Paint Protection

[RamAirV1]

Re: Paint Protection

If your paint swirls that easily, you should blot instead of wiping the water off the paint after you rinse. Rinse with a flow of water instead of a spray to roll most of the water off and minimize hand drying.

YMMV, but I dusted my black TA every day (weather permitting) and it never swirled the paint. You just need to have the right products, like a good body duster, a good QD like the NXT Speed Detailer, and some Supreme Shine MF and the Quick Detailing Pad. I used the body duster to get most of the dust off and the NXT Speed Detailer to get the remnants. Last Touch is also a good QD. This method is for light dust and should be done every day or two as long as the paint has not been rained on. If the dust is really heavy, or has been wet from dew or rain, or you have mud splatters, then you cannot use this method.

IMHO, if you let the dust build up too much, you are that much more likely to have swirls when you wash. My experience has been that more swirls are induced by washing than by quick detailing. Of course the paint it dirtier before a wash then it is before a QD session so that has something to do with it.

RamAirV1

[TKDDAD]

Re: Paint Protection

Beth,

I don't mean to sound like a Meguiars salesperson here, but I only let meguiars brand applicator pads, terry cloths, wash mitts, microfibers, etc touch my paint. One time I used another companies brand of terries and noticed swirl marks in the pattern I buffed after doing a ton of work. On another occasion I bought another brand of microfiber- and it wasn't exactly inexpensive, well same thing happened but even worse, almost immediately after using it on the hood I could see swirls in the pattern I had just buffed.

... I've tried lots of different MF products and applicators...ONLY Megs will do..their Supreme Shine MicroFibre is by far the best out there...you'll get what you pay for and in the end, you'll get a lot more work to do...new car, I'd do it right from the beginning...and good luck with the black car...I have my first one and MAN she looks great when she's swirl free but it takes tender loving care to keep it that way...especially since it's a daily driver...but it's fun trying !!

[lexus5544]

Re: Paint Protection

No that helps. I actually found the Megs super shine today and some Gold Class Wash. Still haven't found the clay bar. It's a new car so I'm hoping if I wash good and get some wax on it that will carry me until I can get one.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Paint Protection

For drying, my choice is a synthetic towel called the absorber. IMHO it works great. Then I follow this up with a megs water magnet. Hope this doesnt confuse you.

[Monk]

Re: Paint Protection

Good luck and have fun. Its a hobby so it is supposed to be fun.

[lexus5544]

Re: Paint Protection

Ok, I'm getting ready to wash the new car for the first time this evening - and boy does it need it.

I've not been able to get everything that folks suggested (will have to order later). Here is what I do have:

2 buckets
Deep Crystal Car Wash
Quick Detailer
Quick Detailer Interior
Scratch X
Gold Class liquid wax

Non Meguiars - MF Mit and Towels

What MUST I find before I start?

Any other suggestions welcome. Thanks to all who have posted. If this goes well - I'll share pics. I did learn a new lesson today - top down + long drive MUST = Sunscreen

[lexus5544]

Re: Paint Protection

How do you handle COLD times where you are? It's been in the 30's and 40's this week and the car really needs a wash, I'm just not that hardy.

The great lawn care people at work have covered the front with grass and the trees have put a nice dotted goo on it. The stuff seems like it will come off pretty easy. I've tried only on the glass, but either way between the grass, goo, birds and dust (boy do I have dust) I'm concerned about letting it go much longer.

Is there a temp that you just don't detail at?

Thanks for all the advice. I've already checked out my local auto parts place and they sell most of the Meguiar's products so I think I'm going to be set in that department. Any advice on what the wash mit should be made of?

[Monk]

Re: Paint Protection

Beth,

I think you've had cars that are this sensitive before, but a black finish is going to show you the flaws you introduce. Especially if the finish is in good shape and the new flaw(s) stands out.

I can vouch for the Meguiar brand MF, Water Magnet, and terry cloth drying and polishing towels, grit guard, etc. Howerver, I also have some comprable towels I bought at local Target and Wal-Mart stores, just out of convenience. Let's be honest, I seriously doubt that Meguiar's is in the business of manufacturing towels. While I'm sure they have their specs and standards, someone else is making those products and they are not the products that I would say differentiate Meguiars. I think those differentiators come mostly in bottles. Don't use old bath towels-- as I have done for years before reading here-- and don't use softener on MF towels when you wash them.

All MF's are not created equal. At a minimum, I know they are made from different blends. And I have bought some quantity purchases from Costco and Target, and they are linty. When Meg's puts their name on something, you can trust it. They are not going to develop and market a great wax or sealant, and then sell (put their name on) a MF to use with it that will leave lint on your finish. I do get use out of the bulk purchases for wiping off polish during the polishing process, though, but not for my last step or drying work.

[HagFan]

Re: Paint Protection

Beth,

I think you've had cars that are this sensitive before, but a black finish is going to show you the flaws you introduce. Especially if the finish is in good shape and the new flaw(s) stands out.

I can vouch for the Meguiar brand MF, Water Magnet, and terry cloth drying and polishing towels, grit guard, etc. Howerver, I also have some comprable towels I bought at local Target and Wal-Mart stores, just out of convenience. Let's be honest, I seriously doubt that Meguiar's is in the business of manufacturing towels. While I'm sure they have their specs and standards, someone else is making those products and they are not the products that I would say differentiate Meguiars. I think those differentiators come mostly in bottles. Don't use old bath towels-- as I have done for years before reading here-- and don't use softener on MF towels when you wash them.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Paint Protection

The car is black so everything shows a 1000 times more than on my previous white car, but I'm still pretty sure this isn't normal.

Actually, clear coats are scratch-sensitive and the swirls show up very easily to your eyes in most good lighting conditions.

They tend to last longer than a traditional single stage paint like cars were painted with back in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's, etc. Just don't confuse the words last longer with look good longer because a clear coat can look all swirly and still last a long time as long as you do the minimum maintenance. (Wash regularly and wax a few times a year for a daily driver).

[Monk]

Re: Paint Protection

Ok, that make me feel better. Althought after reading many of the post, I feel like I've never washed a car correctly before.

I've found 100s of different MF options. How do I know that the one I'm getting it right?

Also is a leather or synthetic chamois my best bet?

Congratulations! You now have a new part-time job--a black Lexus.

I have 2006 Black Lexus SC430. You have your work cut out for you if you want to keep it as swirl/scratch free as possible.

First, don't let the dealer wash it. I have a sign that says "DO NOT WASH" that I put in the windshield when I take it in for service, AND I tell the Service Writer not to let them wash it, and he writes it in big letters on the service order. They will wash it with a long-handled plastic-bristled brush using a bucket filled with the dirt from a hundred other cars. Everytime they dip that brush in the bucket, they bring up all the dirt that has settled to the bottom. Grit guards help prevent this--see below.

Second, you probably have been washing your car wrong. Stick to Mequiar's Products. Get a wash mitt. Use two buckets, with grit guards. Only wash about a two square foot area, then flip the mitt around on your hand and do another two square feet, then rinse in the rinse bucket. Don't ever work from the bottom up--the dirt is heavier down there and you will pull it up and scratch the paint. Don't use a chamois to dry it-that will trap particles against the paint and scratch it. When it is time to dry it, use the water magnet to get most of the water, and then use a MF cloth with some "quik detailer" for the final dry--this will prevent streaking. ANd do your drying in the garage--this will help stop the sun from drying too fast and causing streaks.

Oh--and don't think that you can just "dust" your car since it has only been outside for a day. Either wash it or live with it. This is not just with black--it just that it shows up easier on black. A white or grey car gets swirled in just the same way, it is just harder to see.

No amount of wax or sealant will prevent scratches. The good news is that, if you wash your own car, you are in control of how bad it gets. If you get a Dual Action Polisher and learn to use it, you can clean up the swirls, when you do get them--which you will over time, but there is no substitute for minimizing them in the first place with proper washing technique.

As far as bird poop goes, IMO, you are probably better off putting a little marring on the surface while getting it off (you can fix it with the Dual Action Polisher or Scratch X), than leaving it there for a day or more and letting it etch into the paint. Bird poop is
very acidic. Just don't go crazy getting it off. I keep a little Quik Detailer and a MF cloth in my trunk, and try to gingerly remove it without rubbing or scouring a larger area than is necessary.

[TrufflePig]

Re: Paint Protection

Ok, that make me feel better. Althought after reading many of the post, I feel like I've never washed a car correctly before.

I've found 100s of different MF options. How do I know that the one I'm getting it right?

Also is a leather or synthetic chamois my best bet?

personally i recommend and only use Megs and one other brand.

but to give you advice i say get what you can afford really. i don't want to force you to buy anything or push you to buy something you may not be able to afford because of other priorities. or maybe you can afford them.

know what i'm saying?

[CWM3]

Re: Paint Protection

Eh..go with the Supreme Shine by Megs (I mean why have hamburger when you can have steak right?) if you're worried. Personally I think it goes more in how the MFs are treated than who makes them. I have MF Towels by EagleOne, Meguiars, Some Wal-Mart Brand and Some Target Brand. All work well for me.

I like Synthetic Chamois although I just bought a Water Magnet to see what the fuss was. That Water Magnet is a thing of beauty.

[lexus5544]

Re: Paint Protection

Ok, that make me feel better. Althought after reading many of the post, I feel like I've never washed a car correctly before.

I've found 100s of different MF options. How do I know that the one I'm getting it right?

Also is a leather or synthetic chamois my best bet?

[OhioCarBuff]

Re: Paint Protection

Then this will scare you - I used a wash rag with soapy water and dried with a towel. I've never had a car this picky about what you use on it.

I figure this is the time to start with this one. Rather than making a ton of mistakes (1 down), I'l get the right advice and right equipment now.

Thanks for the links and the shopping list. Doesn't seem like a $70.00 start up would be that much for long term savings.

Ha, don't feel too bad. One time I told my friend to give his black truck a good hand wash before I come over to show him what he needs to do to buff it up, when I got to his place his truck looked clean but I didn't see any water in his driveway- so I asked him why. He said "Oh, it wasn't all that dirty so I just windexed it, I do it all the time". He sprayed windex onto the paint and wiped it with a regular bathroom towel just like you would clean glass. It isn't suprising that his black paint is so loaded with swirls that it practically looks dark grey.