Spotless Water Sytem

[Kingman]

Spotless Water System from Costco
http://www.costco.com/CR-SPOTLESS-De-Ionizing-Spotless-Water-System™.product.11751987.html

Metro Vacuum MB3CD Air force Master Blaster 8-HP Motorcycle Dryer
http://www.amazon.com/Metro-Vacuum-...87295509&sr=8-1&keywords=master+blaster+dryer

FLEX XC3401 VRG Polisher
http://www.autogeek.net/flex-orbital-polisher.html

Flex XC3401 Changeable Backing Plate System
http://www.autogeek.net/flex-xc3401-backing-plates.html

Lake County Buffing Pads
http://www.autogeek.net/lakecountry.html


(For those that remember: all the above were recommended by Jason during lengthy conversations)



Just came across this coupon from AutoGeek. Good until 12/20:
15% Off FLEX Polishers, Polisher Kits, and Accessories with coupon code FLEX15

 

[bonehead]

^^For those that are willing to pony up the $$ for the best of the best polishers, the Rupes Bigfoot is the gold standard nowadays, not the Flex.

 

[Kingman]

^^For those that are willing to pony up the $$ for the best of the best polishers, the Rupes Bigfoot is the gold standard nowadays, not the Flex.

You obviously have experience. Please post the "how's and the why's" of it's superiority above all polishers. I am extremely curious.

 

[bonehead]

You obviously have experience. Please post the "how's and the why's" of it's superiority above all polishers. I am extremely curious.

I have experience as much as the next amateur detailer, but I know a few professionals and periodically keep up to date with new detailing/paint protection technologies on the detailing forums.
The main advantage of the Rupes is the longer orbital throw which allow more surface area to be covered at once and with less product resulting in reduced working time. Similar to the Flex, it is safe to use by the amateur.
Supposedly less fatigue as well due to less vibration??

Main disadvantage is the price of admission. I think $350-400 for the unit. Not cheap

Is it vastly superior to the Flex? For the amateur, probably not, but I can't speak from personal experience as I have only used the Flex. For the professional that doesn't have endless time to correct a single car, it's probably worth the investment.

 

[Xcentric]

Color of the resin is different but it performs exactly the same. I still have 2 full refill bags from CR that I haven't used if anyone wants to buy them from me

Replacing resin for the first time. The meter went from 000 to 006 during the last wash. Also reading the instructions for the first time. Replace resin when meter reads 020. Unused resin starts to lose effectiveness after one year. Hmmm....I just bought the 1 cu ft bulk resin. I know I won't use it in a year. I may have to bag it and become a reseller. :/

 

[bonehead]

Replacing resin for the first time. The meter went from 000 to 006 during the last wash. Also reading the instructions for the first time. Replace resin when meter reads 020. Unused resin starts to lose effectiveness after one year. Hmmm....I just bought the 1 cu ft bulk resin. I know I won't use it in a year. I may have to bag it and become a reseller. :/

Do you use the water just for rinsing or in your wash water as well? I go through the DIC-20 canisters in a few months tops but I use it for everything, from the bucket water, to wheels, to the final rinse. I'm not taking any chances on getting spots.

I've gone through 2 full cubic feet over the last 3-4 years?? and I haven't noticed any significant drop in effectiveness.

 

[Xcentric]

Just rinsing. Softened water in the bucket.

 

[GTdrummer]

I go back and forth between the pita of the thing taking up space, buying resin etc, vs the pita of drying off spots.

 

[DakotaGT]

I go back and forth between the pita of the thing taking up space, buying resin etc, vs the pita of drying off spots.

+1

 

[SYCO GT]

I may have to bag it and become a reseller. :/

Heisenberg Blue Mix?

Br Ba

 

[Specracer]

I did too, but nice not having spots in tougher areas, like door jams.

I go back and forth between the pita of the thing taking up space, buying resin etc, vs the pita of drying off spots.

 

[GT35065]

Good one SYCO :lol

 

[Xcentric]

I believe this is the item.

http://windows101.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=1465

I loaded this windows101.com bulk resin, bought 2/14, and used it for the first time today. The TDS meter read 220-225. I let the water run for about 10 minutes. The TDS meter dropped to 160-165 after about five minutes and stayed there. Remember, you are supposed to change resin when the TDS meter reads 20.

Fortunately, we had a nice rain shower while I was washing the car, so it got an automatic soft water rinse.

 

[jcthorne]

I never liked the cost per gallon for those resin based systems. Went with a distilled water maker and rinse with that. TDS reads 0. Costs a few cents per gallon in electric but no where near the cost of the resin. Does a great job of spot free rinse, also use it for hot water/air-sol cleaning of the engine bay, very clean with no spots or residue. Up front cost is similar.

 

[Sinovac]

I never liked the cost per gallon for those resin based systems. Went with a distilled water maker and rinse with that. TDS reads 0. Costs a few cents per gallon in electric but no where near the cost of the resin. Does a great job of spot free rinse, also use it for hot water/air-sol cleaning of the engine bay, very clean with no spots or residue. Up front cost is similar.

What distilled water maker are you using?

Gary-I tries that resin too and it isn't nearly as good as the resin from CR Spotless.

 

[FBA]

Sounds like a lot of work to me to wash a car. I would think a water wetting agent would get the exact same results...

 

[Xcentric]

What is that? Sounds like the blue stuff I put in my dishwasher. If you don't have hard water, it may be hard to understand.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[GTdrummer]

I have gone back and forth on these systems and finally decided I am too lazy to deal with the hassle. There are some excellent cash wash shampoos that are made not to spot. (Or not much) I have been using one on my black M6 with excellent results.

 

[Xcentric]

To establish a baseline, I will say that if you don't need a home water softening system then you don't need this.

I need about 30 pounds of salt per month to make our home water usable.
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[jcthorne]

The with vs without spot free rinse step when washing my GT is very pronounced. With the spot free rinse, it really does not matter how long I take to dry the car, it does not spot. On my truck, I dont bother drying at all other than blowing the excess water off with the air hose.

I tried it first with store purchased distilled water in jugs before purchasing the distiller. Try it, it only costs a few bucks for a few gallons of distilled water to try. Then if you like the results, decide on resin based or distiller. The resin systems do have some convenience as they are 'on demand' where the distiller makes the water ahead of use, far too slow for on demand.