective and efficient polishes. Recently Menzerna created a new type of polish that delivers amazing results. Previous polishes used larger particles for more cutting power but they left the surface much rougher, which requires additional work. The new polishes use some of the smallest and smoothest abrasive particles ever put in to a polish. This helped deliver great cutting power with a remarkably smooth finish that looks outstanding. This type of innovation has kept Menzerna one step ahead of their competitors. Over the last five years they have developed so many new products that they already account for 35% of their yearly revenue. While they quickly develop and produce products, quality is always the top concern. Menzerna is ISO 9001 certified which means their products meet some of the highest quality controls in the world. Part of being certified includes: documentation of all processes, standardized procedures for supplier qualification, strict control of incoming goods, in-process quality control, traceability of all manufactured batches and regular management reviews. This extensive list of qualifications is independently verified to ensure Menzerna only delivers the absolute highest quality products. Menzerna continues to raise the bar for detailing brands and we can't wait to see what they will come up with next.
Metal Wax
- A protectant for metal surfaces designed to hold up to higher temps such as exhaust tips and wheels.
Metro Vacuums Brand
- Metro Vacuums was started with a $50 gift from Israel Sterns father-in-law in 1939. He turned that small investment into a large manufacturer of high quality vacuums and other related products. Metro produces a variety of machines that are all almost directly related to the forced circulation of air. Most commonly they sell vacuums that are amongst some of the most well balanced tools on the market for suction power, features, durability, capabilities and more. Metro has been expanding their product line since the 1980s into more specialized areas. The vacuums they have developed for cleaning computers and other electronic equipment is a great example of this. Metro is one of the worlds leading suppliers of electronic care vacuums. They also now produce inflators, deflators, pumps, fans, pet drying blowers, motor cycle dryers, Data Vacuums and more. All of these tools meet exceedingly high standards so you can be assured of a quality long term investment with all Metro products.
Micro-suede
- A type of synthetic fabric made with tightly woven fine fibers, which appear similar to natural suede.
Microfiber
- Fabric produced from a blend of fine synthetic fibers (typically polyester/polyamide), designed to provide superior moisture wicking and surface cleaning.
Microfiber Detergent
- A cleaner used for washing microfiber products that does not leave behind any detergents to help maximize the lifespan of microfiber products.
Milwaukee Brand
- Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has developed innovative solutions that deliver increased productivity and durability for professional and weekend warrior users. Their Fuel battery technology has provided incredible power and work times to their cordless polishers and cordless systems, allowing you to power anything from a home drill to your polisher. Milwaukee is dedicated to delivering high quality systems of work now and in the future!
MSDS
- Material Safety Data Sheet; Information on the product you purchased. It may include information on proper use or potential hazards for the product.
Mytee Brand
- Mytee is one of oldest carpet cleaning machine company in the industry today. The company has roots dating back to 1977 but the Mytee brand itself started in 1994, with John LaBarbera and the portable water heater product at the time, the Mytee Hot. With high quality, awesome technology and customer service, Mytee quickly rose to the top of the hot water extractor industry. Today Mytee manufacturers some of the industrys finest hot water extractors for auto detailing. Their high performance carpet cleaners range from compact and portable to large, commercial units. They have multiple machines that will be sure to meet any of your detailing needs!
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NanoSkin Brand
- With new state of the art technology NanoSkin has been manufacturing a complete line of detailing supplies that include protective shields, waxes, polishes, compounds, cleaners, glazes, and other specialty cleaning products. This started in 2003 when NanoSkin first started its research and development with the latest nanotechnology advances. The AutoScrub pads are their prized jewel which shows the exact innovation NanoSkin has become known for. This pad has saved people time, money, and energy when removing contamination from the paint. NanoSkin vows to improve surface quality, reducing polishing time, enhancing surface durability, and surface brightness with future advancements. According to NanoSkin this innovation will "make life easier while saving time for the more important things in life".
Nextzett Brand
- Nextzett was formed after Einszett closed in 2015 and it is comprised largely of the team that worked at Einszett and developed many of the Einszett aka 1Z products we all love. Many of the products are exactly the same and some have already been enhanced for improved performance! This team is dedicated to keeping up the proud Einszett traditions while moving the brand forward with new innovations.
The history of Einszett is a German line of high-quality auto detailing supplies. Founded in 1936, Einszett has based their company on one simple philosophy that remains until this day: produce a premium quality formula without compromises and offer excellent customer service. By staying small and privately owned, they were able to take advantage of being innovative and focused on their original mission. Einszett became certified ISO 9001, one of only a handful of product manufacturers that can make this claim. Their passion for perfection and quality helped them develop much industry leading products and gain a strong following amongst enthusiasts and professionals worldwide.
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Oberk Brand
- Oberk lives by three founding principles, Defeat the Swirls, Remove the Guesswork, and Made for All Skill Levels. Simply put, Oberk manufacturers pads and polishes that easily remove imperfections in your paint with an easy to understand and use polishing system. Oberk, a unique play on the german translation of Oberste, or "supreme", says it all. High-quality products that stand out above the rest!
OPMs
- Orbits Per Minute The amount of times per minute the center of the backing plate will rotate around the center of the machine.
Optimum Brand
- Optimum car care products is an independently owned and operated detailing brand that produces high quality detailing supplies for those interested in high quality results. To create the most effective products possible Optimum works with paint manufacturers and other OEM suppliers to understand all the products, materials and new technology used in the industry. This helps Optimum research and design products that meet and exceeds the needs of professional detailers and weekend detailers alike. Optimum then sends their products out to top detailers around the country for feedback, which helps them continuously refine their products. Their products are easy to use in the sun or shade and they are very easy to use. Optimum puts a tremendous emphasis on creating environmentally friendly products as well. Each product is designed to have minimal environmental impact where ever possible. The Optimum line of products is extremely well balanced and it really makes this an outstanding all around brand! Detailed Image has all of Optimum's newest products including some of their most recently improved products. We highly recommend you try the Optimum line of products today!
Orange Peel
- A slightly bumpy painted surface that resembles the texture of an orange's exterior skin.
ORM-D
- A postal service designation for products which are considered "Other Regulated Materials for Domestic Transport Only." This means it could be dangerous to transport due to pressure from an aerosol container or their potentially harmful/caustic nature.
OSHA
- The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an office of the US Department of Labor responsible for the oversight of workplace safety guidelines for the use of best practices and personal protection equipment.
Overlapping passes
- A technique utilized while applying a polish or protection where each pass overlaps the previous pass by 50% to ensure thorough application.
Overspray
- Airborne particulates generated during the application of a sprayed paint or coating which bond to unintended surfaces.
Oxidation
- The result of a porous material becoming dry and/or brittle due to prolonged exposure to sun and air. Often manifests itself as a dull, chalky appearance on the surface of clear coat, paint, rubber, etc.
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P&S Brand
- With over 50 years of experience in the detail products industry, P&S provides high quality detailing products for almost any detailing step. Many of these products are even hand-picked by Renny Doyle after extensive testing and used by Renny in his day to day details. P&S and Renny will continue to evolve and improve the Double Black Renny Doyle Collection, along with all P&S products, so that you can use the same products as a world-class detailer.
Paint Cleaner
- A chemical which uses solvents and/or very mild abrasives to remove contaminants from painted surfaces, preparing them for further polishing or the application of a protective product.
Paint Gauges
- Precision instruments which use either mechanical or electronic means to measure the thickness of paint film applied over a substrate.
Paint Prep Pads
- Pads with a urethane rubber face, used as an alternative to a clay bar, to decontaminate painted surfaces.
Paint Preparation
- The process of readying paint for a wax, sealant, or coating. This can include washing, decontamination, compounding, and polishing.
pH Scale
- A numeric scale ranging from 0-14 which describes the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. A pH of 7 is considered neutral.
Pig Tail
- A pattern of deep scratches, resembling a pigs curly tail, most often caused by trapped particulates during the process of sanding or polishing with a Dual Action Polisher.
Plastic
- Material made of synthetic or organic compounds with a moderate to low melting point which is easily molded into a variety of forms. Often used both inside and outside automobiles due to it's relatively good durability, lightweight and low cost.
Polish
- A liquid or paste with suspended abrasive particles intended to remove mild to moderate defects from a surface and refining its finish.
Polisher
- A power tool used to correct surface defects or apply protection on paint, glass, or plastic surfaces.
Poorboy's World Brand
- Poorboy's World Inc. was founded in 2002 and is family owned and operated. The founder Steve, has been detailing for over 35 years, 20+ of them professionally. He has detailed National Show winners as well as everyday vehicles. Poorboy's World Inc. is headquartered in Florida, with distributors around the world and growing. All the products are proudly made in the USA. Steve works with his chemist to develop, produce and distribute products efficiently & quickly. Their product list is very extensive and covers virtually every area of detailing. With Poorboy's World products you will be able to fully detail the interior, exterior and engine bay with ease. The products create a show car shine every time but are easy enough for anyone to use. Poorboy's World has a very simplistic view towards the creation of their products. They must be highly effective, easy to use and affordable. Elaborate packaging and other "fluff" is not their style. These products get right down to business with impressive results at a great value. All of their products can be used in the sun or shade and apply and remove with ease. The overall value of these products is exceptional, which has led to their world wide following.
Porter Cable Brand
- Porter Cable is one of the most well established names in the power tool industry and throughout the world. They have been in business for over 100 years designing and manufacturing tools to help people and businesses accomplish their goals. Porter Cable is an ISO 9001 certified company which requires the company to have extensive documentation and knowledge about their supplies, suppliers, production process, quality control and more. Porter Cable tools are meant to withstand countless hours in the harshest conditions. They include a warranty with almost every tool they make and have service centers around the US and beyond to ensure you have a great experience with them. Porter Cable has won many major awards for design innovation and engineering. In 1996 the Smithsonian Museum created a new section for archived materials and honored Porter Cable by placing many original tools and company memorabilia in the exhibit. Porter Cable's ability to engineer products at the highest level has helped them become a fixture atop the US power tool industry.
Pre-Wash
- The use of chemicals such as tar removers, degreasers, iron dissolvers, or soap to help clean prior to starting the normal wash process.
Professional Detailer
- A person who is capable of cleaning, polishing and protecting an automobile at a high level while acting in a professional manner in all aspects of their business.
Protection
- Any product which provides a sacrificial barrier between the environment and a vehicle's material surfaces, slowing natural deterioration.
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Quick Detailer
- A liquid product designed to add lubricity between a towel and surface, allowing the safe removal of dust or oils on a surface. These products may also contain gloss enhancers or some protection.
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Raggtopp Brand
- Raggtopp Convertible Care products are exclusively tested and endorsed by The Haartz Corporation, original equipment manufacturer of convertible topping for virtually every American and European convertible automobile manufactured throughout the world. This goes to show how credible the Raggtopp products are for convertible top care. Raggtopp Convertible Care Products are exclusively designed for the auto-care professional and convertible top enthusiast who demands the very best manufacturer approved convertible top cleaner and protectant. Raggtopp Convertible Care products do not contain silicone and will not harm paint, chrome, glass or plastic windows. If you are a convertible owner, Raggtopp products are a must have!
Rail Dust
- Red or rust color spots on the finish that can penetrate deep into the clear. Caused from transport or embedded brake dust.
Random Orbital Buffer
- A power tool which attaches to a backing plate and buffing pad that uses random oscillation to spread a product onto a surface and/or utilize an abrasive to remove surface defects from a surface.
Reliable Brand
- Reliable was founded in 1955 by the father of the current CEO, making it a very successful family business! They have always focused on customer service and product innovation. This focus has helped Reliable grow from a small provider of simple sewing machines, to a much larger company specializing in creating machines in several different markets. From sewing, fabric care, irons, to steam cleaners, Reliable has a variety of quality products to choose from. Their professional steam cleaning products are used in detail shops, dentist offices, jewelry stores, hospitals, restaurants, and various other commercial applications. Reliable products use steam to help clean which can sterilize without the use of any harmful chemicals. Steam cleaners have become popular in detailing for cleaning carpets, crevices, exterior trim, center consoles, seats and so much more. You can find a variety of these steam cleaners, which are great for detailing anything from your car to your home, here at Detailed Image!
Resin
- Thick liquid which is most often used to harden composite materials such as fiberglass or carbon fiber.
- A liquid ingredient in some protective coatings and sealants.
RIDS
- Random Isolated Deep Scratches; random in the fact that there is no "pattern" to the scratches.
Rinseless Shampoo
- A type of shampoo that is typically low sudsing and high in polymers to provide lubricity without the need to flush away excess residue with water.
Rotary
- A buffer that has no secondary action to its rotation.
"ZOFRO Polishing Machine (Zero Offset Forced Rotation Orbital)"
RPMs
- Revolutions Per Minute; How many times in a minute the backing plate on a rotary machine rotates.
Rupes Brand
- Rupes has been following the key principles of being intuitive, quick, creative, and innovative since 1947. This has allowed them to become one of the leaders of the international tool market today. You can find many of their products world wide, from Europe to Japan, to South Africa and Australia. Their LHR15ES and LHR21ES polishers are well known to the detailing community and they show the exact type of quality and innovation that Rupes has been known for.
RZ Mask Brand
- RZ founder Steve Torbenson was a big extreme sports fan and enjoyed riding dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, etc. The dirt, dust, and pollen, however, tried to put a damper on the fun. So in 2010, Steve invented a filtration mask sleek enough to fit under a helmet, comfortable for all-day use, a particulate rating of 99.9%, with replaceable filters and long-term durability. The masks feature lots of innovative technology so they are very comfortable while functional.
Detailers can be protected from polishing dust, odors, vapors, pollen and more while looking professional.
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Scangrip Brand
- For more than 100 years Scangrip has been manufacturing high quality, innovative hand tools for the industrial and automotive sectors. They have achieved tremendous success with their range of durable and functional work lights for various professionals, especially car detailers. The Colourmatch line of lights will help you spot any imperfection in your paint with an unparalleled amount of perfection and ease of use. With the focus on design, functionality, and leading LED technology, Scangrip is cemented as a top company in the automotive/detailing industry.
Sealant
- A type of synthetic protectant, usually polymer or resin based, with durability that is usually longer than that of a wax, but less than that of a coating. It also enhances the appearance of paint.
Semi-Permanent Coating
- A strong, cross-linked film that is typically based on strong base elements (e.g. silica, ceramic) which is more resistant to degradation than a sealant or wax.
Shampoo
- A liquid or gel which contains a surfactant and a co-surfactant designed to help loosen dirt and contaminants and create a slick surface so the paint is not easily marred while washing.
Sheeting Method
- A drying technique using water to dry the car. Using an open ended hose, at a low pressure, you flow water from the higher surfaces down. This cascade effect of water can remove 80+% of water from the surface of your car.
Shine
- A subjective term typically used to describe a surface with high gloss and reflective properties.
Shine Supply Brand
- Shine Supply has been built off of customer service, education, and quality detailing products that work. They work closely with top chemists to not only make high end products, but to continue to innovate for the future.
Short Cycle
- To not fully work the polish. Fast arm movement, and not allowing the polish to fully do its intended job to correct or finish paint.
SM Arnold Brand
- Since 1928 SM Arnold's goal was to enable their customers to sell quality products at a competitive price. With this goal in mind they have grown to offer one of the most extensive lines of cleaning maintenance accessories in the United States today. They manufacture and import high quality products such as chamois, wash mitts, buffing and polishing pads, applicators, sponges, microfibers, brushes, brooms, and much more! Many of these products are even made right here in the USA. Their slogan says it all, "When it comes to cleaning care products... We shine!".
Smooth / Soft Start
- The function of a machine to not immediately go to the full selected speed or RPMs/OPMs.
Snappy Cleaner
- A powdered detergent used to gently and thoroughly clean and refresh microfiber towels or foam pads.
Solution Finish Brand
- Solution Finish originated in Huntington Beach, California and maintains manufacturing facilities in Long Beach, California so the products are proudly made in the USA. They are committed to providing the most effective and highest quality trim restoration products for professional detailers and detailing enthusiasts. Their award winning Black Trim Restorer removes oxidation, it doesn't just cover it up like many other "quick fix" products. Solution Finish combines ancient ingredients and advanced polymer technology to create a unique product. It truly restores and protects any originally black plastic or vinyl trim, leaving a deep, rich black finish without the "wet look" and greasy residue. A consumer driven company, Solution Finish continually researches and seeks feedback from customers to ensure their product surpasses expectations and is absolutely the best in the business. We highly recommend you try Solution Finish if you're looking to restore your faded, oxidized black trim to a like new finish!
Sonax Brand
- SONAX products are made to provide outstanding results while being environmentally friendly. They pride themselves on being innovators of high quality detailing supplies that both professional detailers and weekend detailers will love. They constantly research ways to improve their products so they can offer the best in the business. The SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect is a great example of their innovation and determination to be an industry leader. This cleaner has provided a deeper and faster cleaning than anything they have developed before. They stay focused on making the products environmentally friendly as well so you know you are using safe and effective products.
Spindle Threads
- The threaded connection between a polisher's spindle/arbor and a backing plate, measured in size and pitch.
Spray on Sealant
- A form of spray on protection with properties similar to a traditional polymer sealant.
SprayMaster Brand
- SprayMaster works hard to provide customers with high-quality spray bottles and triggers, ready to tackle any cleaning job you can even think of throwing at them. If you have a heavy degreaser or a light cleaning quick detailer, SprayMaster has a bottle for you.
Steam Cleaner / Steamer
- A tool that uses a boiler to generate pressurized, high temperature water vapor which can be used to clean or emulsify soluble substances with minimal saturation. Also useful to destroy mold spores and bacteria.
Stoner Brand
- Stoner was founded over 60 years ago and is located in Lancaster County, PA. This company is really top notch with both their products and the way they conduct business. Stoner has over 300 different products that primarily come in aerosol containers. They supply products to over 6,000 different manufacturers, businesses, organizations, governmental agencies, etc. Stoner strives to provide outstanding products and work environment. Stoner was the proud recipient of the 2003 of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This award recognizes excellence in operations and manufacturing that is extremely difficult to win. Stoner is only one of fourteen small businesses to ever win this award. Top quality products have never been created with a sacrifice in the quality of the work culture. Employees have high morale and really appreciate working for an honest and reputable company. Our personal experiences with Stoner employees have been outstanding. Each employee is very knowledgeable, polite and helpful. All orders are packed safely and shipped in a very timely manner. Try some of the outstanding products from Stoner today and experience their high quality products.
Stubby Nozzle Co. Brand
- Stubby Nozzle Co. helps you transform your Leaf Blowers into tools you can use to safely and effectively dry your vehicle. All units are designed by owner Derek McCurry in Atlanta, GA. They work great with the Blowerband and Derek hopes this nozzle helps you save time and money when detailing!
Surfactant
- A compound often used in shampoos, soaps, all purpose cleaners, and degreasers to emulsify and carry dirt and contaminants away from a surface.
Swirls
- Random, circular below-surface defects, which cumulatively often resemble a spider web when viewed under direct lighting.
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Taillights
- Lighting to provide illumination to the rear of a vehicle, often also used as a visual indicator of braking, reversing, or to indicate turns.
Tape
- Usually low tack masking style tape used to protect trim from being hit with a pad during correction or polishing.
Teflon
- A registered trademark of DuPont Co., a chemical compound with non-stick properties known as PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene).
The Last Detail Brand
- TLD Products is known for their product called The Last Cut. The owner of the company is an active detailer that works directly with their chemist for product development and testing. Their main focus is to provide products that you can depend on and customer service that you can rely on. Versatility, ease of use and consistent results were the main factors that were kept in mind during product development and final testing. These factors will also remain valid during future product development. It is known that all detailers do not have the ability to be in perfect conditions during every job, therefore having products that will be able to adapt to various environmental/work conditions will provide detailers with a better overall work experience. TLD Products has a goal to develop products that are strong enough for the professional detailer yet easy enough for the weekend detailing enthusiasts.
The Rag Company Brand
- The Rag Company works hard to not only provide the finest microfiber products at a great value, they also are looking to educate readers about what to look for in microfiber. They source towels from around the world with a variety of polyester/polyamide ratios to provide you with all the options and information so you can make an informed decision on what works best for you. They carry some shop towels at a great value but they are more known for taking tremendous pride in their wide selection of extremely high quality towels that last a long time. Even though that may mean some customers purchase fewer towels, since these high-quality towels last so long, the Rag Company is very okay with that. They want to only provide their customers with the best towels at the best price!
Three Step
- A paint correction process comprised of three distinct stages of defect removal; can describe any combination of sanding, compounding, or polishing procedures to produce a refined finish.
Throw
- The distance the center of the backing plate travels in reference to the center point of the head of the machine.
Tolco Brand
- Tolco Corporation was founded by William E. Spengler in March 1961. They started off selling the D-22 drum pump, which helps you easily dispense products from larger drums. This item quickly became one of the best in class items for this use and sparked innovation across the board. Now Tolco sells everything from high quality trigger sprayers, dispenser bottles, pumps, etc. within the detailing, office supply, foodservice, animal health, and many more industries across the globe.
Tornador Brand
- Tornador inventor, Dennis Dehn, was working with Japanese associates to help develop various detailing products. Some stuck, some did not, but they kept working. From a lunch and a simple dust can cleaning idea, the Tornador was born. Featuring patented tornado like air movement Tornador has come up with some real detailing game changers. From cleaning guns that take any cleaning solution and make them a foam, to a foam gun to use on the exterior of your car, to a simple blower, Tornador has the tool for you. All work with your air compressor and are perfect for the detailer who does not have access to a lot of water. High quality and innovation are huge features of Tornador tools and they are determined to keep producing new tools to make your car detailing easier than before!
Trim
- Metal, vinyl, leather or plastic components on a vehicle's interior or exterior which are attached to the main body, intended for protection or ornamentation.
Tuf Shine Brand
- TUF SHINE is an innovative company best known for their amazing permanent tire shine. Detailers who try the TUF SHINE Tire Clearcoat are blown away by the remarkably dark finish that is not oily or greasy at all. The tires look amazing for years to come and really impress. TUF SHINE prides themselves on creating top quality products that exceed the expectations of the most demanding detailers. Creating products that solve issues detailers have faced for decades is an amazing achievement for this company. Please take a minute to review all the products they have to offer and learn more about them.
Two Bucket Method
- An approach to traditionally washing a car which employs separate buckets for soaping and rinsing a wash mitt, sponge, or brush.
Two Step
- A paint correction process comprised of two distinct stages of defect removal; typically one step of compounding and one step of polishing, but can describe any combination of either.
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UV Rays
- Also referred to as Ultraviolet Radiation, UV has a shorter wavelength than visible light. UV exposure can cause the degradation of many automotive materials such as paint, rubber, vinyl, and leather unless adequate protection is present.
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Vacuum
- A tool which employs an electric motor to generate suction, used to collect either wet or dry dirt and grime.
Vapamore Brand
- Vapamore prides themselves on superior design, intelligent engineering, and high quality customer service. Every Vapamore product is built and rigorously tested so that every machine meets all of their high quality standards. Each one of the various size machines offers a 100% natural, chemical-free cleaning method that purifies your car, boat, RV, home, etc. and protects the health of your family by skipping harmful chemicals when cleaning. In the Italian language, vapore means steam and amore means love hence, the love of steam. Pick up a Vapamore and fall in love with steam cleaning today!
Vapor Systems Brand
- In 1996 Steve Clingan established the company, Midwest EcoSteam located in Springfield, MO. In 1998 the company name was changed to Vapor Systems LLC / Steam Cleaners Direct. Vapor Systems LLC imports the very best steam cleaners directly from Italy and distributes them to U.S. businesses and residences throughout the country. With over 16 years in the industry you can be assured that Steve Clingan has been able to sustain longevity by knowing the products inside and out, being service oriented after the sale, and having one of the very best products and warranties on the market.
Vinyl
- A form of plastic polymer often used to produce dashboard, door panel, and seat coverings as well as convertible tops.
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Waffle
- A type of towel or pad with a surface containing "pockets" or waves, similar in appearance to a breakfast waffle.
Waffle Weave
- A type of microfiber towel typically used for drying a vehicle after washing, or for streak-free glass cleaning.
Wash Mitt
- A type of wash media consisting of natural or synthetic fibers as opposed to a foam sponge material. There's typically a place to put you hand inside, hence the term "mitt".
Washing
- The cleaning of the vehicle's exterior in order to prep it for the following steps, usually the decontamination step.
Water Marks
- The minerals that are left over when hard water evaporates. These can lead to the physical etching which can cause serious damage to a vehicle's exterior surfaces.
Waterless Wash
- A product with a high concentration of polymers designed to quickly emulsify and encapsulate dirt and grime for safe removal with minimal water usage.
Wax
- A natural substance harvested from various organic sources which can be applied to paint and other glossy surfaces to provide protection.
Weathering
- Descriptive term for the effects of deterioration (patina) due to environmental exposure.
Wet Sanding
- The use of water or other lubricants during the sanding process to carry abraded material away from the work surface and prevent loading of the sandpaper.
Wheel Woolies Brand
- Wheel Woolies are manufactured by Braun Automotive, which has been around since 1875. Braun has been manufacturing various industrial brushes over the years, but really gained a following when the Wheel Woolie Brushes won the award for the 2014 Detailing Accessory Product of the Year. The high quality fibers, sturdy yet light handle, etc. really took wheel cleaning to the next level. Braun has since built upon the success of the Wheel Woolie and expanded their line of high quality detailing brushes to meet any of your automotive detailing needs.
Wolfgang Brand
- Wolfgang was developed by Bob McKee and a large team of German chemists. He set out to create a paint sealant that could bridge the gap between carnauba waxes and long-lasting paint sealants, while combining their most desirable traits. After years of testing and help from a German chemist, Wolfgang was born. Wolfgang is a German formula of super polymers, but it is manufactured, bottled, and marketed all here in the US! From paint sealants, to shampoos, waxes, polishes, etc. Wolfgang covers all of your bases.
Wool
- Natural or synthetic material typically used to produce a polishing pad for aggressive defect removal.
Woolly Wormit Brand
- Woolly Wormit is driven to making innovative tools to help you clean up one of the dirtiest parts of your vehicle, the wheels. The Woolly Wormit Wheel Brush features a sturdy yet flexible handle, removable microfiber cover, and integrated lug nut cleaning brush. These are just some of the features of their first cleaning brush and Wooly Wormit is always working on upgrading this brush and coming out with new and exciting products for detailing professionals or weekend warriors alike.
Work Stuff Brand
- Work Stuff manufacturers high quality automotive detailing accessories. Their goal is to provide every detailing enthusiast with high quality equipment to fulfill their passion and daily work. They are constantly expanding and improving their product lineup, so that everyone can meet their needs whenever work calls!
