meg 3 step

[lt1_man]

Ok I have a 1995 silver firebird and nothing I do really makes it pop and look wet. I have the 3 step program and I was wonder if it will give the effect Iam going after. I also have #7 and #26 but I didnt like the way it looked after. This is what I want my car to look like.


-Thanks Brandon

[gb387]

You say 3 step program? Just so we are on the same page are you talking about the Meguiars Deep Crystal System(Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax, Deep Crystal Polish, Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner)?

[lt1_man]

Yeah sorry about the confusion. And I have just finished claying the car as well.
-Brandon

[Mike Phillips]

Pop is a term used to describe what a person sees when they look at a metallic finish and can easily see the metallic flake in the paint.

The truth of the matter is, Pop or the ability to see the metallic flake in a metal flake finish is the result of having a clear coat with no above surface bonded contaminants or below surface defects to block your view from seeing through the clear coat to the color coat underneath, (which has the metallic flake net.

So pop comes from clarity.


Gloss is created from a smooth surface, so the smoother you make the paint the glossier or wetter the paint will appear under the right lighting conditions and the clearer you make the clear coat the more pop the metallic finish will have.

both of the attributes above are initially brought to their maximum potential from using detailing clay if and when needed to remove above surface contaminants, and paint cleaners to remove swirls, scratches, stains, etchings and oxidation.


Also just to note, all things being equal, light colored cars don't offer the same Wow-Effect dark colored cars do.

Clay your car if needed, apply and work in well a paint cleaner and then apply two thin coats of a wax of your choice.

[lt1_man]

I understand that most of the shine comes from the prep work and I have all ready done the work. What I am asking is will the polish from the 3 step really bring out that shine?
-Brandon

[lt1_man]

Ok I have found the thread on this detail. The guy clayed using wolfgang clay, I used mothers. Then he used meg. #80 with a polishing pad x2 and then he topped it with poorboys natty blue wax x3. Is there a different wax I can top it with and get the same results. And where can I find #80 because I cant find it at autozone or advance.
-Thanks Brandon

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Brandon,

Polishing with a Meguiar's polish will help to take your car's finish to a higher level but on light color cars it will be less noticeable and that's the nature of light colors. Dark colors offer more ability to reflect images and show differences in appearance change.

Remember, you're working on a clear coat, not silver metallic paint, so the goal is to make the clear paint as clear and smooth as possible.

If you want to take your car's clear coat finish to its maximum potential, then yes, polish it and then wax it.

Are you working by hand or machine and if you're working by machine, what kind of machine?

[Mike Phillips]

If you haven't already, please read through these,

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

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4657

[lt1_man]

I have read through those post. I understand that silver is not going to shine like black, I use to have a black car. But I have seen this transam in person and its crazy. What my question is though what is the best wax to apply to #80 to keep the slick feel and shine? And I have a obital buffer and a rotary, my pc is at my friends house in NC so I wont have that for a while.
-Brandon

[Mike Phillips]

If using careful technique, you apply, work in and then wipe off 2-3 applications of just about any quality polish and/or wax, then historically you'll find the clear coat paint on your car will be smooth, clear, gloss and shiny.

If you've already clayed the car, then

Step 1 - Apply a paint cleaner, work it in well and remove
Step 2 - Apply a pure polish or even a cleaner/polish, work it in well and then remove
Step 3 - Apply two thin coats of wax allowing each coat to dry until it swipes clear and then remove.

Whatever results you get after this will be about the best you can get depending upon the application method. By this I mean, machine application will always produce better results than hand application.

[lt1_man]

OK, but what product do you recommend to follow with #80.
-Brandon

[Mike Phillips]

The finish on this Kompressor is very clear, glossy and the metallic flake pops!

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8744

[Mike Phillips]

I don't like to recommend a specific wax on this forum as personal taste is a big factor and this means buying and trying a few waxes.

The Kompressor has M21 on it...

These two cars have NXT Tech Wax on them,

[lt1_man]

OK I understand. I might try mixing #80 with poorboys natty paste wax I have heard good things about that and the durability. If I use a small orbital buffer will I get the same results like from my pc? I dont want to break out the rotary because its to big for this job.
-Thanks Brandon

[Mike Phillips]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by lt1_man
[B]OK I understand. I might try mixing #80 with poorboys natty paste wax I have heard good things about that and the durability.

I don't know about "mixing" the two products, but using a combination of the two, applying one and then applying the other will probably work just fine.

If I use a small orbital buffer will I get the same results like from my pc?

Maybe...

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

I dont want to break out the rotary because its to big for this job.
-Thanks Brandon

Agreed. Only use the rotary when you have to in order to do the job righ the first time.