Where to start?

[Saab6]

Hi everyone,

I'm not a true newbie to detailing but just purchased some what of a "detailing project car". The car is a 92' Saab 900S 3door hatch. Color: a light steel gray. Up until 2 years ago the car spent it's life in Tennesse where it then moved to Vermont. Luckily the body is rust free since it stayed out of our rusty climate..

Now the paint or the body for that matter is definatley not close to my defination of perfect but I belive there is some serious room for improvement. And I bought it as a driver to take to college in the fall...

Condition: The paint looks like it's in pretty decent for its age a 150k. It has somewhat of a shine to and and doesn't appear to be heavily oxidized. But I can guarentee it probably hasn't seen wax in years. It's not smooth like glass and I would hope to change that..There are some bonded surface containments that I would like to remove. Also like anything else there are a couple deep scratches through the clear..

My thought process goes as follows..Keep in mind I've never clayed before..

Wash with DC..
Clay the entire w/ Quick Clay...
Wash again? Necessary after claying?
Use DC Paint Cleaner pannel by pannel..
Scratch Ex, not sure if doing the whole car would be necessary..
DC polish, entire car..
2 coats of NXT wax..

Stand back and admire numerous hours of work!

My plan would be to tape off glass and trim...
Any suggestions for cleaning glass, can it be clayed and then use megs glass cleaner?

I don't plan on regestiring the car until I get it looking how I'd like, so I have no problem taking my time..

I don't have access to a PC and think the best approach is to see what I can frist accomplish by hand..

Any thoughts/comments is certinaly appricated..

Thanks,
Greg

[Magic]

Re: Where to start?

Claying is a piece of cake.. Just spray plenty of lube, and keep the area your working on wet. And yes you can clay your windows. I use a piece on my car, and after it's dirty, I downgrade that piece to as window clay. That piece will never touch my car again. As for the cleaner, NXT glass cleaner is the best product I've used on my windows. Awesome results, and no streaks.

Wash with DC.. - Perfect
Clay the entire w/ Quick Clay... - Perfect
Wash again? Necessary after claying? - Not necessary if you wipe off after you clay each section
Use DC Paint Cleaner pannel by pannel.. - Correct.. The better you clean (rub) the better your results
Scratch Ex, not sure if doing the whole car would be necessary.. Correct, only if you want to. And remember ScrX is not wipe on/wipe off, you have to use some elbow grease
DC polish, entire car.. - Correct
2 coats of NXT wax.. - Correct

[gb387]

Adding to what Magic said.... tear the clay into two pieces and set one aside. If you drop it on the ground don't use it! Instead reach for the other piece of clay. When I clay I use nearly an entire 16oz bottle of quik detailer, the more the better. Like posted above its a piece of cake and it works! You may get a smear or two, I know I did the first time I used clay, its easily removed with DC Paint Cleaner or some quik detailer and a microfiber towel.

Finally these posts may help you with the use of ScratchX:
- How To Remove Swirls By Hand
- How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

[Saab6]

Hey, thanks a lot..

I can't wait to get my hands on that car..

I'll post pictures in Show-Off when I get the exterior how I want it..

I'm dreaming of a night and day difference..

Thanks again...