RAD GARAGE - Rick's Residential Detailing Theatre and Dream Garage
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B L O G


FOLLOW ALONG WITH MY VARIOUS GARAGE PROJECTS AND SHENANIGANS

My dream pressure washer

4/27/2020

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I admit I am cheap when it comes to pressure washers. I'm on my third or fourth portable big box brand electric pressure washer. Currently, I am using a Kobalt pressure washer I picked up at Lowe's about three years ago. It gets the job done but it doesn't enhance the detailing process in the way the majority of my tools do. I have been eyeing a more professional setup and my research leads me to the Comet Static 1700. It would be awesome to put a system together that is mounted to my wall and remains hooked up to the water system so I don't have to set up the portable unit every time I want to do some washing. If you are interested, you can see the package I am saving up for here.
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This is a screen capture of the Comet Static pressure washer solution from the Obsessed Garage web store.
As an affiliate member of the Obsessed Garage community, I encourage you to click here to learn more about all the pressure washer systems that have been created by Matt and his team at Obsessed Garage.
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My epic spring detail

4/27/2020

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I am so glad the weather has turned Spring-like. Not because I want to tiptoe through the tulips, but because I want to finally give my SQ5 the spring cleaning it so richly deserves. The outside and inside are immaculate, but the undercarriage and wheel wells are still coated with a thick layer of winter muck. I spent the better part of two days giving the neglected regions of my car some attention. With the QuickJack, I was able to pull the wheels off and perform over twelve hours of care to the car with it safely perched in the air. This makes getting to the undercarriage and wheel wells incredibly easy and satisfying. I put a lot of work into capturing the art of this process and I hope you will find the video as satisfying as I do. I will include links to most of the products and tools I used for this project below. Happy spring everyone! 
A D A M ' S   P O L I S H E S   P R O D U C T   L I S T
Mega Foam Shampoo  
Strip Wash
All Purpose Cleaner
Iron Remover
Glass Cleaner
Rubber Mat and Liner Cleaner
Ceramic Boost
Ceramic Paint Coating 

E Q U I P M E N T   L I S T
Quickjack BL-5000 SLX Portable Lift
Ryobi Water Broom
MTM PF22 Foam Cannon 
Gloves 
CarPro Merino Wool Wash Mitt 
MetroVac Master Blaster Car Dryer 
Detail POPO "Ocean" Microfiber Towel
Adam's Polishes Detailing Stool 
IK Continuous Sprayer
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Throwing in the towel

4/23/2020

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I have a lot of microfiber towels. Too many to be honest. So, today I tackled the big job of paring my collection down. I did this to streamline and bring consistency to my collection, but also to make room for almost 80 new towels. I made a big purchase of Detail POPO towels from Carzilla on the recommendation of someone who I respect. I think these new towels will breath life into my towel collection and come in very handy as summer approaches. Here's a video of the process along with a list of the specific towels I picked up. 
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25 X OCEAN BLANKET EDGELESS 500 GSM
25 X OCEAN BLANKET EDGELESS 350 GSM
25 X SNOW BLANKET EDGELESS 350 GSM 
3 X LIGHT SHOWER 400GSM WAFFLE DRYING TOWEL 100X60CM
1 X HEAVY RAIN 1200GSM DRYING TOWEL 100X65CM 
If you are a Canadian detailing pro or enthusiast like me, and you're looking to expand your detailing product or equipment arsenal, be sure to apply my "RADGARAGE" discount code to your CARZILLA.CA order to receive a 5% discount!
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Tidy

4/20/2020

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With the isolation comes the need to tidy. Here's a look at the tidiest garage in Western Canada. 
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Oldies but goodies

4/20/2020

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Hopefully, you had an opportunity to view my most recent YouTube upload titled, "Friday Night Wash" in which I busted out some products I hadn't used in a while. I thought I would share my impressions of these products and I welcome your input. I'll go in the order the products were used and remember that these were products I kept after purging my collection, so they were already high on my list. 

Leno's Garage All Purpose Cleaner
Highly Satisfying     Gets the Job Done     On the Fence     Not a Fan
I only have Adam's rubber cleaning sprays, so when I went hunting for an alternative, the pickings were slim. I used the APC by Leno's and I don't think it is an ideal option for addressing tires, but it got the job done. I prefer more lather from my rubber cleaners and the Leno's just didn't provide the satisfying suds I was after. I see Leno's now offers a dedicated "Rubber and Whitewall Cleaner". 

Leno's Garage Wheel Cleaner
Highly Satisfying     Gets the Job Done     On the Fence     Not a Fan
I am a fan of this wheel cleaner. It has a decent amount of bite needed to break down the brake dust and other aggressive road grime that comes with winter driving. It contains the chemicals that turn iron deposits purple which I find satisfying. It lathers well once activated by the water in the tire brush and always leaves my wheels clean, and it didn't disappoint this time. 

Hyde's Serum Rustopper
Highly Satisfying     Gets the Job Done     On the Fence     Not a Fan
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The name of this product along with the bottle's appearance reminds me of the products hawked by snake oil salesman in the olden days. It touts itself as a preventative remedy for rusty rotors that occur during the wash process. I sprayed the "serum" on the rotors at the conclusion of the wheel cleaning process. To say this product "stopped" the rusting would be disingenuous. I'd rather drive the car back and forth a couple of times and dust of the rusty fallout than waste my time and money with this product. 

Gyeon Q2M Foam
Highly Satisfying     Gets the Job Done     On the Fence     Not a Fan
This was a lovely product to work with. It isn't the thickest foam I have ever had the pleasure of using, but it had strong cling and seemed to have the power necessary to lift the dirty layer of grime coating my car. Pressure washing the foam off the paint left the finish virtually clean. I think I could have probably ended the wash at this stage, but I always finish with a traditional bucket wash. I highly recommend Q2M foam for those that like the foam process. 


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Busting out some old stuff

4/18/2020

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In an effort to mix things up a bit, I preformed a very thorough exterior detail of my SQ5 using some products I haven't used in a very long time. I dug deep into the cabinets and pulled out some great stuff. Here' the video: 
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The evolution is complete

4/12/2020

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The weather conspired to keep me indoors all weekend, and I had nothing to detail or organize. So, I pulled out a few external hard drives and began reviewing photos of my garage spanning all the way back to when our home was under construction. I put a video together that demonstrates the evolutionary process that occurred in order for RAD Garage to become what it has become. Behold: 
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A star in the making

4/6/2020

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Shaun, is a friend of mine that I met through the garage/detailing world. For years, I have been encouraging him to share more of his garage and process with the world, because he is an impeccable detailer and master organizer. I was so pleased to see his first ever video go live tonight. I enjoyed watching the man in action, and I trust you will too. Check it out! 
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Spoiled

4/6/2020

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I can pretty much guarantee no car in this city received the level of pampering my car enjoyed over the past two weeks. The engine compartment and undercarriage notwithstanding, the rest of the car is absolutely pristine. Here's so pics of her current condition. 
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Interior refresh

4/6/2020

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On the final Saturday of my 2-week Spring Break, I took a few hours to address the interior of my SQ5. It wasn't filthy by any means since it hasn't been seeing much use as of late, but it needed a little refresh.

In this video, I use the Interior Scrubbing Mitt from Adam's and it does a fantastic job of refreshing the leather on my seats and steering wheel. 

​Here's the video: 
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An obsessed shout-out!

4/3/2020

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A viewer of my videos, Ryan reached out to me the other day to let me know that my name came up during a video/podcast hosted by Matt Moreman over at Obsessed Garage. Matt and I have known each other since the early days on the garagejournal.com forums. Since those early days, Matt has gone on to build himself an empire called "Obsessed Garage". He's a heavy hitter in the detailing world so to have him speak so highly of me on his channel was definitely encouraging and inspiring.
I've embedded the YouTube video below and timestamped it to the part of the video where Matt offers me some encouragement and advice to "chase it harder". It meant a lot coming from him. 
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New music partnerships

4/3/2020

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For years, I have been scouring the deep dark reaches of the Internet trying to source the kind of music that enhances the detailing experience for me. Recently, I have been hit with a spat of "third party match" claims on YouTube so I decided enough is enough. I reached out to the two artists that I have long admired the most. I am happy to report that they both agreed to allow the usage of their music in RAD Garage videos. You can look forward to the musical talents of Ambient Light and Aurora B. Polaris being featured in upcoming video projects. I will post links to the various platforms you can use to hear the music from each of these two incredibly talented artists. 

Ambient Light (Norway)

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Links
Soundcloud
YouTube
Facebook
Instagram

Aurora B. Polaris (Italy)

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Links
Soundcloud
YouTube
Facebook
Spotify
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RAD foam party time!

4/3/2020

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I combined footage from over two years of using foam washes in the garage. I think it makes for a therapeutic viewing experience. Enjoy: 
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The Allroad remix

4/3/2020

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Due to some dubious "third party match" claims on Youtube, I decided to take down the original version of my Allroad project and rearrange it. The music I originally added was marketed as "copyright free", but the artists have since gone ahead and copyrighted the material leaving me in a bind. The never version is cleaner, crisper and features the sounds of Silencyde who is an amazing copyright-free producer. I hope you will take minute to revisit this reworked version of one of my all-time favorite projects. 
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Where is this Spring they talk about?

4/3/2020

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My two-week spring break is quickly winding down and the weather did everything it possibly could to add to the misery brought about by the Covid-19 crisis. To say I'm not impressed is an understatement. I really should be used to it by now, but I'm not. I parked the car outside on the driveway for an hour so my son could work on his stick handling, and this is what I returned to. I title this photograph, "Isolation". I hope the weather is treating you better wherever you are. 
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Wash & Chat series

4/3/2020

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I've posted four episodes of my new series called, "Wash & Chat". It's a fun way to connect with viewers. I will still produce artsy videos with chill music, but this is another way for me to enjoy sharing my garage and the projects I complete with viewers. Feel free to check them out when you have the time. I will warn you, they are around the thirty-minute mark in length. 
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New camera and gear

4/3/2020

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I have been upping my game in the A/V department with a few new purchases. Recently, I purchased a Song A6100 camera along with a few little toys including a motorized dolly. Here's a look at my current equipment that I use for videos. I am contemplating a long slider, but haven't pulled the trigger yet because the dolly seems to accomplish most of what a slider can. 
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    RAD GARAGE is my personal detailing theatre. I am a teacher who finds immense pleasure in completing deeply therapeutic, thorough and highly satisfying detailing projects in my residential garage. I have converted my suburban double car garage into a world class detailing environment and I enjoy caring for my own car and select cars belonging to others. The garage and the work I complete in it have allowed me to connect with other detailing enthusiasts from around the world. ​
    Contact me

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    I have teamed up with Teespring to offer viewers an opportunity to grab some RAD gear! Click here to see the current inventory of RAD merchandise available at my Teespring store! 
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    Carzilla is a local detailing store that caters to the North American community of professional and enthusiast detailers. I have been a longtime customer and I am fortunate to call the owner a friend. Besides stocking a vast quantity of top quality detailing products, the owner has supported various garage and detailing projects of mine over the years.

    5 %   d i s c o u n t   c o d e
    "RADGARAGE"

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    I am able to offer all Canadian detailing pros and enthusiasts a 5% Carzilla discount code. Check out the awesome Carzilla online store here.

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    I have equipped my garage with a variety of LED lighting systems from this family-owned company out of Saskatchewan. They have a variety of garage lighting solutions to fit every need. Be sure to visit their website and use "RAD10" at checkout to receive a 10% discount on your order.

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    I am proud to rep Obsessed Garage. Click on the banner below to explore the complete OG inventory. By using my affiliate link, any purchases you make will help me equip and enhance my garage. 

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    25¢ per sq ft discount
    "RADGARAGE"

    Swisstrax manufactures the highest quality modular flooring system you can get for your garage. I am able to offer a 25¢ per square foot discount to Canadian friends wanting to install a Swisstrax floor in their garage. Simply reference "RAD GARAGE" in your email or phone call correspondence with the Swisstrax Canada sales staff. 

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    Adam's is my favorite brand of car detailing products. I have made friends with a number of team members and I appreciate the support I have received from them over the years. I have also been fortunate to meet many other Adam's fans from all over the world. Check out the Adam's website here. 


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    If you are in the Calgary or surrounding area and you are looking to have some concrete work completed, I highly recommend reaching out to the team at Concrete Innovations. They did a tremendous job on my garage drainage system. You can save $300 on your own double garage drainage solution by contacting them and telling them I referred you.

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    Tim and his team at Ethos have been hard at work bringing innovation to the detailing industry. I have been fortunate to have received a number of high quality Ethos products and I have found all of them to be highly satisfying. I am a huge fan of this company and their "Defy" ceramic protectant spray is one of my all time favourite products. 

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    Tunerworks is a performance-minded automotive service centre located in Calgary. It is my go-to source for wheels and tires and all other things automotive. If you are interested in connecting with the team at Tunerworks to see how you can improve your car's appearance and/or performance, give the team a call at 403.398.9833 and tell them Rick sent you. 

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    A few years ago, a Quickjack representative reached out to me because I had mentioned on this blog that I was looking for some sort of lift system. We corresponded back and forth and I ended up receiving a sweetheart deal on a QuickJack BL-5000 SLX lift system. I immediately fell in love with it. I sent the team at Ranger Products a variety of photos of the lift in action in my garage and they have featured them in various online ads, including the US and Canada Costco websites.
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    TRITON DOOR SERVICES
    Triton is owned and operated by Mike Awada and he is a highly skilled and experienced garage door technician. I highly recommend reaching out to Mike if you have any garage door concerns or if you are interested in upgrading your home's garage door and/or door opener system. 
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    The team at Auto Shield Canada has been extremely supportive of me and my detailing pursuits. They have provided me with samples of their graphene coating and even gone to the lengths of helping me apply it on a friend's 2008 RS4. I look forward to watching this company make deeper inroads into the market with their high quality coatings. 

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    The team at Lithium Auto Care has been highly supportive of me and my detailing hobby by sending me a number of samples in exchange for my feedback. I have been very impressed with the products I have tried and I have been even more impressed by the quality of service they have provided me. 

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    Extra Tough is a highly effective and versatile all-purpose cleaner. The team at Extra Tough sent me two complimentary gallons of this cleaner and I have used it in a variety of jobs around the garage. Most famously, I used it to deeply clean the carpeted wheel arches of a pristine Misano Red RS5. It is available through their website. 

    OTHER RAD FRIENDS

    ​Crown Rally
    ​Custom Decals YYC
    Geoff Wilkings Photography
    Glenmore Audi
    ​Kaizen Foam
    Space-Ray Heaters
    ​Tire Rack
    Trek Bicycles
    ​TSW Wheels

    OTHER RAD GARAGES

    In addition to showcasing my own garage, I enjoy sharing other amazing garages. Here are some spaces that I have featured on my blog: 
    Tavin Garage
    Tyson's Acura Museum
    Larry's Charlotte Showroom
    dubber's double
    Chad's "Next" Makeover
    Gully's Dream Garage
    Orland Park Audi Oasis
    Cory's Industrial Arts Studio
    Brynjar's Icelandic Garage
    Pat's Controlled Chaos
    ​Greg & Nancy's Place
    ​Brandon Burrell's Toy House

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  • Home
  • Affiliates
  • Audi
    • 2018 SQ5 Technik (Current)
    • 2014 SQ5 Technik (Previous)
    • 2009 Q7 S-Line (Previous)
  • Blog
  • Build
  • Contact
  • Crown Rally
  • Design
  • Detailing
  • Door
  • Drainage
  • Gallery
  • Heat
  • History
  • Instagram
  • Lighting
  • Merchandise
  • Organization
  • Other Garages
  • QuickJack
  • Swisstrax Floor
  • Videography
  • YouTube