5 Step deatail help

[jumpmanmb87]

I wanna try out the five step detail but im kinda worried. I own a 1974 with all original paint!!! its nice paint for being that old. Ive used colorx and it did a fantastic job but it turned all my rags blue. Which is the color of the car. so im assuming its taking paint off. But my question is: if i clay bar it, then do the two deep cyrstal clean and polish, will this really take alot of paint off beacuse the car really has like almost little to no clear left on it. So any help??

[Murr1525]

I would assume that there is no/never was a clear coat on it if it is that old and original.

Because you may have single stage paint, any time you use a cleaner, it will get some of the color of paint on your applicators. (Same happens for clear coats, it is just clear.)

Either way, you can certainly use the mildest products to take car of it.

DC#1 is the mildest cleaner, no abrasives at all, just uses chemicals to clean out the pores. And DC#2 is a pure polish, so will not remove any more paint. I mean, just touching it removes a few paint molecules, but these are mildest. Then top with yor favorite wax, perhaps Gold Class or #26 for that.

[LiquidBlack]

Old paints are single stage. It is expected that dead paint will come off when cleaning the finish.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 5 Step detail help

Originally posted by jumpmanmb87
I wanna try out the five step detail but I'm kinda worried. I own a 1974 with all original paint!!! its nice paint for being that old. Ive used ColorX and it did a fantastic job but it turned all my rags blue. Which is the color of the car. so I'm assuming its taking paint off. But my question is: if i clay bar it, then do the two deep Crystal clean and polish, will this really take alot of paint off because the car really has like almost little to no clear left on it. So any help??

Hi jumpmanmb87,

Your Nova came with a single stage paint that from the picture appears to be hanging in there quite nicely, keep using Meguiar's and history has shown it will continue to keep looking nicely.


Quick question... I'm assuming you've never clayed the finish before, thus the question you have about it, but because you've already used a strong cleaner/wax on the paint, when you draw the finger tips and palm of your clean hand across areas like the hood and deck lid, does it feel smooth like brand new glass? Or do you feel little bumps?


Either way, to insure maximum gloss and beauty of this 19 year old paint, you should go a head and clay it and don't worry about removing paint with clay, it doesn't work that way. You may see some paint transfer, but it will be very little and it won't be because the clay is actively removing paint, it will simply be very small amounts due to the fact that you'll be rubbing this clay bar over the surface and as a result some paint will more than likely come off an onto the clay bar.

Nothing like when you used the ColorX however as the clay bar will be gliding over the top of the surface, not digging in and abrading the finish.

After you clay the finish, then because you've already used ColorX which has removed a majority of the dead and oxidized paint, do this instead,

First, Meguiar's always teaches the philosophy of

"Use the least aggressive product to get the job done"

By adhering to this philosophy, get yourself some Deep Crystal Paint cleaner and either one of our Even Coat Applicator, or get a clean, soft 100% cotton towel and cut out a piece about 5 inches square, or 4" by 6", something around these dimensions so that when you fold it in half you have ample material to apply product with and to hold onto with your hand, but it's about the size of a wax applicator.

Then shake the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner up well and begin applying this to the finish and working it in well. Work one section at a time, let your skill level and the size of the panel be your guide. For example, you can probably divide the hood up into 4-6 sections and apply and work the paint cleaner in using circular motions and overlapping into each previously worked section.

You can probably divide the fender up into two section, the door into 2 section, possibly 3-4, etc. The idea being to apply and work in a wet application of the paint cleaner to thoroughly clean the finish while also smoothing it out and thus increasing clarity and bringing the gloss to a higher level.

Remove this product after you do each panel, or in the case of a large panel like the hood, then remove after you've applied and worked this product into half the hood before moving onto the other half of the hood.

Remember:, in the Meguiar's line of products, only our waxes need to dry, everything else is applied, worked in and then removed before it dries. Then you move on to the next step until you work your way up to the wax step whereupon you let the wax dry before you remove.