Show me how to fully deatil my car!

[rscott22]

Ok guys well I have finally decided handwaxing just inst cutting it anymore so I just bought the Meguiars DA but I have never used one so I am kinda scared on what to exactly do with it. Here is what my plans were to try and fully correct my paint.

-Megs Gold Class car wash
-Dry car with with waffle towel
-Megs Clay bar kit and UQD
-Wipe the car down with microfiber towels

Ok now after that I am not sure exactly what to do here is what steps I planned on doing but wasnt sure. My paint seems to be in pretty good condition consierding its new and I clay and waxed it before by hand so here is the process I was thinking to go with.

-Megs SwirlX (for defects in the paint)
-colorX (to polish the car)
-NXT 2.0 (to seal the car allt he way around)
-OQD (to get what ever residure i missed off the car)

Ok that was my plans but one more thing what kind of pads should I use for each process and how fast should I set the settings on the DA? Oh and for a litle more information on the car and and care I usually take car of it. Its a 2008 Lexus IS250 7,500 on the clock its a mettalic grey color called smokey granite mica. I have only owned the car 4 months now it was a left over 08. I wash my car every week with gold glass and a microfiber sponge then dry the car and use UQW when im done drying the car off. Ok so these are my plans but still just unsure on what to do.

Thanks,
Ryan

[Blake Beamish]

Re: Show me how to fully deatil my car!

Ryan,

You are definitely on the right path but a couple of things don't really fit in perfectly. First off, we do not recommend using UQD for a clay lubricant; you need to stick with the QD that is supplied in the kit. The UQD is just too slick, it prevents the clay from fully making contact with the paint. Also, the COLORx is considered a cleaner/wax meaning that it is an all-in-one product. If you are taking the time to do multiple steps you would want to replace that product with something like our Deep Crystal Polish.

Here are the pad and speed recommendations:

SwirlX - foam polishing pad with a speed of 5
Deep Crystal Polish - foam polishing pad with a speed of 5
NXT 2.0 - foam finishing pad with a speed of 3

[rscott22]

Re: Show me how to fully deatil my car!

Ok great thanks I will do this exactly as soon as my new DA gets here

[rscott22]

Re: Show me how to fully deatil my car!

Oh another question how man pads do I need and how often should I change them out? Another I just saw to is microfiber bonnets to go over the DA are these neccessary or can I just use one of my microfiber towels to wipe the wax off the car?

[akimel]

Re: Show me how to fully deatil my car!

Scott, check out some of the links here: Internet Resources for Detailing Newbs. I think you'll find lots of answers to your questions. I also recommend that you purchase Mike Phillip's DVD: How to Use the PC for Showcar Results.

[Nappers]

Re: Show me how to fully deatil my car!

How many pads can vary.....

I just used 3 pads on the hood of my boys' '67 Dodge D100 to get oxidization off with M80/Ultimate Compound.....

You want a pad for each product used and I recommend no less than 2 pads per car per product.

I.E. If you use Ultimate Compound on the whole car=2 pads at least

Then follow up with SwirlX on the whole car=2 pads = 4 pads total.....

Pads can get saturated so you may need more.

When I was pad poor, I would get my process dialed in and have a pad or two left to start my work, I would then wash my other pads, give them a whirl on my rotary to sling the water out, then lay them out in the sun to dry so when my other 2 pads were used up, I would have a couple on standby.

You don't want to cross contaminate products in your pads.....

Also check this out while

Cleaning Your Pad On The Fly!

Hope that helps a smidge.....