Still confused

[roaringlion]

Sorry about this good people but im still alittle confused about a few things and feel real dumb for asking questions all the time like this

Now the order i hope is right (i think ive posted something like that before but not to sure)

Soft Wash Gel
DC Paint Cleaner
DC Wet-Crystal Polymer Sealant

So my questions as follows

1. Can i wax after using the DC Wet-Crystal Polymer Sealant ie the Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax (im guessing every 3 to 4 months)

2.Is the DC Wet-Crystal Polymer Sealant the same as Deep Crystal System Polish or differant and if it is differant should i use the B]Deep Crystal System Polish[/B] [/B] instead of the DC Wet-Crystal Polymer Sealant

3. I work in an idustrial site with alot of fallout, how often should i detail my car (if anyone knows the former B.H.P now One Steel, one of the biggest producers and exporters of steel to the world blah blah but thats not important) but what is importand is that after every day it gets dusty and greasy to touch, should i use the Quik Wax inbetween washes

4. Ive also done the RX paint care challenge on both the US and AUS siites and both of them ar pretty close the only differance is is that they tend to say to use the Quik Clay Detailing System and/or Scratch X instead of the DC Paint Cleaner so if i use the DC Paint Cleaner for say a month and if that doesnt work can i go straight into using the Scratch X

5. Terry Towel/Chamios/Polish Cloth. Ive read alot of post relating to the Water Magnet Drying Towel but over here in AUS we dont get them and it seems that the chamois needs to be mastered to get the highest grade effect (which is what im after), would the terry towels do just as good a job as the chamois in particular the Microwipe Super-Glide Chamois that we have over here. Also ive been reading on the back of the products and its ben saying that all i need to use in the way of polishing/waxing is a Terry Towel, now what has got me confused is that when i have emailed the guy on the AUS Meguires about a few things and he was saying to use a Microwipe Polishing Cloth when wiping off both polish and wax

6. With caering for your deatailing accessories ie Terry Towels/Polish Cloths and Applicators what would be the best way to do so as to now get them damaged or dirt/dust accumulating on them

I also have to mention that with the fallout from my work i do have some fading and oxiditaion to my paint work


Again many thanks and much appriciated

P.S. i may have 1 or 2 more questions

[Murr1525]

You may want to inclde DC #2 Polish after the DC Cleaner.

1. Sure, you can layer a wax over a sealant.

2. No, the Sealant and DC#3 Wax are the same step. The polish is for after the paint cleaner.

3. In you situation, you are not going to want to do much in between washes. You'll just drag stuff across the car. You may be able to still detail monthly, with washing weekly, but I think you will find you have to clay more often than other people.

4. Ehh, I'm not sold on the Rx thing.. seems very simplified. The DC Cleaner should be stong enough for cleaning your paint, only needing ScratchX if you have swirls to remove. I think your situation will be Clay + DC#1.

5. A 100% cotton terry towel can be used for both drying, and the cleaner/polish/wax removal. Different towels of course. A terry towel is sort of general purpose. The Water Magnet, chamois, Supreme Shine MF towel, and the Microwipe Towel are just a bit more speacialized. The fibers are designed/woven for a specific job, so they do it a little bit better.

6. Wash 100% terry towels and any Microfiber towels separately. I usualy wash applicators/sponges by hand. As far as dust, I just store stuff in a plastic tub. And I use it so often no dust would ever accumulate anyway.

7. Bad Oxidation could require a little more agressive of a cleaner than DC#1. Have to see how DC#1 works.

8. Sure.. keep'em coming.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Still bloody confused

Originally posted by roaringlion

3. I work in an industrial site with alot of fallout, how often should i detail my car (if anyone knows the former B.H.P now One Steel, one of the biggest producers and exporters of steel to the world blah blah but thats not important) but what is important is that after every day it gets dusty and greasy to touch, should i use the Quik Wax in-between washes

Meguiar's teaches the way you determine how often to wash, clay, clean, polish and wax your car is determined by -->you<-- evaluating the condition of the finish and letting your surface evaluation be your guide.

For an example, read this,

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7494

4. Ive also done the RX paint care challenge on both the US and AUS sties and both of them are pretty close the only difference is is that they tend to say to use the Quik Clay Detailing System and/or Scratch X instead of the DC Paint Cleaner so if i use the DC Paint Cleaner for say a month and if that doesn't work can i go straight into using the Scratch X

The difference between the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and the ScratchX is a difference of cleaning ability. Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner is a light cleaning, gentle, mild paint cleaner, it relies on chemical cleaning to remove surface stains, oxidation and other contaminants. ScratchX on the other hand contains chemical cleaners like the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner but also contains microscopic diminishing abrasive to give it more cleaning power and the ability to remove scratches by removing small particles of paint.

If you paint is in good overall condition but you want to insure it is clean beyond what your eyes can see, the use the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner AFTER claying.

If your paint is filled with swirls and scratches, has visible oxidation, the use ScratchX AFTER claying.

Then move on to polishing and waxing, or skip polishing and go right to the waxing/protecting step. In the future, maintain by washing and using Quick Detailer in-between a normal water wash job, and after wiping the car down with Quik Detailer, or after washing and drying the car, Evaluate the condition of the paint both with your eyes and with your sense of touch and you determine what if any other steps need to be done to the paint again, (claying, cleaning, polishing), before applying wax again.

What you decide to do is in part based upon what the paint needs to meet your goals and expectations.

[roaringlion]

So in retrospect i should of bought the Quik Clay Detailing System instead of the Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner

[roaringlion]

Originally posted by Murr1525
You may want to inclde DC #2 Polish after the DC Cleaner.

But isnt the DC sealant a polish anyway? why use a seperate polish

Originally posted by Murr1525

2. No, the Sealant and DC#3 Wax are the same step. The polish is for after the paint cleaner.

So i dont need to wax at all if i just use the Polymer Sealant?

Originally posted by Murr1525


3. In you situation, you are not going to want to do much in between washes. You'll just drag stuff across the car. You may be able to still detail monthly, with washing weekly, but I think you will find you have to clay more often than other people.

So it should of been
Soft Wash Gel
Claying
DC# 2
DC# 3

Originally posted by Murr1525

6. Wash 100% terry towels and any Microfiber towels separately.

Interesting, why seperartly?

Originally posted by Murr1525

7. Bad Oxidation could require a little more agressive of a cleaner than DC#1. Have to see how DC#1 works.

I'll let ya knw how it goes

[SVT Lightning]

If you have that much fall-out where you work, I would think about investing in a quality car cover. Could save you alot of time in your detailing.

[roaringlion]

Yeah i think i'll have to. Any sugestiions on a good brand?

[roaringlion]

Can the Quik Clay Detailing System be used more than once ie. can i re-use the same one for a period of time or do i need to buy a new one eveytime i clay?

And how do i get a pic put up like where Murr has his to?

[Murr1525]

1. Hmm... DC Sealant is an Aussie product, but as far as I know it is protectant only.

2. In Meguiars terms, waxes and sealants are pretty much the same thing. What Meguiars calls a 'sealant' is usualy pure polymer, and 'waxes' have some carnuba. But it isnt a set rule.

3. As Mike said, you'll have to try the full routine, then do a little judging yoruself, as to when cleaners, and clay is nesseacery. Kind of hard to describe till you know what it feels like perfect.

6. At least in my washer, the MF picks up cotton fibers, which you do not want.


Go up to user CP, Edit Options.. and follow the avatar instructions. If you want a picture of your own, you'll probably need a little editing software, but I just used Paint.

Lemme refer you over to this current thread as well...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10773

hmm..Http wouldnt work.. but there you go...

[roaringlion]

Looks like the next wash that will be done next week wil be done with a clay bar

[Don]

Originally posted by roaringlion
So in retrospect i should of bought the Quik Clay Detailing System instead of the Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner

Not really. In the beginning, you were asking for the very basic steps for detailing, and the three step DC line was it.

Claying is the next step up in the process. There's nothing wrong with claying then following with the DC-1 for a 'cleaned to the max' base on which to wax.

[Accumulator]

Originally posted by roaringlion
Can the Quik Clay Detailing System be used more than once ie. can i re-use the same one for a period of time or do i need to buy a new one eveytime i clay?

You don't want any abrasive contamination that's caught in the clay to scratch your paint. That's the thing to be concerned about when reusing clay.

If the clay doesn't get too contaminated, and you knead it to keep the contamination away from the paint, you should be able to use it a few times. But it all depends on what kind of stuff/how much of it gets caught in the clay.

What I do is cut the clay into small pieces and pitch them (or keep them for wheels/etc.) when they get obviously soiled. This can be helpful if you tend to drop your clay too- you don't contaminate the whole bar with one mistake.

[Mike Phillips]

I would suggest spending some time reading this and soaking up the information presented. Aftwards, you will know more than most detailers...

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

Here's another good one...

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7494

[roaringlion]

Thanks all, i dont mean to be a pain in the butt with all these questions its just that theres so many products on the market and i hahve very little idea of the right ones to get and the order it goes into. It sounds like your getting alittle annoyed with me Mike, if i am i do appoligise, may i be allowed to print those to posts that you gave me the links to?

[Murr1525]

Well, it takes about 6 times of reading it to start to figure even the basicsout. Believe me, I still read those basic articles every once in a while.

And I certainly think you are wlecome to print out anything, espeacialy the product numbers, abbreviations, etc.. you may even be able to start a binder or something.