Newbie with questions

[DR06]

Hello everyone. I have been using Meguiars products for a while now and now have questions that I hope someone can help me out with. Originally, all I use to wax my car is Meguiars Cleaner Wax. However, I would like to try something different. I just picked up a bottle of NXT wax today to give it a try. I've tried Meguiars 3 step before, but it didn't seem to be any better than the cleaner wax, so I stopped using it. I always wax by hand (appy wax, buff off with a cotton towel, and a final wipe with a microfiber towel). But here comes my question, can anyone reccomend which products I can use to get the best results. Could I use the cleaner wax, and then apply the NXT afterwards? Would applying Step 3 (carnauba wax) after NXT do anything?

Thanks.

[gb387]

Re: Newbie with questions

First welcome to MOL!

Here is some reading: Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Assuming you are applying all by hand, right?

Well, the list is endless on what you could do.... but lets start with what you have on hand. NXT Tech Wax is designed to be applied to a new or like new surface.

That said, sounds like you have Meguiars cleaner wax so you could:

1. Wash with a quality car wash
2. Meguiars Cleaner Wax
3. Meguiars NXT Tech Wax

Now if you are willing to spend a little more time you can:

1. Wash with a quality car wash
2. Meguiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner
3. Meguiars Deep Crystal Polish
4. Meguiars NXT Tech Wax (2 coats)

You could even add something like Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit between steps 1 and 2 if needed.

A couple other questions, do you want to additional time to remove any swirls or scratches? or are you looking only to apply a coat of wax to protect your paint and give you that great look?

More reading:
Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car - this is a good one to look over even if its not a 'new' car, lots of great info.
How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test
NXT Tech Wax Cure Time
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Why Meguiar's Recommends Polishing Paint
How To Remove Swirls By Hand
How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie with questions

Nice reply Brandon!

[DR06]

Re: Newbie with questions

Thanks for the reply and welcome, it definitely contains lots of great information (why I joined this site). The car is relatively new, less than a year old and has been waxed and washed quite often and I can not feel any surface contaminants in the paint (dark blue). However, it does have some very small swirls (probably due to the dealer washing it through a brushed car wash while "preparing it for delivery") so I think I will first use the scratch-x (I have a tube of that already). If I use scratch-x can I use cleaner wax and then NXT, or do I have to use DC Polish (followed by NXT)?

Looks like all I need now is a lot of time, towels, and muscle.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Newbie with questions

muscle eh. you say you have muscle.

well i'll tell you a tid bit. i work out on a regular basis but the workout you get from a whole car application of scratch-x is entirely different. think about putting 5 seperate workout days/body parts together and stretch it out over, not 5 days but at time 2-3 hours and that's how it can feel to use scratch-x by hand...LOL...but if you can strecth out your detail process by hando ver two days. start one saturday late afternoon, pack it in at night continue the next morning.

anyways. if you're using your muscles.

wash
clay
scratch-x
#7 - for the oils and shine
NXT x 2

if you're using the DA

wash
clay
M80
#7 - not needed. M80 provides enough of the oils along with its cleaning action. you can add this though for extra shine/protection.
NXT x 2

all the best.

[gb387]

Re: Newbie with questions

Thanks for the reply and welcome, it definitely contains lots of great information (why I joined this site). The car is relatively new, less than a year old and has been waxed and washed quite often and I can not feel any surface contaminants in the paint (dark blue). However, it does have some very small swirls (probably due to the dealer washing it through a brushed car wash while "preparing it for delivery") so I think I will first use the scratch-x (I have a tube of that already). If I use scratch-x can I use cleaner wax and then NXT, or do I have to use DC Polish (followed by NXT)?

Looks like all I need now is a lot of time, towels, and muscle.

If you are using ScratchX over the entire vehicle there really no need for Cleaner/Wax... Like TP mentioned stretch it over several days.

Using the products you have listed for hand application:
Wash
ScratchX
NXT (2 coats)

-or-

Wash
ScratchX
Deep Crystal Polish
NXT (2 coats)

If I were to do it I would use option two for the polishing oils as TP mentioned above.

You can never have enought towels!

Brandon

[TH0001]

Re: Newbie with questions

Thanks for the reply and welcome, it definitely contains lots of great information (why I joined this site). The car is relatively new, less than a year old and has been waxed and washed quite often and I can not feel any surface contaminants in the paint (dark blue). However, it does have some very small swirls (probably due to the dealer washing it through a brushed car wash while "preparing it for delivery") so I think I will first use the scratch-x (I have a tube of that already). If I use scratch-x can I use cleaner wax and then NXT, or do I have to use DC Polish (followed by NXT)?

Looks like all I need now is a lot of time, towels, and muscle.

Swirls are pretty much unavoidable with todays modern clearcoat systems. Dirty blowing over your car can put swirls into the paint. The best we can do is use a two bucket method and use exterme care to wash you car. If after a year you only have "minor" swirls, I think you are doing pretty good!

If you use ScratchX to hand polish the car (good luck!) you do not need to use the cleaner/wax after. The reason is that ScratchX will do a much better job at "cleaning" the surface then the cleaner wax. You can use it, but it would only take time and be slightly counterproductive.

After ScratchX, I would use a pure polish like Deep Crystal 2 (which if you use cleaner wax on top of, it would remove the oils from the polish). Then top with NXT wax and be blown away.