Final Wipe down after applying & remving LSP

[Jeff Smith]

Ok folks, looks like the weather is going to cooperate with me a bit better as compared to yesterday. I am gearing up to do up a Dusting, QD then put on a 2nd coat of DC #3. Then do some detail work. Looking forward to a great day.

Normally I apply & remove my LSPs with the DA and plan to do the same today. Up till recently I have been waiting one full day to do a final wipedown (buff) with a Supreme Shine MF. I have been doing this so I know the LSP has cured before I do my wipedown to reduce the likelyhood of installing any MF induced marks. It has worked OK for me. I also wait till the next day to use my Triple Duty Detail brush in the cracks & crevices for the same reason.

As I am gearing up to get started today, I thought about the way I have been doing things, as laid out above. I was considering changing my methods a bit and wanted to solicite some feedback from you folks.

I was considering going ahead and after I remove the LSP today going ahead and doing the final wipedown today as opposed to waiting the extra day. I could just stick to my normal routine of uing the Supreme Shine MF and the Triple Duty Detail Brush, "or" switch over and just do up a QD with Quik Detailer and a Quick Detail Pad.

I figured I would put out a post before getting start so that when I get to that point, I can come back in and have a look at the thoughts offered up by others.

Have any of you tried both of these methods as a final wipedown right after applying & removing your LSP?

If so, did you find that you actually preferred one method over the other?

Were there any noticable positive/negative factors you found worth mentioning?

I just figured this might make for interesting discussion and I could learn something in the process.

[Mike Phillips]

I'll add my 2 cents...

If you want to leave the most wax possible on the surface after application and removal, then after you removed all the wax, then stop wiping each panel and allow the wax that remains to set-up. The more you continue to wipe each panel, the more you disrupt the wax that has been left behind and at some level, you'll continue to remove wax as running a microfiber polishing cloth over a freshly waxed surface will tend to remove more wax than not running a microfiber polishing cloth over the surface.

Let the wax fully set up, then perform any final wiping techniques such as this one...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7820

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I'll add my 2 cents...

If you want to leave the most wax possible on the surface after application and removal, then after you removed all the wax, then stop wiping each panel and allow the wax that remains to set-up. The more you continue to wipe each panel, the more you disrupt the wax that has been left behind and at some level, you'll continue to remove wax as running a microfiber polishing cloth over a freshly waxed surface will tend to remove more wax than not running a microfiber polishing cloth over the surface.

Let the wax fully set up, then perform any final wiping techniques such as this one...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=7820

So your recommending I stick to my original method of waiting the extra day. I thought that was a good idea, and have been doing that to date, and have seen your final wiping technic post. I can do this either way here. But, I thought a post would be a good idea as sometimes after applying and removing my LSP the forecast for the next day might now allow me to stick to my original approach. So having a recommended alternative seems like a good idea.

And I guess if I did wait the extra day, the best route to take would be most likely a QD and a QD Pad as opposed to the SS, keeping in mind that my truck is not garaged.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by Jeff Smith
But, I thought a post would be a good idea as sometimes after applying and removing my LSP the forecast for the next day might now allow me to stick to my original approach. So having a recommended alternative seems like a good idea.

It's important to wipe off all the wax at the end of your detailing session, you just want to avoid something I've seen people do all my life and that is wiping, and wiping and wiping, etc.

They get so excited about their results they can't help just wiping the hood one more time...

If you've wiped all the wax off the finish, you're good to go the next day rain or shine, if it rains, you probably won't be doing any more final wiping, if it shines you can, either way you finish has a sacrificial barrier coating of protective wax.

You're up early Jeff? I'm out the door... as today I'll be doing a complete multiple-step buff-out on an Infinity M45 using both the rotary buffer and the G100 dual action polisher.

Can't type on the forum all the time as it's just as important to walk-the-talk to stay sharp...

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
I'll add my 2 cents...

If you want to leave the most wax possible on the surface after application and removal, then after you removed all the wax, then stop wiping each panel and allow the wax that remains to set-up. The more you continue to wipe each panel, the more you disrupt the wax that has been left behind and at some level, you'll continue to remove wax as running a microfiber polishing cloth over a freshly waxed surface will tend to remove more wax than not running a microfiber polishing cloth over the surface.

Let the wax fully set up, then perform any final wiping techniques such as this one...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=7820

You know, this just gave me another thought. Is it more advantageous to remove an LSP with cotton terry towels, allow it to set-up, and THEN use an MF with a little QD spray to do a final wipe-down? My thinking is that since terrycloth towels don't tend to remove quite as much from the surface at a time as MFs do, you'd be leaving slightly more wax on the surface, which could equate to better durability. Or is the difference so minute that it doesn't matter?

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
You know, this just gave me another thought. Is it more advantageous to remove an LSP with cotton terry towels, allow it to set-up, and THEN use an MF with a little QD spray to do a final wipe-down? My thinking is that since terrycloth towels don't tend to remove quite as much from the surface at a time as MFs do, you'd be leaving slightly more wax on the surface, which could equate to better durability. Or is the difference so minute that it doesn't matter?

Good point Charlie. I don't have near enough experience under my belt to comment. Glad you brought this up. Hopefully by the time I get to that point today you will have spured some discussion on that.

I just got finished QDing. Went much better than yesterday. Yesterday the temps were slightly above freezing here but the windchill probably took that advantage away from me. My QD was frosting as I worked. Local forecast at the moments says it's 37 degrees (F) with vrbl wind speed of 3 MPH. Also says current wind chill is @ 33 (F). Either way the QDing went well. I am dragging my feet a little on the application of the DC #3 to let things warm up a tad more, and let the sun come out from below the trees. Looks like by 11 AM the temps should break 40 (F) and gradually warm up a bit more as the afternoon progresses.I am sure that will go fine as long as I can stick with a good thin coat. Hopefully by the time I apply the DC #3 and it's ready to pull off we will have had some discussion on your thoughts and maybe I can apply the results of the discussion.

[Hannibal]

Wow!! Its like 80F here I would gladly take some of that chill down in south texas.

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by Jeff Smith
Good point Charlie. I don't have near enough experience under my belt to comment. Glad you brought this up. Hopefully by the time I get to that point today you will have spured some discussion on that.

Hopefully by the time I apply the DC #3 and it's ready to pull off we will have had some discussion on your thoughts and maybe I can apply the results of the discussion.

Thanks. Yeah I have never been patient enough to experiment with that particular aspect; I apply fresh wax too often to my own vehicles that any durability testing is kinda pointless (not to mention impossible). As far as customer cars, I just don't care enough to take that extra step (for the money I'm usually getting paid) unless it's a show car or something I've been asked to go nuts on. Usually with most of my customers' vehicles I end up using the WOWO method and shipping them on their way, and seeing them again in 3-6 months.

[Mike Phillips]

Microfiber polishing cloths do tend to work better than cotton and other materials for more thoroughly removing product, whether that be a polish or a wax or a quick detailer etc.

This is why on our directions for removing our mold release waxes we recommend cotton polishing cloths, the idea being is we don't want technicians in the mold release industry removing too much of the mold release wax so to help insure they don't do this we recommend cotton over microfiber. The point being is microfiber can work [b][too[]/b] well.

But you have to take into account other considerations such as the gentleness of microfiber to the finish, thus avoiding instilling scratches into the finish.

It's a balancing act.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Hannibal
Wow!! Its like 80F here I would gladly take some of that chill down in south texas.

Well Buddy. You can have it all.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr
Thanks. Yeah I have never been patient enough to experiment with that particular aspect; I apply fresh wax too often to my own vehicles that any durability testing is kinda pointless (not to mention impossible). As far as customer cars, I just don't care enough to take that extra step (for the money I'm usually getting paid) unless it's a show car or something I've been asked to go nuts on. Usually with most of my customers' vehicles I end up using the WOWO method and shipping them on their way, and seeing them again in 3-6 months.

I did not try it as by the time I had reached the point of the LSP removal we hadn't had any additional posts on this so I ran with my normal routine of removing with the DA w/ GC Bonnet over a 7006 pad.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Mike Phillips
[B]Microfiber polishing cloths do tend to work better than cotton and other materials for more thoroughly removing product, whether that be a polish or a wax or a quick detailer etc.

This is why on our directions for removing our mold release waxes we recommend cotton polishing cloths, the idea being is we don't want technicians in the mold release industry removing too much of the mold release wax so to help insure they don't do this we recommend cotton over microfiber. The point being is microfiber can work [too[]/b] well.

But you have to take into account other considerations such as the gentleness of microfiber to the finish, thus avoiding instilling scratches into the finish.

It's a balancing act.

I guess I fit in with Charlie in that a durability test for me would be near impossible. I like that just waxed look so I just wax. Hmm That sounds familiar. HMMM