Question about claybar and/or polishing

[threatcon13]

Hello everyone, I have a diamond graphite 2006 G35 coupe which I purchased about 6 months ago. I've gotten it handwashed about every two weeks, and waxed once every 3 months...but am now taking this duty into my own hands. (quite literally!) I just washed it last weekend, using some meguiar wash, hand mitt, and microfiber, and it looked great. However I did feel a couple of above surface contaminants, and some minor swirls underneath. My question is, would it be ok if I washed and clayed this weekend....then next weekend, I washed, used paint cleaner, and waxed? Or is it better to just wash, clay, paint clean, and wax all in one sitting? Just seems like it would take a lot of time! I like doing it but it would help if I could break up the sessions into two....let me know please! Thank you!

[MikeGT]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

I would do it all in one shot. If you clay it, then do not protect it for a while, your just gonna get more things on your car. What I do is plan out a week in advance, and commit a whole day to do everything.

Wash
Clay
Cleaner
Polish
Wax x2


Expect it to take your 7-10hrs.

But if you cannot do a whole day, its not gonna make a big diff if you do it the way you discribed.

[MikeGT]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

BTW, I see your new! Welcome!

[TrufflePig]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

Hello everyone, I have a diamond graphite 2006 G35 coupe which I purchased about 6 months ago. I've gotten it handwashed about every two weeks, and waxed once every 3 months...but am now taking this duty into my own hands. (quite literally!) I just washed it last weekend, using some meguiar wash, hand mitt, and microfiber, and it looked great. However I did feel a couple of above surface contaminants, and some minor swirls underneath. My question is, would it be ok if I washed and clayed this weekend....then next weekend, I washed, used paint cleaner, and waxed? Or is it better to just wash, clay, paint clean, and wax all in one sitting? Just seems like it would take a lot of time! I like doing it but it would help if I could break up the sessions into two....let me know please! Thank you!

First off, WELCOME TO MOL!!!

Well personally I perfer to do it in one sitting.

Wash
Clay
80
83
Wax

but in your case if you wash and clay this weekend, just driving it around, depending on where you live and or where you park your car, might require you to reclay the car. I clay my car as often as it needs. but i usually try to do it every two weeks anyways to keep it nice and clean and then i just give it a basic NXT wax.

once a month i go through the five step plan with what ihave listed above.

even if you didn't drive your car and just parked it in the garage for a week, you'll still need to wipe it down because it'll collect dust and what not.

personally i don't worry about how long it takes me. my longest detail job has been 8 hours and I didn't care one second because when I was done the results spoke for themselves and all that beer I had waiting tasted so much better.

[threatcon13]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

Thanks for the advice guys....yeah, I'm just being lazy right now and tried to get away w / doing two sittings. But youre right, makes total sense to do it once. My car is a dark gray, will I need to polish also? This is what my plan is so far now,

1) wash and dry

2) clay bar

3) deep crystal? paint clean

4) wax (which wax do you guys recommend? I was thinking of using NXT)


Thanks again ! And thanks for the welcome, this forum is awesome.

[threatcon13]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

Also, to add some background info...I park my car outside, I don't think its ever been garaged, at least during nighttime. And where I live, I get hit by bird poop, leaves, and I think sap as well, on a semi-regular basis.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

yes NXT works awesome for me.

remember its NXT x 2. 2 thin coats.

[MikeGT]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

NXT is good stuff. I finally got around to try #26 and love it. I think I may even be using as my normal wax now.

[corvetmike]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

I would do it all in one shot. If you clay it, then do not protect it for a while, your just gonna get more things on your car. What I do is plan out a week in advance, and commit a whole day to do everything.

Wash
Clay
Cleaner
Polish
Wax x2


Expect it to take your 7-10hrs.

I do the same thing. I look forward to spending the whole day. Just me and my "Garage Queen".

[threatcon13]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

So do you guys think I need a polish after the clay? Or just clay and then wax?

[Murr1525]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

Well, you are comparing completly different steps. Look at it this way:

1. Wash - Gets the big loose dirt.
2. Clay - Gets the bonded on above surface dirt/contaminants.
3. Clean - Removes the dirt from the pores of the paint and depending on the product removes swirls.
4. Polish - Fills in the microscopic pores of the paint with polishing oils to give the best looks and reflection, and prevent the paint from drying out further.
5. Wax - A protective layer to seal in results, and to sacrifice against the elements instead of your paint.

So each step is very important in its own way, and if you avoid one, you are missing out. Esp letting it sit unprotected for a week.

If you are looking to keep your steps to a minimum, I would:

1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. ColorX or other cleaner/wax
4. Wax - this would be optional, but a nice step to give two layers of wax and better looks.

[threatcon13]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

Thanks, I was pretty sure what the others were good for, but was a little unsure about what the polishing was for. So this weekend I'm going to set aside Saturday for washing, claying, paint clean, then two coats of NXT. Also, one other question, what is best to use for cleaning glass? I have the cleaner already, just wondering if using a microfiber towel will work good? I used to use newspaper or paper towels. Thanks!

Well, you are comparing completly different steps. Look at it this way:

1. Wash - Gets the big loose dirt.
2. Clay - Gets the bonded on above surface dirt/contaminants.
3. Clean - Removes the dirt from the pores of the paint and depending on the product removes swirls.
4. Polish - Fills in the microscopic pores of the paint with polishing oils to give the best looks and reflection, and prevent the paint from drying out further.
5. Wax - A protective layer to seal in results, and to sacrifice against the elements instead of your paint.

So each step is very important in its own way, and if you avoid one, you are missing out. Esp letting it sit unprotected for a week.

If you are looking to keep your steps to a minimum, I would:

1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. ColorX or other cleaner/wax
4. Wax - this would be optional, but a nice step to give two layers of wax and better looks.

[MikeGT]

Re: Question about claybar and/or polishing

no, what you want to do right after you clay is to use a cleaner(such as DC1). You can find DC1(and DC2) just about anywhere, or a hardware store. Then a polish (such as DC2), then a wax.

But if your looking for more of an "all in one" product, look into Colorx. Colorx is a cleaner, polish, and wax.

Hope that helps.