Detailing tips and tricks
Detailing tips and tricks
Hey, who out there has shortcuts and ideas, good products to use, etc. for detailing your chrome covered couch cruisers?
Here are a couple of tricks I've used:
1. When I had my '04 road king, I would remove the detachable windshield, lay a cotton bath towel on it, and soak the towel with the hose. I'd let it sit for about 10 minutes before washing it. Sun-dried bugs were easily removed at that point.
2. Don't by HD's $130 Hog Blaster. Just use your leaf blower. Your wrist may get tired, so another option might be a shop vac in reverse, but I prefer the leaf blower because it makes the neighbors gawk.
3. Bug Slide. It's the best waterless detailer I've found, but most local HD shops locally have stopped carrying it in favor of Purple Slice. I like Bug Slide because it's a bit thicker. The purple stuff seems thinner than water, running immediately when you spray it. This means spraying your windshield on your batwing results in all that stuff running immediately to the bottom, and possibly into the inside of your fairing. What do y'all use and like?
Here are a couple of tricks I've used:
1. When I had my '04 road king, I would remove the detachable windshield, lay a cotton bath towel on it, and soak the towel with the hose. I'd let it sit for about 10 minutes before washing it. Sun-dried bugs were easily removed at that point.
2. Don't by HD's $130 Hog Blaster. Just use your leaf blower. Your wrist may get tired, so another option might be a shop vac in reverse, but I prefer the leaf blower because it makes the neighbors gawk.
3. Bug Slide. It's the best waterless detailer I've found, but most local HD shops locally have stopped carrying it in favor of Purple Slice. I like Bug Slide because it's a bit thicker. The purple stuff seems thinner than water, running immediately when you spray it. This means spraying your windshield on your batwing results in all that stuff running immediately to the bottom, and possibly into the inside of your fairing. What do y'all use and like?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,568
Likes: 110
From: Fort Worth, TX
My son details cars & trucks as a side job, so I learned a lot by watching and helping him out a few times.... mainly....
Use automotive specific soap
Rinse, then use foam cannon to coat bike
Use 2 bucket method
Use Microfiber towels only
Wipe in straight lines, never circles
Use automotive specific soap
Rinse, then use foam cannon to coat bike
Use 2 bucket method
Use Microfiber towels only
Wipe in straight lines, never circles
Banned
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 853
Likes: 19
From: Melbourne
Use good quality products... If the local auto shop sells them then its a chit product!
I use Scholl Concepts compounds or Concours Finesse with a random orbital polisher.
Invest in a course and learn how the pros do it. I spent $50 for a 3 hours course of which $30 was then discounted off products. I thought I knew how to prep and polish paint but boy did I learn a thing or two (from washing, to claying to paint correction etc)
I'm not plugging for them but here is an example of some of the better products out there: www.waxit.com.au
I know your in the USA, but you will have the same sort of pro suppliers like that, plus their instruction videos are gold!
I use Scholl Concepts compounds or Concours Finesse with a random orbital polisher.
Invest in a course and learn how the pros do it. I spent $50 for a 3 hours course of which $30 was then discounted off products. I thought I knew how to prep and polish paint but boy did I learn a thing or two (from washing, to claying to paint correction etc)
I'm not plugging for them but here is an example of some of the better products out there: www.waxit.com.au
I know your in the USA, but you will have the same sort of pro suppliers like that, plus their instruction videos are gold!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 32,934
Likes: 36,027
From: Carlsbad, CA
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