White vehicle

[kboxer]

Being doing so many dark cars lately not sure what to go with on a white vehicle in excellent condition. May need clay, but no swirls. It is a white 05 tahoe. Choices are
1-#20
2-NXT Liquid
3.GC Liquid

Best mix and match. On black and darks I like gc or nxt. Hard to make white really pop.
Customer wants durability so 20 may be the way to go. Should I top with one of the other 2 or just 2 coats of 20?

I have read so many posts about cleaners and removing the first layers. My eyes are starting to cross.

[N.E.W.car]

Re: White vehicle

I have had great luck with NXT on my white Titan, and on white clients cars. Check out my avatar - that's a fresh coat of NXT on my Titan.

[fishbonezken]

Re: White vehicle



I won't say NXT on white 'pops' but the clarity of the gloss, .

[rascal]

Re: White vehicle

I would say NXT on white. My g/f old car was white and I used Cleaner Wax on before switching to NXT. NXT was the white really shine and it lasted a lot longer too. I would recommend clay bar on the Tahoe. You will really get the best shine when using it and NXT wax.

[vettemaniac]

Re: White vehicle

This is a white suburban after claying, Scratch-X, DC# 2, and 1 coat of NXT.

[kboxer]

Re: White vehicle

I thought about 81 or number 5 also. Durability is a big factor for this customer. Being it is so nice may not be much more I can do. Thanks for the input.

The last few I remember doing were very bright when done, but not the same relections as some of you have. Then again I didnt use Megs then so I am excited to see what it can do.

[TheCamryMan]

Re: White vehicle

go with colorX then top it with the nxt. ColorX just makes white so bright and vibrant. I think I use colorx on all white cars I do

[Murr1525]

Re: White vehicle

It doesnt sound like you have it on hand, but #21 is great for durability if you can get some in the future.

The #5 is meant for high humidity environments, and I have not used #81, but I dont think the choice of polish will have a huge impact.

As Camry says, ColorX is real nice, and topped with NXt would have good durabilty. I imagine #20 would last close to as long.

[the other pc]

Re: White vehicle

You often hear people say that a car's look is 95% preparation and only 5% LSP. Well, IMHO, for white it's more like 99.5% preparation and 0.5% LSP. Any of the three will work well. NXT or #20 should longer than GC.

Getting white "right" is about making the surface perfectly smooth, free of swirls, cobwebs, oxidation and contaminants. I think it's harder than doing a dark car because it's tougher to gauge your progress as you go.


PC.

[rascal]

Re: White vehicle

Before I detailed my Dad's 58' Skyliner, he thought the white top on the car was always a nice white. When I put some #83 on with my G100, the white just came alive. I did a test spot just checking for swirl removal, but I really noticed the different shades of white. Needless to say, my Dad was thrilled on the outcome of the roof.

[kboxer]

Re: White vehicle

I know I wont be polishing at the customers request.

[the other pc]

Re: White vehicle

Unless the car’s a garage queen and never driven in the real world it will almost certainly benefit from claying and some form of cleaner. Even if you don’t need to go after swirls the cleaner will remove stains, embedded dirt and microscopic surface oxidation.

If you don’t want to do a separate cleaner step then a cleaner/wax (ColorX, #66, #6, A12) would be the ticket.


PC.

[kboxer]

Re: White vehicle

Never used A12 or color x. Do they take as much working as the scratch x or pretty easy to use. 66 by pc may be the trick. Havent used 66 yet. Does that break down faster than 80?

[the other pc]

Re: White vehicle

ScratchX tends to take a fair amount of effort because you’re usually trying to cut paint (swirls, scratches, etching) and that requires that you put substantial energy into the finish.

It depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If what you’re after is lighter stuff, dirt, stains, non-etched water spots, etc you don’t need to work it as hard. The same goes for a cleaner/wax. #66 is Meguiar’s most aggressive cleaner/wax but you don’t have to work it hard if you aren’t after the maximum cut.

I haven’t tried #66 and #80 back-to-back on the same finish with the same technique/machine/pad so I can’t give you a precise answer on how they compare. Both are easy to use and very forgiving.

One round of #66 with a G100, W8006 pad and firm pressure will leave paint that’s already in pretty good condition with a nice, clean shine. Top that off with NXT and you’ve got a finish that’s free of contamination with two even coats of protection in only two, relatively fast, easy steps. It may not be “the ultimate” job but it’s a really darn good one for the amount of work it takes.


PC.

[MaxImage]

Re: White vehicle

I agree with Murr in that #21 is great for durability. I exclusively use 21 on my personal vehicle which is a pearl white and the clarity of the gloss--IMHO--is what makes white "pop". White has a special quality in that it "glows" at night, especially pearl white cars. With a well prepped car and some NXT or 21, you should be able to achieve a deep wet look as with any quality wax. However, because the level of shine is somewhat relative to what someone has seen, is able to acheive with their techniques/skill level and to a degree (due to the proliferation of e-commerace) the products avaliable to them, stick with the saying, "Find something you like and use it often."

If one product or if one particular combination of products does not suit your liking, try something new. For example, maybe white looks the best when using Product A followed by Product B; dark blue with Product C alone; red with Products A, B and D. Many people have experimented with different products and seasoned detailers have had many years of experience to determine what combos work best for them. We are all fortunate to have a broad line of Meguiars products avaliable to cater to a wide variety of situations and whims. Someone once told me that any good detailer needs to have an open mind, because with the advent of a new and possibly better product, it may yield better results in some situations and average or subpar results in others.

Without ignoring your question completely, I noticed that #20 is listed in your list of possible polishes to use. While #20 was the "old" #21, and NXT according to Mike, contains the same (or many of the same) polymers as #21 does, you kind of have the two at your disposal. Good luck!