I’ve just started using surfex past month or so and I cannot speak highly enough of it! Use it as a pre spray on the bottom of the car and then on the wheels! Brings them up perfect!
Well I learned something, surfex will foam up, I was always told it doesn't and never tried, so the next wash will be with the IK Foamer, cheers for that one Graeme. In regard to Koch Chemie Greenstar, I've not used it but I'm told that foams up, so you may get that extra lubrication you were looking for. I use surfex so much, 10:1 as a prewash on the wheels, 4% as a prewash on the paint. 10:1 in the engine bay and 100:1 as an interior cleaner. Better enthusiasts than me will no doubt use it elsewhere and at other ratios too. That wheel brush is the nuts, it may well be like 150-200% more money, but mine is 6 months old and hasn't shown signs if wear. All the best buddy. Keep up the good work.
@GM Details I don't read Graeme 😂. But honestly, that is really surprising. I've seen people run comparisons, nit through a lance or foamer and several have eluded to it not foaming up. Do I want to try it through a lance, I'm nit sure I do but definitely through the foamer. I wonder what the experience would be like to throw a little shampoo, such as autowash in with it, add that lubricity 🤔. Thanks for the reply Graeme.
Surfex will technically foam up but it doesn’t hang about. It’s better in spray form and wetting out the surface. KC GS foams up way better but the versatile and value comes from the 5 litres of Surfex.
@@GMDetails oh my. I’ll be very invested into watching that when it comes out. My prediction is that there’s very little if anything between them. It will come down to cost. And that’s where Surfex reigns with the 5 litre offering. I know someone put a warning down to Surfex drying tyres out and making them prone to cracking but I’ve never seen that happen in all the tyres I’ve cleaned over the years and normally when you clean a tyre, you don’t leave it that way. Clean tyres are dressed with a suitable dressing for that extra polished look.
I think you did mention but I’m going to stand up for the Vikan brush! Well not that one but the one they sell as a wheel face brush is smaller than that with some rubber edges too to avoid the clattering, amazing thing that you can abuse for years and it looks good as new I’d highly recommend. I’m totally going off wheel cleaners these days preferring more economical and often more effective APC products like GT decon, Green star or surfex.
Hi nick, I have the vikan wheel brush and like using it, however, I still tend to hit the corners with a boars hair or something similar. I definitely need to try GS, but still got 4L of surfex 😳. All the best.
Another excellent video Graeme - 2 products I know and love. Separating them could even come down to the weather that day 🤣 both more than capable as you demonstrated. Some brilliant shots, especially the close ups of the tar removal 👌🏼 great music too. I'm looking forward to your opinion of Green Star, another product I'm a huge fan of 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks Mark!, I’ve been trying out Greenstar for a while now and recently discovered it also has corrosion inhibitors too but per litre cheaper than Surfex , never put them up against each other before so I’ll def be making a comparison
Koch have a new wheel cleaner out too. But good to know that surfex is so flexible, I have stopped putting that in a regular spray bottle because they die...
I do love your videos Graeme, just so much info, tips & common sense. Totally agree about the Vican brush, lovely brush but not for wheels for me. Again like you I have for years used a standard tyre brush (£3.50) but have been recommended the DF brush by subscribers and finally got around to buying one. Looking forward to using it. Great video mate, top quality👍
Hi Martin 💙same goes for you too mate , totally unbiased genuine user experience , I don’t watch a hell of a lot of what I used to as they’ve either sold out to make money and producing adverts or simply spew out website descriptions and say everything is awesome so they get more free products 😤
@@jamesbartlett5005 I’m still here James just nothing worthwhile getting the camera out for but will be uploading videos when I think they may be of use. Thanks for checking in 👍
Nice to see you about Martin. Missing your content and videos. Hope you're keeping well and enjoying the lovely weather we're having. Agreed on the Vican brush. Really well made but unfortunately bit too clumsy to use across all wheels and makes. Perfect for jobs around the house though.
Another great watch. Sometimes I think I must have an affliction because I watch someone do a job that I have done so many times myself but there is mostly something I pick up so it can be worth it. They say every day is a school day and with detailing it seems to be. I am with you on that Vican brush I bought it I think after watching Paul Dolden but I didn't really get on with it apart from my Disco Sport as it had large flat fronted open spaced alloys but my current cars do not match the use of that brush. Sometimes I use it in an arch with the felt but I have another Vican with the long handle which is better suited for that job. For the wheels I seem to have gone back to a smaller brush like you from using the GT Mitt but I did pick up an Autobrite sheepskin Mitt I use on my Diamond cut alloys on my Honda. I have started using the Turtle Wax suite of Hybrid Solutions wheel & tyre cleaners and the Graphene tyre treatment and I must say I am very! impressed so far. I think my favourite heavy duty wheel cleaner is the Wowo's wheel product and that reminds me I need to order a bottle. I thought you would have used rebound on the tyres as I hear it is very good. I have not used any of these products but the Surfex seems to be the better product as it did a really good clean.
Thanks John!, well Alkalloy was doing a pretty good job without Rebound so I didn’t see the need to throw several chemicals at it like some do for the gram ! 😤 I do love a nice sheepskin mitt mines fell apart as they are usually genuine wool and will eventually go over time being natural
If Mayweather was a cleaning product, he'd be Surfex HD. It really is the absolute GOAT. I use the Autobrite wheel mitt (lovely little thing) and a little brush for the intricate parts. That vikan thing looked wholly inappropriate. Maybe use it for cleaning your back in the shower? Great video. Can't see GS getting a look in, but I'll be here to watch!
My money is still on Surfex against GS. Surfex in an IK Foamer doesn't quite make wheel cleaning a pleasure but it's certainly effective. And satisfying.
Great video 👍 Surfex is an absolute beast of a product! The FB group is great as well. Makes a change not seeing companies on there advertising with every other post 😂
Great info Graeme. Both very good products and the tyre brush looks great. I love using rebound on tyres but keep trying alloy cleaners and still looking for the 'perfect' cleaner but there's so many! Soft 99 do a 30mm brush which is great for wheels IMHO. Can I ask what do you recommend for stubborn brakedust, I know wheels off clean is best option but do u use acidic products? Look forward to BH greenstar vs surfex test👍
Thanks James , baked on brake dust can be easily removed with KKD Devil’s juice or wowos wheel cleaner for a ready to use option, or walk into most supermarkets and get some Wonder Wheels reactive wheel cleaner for around £5 , really does work wonders 👌
be careful with Surfex HD as a tyre cleaner Graham, I found it dries out the rubber and causes cracking. That was at 1/20 diluted ratio too, I think it is a very potent cleaner so I've actually stopped using it on tyres/wheels altogether as a result.
@@GMDetails no worries at all, its a real shame because its incredibly effective as well as cheap, even at those dilution ratios but i think its more potent that people estimate. I certainly found out the hard way!
Thanks for doing this Graeme. Big question that was on my mind when you did that video on Alkali. I think there is still scope to using that product because it does foam up more and is enjoyable to use but Bilt Hamber make no nonsense products and when it comes to getting something clean, BH deliver every time for a great cost. I wouldn't look past Surfex HD at all but would say it's probably more economical and better in spray form than foam itself. John from Forensic Detailing has done a mega APC test and KC GS does get close to Surfex HD but Surfex wins and beats it. Though KC will foam up more so for some is more enjoyable to use.
Yes I don’t think it’s quite designated a drain cleaner yet 😅 I’ll still keep using it as I do enjoy Alkalloy and possibly more so it can foam and help dwell times As a hobbyist it’s not about what will do the quickest but what is most enjoyable so even though surfex was better it wasn’t as lubricated so that’s where I’m thinking GS might bring the two together 🤔 Thanks for your comment and watching the video , much appreciated
@@GMDetails aha wouldn't surprise me if Surfex was decent at cleaning drains lmao. This stuff is so OP I genuinely can't believe how good it is. Cleans the grease stains on my kitchen paint easy. Cleans the grease off the chimney hood, oven cleaner...you could genuinely use this product around the house for stuff. That's the thing with Surfex HD. It'll foam up but it won't last that way and nor will it hang about for dwell time either. It works by wetting out the surface and that's about it so has room for improvement but as far as cleaning power goes... it'll take some beating. Yeah some people swear by KC GS because it's so cheap per litre but BH is cheaper at 5 litres. GS is more foamy and has rust inhibitors as well inside. There doesn't seem to be too much to choose between the two. I'm a weekend warrior at best so for me cost and performance go hand in hand. That's what gives me the enioyment. Maximum attack at a good price which doesn't damage the car long term or hurt the environment unnecessarily. Thanks for making the content. Much appreciated and always brilliant to have small questions answered. Another great thing about Surfex is you can use it at 10%ish to clean out your sealant or polishing pads by leaving them to soak in a mix of it. It's so damn versatile as an interior or carpet cleaner as well. Graeme, would you be able to see and compare Gyeon Wetcoat and Bilt Hamber touch on, on alloys as a way to protect them and make them easier to clean (they both advertise self cleaning properties).
The problem with a test like that is results vary across the spectrum of how the vehicle is driven to the mileage and storage etc , my results might not be the same as yours eg but I am doing a test on 2 current sealants for a video over 1000 miles the sealants are Wowo’s crystal and Monstershine Euphoria , I’ve ran out of my touch - on sachets but I’ll have a look and see if I can find someone selling them single 👌
@@GMDetails agreed. Results will always vary. There are so many variable like water hardness, season, alloy finish, prep, road conditions, brake pads and so on. Can't do too much about those but some kind of test would be good considering that as far as content goes, nobody has done this before so it would actually make for a good video and first of a kind. Not all too common to see genuine new content with all the content creators and detailers that are about.
You need to keep all the parameters the same, you should have gritted your teeth and endured the clattering of the Vikan bush. You need to do the test again with the boar hair brush for all the wheels - otherwise it's not a fair versus test of the wheel cleaning products.
I did say that Chris and obviously results were different due to more mechanical agitation but I feel Alkalloy did well with its lubricity and carrying grime away in foam, I was annoyed at myself for changing it without realising as I was enjoying the process and got distracted from the test 😫
I know!!, the whole point was I was trying something that’s all over UA-cam and I didn’t get on with it , I never use brushes like this but seemed like I was missing out on something amazing, clearly not 😂
Great video mate. Love all the clear close ups. At least with this video you cant get any stupid Built Hammer Surfex comments eh🤪🤡😂 Im glad you tried the Alkalloy in the foamer though and still found it enjoyable to use. Im looking forward to the Surfex vs Greenstar video. 👌
Thanks Andy!, weirdly I think I’ve had more people sticking up for Alkalloy this time 😅 It would seem that Surfex in the foamer has been a revelation but not quite as enjoyable as Alkalloy , I’m hoping there’s a difference with GS otherwise it’ll be a quick video 🤣
I’ve just started using surfex past month or so and I cannot speak highly enough of it! Use it as a pre spray on the bottom of the car and then on the wheels! Brings them up perfect!
Such an amazing product for the cost it’s incredible 👌
You'll like the Kich Gs too. Safe, very effective, cheap, safe.
Payed 50 EUR for ten liters.
Good video Graham, i knew you would like the Detail Factory Tyre Brush it's a real step up from the Tuf Shine.👍🏻
Thanks for the recommendation Alan!, I must say it took me very much by surprise how much better it is 👌
Really enjoyed this video, very well presented and executed - will be checking out more! cheers!
Awesome, thank you!
Well I learned something, surfex will foam up, I was always told it doesn't and never tried, so the next wash will be with the IK Foamer, cheers for that one Graeme. In regard to Koch Chemie Greenstar, I've not used it but I'm told that foams up, so you may get that extra lubrication you were looking for. I use surfex so much, 10:1 as a prewash on the wheels, 4% as a prewash on the paint. 10:1 in the engine bay and 100:1 as an interior cleaner. Better enthusiasts than me will no doubt use it elsewhere and at other ratios too. That wheel brush is the nuts, it may well be like 150-200% more money, but mine is 6 months old and hasn't shown signs if wear. All the best buddy. Keep up the good work.
Lee you’re not going to believe this but if you look on Bilt Hamber’s website it says Surfex was voted as the best lance applied shampoo!! 😳😳
@GM Details I don't read Graeme 😂. But honestly, that is really surprising. I've seen people run comparisons, nit through a lance or foamer and several have eluded to it not foaming up. Do I want to try it through a lance, I'm nit sure I do but definitely through the foamer. I wonder what the experience would be like to throw a little shampoo, such as autowash in with it, add that lubricity 🤔. Thanks for the reply Graeme.
Surfex will technically foam up but it doesn’t hang about. It’s better in spray form and wetting out the surface. KC GS foams up way better but the versatile and value comes from the 5 litres of Surfex.
@kwl189 wow you’re not going to believe this but right now I’m editing the surfex v Gs video on a heavily brake dusted wheel 😃
@@GMDetails oh my. I’ll be very invested into watching that when it comes out. My prediction is that there’s very little if anything between them. It will come down to cost. And that’s where Surfex reigns with the 5 litre offering. I know someone put a warning down to Surfex drying tyres out and making them prone to cracking but I’ve never seen that happen in all the tyres I’ve cleaned over the years and normally when you clean a tyre, you don’t leave it that way. Clean tyres are dressed with a suitable dressing for that extra polished look.
I think you did mention but I’m going to stand up for the Vikan brush! Well not that one but the one they sell as a wheel face brush is smaller than that with some rubber edges too to avoid the clattering, amazing thing that you can abuse for years and it looks good as new I’d highly recommend.
I’m totally going off wheel cleaners these days preferring more economical and often more effective APC products like GT decon, Green star or surfex.
Hi nick, I have the vikan wheel brush and like using it, however, I still tend to hit the corners with a boars hair or something similar.
I definitely need to try GS, but still got 4L of surfex 😳. All the best.
Yeah I’ll be completely honest and say I thought that brush WAS the wheel face brush but since realised it’s not after I made the recording 🤣🤦🏻♂️
Another excellent video Graeme - 2 products I know and love. Separating them could even come down to the weather that day 🤣 both more than capable as you demonstrated.
Some brilliant shots, especially the close ups of the tar removal 👌🏼 great music too.
I'm looking forward to your opinion of Green Star, another product I'm a huge fan of 👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks Mark!, I’ve been trying out Greenstar for a while now and recently discovered it also has corrosion inhibitors too but per litre cheaper than Surfex , never put them up against each other before so I’ll def be making a comparison
@@GMDetails looking forward to that one.
I think I still will go with alkaloy for maintains washes, do to more foamy and lubricants. From a weekend warrior aspect 😊
@@LasseJohannsen1 foam parties are so much more enjoyable eh 🫧🫧
Koch have a new wheel cleaner out too. But good to know that surfex is so flexible, I have stopped putting that in a regular spray bottle because they die...
Just watched @sparklean autos demo it , magic wheel cleaner?, looks brilliant 👌
Surfex HD is not a dedicated wheel cleaner it is an APC.
I do love your videos Graeme, just so much info, tips & common sense. Totally agree about the Vican brush, lovely brush but not for wheels for me. Again like you I have for years used a standard tyre brush (£3.50) but have been recommended the DF brush by subscribers and finally got around to buying one. Looking forward to using it. Great video mate, top quality👍
Hi Martin. Hope you're well, not heard from you for a bit
Hi Martin 💙same goes for you too mate , totally unbiased genuine user experience , I don’t watch a hell of a lot of what I used to as they’ve either sold out to make money and producing adverts or simply spew out website descriptions and say everything is awesome so they get more free products 😤
@@jamesbartlett5005 I’m still here James just nothing worthwhile getting the camera out for but will be uploading videos when I think they may be of use. Thanks for checking in 👍
@@GMDetails spot on mate👍
Nice to see you about Martin. Missing your content and videos. Hope you're keeping well and enjoying the lovely weather we're having. Agreed on the Vican brush. Really well made but unfortunately bit too clumsy to use across all wheels and makes. Perfect for jobs around the house though.
Thanks for the video and interesting about using the Tar & Glue remover. What can you use to protect the clean wheel ? Cheers Bob
Thanks Bob, now I just use a spray and rinse sealant on alloys between cleans , quick, cheap and works a treat 👌
Another great watch. Sometimes I think I must have an affliction because I watch someone do a job that I have done so many times myself but there is mostly something I pick up so it can be worth it. They say every day is a school day and with detailing it seems to be. I am with you on that Vican brush I bought it I think after watching Paul Dolden but I didn't really get on with it apart from my Disco Sport as it had large flat fronted open spaced alloys but my current cars do not match the use of that brush. Sometimes I use it in an arch with the felt but I have another Vican with the long handle which is better suited for that job. For the wheels I seem to have gone back to a smaller brush like you from using the GT Mitt but I did pick up an Autobrite sheepskin Mitt I use on my Diamond cut alloys on my Honda. I have started using the Turtle Wax suite of Hybrid Solutions wheel & tyre cleaners and the Graphene tyre treatment and I must say I am very! impressed so far. I think my favourite heavy duty wheel cleaner is the Wowo's wheel product and that reminds me I need to order a bottle. I thought you would have used rebound on the tyres as I hear it is very good. I have not used any of these products but the Surfex seems to be the better product as it did a really good clean.
Thanks John!, well Alkalloy was doing a pretty good job without Rebound so I didn’t see the need to throw several chemicals at it like some do for the gram ! 😤
I do love a nice sheepskin mitt mines fell apart as they are usually genuine wool and will eventually go over time being natural
If Mayweather was a cleaning product, he'd be Surfex HD. It really is the absolute GOAT.
I use the Autobrite wheel mitt (lovely little thing) and a little brush for the intricate parts. That vikan thing looked wholly inappropriate. Maybe use it for cleaning your back in the shower?
Great video. Can't see GS getting a look in, but I'll be here to watch!
Thanks 😅 I do look forward to seeing what GS can do against Surfex but maybe towards winter when the road grime is in need of a decent pre soak
My money is still on Surfex against GS. Surfex in an IK Foamer doesn't quite make wheel cleaning a pleasure but it's certainly effective. And satisfying.
Great video 👍 Surfex is an absolute beast of a product!
The FB group is great as well. Makes a change not seeing companies on there advertising with every other post 😂
Thanks mate. Yeah loving the flexibility of surfex
Thanks for the group feedback, I don’t feel brand adverts benefit a group at all , keep it chatty 😅
Great info Graeme. Both very good products and the tyre brush looks great. I love using rebound on tyres but keep trying alloy cleaners and still looking for the 'perfect' cleaner but there's so many!
Soft 99 do a 30mm brush which is great for wheels IMHO.
Can I ask what do you recommend for stubborn brakedust, I know wheels off clean is best option but do u use acidic products?
Look forward to BH greenstar vs surfex test👍
Thanks James , baked on brake dust can be easily removed with KKD Devil’s juice or wowos wheel cleaner for a ready to use option, or walk into most supermarkets and get some Wonder Wheels reactive wheel cleaner for around £5 , really does work wonders 👌
@@GMDetails cheers pal
be careful with Surfex HD as a tyre cleaner Graham, I found it dries out the rubber and causes cracking. That was at 1/20 diluted ratio too, I think it is a very potent cleaner so I've actually stopped using it on tyres/wheels altogether as a result.
Oh thanks for that info mate. It certainly was turning brown on impact so I’ll continue with Rebound from now on and keep an eye on it 👌
@@GMDetails no worries at all, its a real shame because its incredibly effective as well as cheap, even at those dilution ratios but i think its more potent that people estimate. I certainly found out the hard way!
Thanks for doing this Graeme. Big question that was on my mind when you did that video on Alkali. I think there is still scope to using that product because it does foam up more and is enjoyable to use but Bilt Hamber make no nonsense products and when it comes to getting something clean, BH deliver every time for a great cost. I wouldn't look past Surfex HD at all but would say it's probably more economical and better in spray form than foam itself. John from Forensic Detailing has done a mega APC test and KC GS does get close to Surfex HD but Surfex wins and beats it. Though KC will foam up more so for some is more enjoyable to use.
Yes I don’t think it’s quite designated a drain cleaner yet 😅 I’ll still keep using it as I do enjoy Alkalloy and possibly more so it can foam and help dwell times
As a hobbyist it’s not about what will do the quickest but what is most enjoyable so even though surfex was better it wasn’t as lubricated so that’s where I’m thinking GS might bring the two together 🤔
Thanks for your comment and watching the video , much appreciated
@@GMDetails aha wouldn't surprise me if Surfex was decent at cleaning drains lmao. This stuff is so OP I genuinely can't believe how good it is. Cleans the grease stains on my kitchen paint easy. Cleans the grease off the chimney hood, oven cleaner...you could genuinely use this product around the house for stuff. That's the thing with Surfex HD. It'll foam up but it won't last that way and nor will it hang about for dwell time either. It works by wetting out the surface and that's about it so has room for improvement but as far as cleaning power goes... it'll take some beating.
Yeah some people swear by KC GS because it's so cheap per litre but BH is cheaper at 5 litres. GS is more foamy and has rust inhibitors as well inside. There doesn't seem to be too much to choose between the two. I'm a weekend warrior at best so for me cost and performance go hand in hand. That's what gives me the enioyment. Maximum attack at a good price which doesn't damage the car long term or hurt the environment unnecessarily.
Thanks for making the content. Much appreciated and always brilliant to have small questions answered. Another great thing about Surfex is you can use it at 10%ish to clean out your sealant or polishing pads by leaving them to soak in a mix of it. It's so damn versatile as an interior or carpet cleaner as well.
Graeme, would you be able to see and compare Gyeon Wetcoat and Bilt Hamber touch on, on alloys as a way to protect them and make them easier to clean (they both advertise self cleaning properties).
The problem with a test like that is results vary across the spectrum of how the vehicle is driven to the mileage and storage etc , my results might not be the same as yours eg but I am doing a test on 2 current sealants for a video over 1000 miles the sealants are Wowo’s crystal and Monstershine Euphoria , I’ve ran out of my touch - on sachets but I’ll have a look and see if I can find someone selling them single 👌
@@GMDetails agreed. Results will always vary. There are so many variable like water hardness, season, alloy finish, prep, road conditions, brake pads and so on. Can't do too much about those but some kind of test would be good considering that as far as content goes, nobody has done this before so it would actually make for a good video and first of a kind. Not all too common to see genuine new content with all the content creators and detailers that are about.
It’s certainly an interesting subject I’d love to explore 👌
You need to keep all the parameters the same, you should have gritted your teeth and endured the clattering of the Vikan bush. You need to do the test again with the boar hair brush for all the wheels - otherwise it's not a fair versus test of the wheel cleaning products.
I did say that Chris and obviously results were different due to more mechanical agitation but I feel Alkalloy did well with its lubricity and carrying grime away in foam, I was annoyed at myself for changing it without realising as I was enjoying the process and got distracted from the test 😫
A wheel mitt would work loads better than that big brush.
I know!!, the whole point was I was trying something that’s all over UA-cam and I didn’t get on with it , I never use brushes like this but seemed like I was missing out on something amazing, clearly not 😂
Great video mate. Love all the clear close ups.
At least with this video you cant get any stupid Built Hammer Surfex comments eh🤪🤡😂
Im glad you tried the Alkalloy in the foamer though and still found it enjoyable to use. Im looking forward to the Surfex vs Greenstar video. 👌
Thanks Andy!, weirdly I think I’ve had more people sticking up for Alkalloy this time 😅
It would seem that Surfex in the foamer has been a revelation but not quite as enjoyable as Alkalloy , I’m hoping there’s a difference with GS otherwise it’ll be a quick video 🤣
Wheel Woolies.
I can’t use wheel woolies on my car or this due to the spoke gaps not being large enough but they will be appearing on the channel soon. 🤗
First 😂