Another detail

[Lydia]

My friend wants me to detail her 1998 (or 2000..I can't remember for sure) white Grand Prix GT. I haven't paid attention to what the paint looks like but my sister said it is in pretty good condition. These are the steps that I was planning on doing:

Wash: Deep Crystal Car Wash
Paint Cleaner: Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Polish: Color-X or DC Polish (which on would be better?)
Wax: DC #3

Wheels with soft cloth and DC Car Wash (they are pretty clean)
Tire Black of some kind

Vacuum
Interior (dash, etc.) with Armor-All (sorry I don't have any Meg's interior stuff yet)

Does that sound like it would work ok? Is there anything else that I should do to it? Thanks in advance!

[Magic]

Polish: Color-X or DC Polish (which on would be better?)

Color X works really well on neglected cars. Both products work well though!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Another detail

Originally posted by Lydia


Wash: Deep Crystal Car Wash
Paint Cleaner: Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Polish: Color-X or DC Polish (which on would be better?)
Wax: DC #3

I think you're confused over ColorX. ColorX is a an all-in-one cleaner/wax. That is it cleans, polishes and protects in one step. It does what the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, Deep Crystal Polish and the Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax are going to do in one step.

You can use ColorX as a paint cleaner.

With your product selection, it would look like this,

Wash: Deep Crystal Car Wash
Paint Cleaner: Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
Polish: DC Polish (which on would be better?)
Wax: DC #3

or

Wash: Deep Crystal Car Wash
Paint Cleaner: ColorX (used as a paint cleaner as it's more aggressive than Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner)
Polish: DC Polish
Wax: DC #3


Or you could just wash and use ColorX

Spend some time reading through this and absorbing the information.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2409

[Murr1525]

Even something as simple as:

1. Wash
2. Clay if it is an option
3. ColorX
4. DC#3

will give great reults.

[the other pc]

I'm with Murr1525. I'd highly recommend claying, especially since the car's never been clayed before (I assume).

If it were me, doing a white car for somebody that isn't a total car-nut I'd skip the separate polish step and stick to an all-in-one.

So that would be something like:

wash: Deep Crystal Car Wash
clay:
** evaluate the finish and then**

** If the finish is in pretty good shape:
clean&protect: ColorX
(Maybe throw a coat of DC #3 Wax over that for good measure, although not absolutely necessary because ColoX leaves good protection.)

** If the finish is more swirled:
clean: ScratchX
protect: DC #3 Wax

For the wheels I agree the DC Car Wash should be fine if they're already pretty clean.

If the owner doesn't need super shiny, wet looking tires you can usually use the same product for both tires and interior vinyl. I think Natural Shine Vinyl & Rubber Protectant is an unsung hero. It's inexpensive and works great. Gold Class Vinyl/Rubber Protectant would also be an excellent choice.


PC

[Lydia]

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Mike: Thanks for clearing that up for me. I didn't realize ColorX was an all-in-one.

Ok so maybe I should clay it. As far as I know it hasn't been clayed yet. Anyone have any idea how long it would take to clay it? Another thing too. I ordered clay about 2-3 weeks ago and it still hasn't got here. So I don't even know if I could get some here in time to do her car since the clay I ordered is for my truck and a friend's motorycle. I suppose I could order some by express mail but I don't think she will want to have to pay for it.

I guess I'll do what Murr and PC said, as for order of things to do. Thanks for the link PC. I want to see if I can find that around here.

[Murr1525]

Have you ever clayed anything before? On an average car, I would say maybe a half hour, not too long. And it is very easy on the arms, not a killer.

Clay sometimes takes a while, or gets backorderd. If you have to, the Clay Magic kit is a second best to look for.

[Lydia]

No I've never clayed anything before. I guess if it is that quick and easy I will probably do it. Part of the reason I didn't want to do it is because I thought it would be very time-consuming and tiring. So now if the clay would get here sometime lol.

[the other pc]

If you haven’t received your clay by the time you want to do the Grand Prix I think it would be worthwhile to get whatever you can locally. Any name brand clay should work ok.

Since you’ve never clayed before you may have to add an extra five to ten minutes to your time estimate for playing with it at first to get the hang of it (and then add another fifteen to twenty minutes on top of that for stopping a bunch of times to go oooooohhh, ahhhhhhh while feeling the paint ).


PC.

[Murr1525]

It is the quickest thing that makes the biggest improvement I have ever done.

Just for some other claying advice:

1. Cut the clay into 3 or 4 pieces. IF you drop one, throw it out. Get a clean piece.

2. USe plenty of lube. On a cars in good shape, clay could last 3 or 4 cars. But the spray lube might run out after only one. So dont be afraid to use a lot of it to keep everything safe.

3. You can clay paint first, then glass, then trim, then wheels.

4. Sort of spread your smaller piece of clay out ino a patty, then clay with one side. When you see the one side get a bit dirty, fold it over on itself to expose clean clay.

5. As I said, Clay Magic is an ok second choice. Not a fan of the Mothers clay, but if you have to, you have to. At least you can give the cleaner/wax sample to someone.

[Lydia]

LOL PC.

Thanks for all the help, y'all. Just one more question. You just rub the clay back and forth over the whole car?

[kellyinkc]

Yes. I take a piece and flatten it out. Spray QD on it and the car and rub away. It's easy. Plus the oooo- ahhs when you are done on how smooth it is!! Be sure to take jewlery off, they can scratch.
Don't ask me how I know

[the other pc]

Originally posted by Lydia
...Just one more question. You just rub the clay back and forth over the whole car?

Pretty much. There's a little more to it than that but not a whole lot. Doing it is easier than explaining it.

This has been a recurring experience:

When first learning many a newbie will stand there with a wad of clay in one hand, a bottle of Quik Detailer in the other and a microfiber towel in their pocket. Even though they've been taught the process and seen it demo'ed they'll kind of look at the clay then look at the car with a sort of "I don't know about this" look in their eyes.

clay guy: "Go ahead, dive in."
newbie: "I don't know..."

clay guy: "Spray on a little QD and wipe it off with the microfiber."
newbie: "OK."

clay guy: "How's that look, clean?"
newbie: "Sure."

clay guy: "Rub your hand on it. How's it feel?"
newbie: "Clean, I guess."

clay guy: "Feel any tiny bumps? Does it feel rough? Does your hand kind of drag on it a little?"
newbie: "Yeah."

clay guy: "Now, flatten out the clay and spray some more QD it. Then spray the car."
newbie: "OK."

clay guy: "Rub the clay on the finish. Does it feel like it's dragging on the surface?"
newbie: "Yeah."

clay guy: "Keep rubbing. If you feel it drag more spray some more QD on the car. Does it feel like it's dragging more or less?"
newbie: "Less and less."

clay guy: "When it feels like a wet ice cube on a plate let me know."
newbie: "Wow. Now there's no drag at all."

clay guy: "Now wipe off the QD and then feel the finish."
newbie: "OK. But how do I know if... Ooooooooohhhhh, aaaahhhhhhhhhh..."

clay guy:
newbie: "Ooooooooohhhhh, aaaahhhhhhhhhh..."

clay guy: "Now, look at the clay."
newbie: "Eeeewwww, yuck!

[sneek]

Originally posted by kellyinkc
Yes. I take a piece and flatten it out. Spray QD on it and the car and rub away. It's easy. Plus the oooo- ahhs when you are done on how smooth it is!! Be sure to take jewlery off, they can scratch.
Don't ask me how I know

what did you do after you inflicted a scratch in your smooth finnish

[kellyinkc]

Used SX!! It was not too bad. Just about said a few words....