Working Order

[WestDK]

Now I just wanna hear other oppinions about which order to do things..
I've come up with this so far:

Washing
Not with a brush but with a sponge (It's more soft and you don't risk making little minor scratches) and car-soap without wax.

Claying (Clay Bar)
Because this is designed specifically for above surface bonded contaminants and since this is the first layer you come accros.

Removing scratches/swirls (Scratch X)
These are below the surface and therefor this is the next layer to work on.

Cleaning (Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner)
Then use the paint cleaners to remove oxidation and stains. These are also imperfections that are below the surface and require a specialized paint cleaner such as Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner.

Polishing (Deep Crystal system Polish)
Since all containments/swirls/oxidations/scratches and other imperfections above and below surface is removed the next step should be enhancing the perfect shine and paint. This is given with conditioning and nourishing the paint.

Waxing
Waxing protects the perfect shine made by all the previus steps and also protects the car from new containments. This also enhances the shine and giving it more deept and darker colors. I will do 3 thin thin layers:
1 Layer: NXT Generation Tech Wax
Because this is said to give a really nice and good shine! This improves the previus steps and gives a good shine and look also.

2 Layer: Meguiar's Gold Class Liquid Wax
This is a combination of shine effect and protection. It is said to give both and therefor this is the second layer.

3 Layer: Deep Crystal System Carnauba Wax
This is purely for the protection of the car, paint and the previus work also.
The high amount of Carnuba Wax should give much protection and this is why this is the last outer layer.

I've decided this because the inner layers is starting with enhancing shine and varying over to more and more protection also.

• How do you all think about this work order?

• Anything I should do differently?

• Anything I've forgotten?

• Any other comments?

This is my car before doing any Meg:
And haven't done any difference because I haven't thought it through..
I think it's medium shape but what do you all say?
Do you think meg will much more..?

[Tom Claessens]

Re: Working Order

Forget the sponge - use a microfiber wash mitt! oh and don't forget the two-bucket method!
I usually keep it to a 2 layer waxing (as it offers enough protection) but if you want a 3rd one, go ahead!

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

Forget the sponge - use a microfiber wash mitt! oh and don't forget the two-bucket method!
I usually keep it to a 2 layer waxing (as it offers enough protection) but if you want a 3rd one, go ahead!

That wash mitt I haven't tryed but I don't think I will.. It looks more like it could make some stratches and therefor I prefer the sponge because it's more like the pads you use to put wax, and polishers on...

Oh year the 2 bucket method.. It's one with clean water and one with dirty right?

[Lydia]

Re: Working Order

You do not need to do the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner after using ScratchX, as ScratchX is itself a paint cleaner.

The two-bucket wash method uses one bucket with soap and water, and one with just water. After you wash a section of the car, put your wash mitt or sponge in the bucket without soap and rub it on the grit guard on the bottom to get the dirt out. Then put your wash mitt or sponge in the bucket with soap and load it up again with suds. Clean another section of the car, and repeat the process.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working Order

Now I just wanna hear other opinions about which order to do things..
I've come up with this so far:

Washing
Not with a brush but with a sponge (It's more soft and you don't risk making little minor scratches) and car-soap without wax.

Choice of wash mitt is personal preference, best thing to do is to find one you like and keep it clean and in good shape.

Claying (Clay Bar)
Because this is designed specifically for above surface bonded contaminants and since this is the first layer you come across.

Great start.

Removing scratches/swirls (Scratch X)
These are below the surface and therefor this is the next layer to work on.

Be sure to only work a small section or a panel at a time depending upon the specific goal.

Cleaning (Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner)
Then use the paint cleaners to remove oxidation and stains. These are also imperfections that are below the surface and require a specialized paint cleaner such as Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner.

You can skip this step if you use ScratchX, they will both clean the paint and leave it ready to apply polish or wax, so choose one and skip the other, ScratchX will be better at removing swirls.

Polishing (Deep Crystal system Polish)
Since all containments/swirls/oxidations/scratches and other imperfections above and below surface is removed the next step should be enhancing the perfect shine and paint. This is given with conditioning and nourishing the paint.

This will restore the maximum clearness of the clear coat while adding gloss to the surface.

Waxing
Waxing protects the perfect shine made by all the previous steps and also protects the car from new containments. This also enhances the shine and giving it more deept and darker colors. I will do 3 thin thin layers:

Meguiar's recommends 2 thin applications at any one detailing session, you can go 3 if you want, that's up to you. As for mixing waxes, that's a personal preference also, here's an article that touches on this topic.


Topping NXT

[Tom Claessens]

Re: Working Order

WestDK: the wash mitt has long fibers which takes dirt of the car (and MF is soft; so it won't scratch your paint) and takes this dirt within its fibers all to the bottom of the mitt - as Lydia said, you rinse the mitt after washing a section in the "water-only"-bucket and then get fresh soapy water on the mitt).

The advantage here is that the dirt it picks up, comes enclosed within these fibers and because they're long - the dirt doesn't sit on top of the fiber (and is unable to scratch the paint).

On the other hand if you use a foam pad / sponge / ... to clean the car, you don't "absorb" dirt like a wash mitt does. The result is that dirt builds up on the edge of the pad / sponge / ... and this poses a GREAT risk as you will scratch your finish because you're not removing dirt, you're just moving it around!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Working Order

This is my car before doing any Meg:
And haven't done any difference because I haven't thought it through..
I think it's medium shape but what do you all say?

Do you think meg will much more..?

Yes! Washing, claying, cleaning, polishing and waxing will make this car look brand new again!

Don't forget to dress the tires to finish it off.

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

Great start.



Be sure to only work a small section or a panel at a time depending upon the specific goal.

Why is it so important I work on a small section at a time only?

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

WestDK: the wash mitt has long fibers which takes dirt of the car (and MF is soft; so it won't scratch your paint) and takes this dirt within its fibers all to the bottom of the mitt - as Lydia said, you rinse the mitt after washing a section in the "water-only"-bucket and then get fresh soapy water on the mitt).

The advantage here is that the dirt it picks up, comes enclosed within these fibers and because they're long - the dirt doesn't sit on top of the fiber (and is unable to scratch the paint).

On the other hand if you use a foam pad / sponge / ... to clean the car, you don't "absorb" dirt like a wash mitt does. The result is that dirt builds up on the edge of the pad / sponge / ... and this poses a GREAT risk as you will scratch your finish because you're not removing dirt, you're just moving it around!

Okay I can see that then..
I've figured out what I need now, even though it gets really expensive (I'm a student so dont have much) but if I don't get these things my other Meg products will not really do me any good and a big difference.. And thats what I want!
So here's my shoppinglist:
1 x Ultimate Microfiber Wash Mitt
1 x NXT Generation Car Wash
1 x Clay Bar
1 x ScratchX
1 x NXT Generation Tech Wax.

Then I think I'm ready to fully detail my car..
Then my inventory is complete so far..

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

Yes! Washing, claying, cleaning, polishing and waxing will make this car look brand new again!

Don't forget to dress the tires to finish it off.

The tires must have to wait.. It's already very expensive on my budget so I will just get enough to make the car shine and look new..
But it will be very very hard work because I'll probably have to do the whole car with clay and the whole car with scratchX..
So I guess it will take a few days..
But when I fx. clay the whole day and the whole car and drive again in the afternoon (we live on dirt road) will all my claying and work be spoiled?
Will I then have to do the same the next day when it haven't got any wax?

When using scratchX I will do a part at a time, in following order:
clay whole car.
ScratchX on the hood
3 layers of wax on the hood(as described above in the upper part of post)
- But will compare the results as adviced to find the best.

Then ScratchX the left door
3 layers of wax on the left door

And so forth on the whole car. But if I fx. clay the whole car, ScratchX, wax the hood + left door but not the rest..
Will I have to clay those parts that havent been ScratchX'ed and had wax?
BEcause these arent proteched with wax and will my clayjob on these parts be ruined?

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

And I've seen some of the others post about the clay..
The clay bar have been all green/blue when they were finished with the hood..
Can I only use it untill it gets colored (the clay bar) all over and then turn around untill the other side is colored and then throw out?

[gb387]

Re: Working Order

With the clay, use it till one side is dirty then fold the clay over(now the dirty side is inside the clay bar) and flatten back out... continue to do this as the clay gets dirty.

You have to be the judge when its dirty and needs to be tossed out but you shouldn't have a problem doing your entire vehicle with one clay bar.

Does that make sense?

[gb387]

Re: Working Order

If you haven't already read post 4 in this thread: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...threadid=13744

Great photos that should help.

[WestDK]

Re: Working Order

If you haven't already read post 4 in this thread: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...threadid=13744

Great photos that should help.

In that post they also clay the windows.. Does this help more than a ordinary shine?
And they say in 1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover
if they had used scratchX first the paint would have been cleaner and therefor the claybar woudn't have been that dirty..
Is it then A better idea to use scratchX before claying to make the claybar last longer?
Because I thought that claying should be the first (after washing) because claying removes contaminents from the outer layer and is the first layer you meet..
What is best here?
Does it do any difference in the result if I clay first or I use scratchX first?