Frequently Asked Questions
Waterless washes are great for use in environments where there is limited/no access to a hose. People who live in apartments or in remote areas would find this option very appealing. Note that we only recommend waterless wash as a method of washing only when no other choice and when the car is not overly soiled. Waterless wash can be used safely to remove light dirt and grime but in instances whereby the vehicle is more soiled, nothing beats a hose and 2 buckets.
This depends on the objective of the wash. If a maintenance wash for a vehicle that is ceramic coated or protected to some degree, a pH neutral wash is always recommended. PH neutral washes will preserve the protection on the surface of the vehicle while washing.
For more heavily soiled cars where dirt and grime removal is the objective and not so much protection preservation, then a more aggressive alkaline based wash would work well. These washes would chemically breakdown the dirt and grime on the surface and thereby make the washing process more efficient.
Depending on the finish of the wheels, a pH neutral wheel cleaner is typically recommended. The downside to pH neutral cleaners is as they are less chemically acidic/harsh, they require a bit of agitation in the cleaning process to rid the surface of baked on grime. Iron cleaners are also a great wheel cleaning assistant. Given that the make up of brake dust is predominantly iron, iron decontaminants are excellent at chemically breaking down the dust (creating a purple bleeding reaction). This will significantly clear out brake dust build up. However, a wheel cleaner is needed to remove road grime often also found on wheels.
Pump sprayers are gaining in popularity due to a number of reasons. They offer an effective, consistent output of product. Additionally these sprayers also reduce strain on the palm and wrist particularly in the application of product where significant coverage is required. Some pump sprayers also known as foamers atomise the product and create a consistent foam layer on the surface worked on. This enables foam to be created in the absence of a foam lance and pressure washer.
A good quality ceramic coating will be resistant damage from a range of chemicals including iron fallout removers. In fact this is oftentimes a great way to "revive" the hydrophobic properties of ceramic coatings.
Tapered pads allow for a buffer between the backing plate and any edges you might come up against whilst polishing. Straight pads tend to be the preferred choice of the more seasoned detailer or those that prefer a rotary or forced rotation machine.Tapered pads are typically paired with dual action forced rotation machines.
The hole in the middle assists in enabling better ventilation and minimises the build up of heat on the surface of the pad during polishing.
No it does not! A cutting pad need not necessarily be paired with a cutting compound. Some people might prefer a softer pad with a cutting compound to contour better to the surface they are working on.
Oil based compounds (majority of compounds) tend to have better work time and also lower dusting. However oil based compounds also have a tendency to mat and clog up pads (microfibre and wool particularly).
Water based compounds do not clog up pads nearly as quickly as oil based pads but do not have as long a work time as oil based compounds and can dust up quite a bit (particularly as the water evaporates with the heat generated while working the product).
At the end of the day, it is a matter of preference and with some people swearing by one and not the other.
The Amazebuff towel is a Korean made towel that has been specifically designed for buffing off wax/polish/compounds. The extra long pile enables the towel to trap more product hence requiring more passes to saturate the towel and fewer towels in the whole process.
The All Purpose 300gsm towel is a Korean made short nap towel that has been designed for All Purposes as its name would suggest. Whether it is for buffing off excess wax from surfaces or cleaning glass surfaces, the All Purpose 300gsm towel does it all with minimal fuss.
The Magic Micro 800gsm (another made in Korea variant) is mainly designed for drying the external surfaces of the vehicle. This towel was developed as a more compact solution to the MOFO drying towel. With its smaller sizing (40cm by 40cm), it is somewhat more wieldy and works best after an initial wash when it's fibres have been primed.
The Korean made Mellow Yellow towel has been designed specifically for buffing off excess product (sealants/waxes) from surfaces. It has been sonically cut which means no edges and its fibres are ultra fine resulting in a glossier post buff surface.
The famed Korean made MOFO towel has been developed to dry surfaces effectively and efficiently. It has a twisted pile technology which effectively more than double the length of each nap of microfibre towel enabling the towel to trap more liquid and saturate significantly more than other microfibre towels. This towel is so effective at retaining and trapping moisture that it will dry most vehicles within 1 wring of the towel.
You can also adjust how thick or patchy you would like the foam to be by removing the felt filters and adding spacers that are included in the unit from the factory. Refer to the image below:
This is likely due to the chamber being compromised when it has not been depressurized after use. This is essential to prevent leaks and failure at the seams particularly the base of the unit. Failure to do so will also void the warranty of this product.
It is recommended to empty the contents (particularly for acidic and high in alkaline solutions) and rinse thoroughly with water after use to prevent clogging of the nozzles. For regular shampoos or pH neutral solutions, it is generally fine to keep them in the chamber for storage.
For more information & instructions, kindly refer to the user manual here.
Yes our Foamstar solution is compatible with all foam cannons as long as it is used in accordance with our directions. Do note that the Foamstar is also pH neutral and will not strip coatings off and is safe for all paint types including matte finish paints.
Yes it is safe on all surfaces including those that have coatings as it is pH neutral.
The best ratio is 1:5. For every 50ml of solution, add 200ml of water. Don't shake vigorously, rather spin the Foamstar solution and water mix to create a vortex which will allow the 2 to combine effectively together.
To use it, just attach the snow foam lance with the solution premixed and then attach it to your pressure hose’s lance and then depress the trigger. You will note that the nozzle on the snow foam lance can be rotated. The purpose of this is to enable you to control the spread of the foam. A narrower setting creates a wider spread. There is also a knob at the top of the snow foam lance. This enables you to control the mix between solution and water. Counter clockwise increases the ratio between solution and water, whereas a clockwise rotation reduces the ratio resulting in a less concentrated mix.
You can purchase this from any general hardware store. External link here if you have difficulties finding one.
This falls back to the fundamentals of our business and particularly the products that we carry which are all fit for purpose, and built with quality to last. The main areas we looked into were the quality of brass/plastic parts to withstand more demanding stresses applied typically at adaptor joints, bends of tubes and sealing as well to ensure leak free use.
When you compare the foam produced by our SFL with these cheaper alternatives, you can even tell visually that some leaves air gaps or more bubbles in between the foam layers that leaves an inconsistent film of lubrication between the mitt and your paint work.
As a natural cleaning method, steam cleaning allows the removal of hard to see bacteria and dirt, without the use of harmful chemicals. Steam products provide a cleaning method safe for children and pets.
When the water reaches 100°C, the unit produces steam. The moment the steam hits the air, it cools and turns back into water.
No, McCulloch steam cleaners are designed to emit a pure vapor, free of chemicals. By adding chemicals you may damage the steaming mechanism.
Although we recommend using distilled water, you may use tap water depending on the hardness of the water. Hard water will cause your steamer to collect mineral deposits which could shorten the life of the unit.
It is normal for some water to dispense from the unit when initially used. As the unit heats up, condensation builds in the nozzle or the hose. When used for the first time, water may dispense but will turn into steam.
The units that have a boiler-style heating system are the MC1230, MC1270, MC1275, MC1375, and MC1385. The heating element in the boiler is controlled by a thermostat. The thermostat will switch off power to the heating element once the temperature to create steam has been reached. It will automatically switch on as needed to maintain normal operation. If the thermostat were to fail, there is a fuse that will completely cut power to the unit preventing it to overheat. The boiler cap also has an over-pressure device built in, so if the boiler should become over pressurised it allows pressure to release.
No. This machine does not dispense water or detergent. It uses steam to sanitise, refresh and deodorise carpets. Debris is suctioned off of the floor using the vacuum. The steamer should be used for spot cleaning only.
The MC1375 and MC1385 steamers build pressure up to 58 PSI (4 BAR). Once the steam trigger is pressed, pressure will be released and will drop to approximately 29 PSI (2 BAR). These are normal operating conditions. Once the trigger has been released and the steam stops, pressure will build back to 58 PSI.
Yes it is possible but the customer has to wear all freight costs associated to and from which will be charged together with the deposit.
Anything that requires replenishment would be deemed a consumable from the foam pads to the compounds, to buffing towels etc. If you are still unsure of what to get to tackle a specific job, contact our support team at hello@detailstore.com.au for advice.
We do not have any power boxes on our cord as everything has been engineered to be contained within the polisher.
A larger pad gives you a larger surface area to work with thereby achieving more within the same amount of time. The trade-off here is manoeuvrability.
Dual action technology has the plate both orbiting and spinning at the same time. Random Orbital allows the plate to freely spin when too much pressure is applied. This second feature here is the safety mechanism that prevents you from burning your paint. Forced rotation machines do not stop spinning regardless of force applied. Don't make the mistake of just getting any dual action polisher as there are forced rotation dual action polishers.
The thread sizing across all our polishers are standard M8. Therefore you can technically mount different backing plates, however this is not encouraged as our machines have not been engineered for anything except for that which accompanies the polisher. The counterbalance in the polisher is made precisely for the backing plate(s) included and the throw of the particular machine. Any other combination will unfortunately lead to a suboptimal user experience.
Yes in short provided they have the same mounting groove. Do note however our polishers have been engineered to work most effectively with the backing plates included in our package.
The bail handle on the Karate Kid & Sensei Plus polishers are actually bridged across both sides of the polisher to facilitate ambidextrous use. Alternatively stick handles that can also be mounted on either side of the polisher with an M8 bolt. The Grasshopper mini DA on the other hand does not have specific mounting holes for handles.
We have all spare parts for all our polishers. Feel free to contact us directly for any queries. Repairs can be done by the user but no warranty can be issued for independent repairs. All repairs done at the Apex Customs come with a 3 month warranty.
A quick rule of thumb is what is your budget. Money aside, we would encourage every customer to get the 21mm 7” Sensei and the 9mm 3” Grasshopper. The 21mm 7” allows you to plough throw significant surface area in minimal time, but the trade-off of this is manoeuvrability in smaller spots like door jambs and spoiler lips. Accompanied with the 9mm 3” however, this will enable you to get through to those tighter spots easily and extremely effectively. Budget limiting however, we would strongly recommend the 15mm Sensei. Engineered to be a real workhorse in, this polisher will enable you to tackle a vast majority of situations with minimal fuss.
Our pads are very durable with proper care (i.e. no harsh soaps or chemicals and definitely no washing machine. Only hand wash with warm water). Expect between 3-5 uses per pad.
Our microfibre pads have been designed to cut. They are an aggressive cutting tool and get through most scratches in a significantly faster time. Note however that due to the nature and the heat retaining nature of these microfibre pads, it is important to check them intermittently to ensure that they are not running too hot.
No we do not sell anything to clean our pads with as cleaning by hand is the safest and most effective way we’ve found. There are pad brushes out there but one needs to be wary about this method as sometimes the bristles can be really stiff and may damage the foam pad.
Yes as long as the thread and adaptor matches it will be fine. But as mentioned, the ones supplied are designed for our machines and the weight of the backing plates can also affect the overall balance of the machine. Hence other combinations of backing plates and pad density / size may cause additional vibration/noise which would result in a subpar user experience.
All our polishers come in a cardboard box. Carry bags will be sold separately as kits or individually. Refer to listing images of what is typically included.
Kindly refer to our troubleshooting guide here for further information before contacting us for further assistance or for a warranty / repairs service request.
One of the first things to check is to ensure that your power mains are connected properly and there are no visible damages to the power cable or connections to the machine. If there is, DO NOT switch the machine on and contact our support team directly for further instructions.
For any warranty claims, click here.
Essentially the higher the number of poles equates to the motor running at a lower RPM / speed to generate the same amount of flow. Therefore a 4-pole motor is better than a 2-pole motor which translates to lower operating speeds which then generates less noise and has a longer duty cycle when compared to a 2-pole motor.
Generally you do not need such high pressures for the purposes of washing your car as it can also damage your paint if it is too high and where the pressure point is concentrated on a small spot. The ideal operating pressures at the outlet of the gun is between 950-1300psi.
What is the difference between induction and synchronous (universal) motor used in pressure washers?
The fundamental difference between these two motors is that the speed of the rotor relative to the speed of the stator is equal for synchronous motors, while the rotor speed in induction motors is less than its synchronous speed. This is why induction motors are also known as asynchronous motors.
Induction motors are simple, rugged in construction and are therefore quieter and more robust than universal motors. However they are usually heavier and more expensive which is why they are more commonly found in commercial or higher grade pressure washers.
This actually differs from brand to brand and therefore there isn't a standard or universal fitting across brands like Karcher, Gerni, Bosch and Kranzle. It is best to check with our customer support team to ensure you have the right fitting to make an accessory work with your pressure washer.
Kranzle offers sophisticated high pressure cleaners with technical benefits that are designed to extend the service life of the machine. Many of these technical details are innovations that originate from the Kranzle development center in Illertissen, Germany, and are exclusive to Kranzle machines. A properly designed pressure washer has a brass pump head, a 4 pole (slow revving) electric motor, continuously adjustable pressure and of course a decent a warranty.
Click here to find out why you should invest in a Kranzle pressure washer.
The Kranzle pump head is manufactured by Kranzle in Germany from forged special brass and guarantees an extremely long service life, and comes with a 10 YEAR GUARANTEE.
All Kranzle pumps have ceramic coated stainless steel plungers. These provide excellent thermal conductivity and when combined with the characteristics of a hard ceramic coating, offer an extremely low-wear surface.
Kranzle pumps can be run without water for quite some period without suffering any damage. This is called the ‘Dry-run safety’ and is achieved by creating a water cushion between the high-pressure seals on the plungers which prevent any sucked in air from reaching the pump chamber.
Each plunger is equipped with a fabric sleeve and a Teflon graphite backing ring. The excellent Iubricating properties of Teflon graphite serve to reduce both the friction and temperature inside the pump.
We are committed to developing the highest quality products in the industry and welcome consumer feedback that can assist us in achieving this goal. Given our dedication to customer service, we warrant our products to their original owner with proof of purchase (from an authorised dealer) against defects in fabrication and materials:
Defects in material and workmanship which occur within the duration of the warranty period. Normal wear and tear, damage caused by improper assembly, improper maintenance or installation of parts or accessories not originally intended for use (or incompatible) with the product is not covered by this warranty. Warranty does not cover failure or damage due to accident, misuse, abuse or neglect.
The manufacturer warrants that it will repair, at no charge for parts or labour, during the following time period after date of original retail purchase. Any modification to the product, voids this warranty in its entirety.
For any Kranzle product related claims and warranties, send us an email at hello@detailstore.com.au and our team will endeavour to respond within 24 hours. All Kranzle pressure washers generally come with a standard 5 Year manufacturers warranty and 10 Years on the pump/motor set.
The recommended oil grade for all Kranzle pressure washers for oil change out is 15W-40 diesel engine oil - this is typically changed after 50 hours of use, or within the 2 year mark, whichever comes first. We recommend using the prescribed Kranzle gear oil; otherwise you can also use Castrol RX Super Engine Oil 15w-40 or Valvoline Super Diesel 15W-40.
It is not water, it is glycerine. The gauge is about half full with glycerine so you may see a 'bubble'. This all dampens the vibration of the needle allowing you to see what the pressure is, rather than just a blur.
You may wish to first establish where the leak is: it may be a hose connection; it may be a loose oil sight glass. Checking this before contacting a servicing agent may save you time and money.
It only takes a few parts per thousand of water to emulsify oil and make it appear 'milky'. Machines used near any sprayed water or in poorly ventilated enclosed spaces are typically going to build up condensation and temperature fluctuations also will effect the colour of the oil.
In cases of increased humidity or frequent fluctuations in temperature development of condensed water is possible. If the oil turns grey or white, you must change it.