Newbie needs lots of help

[96greenmustang]

Hey guys, glad to join the Meguiar's forum. I'll give you a little information about me. I'm only 16 years old and I own my second car.. I have a 1996 Ford Mustang V6 with a V6 5Sp. I'm really interested in detailing and have only done my car a few times. I don't own any products besides some crappy car wash and Gold Class Liquid wax. I have around $150 to spend and I really want alot of Meguiar's best products. I don't have a PC or buffer and I plan on doing it all by hand. I was wondering if someone could create a nice list of what all I would need for around $150. My car has alot of swirls some scartches and alot of oxidation. I'll need everything from applicators to polishes, I'm in desperate help . If anyone can help me I'd highly appreciate it

[Hannibal]

with your budget and method of application, I would get these:

1- quik-clay system
1- bottle Deep crystal #1 (paint cleaner)
1- bottle Deep crystal #2 (paint polish)
1- can of NXT paste wax (or use your liquid wax)
2- grit guards for 2 bucket washing system, and 2 buckets
1- Gold Class Ultra Plush Wash Mitt
1- 5 pack of Gold Class Microfiber towels
1- Gold Class Water Magnet drying towel
1- bottle Quik Detailer
1- quik detailer sponge
1- bottle all wheel tire cleaner
1- bottle endurance tire gel
1- bottle Gold Class Interior Detailer
1- bottle Gold CLass Tar & Bug remover (trust me on this one)

with tax and shipping that would put you pretty close to your $150 mark. Or you can get one of the many combo packages to start with, then add some items to it, such as the grit guards. There is an NXT package here:
autodetailingsolutions.com/Meguiars%20Christmas%20Gift.htm [edited for commercial link - Tim]

scroll down and look at the NXT package for $75, not bad. But I would add the items not listed in that package, that I have listed above. You can get a great deal at ADS.

You are going to need to understand the 5 step system for paint care:Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
Welcome to the forums

[gb387]

Re: Newbie needs lots of help

I just saw Iowa, so I thought I would say Welcome to MOL!

In the Des Moines area?

[Jeff Smith]

Re: Newbie needs lots of help

Originally posted by 96greenmustang
Hey guys, glad to join the Meguiar's forum. I'll give you a little information about me. I'm only 16 years old and I own my second car.. I have a 1996 Ford Mustang V6 with a V6 5Sp. I'm really interested in detailing and have only done my car a few times. I don't own any products besides some crappy car wash and Gold Class Liquid wax. I have around $150 to spend and I really want alot of Meguiar's best products. I don't have a PC or buffer and I plan on doing it all by hand. I was wondering if someone could create a nice list of what all I would need for around $150. My car has alot of swirls some scartches and alot of oxidation. I'll need everything from applicators to polishes, I'm in desperate help . If anyone can help me I'd highly appreciate it

Without us making us a list for you, Check out the following links and do some thinking about it and then repost any question s you may have.

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How to Remove Swirls by Hand
How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

[96greenmustang]

Re: Re: Newbie needs lots of help

Originally posted by gb387
I just saw Iowa, so I thought I would say Welcome to MOL!

In the Des Moines area?

I'm an hour and a half away.. Nothing major really.. Maybe I should make the trip some day and get some tips from ya

Thanks for the list.. Alot of it looks like what I was going to get so

[Jeff Smith]

Re: Re: Re: Newbie needs lots of help

Originally posted by 96greenmustang
I'm an hour and a half away.. Nothing major really.. Maybe I should make the trip some day and get some tips from ya

Thanks for the list.. Alot of it looks like what I was going to get so

You mentioned in your post you had alot of swirl. I would not expect the DC #1 and DC #2 to clean alot of that up. So you may wish to take your time before placing the order and possibly discuss this further.

[Murr1525]

As Jeff mentioned, DC#1 is not going to remove any swirls. You are going to need a product like ScratchX, perhaps 1 or 2 tubes just incase, to really get rid of most of your swirls by hand.

[96greenmustang]

Originally posted by Murr1525
As Jeff mentioned, DC#1 is not going to remove any swirls. You are going to need a product like ScratchX, perhaps 1 or 2 tubes just incase, to really get rid of most of your swirls by hand.

See I was told that you shouldn't use Scratch X for large surfaces just touch-up. I was always told Swirl Remover ( Sorry don't know all the numbers yet haha) was the best for removing them. I think I'm going to get the NXT kit and the Meguiars Classic Car kit. Then to finish it off buy some pads and anything else I might need. Thanks once again for those of you helping out a newbie

[96greenmustang]

O heres some pictures after the last waxing. I used my buddy NXT wax to do it. http://photobucket.com/albums/v627/s...ent=IMG024.jpg

[Murr1525]

Well, ScratchX is the most agressive product by hand, so it will remove the swirls the best. The reason it isnt for large surfaces is that it is a good bit of effort, and you wont do it all in one day. Need to focus on a panel, or a section a day. But it will give the best results.

Whatever abrasive cleaner you use, you will want to apply it with either a bit of terry cloth, or a white sock turned inside-out, or an even coat applicator. These will give a bit more bite, to remove swirls a bit easier as well.

Never a problem to help out.. keep asking away

[Jeff Smith]

You say you are into detailing a bit and have done another car a few times.

As you are trying to keep to a budget. How about this. Why not post a list of everything you have to work with. Lets see what you have and make suggestions as to what to get.

I say this based on my experience. I guarantee I have well over $1500.00 worth of meguair''s product sitting at the house. When I got into this, "I GOT INTO THIS". It is very easy to get on here and put out a vague request for a wish list and end up getting a slew of products you really don't need from the start.

My advice is to put up a list of what you have. Try and put up a few pics of suspected problems areas of your car. And also possibly put out a general concept of how you have done things in the past.

If you are serious about getting into this as a hobby, you are where you need to be. But let's put the brakes on spending up your money until we know you are going to get the products you "need" to meet your near term goals. Just a suggestion from a guy with 16 1 gallon jugs in the corner of his bedroom!

[Murr1525]

I'll also mention, just to have all the options out there... You may find yourself best off getting a few products, and focusing on some towels/applicatos, cloths, etc at first as well.

The quality sponges, applicators, towels, etc will help prevent future scratches as well.

[Jeff Smith]

Originally posted by Murr1525
I'll also mention, just to have all the options out there... You may find yourself best off getting a few products, and focusing on some towels/applicatos, cloths, etc at first as well.

The quality sponges, applicators, towels, etc will help prevent future scratches as well.

I totally agree. I was thining the same when I asked for a list of what he has. One does not work well without the other.

When I first got started I had several well intentioned people offering me advice as to what to buy. I never did think to cross check that against what I already had. I had a slew of prodcuts from various vendors. Some were totally fine products that I could have used up and replaced as needed.

I think the stupidest thing I have bought was a gallon of Wheel Brightener. I don't use it on my wheels and only use as necessary on friends cars but do try to avoid it if possible. That stuff is goimg to have to be put in my will.

When I first got into this I had about 2 grand to set myself up. I set myself up alright. I now have a storage nightmare on my hands and a slew of products that will last me for years.

My advice is to take your time planning any intial buy. All of Meg's products are great but each has it's own uses and characteristics. It is easy to fool around and buy soemthing that is not the right tool/product for the job at hand.

[the other pc]

Originally posted by 96greenmustang
See I was told that you shouldn't use Scratch X for large surfaces just touch-up....

This is a bit of a misunderstanding and I have to admit I’m as guilty as anybody of allowing it to settle in.

So, for the record, I believe ScatchX is probably the best product for use by hand on pretty much any finish of any size.

As the most aggressive “by-hand” product Meguiar’s makes it’s universally effective. If you need to deal with severe defects it will do things the others won’t. If your defects are light just work it less. If I had to buy only one cleaner for handwork it would be ScratchX.

The misunderstanding shows up because I (and probably others) only use it for spot work. Whenever I have a large area to do I’ll always reach for a machine. As good as ScratchX is by hand it’s just no match for the machine. But if didn’t have the machine then I’d grab ScratchX every time.


PC.

[Jeff Smith]

For me, my understanding of Scratch-X was key in my decision of bying my PC. Fortunately on my truck I did not have a lot of problems to deal with. But I started doing other folks' vehicles and they would show up with quite the assortment of problems.

If I were only doing one vehicle. And I could clear up most problems by hand with Scratch-X then it would probably be fine and I could live without a machine.

But once I started doing other vehicles, that meant I would be breaking out Scratch-X on a regular basis and likely doing entire vehicles with multiple applications.

This was the point at which the machine came under consideration for me.

Scratch-X is fine if you are only going to work on your own vehicles and maybe 1-2 more because once you are done with Scratch-X on a vehicle and you maintain it properly, there is a good chance you will likely never "have" to use it again on that vehicle. Except for minor defect removal like shopping cart scratches and such.

I am kind of glad we can kick this around a little before you go to buying stuff. I too had plenty of misconceptions when starting. And still have some things I am hazy on. Thats why I recommend putting the brakes on a little for someone who is new and gearing up to do a major buy.