BLOG (2014-2021)
FOLLOW ALONG WITH WHAT I GOT GOING ON
So, I think I am going to bring the RAD Garage blogging era to an end. With Instagram, I just don't see the need to keep the Blog updated. If you want to keep track of what I am up to, I invite you to check me out on Instagram.
Stay RAD 🤘 To express my genuine thanks to my supporters who have discovered and used my "RADGARAGE" discount on their Carzilla orders, I have arranged for the next 100 orders to include a free RAD GARAGE decal. I had these made up by my friends over at customdecalsyyc.com. In addition to a a free decal, the next 100 orders are atomically entered to win a random draw for a 3'x2' RAD GARAGE banner like the one I recently raffled off on Instagram. I sincerely want to thank all my viewers for their continued support of me and my favourite detailing supply company. Be sure to visit the Carzilla.ca website or visit the retail location if you are in the Calgary or surrounding area.
If you need a new hat, I have you covered. I have just launched three versions of the official RAD GARAGE hat. I have snapbacks, truckers and "dad" hats all available for purchase on at my online store. Feel free to check them out: * Use "RAD10" at checkout to save 10% on your order until the end of March *
I highly doubt there's a Canadian garage with a cleaner floor than mine. Maintaining a spotless floor during the inhospitable Canadian winter isn't always an easy feat, but the Swisstrax floor and channel drain/catch basin system are a huge help. The weather threw me a bit of a bone this weekend, so I took the opportunity to clean the floor and empty the basin before another polar vortex hits! Check it out: I recently discovered a company out of the US that puts together "mystery boxes" of detailing products but they don't actually keep the contents a mystery. Rather than throwing a bunch of random detailing products into a box, the team at Gloveboxdetail.com curates a box of high quality products that work together towards a common goal. I highly recommend you check out there website to see the various boxes and purchase options they offer. You can make a one-time purchase of any of their past or present boxes, or opt for a 3, 6, or 12-month subscription. Whatever option you decide to go with, I can't get over the value these kits offer.I have partnered up with them because I just love what they are doing. I recently received my "welcome box" and I was absolutely thrilled with its contentsl. Here's a video I put together of the unboxing of my first Glovebox. You can enjoy a 20% discount on your first order if you want to give it a shot. Just use code "RAD20" at checkout!
With the arrival of my new AR630TSS pressure washer, it was time to say farewell to my Kobalt/AR Blue Clean 390SS electric pressure washer. This unit has been with me for almost five years and served me well over that time. I passed it on to a local friend so it can continue helping the world stay a clean place!
I recently had two 3'x2' vinyl RAD GARAGE banners made. I gave one away this past Friday through an Instagram contest. To enter, followers had to like the post and mention which of my YouTube videos they loved the most. The winner was @sq5chris from Ontario. He mentioned the "new car prep" series of videos I produced when I took ownership of my current SQ5 as his favorites. I was so flattered that 88 followers would take the time to enter to win a banner with my name on it. Also, the generous folks at LevKom Lighting threw in a $150 lighting credit for the second place finisher. That prize went to my friend Dave (@blau_rs2).
There is a chance for viewers to win the second of the two banners. Details for that can be found here. Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support of my garage. Washing inside the garage in the summer rarely presents me with humidity issues. Now that I have the floor drainage system, I am able to conduct proper washes in the winter, but I have noticed the garage becomes extremely humid. I reached out to my friend Pan the Organizer, and he suggested I look into purchasing a Frigidaire FFAD5033W 50-Pint Capacity Dehumidifier. I did just that and I am so happy with my decision. This unit will bring the garage from a humidity level of 85% down to a comfortable 40-45% in short order. I highly recommend.
I am so happy to be introducing a new pressure washer system into the garage. I will be sharing the full story behind my AR630TSS acquisition in a forthcoming video, but I had to figure out how I was going to store it in the garage. I decided to position it in the dead centre of the garage on the house wall. Here, it will allow easy and convenient access to all corners of the garage. I sourced a 16"x24" John Boos & Company stainless steel shelf. This is a robust shelf that is specifically made for commercial kitchens so I felt it was the perfect choice to support the near-60lb AR unit. I removed the lower of my two Craftsman metal pegboard panels and affixed a 1" backer plate of wood to the wall using nails, screws and construction adhesive. This slab of wood isn't going anywhere. I used 3" wood screws to attach the shelf supports to the wall. I painted the panel with my darkest colour, "Film Noir". I am currently waiting on the MTM hose reel that will be positioned directly under the shelf. More updates coming soon!
An extended Family Day weekend presented an opportunity for me to do some serious organizing in the garage. The garage was already highly organized, but with the spare time I set my sights on each and every drawer and cabinet in the space. Each of them is now completely and utterly dialled in. Here's some pics demonstrating just how organized I have this place at the moment. The trick will now be maintaining it to this level. There's a few significant changes to the product displays coming up so stay tuned.
A new friend approached me a while back about potentially spoiling his cherished AMG GLA45. This car is remarkable in so many ways. The South Seas Blue Metallic paint was an utter joy to work on. I gave this car a comprehensive 24-hour detail that culminated with the application of a glossy coat of GTechniq CSL topped with Gyeon's Q2 Wax. I got a lot of questions on the video about the wax topper. It is a new wax released by Gyeon that supposedly plays well with coated vehicles so I gave it a whirl. The final results on this car were absolutely stunning. Neither myself or the owner could believe how glossy it was. I hope you will take a minute (or 42) to check out the project: A new friend entrusted his 2002 Renault Clio V6 Sport to me for a weekend so I could give it the "full works". What a cool car. I have explained a little about this project in the video description along with a comprehensive list of what products and equipment I used to complete it. I hope you will check it out. My friend Nick entrusted me with his amazing 1992 Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione for the weekend. I gave it a maintenance wash using some Adam's, Lithium and Koch Chemie products. In addition to producing a video showcasing the wash process, I had Nick share some insights and information on this truly remarkable piece of automotive history. Be sure to catch both videos on my YouTube channel. You won't often see a car like this getting spoiled in the garage of a mild-mannered weekend warrior up here in Canada. Click either of the thumbnails below to view my Lancia videos
I was equal part excited and equal part nervous to use the "Devil's Blood & Typhoon" ceramic duo by South Korean company Fireball. I have heard amazing things, and I think this coating system lived up to the hype. Of course, before I got to the coating, I needed to perform a comprehensive wash and prep of this Misano Red RS5. I corrected and polished this paint a few months ago, so it was decided I would perform a chemical decon and forego another lengthy and costly polish process. You will see some minor flaws but just remember, this is a Canadian daily driver. Here's a few photos that demonstrate how the catch basin grill can be accessed under the Swisstrax floor. I have filed off the connectors between two tiles of the Ribtrax and the solid Oak Vinyltrax. This allows for quick and easy access to the catch basin. I am quite fortunate how well all of this worked out.
The addition of the channel drain and catch basin enables me to conduct proper washes whenever I feel the need. I felt the need last weekend: My friends at Lithium sent me a little holiday care package including their new final spray called "Ignite". I used it on a recent project and really enjoyed it. I think this company is doing a wonderful job of bringing interesting and effective products to market and I have enjoyed the VIP touch they have given me. The Moscow Mule and copper cup was a nice touch!
A YouTube viewer recently contacted me to alert me to an issue with the notification bell on my channel. This user was unable to click the little bell to set video notifications, but we figured out that simply unsubscribing"and then re-subscribing fixed this issue. Complicating the issue was a message that would appear staying "this action is turned off for content made for kids". Apparently, this is a glitch that other YouTube creators have reported. At any rate, simply following the easy steps outlined above is all that is necessary to set your RAD notifications!
I had a fun chat with two detailers in Northern California a few weeks ago. It is so fun to connect with likeminded people from all over the world. Here's the video, but I warn you, it's over 2 hours long! Of snow! Calgary received a record amount of snow earlier this week. I spent quite a few hours digging out from it. Here's some pics along with a little video I put together.
I have spent ten years developing my garage into a car care paradise. With the recent installation of a drainage system, I can now perform proper washes no matter the weather. In this video, I dedicate four hours divided up over a quiet Sunday evening and Monday morning spoiling my 2018 Audi SQ5 winter warwagon. Join me for a relaxing 20+ minutes as I demonstrate the steps I follow to return my trusty daily driver to pristine condition. The team at QuickJack recently released a cool new set of black storage hooks. I reached out to them to see what it would take to procure a set of my own, and they just put a set in the mail. These will replace the steel versions I currently have. I am sending the old ones to a friend in Ottawa. The team at QuickJack has been absolutely awesome to me over the years. Be sure to check out my QuickJack page here.
An Instagram follower reached out to me recently because his parents live close to where I work and he had seen my SQ5. Turns out he's an SQ5 driver as well, so we hooked up briefly the other day so he could play around with some display settings on my dash. The coolest update was to the gear selection display. Previously, my car just said "D" or "S", but now it tells me what gear the car is actually in. We also disabled the auto stop/start (annoying), made it so the parking brake automatically engages when the car is turned off, and I can now lock the car with my remote while it is running. He used the Carista OBD2 Bluetooth Adapter and App.
I am fortunate to have made a connection with the team at Lithium Auto Care. I just received a surprise package in the mail containing a 32 oz bottle of their new Car Wash called, "Double Tap". Lithium claims the soap lubricates, moisturizes and hydrates while it cleans. I am hoping to try it out very soon on my own vehicle. I can't get over the cool packaging they use. Check out my gift pack including the US-theme banner.
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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.
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!
Use "RAD10" to save yourself 10% until the end of March, 2021.
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% discount code
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