Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

[CRASH3]

Just as the title states which products would you all reccomend for the 5 step process.

I was planning on:
1: Hi-Tech Car Wash
2: Detailing Clay Mild with #34 Final Inspection
3: Fine Cut Cleaner
4: Show Car Glaze
5: Hi-Tech Yellow Wax

Is this a good combination?

Thanks for all input.

Later,

[Murr1525]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Your cleaner probably isnt the best choice.

Are you working by hand or machine? And which machine?

[CRASH3]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Working by hand. Which cleaner would you reccommend? Maybe the Scratch X?

Thanks,

[Murr1525]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

If you have any swirls, etc, then ScratchX would be good. If not, then I would go with the Deep Crystal #1 Cleaner.

[CRASH3]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Thanks for the advice, I will try that.

Later,

[avwh]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Still trying to figure this out, as well. Here's my "cheat sheet" of options so far:

Wash: Gold Class Wash

Clean: Clay, then ColorX (if paint is old/oxidized) or ScratchX (if scratched/swirled badly); if new paint, may only need claying

Polish: #7 Showcar Glaze, #80 Speed Glaze or #83 Dual Action Cleaner-Polish (#83 could be used as cleaner step if lightly swirled, so ScratchX not needed; or is the "stronger step" if #80 doesn't give a mirror finish)

Protect: #20 Polymer Sealant, #21 Synthetic Sealant, or #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax

Maintain: Quik Detailer, Last Touch, or NXT Spray Wax

[the other pc]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Since all the products you mentioned are in the Mirror Glaze line I'm guessing you're getting your products through a paint and body supplier.

Anyway, they are excellent choices. Just a couple of thoughts...

The new formula #2 Fine Cut Cleaner can be applied by hand or machine so it's a good choice as long as the defects you're after aren't too deep. It really depends on the paint. Just make sure the instructions on the bottle say it's for hand use. That way you know it's not an old bottle of the old formula.

#00 Hi-Tech Wash is great stuff, I love it. But it only comes in the little bottles so if you plan an doing a lot of washing you may find it more cost-effective to use #62, Shampoo-Plus, Hyper Wash, Super Soap or whatever.


PC.

[Murr1525]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Hmm... not sure about your cheat sheet... Sounds a little confused, since it combines different types of products together, and different methods of application, and saying a product is only for a specific use isnt really a good idea either.

Obviously ScratcHX is kind of specific, but when it comes to machine applying a product like #80, between different pads and machines, you can have a wide vareity of effects for different situations.

Its probably easier to get a handle how you will be applying products, and then break down those products into each group for now.

[avwh]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Hmm... not sure about your cheat sheet... Sounds a little confused, since it combines different types of products together, and different methods of application, and saying a product is only for a specific use isnt really a good idea either.

Obviously ScratcHX is kind of specific, but when it comes to machine applying a product like #80, between different pads and machines, you can have a wide vareity of effects for different situations.

Its probably easier to get a handle how you will be applying products, and then break down those products into each group for now.

I have a PC, and I'm only looking for a range of products to apply with the PC, and work with my own cars (not detailing a wider range of vehicles).

I'm a little confused about your comment that I'm "combining different products together". There are just 5 steps, and I've tried to group them by step - so what's combined together that shouldn't be, if there are 50 products in the Megs line and only 5 steps of detailing??

[Murr1525]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

For instance, you have cleaner/polishes, which can be used on their own to clean and polish a car in one step (#82, 80, 83), combined with a pure polish (#7).

But then in the cleaner section, you dont have the cleaner/polishes, but you do have a cleaner/wax (ColorX), that covers all 3 steps in one product.

Also, the 5-step process is kind of deigned to teach newcomers the basic steps of detailing. Working by PC I suppose would be considered an intermediate level, where some steps might be combined, eliminated, or even added on.

Working by PC, you might be better off looking at it like this:

Wash: Gold Class, Nxt, #62, Hyper Wash, etc.

Clay: Mild Detailing Clay, with your favorite lubricant, or the Smooth Surface Clay kits.

Clean: #82 - Very Mild Cleaner/Polish
#80 - Mild Cleaner/Polish - This is your main product to use by PC.
#83 - Medium Cleaner/Polish
ScrathX for hard to reach spots

Pure Polish (Optional): #7, #81

Wax: #21, #26, Gold Class, Nxt, etc.

One Step Products (clean/polish/wax)for Fast Detail: ColorX, #66

And then you could top the one-step products with a regular wax if you wanted.

Those are your mainsteam products, and as you say, there are a lot of others. But some of those are rotary products, or for speacialized situations. #5 is a pure polish for high humidity for instance, like in the tropics.

To be quite honest, you can detail quite a lot of cars with only wash, clay, ScratchX, #80, and a wax. All the rest is up to you as you need it. I have a bottle of #83, but have no real use for it since my car, and parents cars is in good shape, and would only need #80. So you dont have to have everything.... though a lot of us do for some reason...

[avwh]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

That's very helpful, Murr.

Seems like this Q (or a variant of it) shows up a lot here, and there are so many products to choose from and discussed in these forums. This kind of list will help "match up" products to each of the steps (as I was trying to do, but without your insight or experience).

[CRASH3]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

Yes this is all been very helpful. I really appreciate all of the input. This is definetly going to help make my car really shine!

Thanks,

[Murr1525]

Re: Which Products for the 5 Step Plan

No problem.

Yeah, it is easy to jump in real far, but all you need is the basics to get started. Wash, clay, #80 and ScratchX, and a wax.

Then just check your results. Either from a test spot/panel, or do the whole car if you want to shine it up right away no matter what, and see if any defects are left, etc. And go from there.

As Mike has said in the past, all you need is soap, a PC and #66 to start a low end detailing business. Everything else is optional.....

And of course the appropraite pads, towels, sponges, etc.