My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

[Torx]

I'll introduce myself, give an overview, then ask questions.. lol

Newbie here, been lurking the forums for the past 6 months trying to educate myself on detailing my black lincoln ls. As we all know, black cars are quite a pain to tend with.. Ive spent money($50) on a good detail, was pleased, but seeing as it could easily be a once every 2-3month spendage, I can just buy some more meguiars products and do it myself..

I have no experience with using a DA buffer or whatever and using fine grit sandpaper.. I'm really kinda scared to use one so i dont really plan on giving a go for a while..

Okay with that out the way..
This is what i have(in order of how i will use it), Keep in mind i didnt go on a shopping spree like you might think ive had some of this stuff, lol..

- Both deep class and deep crystal wash
- RainX bug and tar for the front bumper(wash off)
- meguiars clar bar kit(should strip any old wax adhered to contaminants
- dc cleaner step 1
- scratchx (for some hood imperfections and here and there spots)
- dc polish step 2
- gold class applicator/paste (i think i shoulda bought the nxt paste)
- some extra quik detailer for claybar and for those unexpected bird droppings.
- dont have anything to remove residue wax on plastic/rubber trim..

- 2 buckets, one with water only, one with soap.
- one of those hairy mits(forgot the name, still questioning if i should use it)
- microfiber cloths, terry cloths, etc
- assorted application pads

- meguiars swirl remover 2.0 #9
- 3m glaze (hand application)
- meguiars #9 hand glaze (this is labeled 9 as well, ??)

- meguiars leather cleaner/conditioner
- meguiars leather wipes

Alright on with the questions..
1. Which is a better wash, deep class or crystal? I;d like to safely remove as much wax as possible
2. Should i do the cleaner before the scratchx or after?
3. Is gold class being phased out for NXT? Should i have gotten the nxt paste?
4. The hairy mit thing, is that safe to use or should i just use a microfiber cloth for hand washing?
5. I wanna do a glaze after everything and use my old meguiars hand glaze, should i do this before or after wax??
6. Has anyone got any experience with the leather cleaner on their lincoln seats? I will test in an inconspicuos place first..

If i have a camera i'll take some pics to show you guys before and after because i know you all love that stuff But i feel like if im not orbital buffing or polishing im not doing a real "makeover".. so ii dunno.
thanks for the time!

[Murr1525]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

Dont even worry about sand paper... It would actualy be wetsanding paper for car use, and you dont need to go anywhere near it.

Now a buffer like the G-100 is safe even for a new person. At any rate, you can do a lot by hand, just that any swirls, etc will be easier to remove by machine. And everything would be easier on your arms of course.

Anyway... we can go through your steps:

- Wash - I assume you meant Gold Class or Deep Crystal... I'd use Gold Class. I'd put the bug and tar remover on first, then wash.

- Clay - Good

- ScratchX first, then DC#1 the rest. Or just DC#1 everything after ScratchXing.

- Polish - DC#2 , good

- Wax - Gold Class is fine, no worries. Remember 2 coats is best.

As for questions:

1. I'd use Gold Class. Esp if you never have before. Car wash solution is not meant to remove wax. That is what the clay and cleaners do.

2. ScratchX, then DC#1. Just to note, ScratchX is a paint cleaner also, just a stronger one.

3. Both are staying around for a long time. Gold Class is a carnuba blend, Nxt is purely synthetic.

4. Hairy Mit?

5. Not sure what that #9 Glaze is... have to let someone else answer that, but a glaze or polsih would be before wax.

6. I've used the cleaner/condition on a Toyota Avalon.. worked good, though no dirt really needed removed.

[Torx]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

yea its a hairy mit

i was always under the impression that glaze should be applied after wax.
since it is oily anything applied on top of it wont stick.. i dunno.. just my thought.

[Torx]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

update:

i did everything as follows and i feel like the cleaner and polish steps were a waste of time (espcially since i did both by hand, on the roof, trunk lid, and hood)

washed with natural lambwool mitt
2 buckets, water, soap.
bug and tar, then gold class wash
claybar hood, roof, trunk lid, some of the side upper areas (clay bar did WONDERS!)
cleaner/polished hood, roof, trunk lid
gold class wax paste

the wax continued to leave smear marks behind and swirls of residue i was annoyed at trying to get rid of..
the hot wheel all wheel cleaner did nothing, wasnt impressed with that, a simple soap scrub wouldve been better.

I just felt like the cleaner/polish was a waste of time..
I dunno, maybe its because i shoulda applied with an orbital DA?
I felt like i was doing more harm than good as i was continuously wiping on the car and being outside with little dust and dirt in the air i was afraid i was causing more swirl marks with my microfiber.

I feel like the wash, claybar and wax did the most significant!

[pcfxer]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

If the pad for your cleaner is still clean then perhaps your paint isn't very old and is in 'good' condition.

As far as your experience with the gold class goes.... You are suppose to let the wax completely dry a la swipe test. Cleaners and polishes do not need time to dry. For arguments sake, search swipe test, and in the mean time do a panel and allow it to 'dry' for thirty minutes while reading up on the swipe test.

Gold Class is an absolutely wonderful wax and I fear that there are some issues with your process. Also, for materials that touch your paint, it is a general rule of thumb that you should stay away from any product made out of natural material. Any Meguiar's washing product will obviously not scratch the paint with the proper techniques.

[Murr1525]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

Clay certainly does a great job if it has never been done before. People are always suprised.

It does sound like you might not have let the wax fully dry, or applied it too thick, or both. There isnt really a good pic of what a thin layer of wax looks like on here, but read through this link. The pic of the spray wax is close.

How to Get Great Results Using Meguiar's Spray Waxes

How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test

And I agree, I use the Multi-Piece wheel wash, similar to the All Wheel, but I have never gotten good results just apraying and rinsing. I always agitate it a bit.

Hopfully your car is in such good shape that the cleaner wont do a wole lot. If you keep everything in good shape, then the cleaner products never have a whole lot to do. But if you felt it still took too long overall for what you saw, you could replace those steps with a cleaner/wax. I really like ColorX.

So it would be like:

1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax

Those products that you used are actualy designed for hand use, so a DA wouldnt have helped a whole lot, other than possibly spreading your wax thinner.

[Murr1525]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

Doube post...

[Torx]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

yea, see i didnt know anything about the swipe test im sure i applied it wrong.

okay my next question, i apply glaze before or after wax?

my next detail will consist of using a DA.
what professional products and DA accessories do i need to buy for my next detail? I still do have light swirls, i still do have some light scratches and i wanna glaze as well.

im thinking
-pa da
-9006 pad (post the links to the store because im seeing pads, bonnets, all kinds of stuff and i dunno which i would need)
-8006 pad
-velcro backing
- ??? for applied products?

[gb387]

Re: My Arsenal, and Will I Be on the Right Track?

yea, see i didnt know anything about the swipe test im sure i applied it wrong.

okay my next question, i apply glaze before or after wax?

Technically you can apply a glaze/pure polish before or after.... If you are looking to 'seal in the shine' say on a vehicle you are going to drive every day you want to apply something like Meguiars #7 - Show Car Glaze then apply your wax. Now say you are going to a car show and want to add some 'pop' to your vehicle you can apply #7 to give you a great looking finish but the look isn't going to last as it hasn't been 'sealed in' by a wax.

my next detail will consist of using a DA.
what professional products and DA accessories do i need to buy for my next detail? I still do have light swirls, i still do have some light scratches and i wanna glaze as well.

im thinking
-pa da
-9006 pad (post the links to the store because im seeing pads, bonnets, all kinds of stuff and i dunno which i would need)
-8006 pad
-velcro backing
- ??? for applied products?

Here is some more links that should help you out:
Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line
What it Means to Remove a Scratch
Product, Pad and Speed settings for the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher


Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle