Detailing Chat & Questions Thread

[Crybert]

This stuff is pretty good. If it’s still stuck try acid then. Just follow the guidelines and you’ll be fine

Bilt Hamber Auto Wheel

Auto-Wheel is a non-acid, non-alkaline alloy wheel cleaner, and in most cases, no agitation is required. In most cases, steel and alloy wheels are either lacquered or painted. These coatings protect the metallic surface from corrosion and provide attractive finishes to automotive road wheels. As...

www.mycarcleaning.co.uk

 

[Fantastic Nostrils]

Recommendations for specific products to use on baked in brake dust? I've been told to try acid. Never had to use anything that strong before.

Few options here, in order of 'harshness':

Normal, non acidic wheel cleaner. A good one is a must. I like Autosmart Smart Wheels. non-acidic and actually works a charm!
Fallout/Wheel cleaner combo.
Fallout remover neat
(this is where things get more agressive)
Heavily diluted acidic wheel cleaner
Less diluted acidic wheel cleaner

Also worth considering a claybar as ive found they can do the job.

 

[Marky_]

Cheers @Fantastic Nostrils . Forgot to mention i tried a bit of Iron x (which i believe is fallout remover?) on it but made no difference. Some purple came up but visually looked the same afterwards. It was very old stuff that'd been sat in the garage for about a decade, not sure if it loses potency. Didn't think to try clay!

 

[Fantastic Nostrils]

Cheers @Fantastic Nostrils . Forgot to mention i tried a bit of Iron x (which i believe is fallout remover?) on it but made no difference. Some purple came up but visually looked the same afterwards. It was very old stuff that'd been sat in the garage for about a decade, not sure if it loses potency. Didn't think to try clay!

Ill be honest and say that I didnt rate Iron X very highly. It was 'ok' but nothing id rave about. Ive tried many others, for less money ill add, that did a better job.

ValetPro Dragons Breath is one of the best, but expensive. Then again, if you're only doing wheels then its worth grabbing a bottle!

Maybe ping some pictures up if you can and ill share any thoughts I have

 

[Marky_]

Ill be honest and say that I didnt rate Iron X very highly. It was 'ok' but nothing id rave about. Ive tried many others, for less money ill add, that did a better job.

ValetPro Dragons Breath is one of the best, but expensive. Then again, if you're only doing wheels then its worth grabbing a bottle!

Maybe ping some pictures up if you can and ill share any thoughts I have

Please ignore the inner rims 🫣
This is the worst bit

 

[Fantastic Nostrils]

Please ignore the inner rims 🫣
This is the worst bit
View attachment 1755624

oooooo she baked!

Yeah, that looks totally revivable to me from where im sat. Going to need some strong stuff to shift it but I wouldnt necessarily jump straight to acid.

Few rounds of some nice strong mixed Smart Wheels and id have said that would shift.

You can see where some of it has come away with some hard work, so thats why I think its doable.

 

[Marky_]

What are the downsides of going straight in with acid (I watched a YT vid and the guy had to use full PPE!)? Saves me faffing around buying stuff that may or may not shift it after a few goes? Does this look too tough for the BH stuff @Crybert recommended?

 

[Fantastic Nostrils]

What are the downsides of going straight in with acid (I watched a YT vid and the guy had to use full PPE!)? Saves me faffing around buying stuff that may or may not shift it after a few goes? Does this look too tough for the BH stuff @Crybert recommended?

Acid isnt as scary as most people think it is. But it does have potential to ruin the finish of the wheels - which is mostly why people tend to steer clear. Work one wheel at a time and DONT let it dry on. Multiple rounds of cleaning are better than letting it dry.

Its hard to say, I havent used that specific wheel cleaner I dont think. Ive never really needed to attack anything with acid before. Ive always managed with multiple rounds of non-acidic wheel cleaner or fallout remover

 

[Crybert]

What are the downsides of going straight in with acid (I watched a YT vid and the guy had to use full PPE!)? Saves me faffing around buying stuff that may or may not shift it after a few goes? Does this look too tough for the BH stuff @Crybert recommended?

Acid f**king stinks. The BH stuff is smelly aswell but not as bad as acid

Do you agitate after putting it on?

 

[Marky_]

Acid f**king stinks. The BH stuff is smelly aswell but not as bad as acid

Do you agitate after putting it on?

Iron X stinks too so my assumption now is all wheel stuff stinks 😄

I've tried shampoo+sponge and iron x (no agitating) so far. It doesn't scrape off even with the fingernail.

Guess i'll try Smart wheels or maybe BH auto wheel next.

 

[Louis]

Devil's juice.

 

[Gally]

Iron X stinks too so my assumption now is all wheel stuff stinks 😄

I've tried shampoo+sponge and iron x (no agitating) so far. It doesn't scrape off even with the fingernail.

Guess i'll try Smart wheels or maybe BH auto wheel next.

Not smart wheels.

Get the auto wheel. Bh are top of the game. @imprezaworks has some decent strong maybe acid wheel cleaner.

Oh and auto smart do something called Ali or Alu. That's their strongest wheel cleaner but use it more than a couple of times and the wheel will dull. Apply with a brush and agitated.

 

[imprezaworks]

I haven't used it for a while as they stopped doing 5l (was about £20). They only do a litre and 25l now.

There wasn't anything this stuff wouldn't get rid of

I just use the strong autoglym acid cleaner in work, does the job.

 

[Yarp]

I haven't used it for a while as they stopped doing 5l (was about £20). They only do a litre and 25l now.

There wasn't anything this stuff wouldn't get rid of

I just use the strong autoglym acid cleaner in work, does the job.

View attachment 1755832

+1 on this stuff.

It’s f**king savage.

Even diluted it keeps dissolving the mechanism on any spray bottle I put it in 🤣

 

[imprezaworks]

When there is vapor visible you know it's hardcore lol

 

[Yarp]

When there is vapor visible you know it's hardcore lol

At least it makes it easier to dodge the fumes when you can see them coming 🤣🤣

 

[leeds2592]

+1 on this stuff.

It’s f**king savage.

Even diluted it keeps dissolving the mechanism on any spray bottle I put it in 🤣

+2. It’s ridiculous.

Just don’t get a face full of it like I did the first time I used it 😂