Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

[coryforsenate]

Howdy, I've been doing a lot of reading this past week to learn and try to put together a regimen for making my truck look as good as possible. I've compiled a process and was wondering if I could get an opinion on it, like the order, am I using the correct foam pad with the product, am I using the right product. My truck is a '96 Chevrolet Silverado, 130,000 miles, with emerald green metallic paint. The paint is in okay condition, lots of swirls and light/med scratches on the clear coat but it's nothing that, based on what I've read during the past week, can't be buffed out with some compound and then polished, etc. If there's a product that would be better than what I list, please suggest an alternative and why you think so. I know there's a lot of threads from newbies asking questions, so please bear with me and eventually I'll become experienced and can help offer advice to future newbies.

Polisher: Chicago 6" DA with Astro 5" backing plate, the stock grease has been removed and repacked with Mobil 1 grease.

1. Gold Glass car wash with a microfiber wash mitt
2. Clay kit
3. Quick rewash to remove clay residue
4. Ultimate compound with pad W7006
5. Wipe away with microfiber towels
6. M205 Mirror Glaze with pad W8006
7. Wipe away with microfiber towels
8. NXT Tech Wax 2.0 with pad W9006
9. Wipe away with microfiber towels
Maintenance: NXT Speed Detailer

Thank you for your time
-Cory

[coryforsenate]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Here's a picture of my paint

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Hi Cory, welcome to MOL!!

Let's break down your proposed steps here and see if we can help you out a bit, make some other recommendations, etc. We'll address each step in turn:

1. Gold Glass car wash with a microfiber wash mitt

Sounds great

2. Clay kit

Perfect.... we're willing to be a vehicle of this age could use a serious claying

3. Quick rewash to remove clay residue

No real reason to do this. If you're drying as you go while claying then there shouldn't be anything residue that needs to be removed.

4. Ultimate compound with pad W7006
5. Wipe away with microfiber towels
6. M205 Mirror Glaze with pad W8006
7. Wipe away with microfiber towels

While these steps sound valid, the simple fact that we're dealing with a vehicle almost 20 years old would have us seriously considering the DA Microfiber System. We're assuming that when you say you have a "Chicago 6" DA" you mean the Harbor Freight tool, correct? If so, it's perfect to use with the 5" DAMF System, and that system will not only cut through defects faster but will likely do much more to bring back overall clarity to the paint than what you've outlined above. Also, we don't normallly recommend the W7xxx burgundy cutting pads with the DA due to a high probability of hazing the paint, and because heavy use can be very hard on the hook & loop backing. If ever a situation called out for microfiber, this is it. In our Saturday classes we repeatedly find that, although we can do wonders for removing defects like the ones we see in your pain with UC and foam, the microfiber system just takes it to a whole new level. On much newer paint that just has "typical" swirls, UC and foam are fantastic, but the paint hasn't degraded yet so there isn't that extra punch to gain in clarity. In your case, if you can swing it, we'd go microfiber.

8. NXT Tech Wax 2.0 with pad W9006
9. Wipe away with microfiber towels

A great choice, even if you choose to go with the DAMF System.

Maintenance: NXT Speed Detailer

This product is being phased out so it might not be long before you can't find it any more. Ultimate Quik Detailer will outperform it in every way, and you can find it at just about any auto parts store in the country.

OK, so we've made some recommendations that change up your initial plan. If you already have all of the products on hand and don't want to purchase anything extra, then you can and will get great results by following your plan (we'd still caution against that burgundy cutting pad, however, and use yellow polishing pads instead). You will definitely want a few yellow pads to work on a vehicle this size. It's not a good idea to try and correct the entire truck with a single pad running UC, even if you're cleaning often.

If you really want to take the finish to a higher level, assuming that it's in good shape overall other than the swirls and scratches (ie, no clear coat failure anywhere, no major chips that have started to rust, etc), then the DAMF System is the way to go. But you don't have to buy the whole system if you'd rather not. You can pick up just the DMC5 cutting pads and the D300 Correction Compound, and then follow with M205 on a foam polishing pad to enhance gloss and remove any potential haze from the DMC5/D300. Again, we're making the assumption that you already have all the products you listed. If you don't, then just grab the 5" starter kit and go for it!

[Jarhead0754]

No one can say it any better!

[Randmill]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

The DMCKIT5 Microfiber Correction System is showing available on Amazon for about $62. This is a great deal. I used this on my 7 year old black Toyota Tundra that was badly swirl marked and had a LOT of micros-scratches. The results are nothing short of stunning! You cannot go wrong with the Microfiber System, IMO. Good luck and have fun!

[coryforsenate]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

The microfiber stuff sounds fun. Since the D301 is a finishing polish/wax, would there be a curing time before adding a layer of something like Ultimate Liquid Wax sealant? Nice to know I don't need to do a rewash after claying my truck.

I've only purchased the Chicago Harbor Freight DA polisher so far.

[The Guz]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Same wait time. 12-24 hours before topping it. I can recommend picking up a set of microfiber cutting pads and D300 and then following up with M205 and a foam polishing pad. Good way to go if you want to save a little cash and use it with what you already have.

[Jarhead0754]

Alot of people here like to mix and match pads and liquids and just try out different methods. But me personally I just stick to the system. That's what they designed it 4 like the mf pads and the 300. But alot of cars and paints are different so there are times when trying different things is ur best bet.

[davey g-force]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Same wait time. 12-24 hours before topping it.

You could do that, if you wanted to "layer" the waxes.

But if you're going to do a separate dedicated wax step anyway, then I consider the D301 more of a finishing polish, to clean up any marring left from D300 and/or refine the surface. So IMO, I would not bother with waiting time. Plus, it seems a bit counter-intuitive (to me) to top a less durable wax/sealant with a more durable one. Some or most of the layer underneath will probably be diminished just by the act of applying and removing the top layer, since the underneath layer is already not so durable.

Just my 2c .... I suppose there are many ways to skin a cat

[The Guz]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

You could also follow with D156 or ultimate quik wax on top of D301.

[Eldorado2k]

I agree with Daveys' comment.^^

@Coryforsenate. You said you've only purchased the DA so far. Have you also purchased the 5" Astro Backing Plate to go with it?

...And Michael, my older brother just invested in a brand new engine & transmission for his 98ish Jeep Cherokie that had been parked for a few months.. It's my intention to transform the Midnight Blue paint on that Jeep and make it look as brand new as possible, to match it's new engine... But this whole time I had planned on using foam pads and maybe M100[Bob convinced me, lol] because I figure there might be a ton of paint residue/oxidation/crud coming off that old Cherokie.. But reading what you said about using the DMC on an older vehicle sounds like great option to try.

Now if only my shipment of Meguiars would show up soon._. I'm chompin at the bit to try a bunch of new stuff!

[coryforsenate]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback. How does this reworked plan look?

1. Gold Class car wash
2. Clay kit
3. D300 correction compound with DMC microfiber cutting disc
4. Wipe with MF towel
5. D301 finishing wax with DMF microfiber finishing disc
6. Wipe with MF towel
7. Ultimate liquid wax applied with a microfiber applicator
8. Wipe with MF towel

Maintenance: Ultimate Detailer with MF towels


Eldorado2k, I already have the Astro backing plate installed on the HF DA polisher.

[The Guz]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

Looks good. Have you considered adding ultimate quik wax to your maintenance as well?

A little old but it still worth watching.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?36525-Meguiar-s-Video-Training-Series-Maintain-Your-Finish

[coryforsenate]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

The Guz, for $10 I don't see why I can't give it a try. I would use that right after the UQD, right?

[davey g-force]

Re: Order of detailing products and the foam pad to use with them

You could also follow with D156 or ultimate quik wax on top of D301.

lol, I was going to say that too, bit I didn't want to confuse things too much!

The Guz, for $10 I don't see why I can't give it a try. I would use that right after the UQD, right?

You could, but probably not much benefit doing that. UQW would mainly be used in the future after washing the car, to give it that extra boost and 'just waxed' look & feel.