I want to use sealant for the 1st time

[Iconoclast]

[FONT=Helvetica]I like & have used Meguiar

[Blueline]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

I want to win the lottery for the 1st time. I like and have used Mequiar's also.

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

I’ve been attempting to post since last Friday! Much trouble, been in contact with Meguiar’s support via email. Finally was told to try again & I thought it worked when I received email notification that I had a reply from Blueline . Now I see that 99% of my long post does not appear! Only the title & PART of my 1st senece, along with bizarre formatting code language wtf?!


Here is my post (which probably will not appear)






I like & have used Meguiar’s products:
Gold Class Car Wash soap
Quick Detailer
Gold Class Carnauba Wax
Hot Shine Tire Foam


I want to use sealant, bc it supposedly lasts longer than Carnauba wax which is all I’ve used in the past on other cars. I am ready to buy a Meguiar’s claybar kit (Never done that b4) but, was planning on just using a sealant after that.


I’m thinking of; Meguiar's Nxt Generation Tech Wax 2.0 or M2116 Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant 2.0. I think The Tech Wax is not really a wax rather a synthetic sealant.


I want to use the sealant on my 5 month old car. It has full hood PPF. So far I have just washed it, not waxed or sealed it except for waxing wheels with carnauba wax.


I don’t want to become a professional detailer
Not going to exhibit @ car shows. In the past, for other cars, I just washed & then waxed occasionally & the car looked very good to me.


I was unable to find the official “M2116 Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant 2.0.” Instructions online.


Checking out various detailing & car enthusiast forums, it seems many people have their own favorite product line. Brand X is the best ever, etc.
Some of the instructions on these web sites for these other brands seem very involved & complicated & use many products AFTER the wash & clay bar are done! I don’t have & do not wish to buy a power orbital at this time.


So,


Do I need to polish my car after I clay bar but, before I use sealant? Why? I’m concerned about damaging my paint which looks excellent to me now & am fairly certain polishing is NOT done to PPF!


Would “M2116 Mirror Glaze Synthetic Sealant 2.0.” be a good choice for me?




Thanks for any help!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Iconoclast, I think I might know why your posts have been getting cut off and/or placed into moderation when it appears to be a pretty straightforward post - no links, no images, etc. The text formatting changes and looking at the coding side of things there are a bunch of font and color tags. Are you by any chance composing your posts in an outside editor, like Microsoft Word, and then copying and pasting into the forum text box? If so, the forum software absolutely hates that. We use the largest, best known forum software out there, vBulletin, and those folks claim that this version of their forum software is much better at handling this sort of activity than previous generations. We respectfully disagree with them. So, for you or anyone else who is typing your messages into another editor and then doing the copy/paste thing here, please refrain from doing so in the future.

Now, to your question about using a sealant for the first time instead of a more traditional carnauba wax: the actual use (ie, application and removal) of the two types of paint protection products is pretty much identical. Whether applied by hand or machine, a thin uniform layer is all that's needed. Allow it to dry to a light haze and then wipe off the residue with a microfiber towel. That's pretty much it. The chemisty of a synthetic sealants is such that they do tend to be far more durable than natural carnauba waxes, and protection is generally better as well. Claying is a good idea to do first because it removes above surface bonded contaminants that not only can make the paint feel rough to the touch, but can compromise a wax or sealant's ability to properly bond to the paint. Even new cars can have these bonded contaminants as most people don't pick up their cars at the factory, so that "new" car has probably traveled by rail, truck, or even by boat, and then sat on the dealer lot for a period of time. Through all of this travel the vehicle is exposed to all kinds of potential fallout, and other possible damage as well. That "brand new" car isn't always that new.

In a nutshell, sealants and waxes do the same basic thing, and are used basically in the same way. One is all man made polymer chemistry (sealants) and the other makes use of mostly naturally occurring ingredients to do the job (waxes).

[The Guz]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

You can follow up claying with any wax or sealant.

Polishing is optional. A polish will add that gloss to the paint as well as clean the surface and remove light defects (ie swirls). It sounds like you would be working by hand. If that is the case, one can only do so much by hand.

In regards to a sealant, there is NXT, M21 and Ultimate Wax. Ultimate Wax will last a little longer. All are easy to use. Follow the directions on the rear of the bottle and you will be fine.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Just to add:

You are correct that the PPF should not be polished. There are some cases where we've seen improvements in the appearance of really old, scratched and aged PPF with a polishing process using M205 and a foam pad, but that's almost always done when the only option is replacing that old film. In your case, you're spot on - do NOT polish new PPF! You can wax/seal it however.

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Thanks to all for the replies & especially thanks to Michael for locating my post & posting it... complete.


[COLOR=#323333][FONT=Arial]Yes, I always type my posts for any forum in a document & then C/P into the forum partly so I can use my spell check & also since I usually keep copies of my posts & responses for future reference. I use a Mac &

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Thanks to all for the replies & especially to Michael for locating my post & posting it...complete.
Yes, I always type my posts or any forum in a document & then c/p into the forum partly so I can use my spell check & also since I usually keep copies of my posts & replies for future reference. I use a Mac & "Pages" as my word processing document. I tried to c/p from Pages into a test edit app & then c/p from that into the forum & as b4 I got a correct preview but the post itself was cut off so I am editing by retyping it all direct into the forum.

I've had Meguiar's Liquid Ultimate Wax sitting in my Amazon cart for days. Along with M2116 sealant 2.0 & Nxt Gen Tech wax 2.0. I will buy the LUW since it lasts longer.

I knew the application & removal of sealant vs. wax were essentially the same. My question was more about the preparation. polish vs. no need to polish. I now think that is also the same, either one needs to polish to remove swirls, etc. or one does not, regardless of whether one uses a wax or sealant.

I tried the water sheeting test on my new car& there was no sheeting & no beading up of the water at all! I tried the same test on my 16 yr. old car, that I occasionally wax with paste wax, & there was partial sheeting & beading. So, I need to seal my new car soon!

I think liquid vs. paste UW wold be best for my car since I've read liquid is easier to keep out of the seams or edges of the PPF vs. paste. Some people get white residue from paste wax or sealant stuck on edges or in seams.

Plan:
Wash (3 bucket method)
Dry
Clay
(Wash again?)
Dry
Seal

After I do my new one, I will see about doing my old one (No PPF) & probably polish it after I learn how. I do have a few paint chips I want to fix on the old one 1st.

BTW, here are my cars; new 2016 (Blue) on R & old 2000 (Silver) on L.

I will try to take close up pix of the new car b4 7 after. Maybe best to not photograph the hood since PPF? Maybe the door or roof? I really do not see any swirls but, will check in full sun.

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Don't seem to be able to post that pix.

[Blueline]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

My apologies for my warped sense of humor. Also your private message to me was completely garbled.
You say you are not going to be showing and just want an nice looking car....so your plan is good. You do not have to wash after claying.
Liquid Ultimate Wax will not stain plastic trim, but you can still get it into cracks if you use too much. My preference is the paste version..but that is just my preference. Paste or liquid, it is pretty darn good stuff. Goes on nice (and thin) and comes off easy.
Have fun and don't let every little thing drive you nuts. Nothing is perfect.

[The Guz]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

I think liquid vs. paste UW wold be best for my car since I've read liquid is easier to keep out of the seams or edges of the PPF vs. paste. Some people get white residue from paste wax or sealant stuck on edges or in seams.

The liquid version of UW will not stain trim. The paste wax version will. Other than that they are the same product.

Plan:
Wash (3 bucket method)
Dry
Clay
(Wash again?)
Dry
Seal

I would do this and keep it simple.

Wash
Clay
Seal

No need to rewash after claying. Just wipe off the residue as you go around the car claying each panel switching your towels often.

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

My apologies for my warped sense of humor. Also your private message to me was completely garbled.
You say you are not going to be showing and just want an nice looking car....so your plan is good. You do not have to wash after claying.
Liquid Ultimate Wax will not stain plastic trim, but you can still get it into cracks if you use too much. My preference is the paste version..but that is just my preference. Paste or liquid, it is pretty darn good stuff. Goes on nice (and thin) and comes off easy.
Have fun and don't let every little thing drive you nuts. Nothing is perfect.

Thanks! I won't rewash after clay. I'll take care to use LUW sparingly, especially near edges/seams of PPF. My PM was an attempt to tell you that my 1st post was cut off after the 1st few words. Seeing the way my 1st post appeared, I can understand what anyone may have thought of this new guy!

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

The liquid version of UW will not stain trim....I would do this and keep it simple.

Wash
Clay
Seal

No need to rewash after claying. Just wipe off the residue as you go around the car claying each panel switching your towels often.

Thanks! I assume I can wash the towels I use to remove the LUW & then reuse? In the past, I used old T-shirts & trashed them but, now use MF towels for all car detail work. Separate ones for wheels, door jambs, under hood vs. larger, better, drying ones for paint. I wash the wheel, door jamb MF towels separate from drying, window cleaning MF towels. I'm thinking the wax & claying towels can be washed with my good drying towels? Yes?

[Blueline]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

Thanks! I assume I can wash the towels I use to remove the LUW & then reuse? In the past, I used old T-shirts & trashed them but, now use MF towels for all car detail work. Separate ones for wheels, door jambs, under hood vs. larger, better, drying ones for paint. I wash the wheel, door jamb MF towels separate from drying, window cleaning MF towels. I'm thinking the wax & claying towels can be washed with my good drying towels? Yes?

I wash my MF towels that I have used in the claying process and wax removal together and have had no issues. Do not use fabric softener with MF towels. I wash my dirtier MF towels...one used on the wheels, under hood ect. separately, but they don't last long. I sometimes go back to the old T shirt for under hood cleaning. I don't show my cars, and they are oil sprayed for the winter, (up north in snow and salt country) so good MF towels would not last long for under hood cleaning.

I have dark blue for claying, light blue puffy ones for wax removal, green for windows (all washed together) and the occasional T shirt for dirty stuff for a one time use. Nothing more depressing then to get a streak of black dirt on my good MF towels. I also hang my towels in my workshop rather than use the drier. No idea if the dryer will damage them but it is just something I do.

[Iconoclast]

Re: I want to use sealant for the 1st time

I wash my MF towels that I have used in the claying process and wax removal together and have had no issues. Do not use fabric softener with MF towels. I wash my dirtier MF towels...one used on the wheels, under hood ect. separately, but they don't last long. I sometimes go back to the old T shirt for under hood cleaning. I don't show my cars, and they are oil sprayed for the winter, (up north in snow and salt country) so good MF towels would not last long for under hood cleaning.

I have dark blue for claying, light blue puffy ones for wax removal, green for windows (all washed together) and the occasional T shirt for dirty stuff for a one time use. Nothing more depressing then to get a streak of black dirt on my good MF towels. I also hang my towels in my workshop rather than use the drier. No idea if the dryer will damage them but it is just something I do.

I don't use fabric softener with MF towels, I know it coats them & ruins the great absorbency. I do use dryer. I ordered 3 Megs products from Amazon yesterday; ULW, Clay Kit & X2000 Water Magnet MF towel. I already have plenty of MFs but for $8.94, I'll see how I like this waffle weave one. After I use the ULW, I'll see how 'waxy' the MF towel is. Maybe I'll rinse them off b4 washing with my drying towels.