Car Detail Question

[flashover95]

Im preparing my car for an upcoming car show. In what order should I do the following and what products should I use: wash, clay bar, scratchx, polish, cleaner, wax

[yalerd]

Re: Car Detail Question

Hi and welcome to Meguiar's Online!

Im preparing my car for an upcoming car show. In what order should I do the following and what products should I use: wash, clay bar, scratchx, polish, cleaner, wax

What do you refer by "clean"?

Your process should look like this
Wash-Clay-ScratchX-Polish-Wax

Here is a link that explains this process
Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Car Detail Question

What are you working on?

As yalerd stated, here's the order,

Wash
Clay
Clean - This is the step where you use a paint cleaner, not wash the car, that was the first step. See this article.
Polish - Optional
Protect - this is the waxing step

The above is Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Click the link above and read through the 5-step paint care cycle and you'll be up to speed on all the basic detailing steps, products used in the different steps.

[flashover95]

Re: Car Detail Question

Im getting my mustang ready for a car show this weekend.

[flashover95]

Re: Car Detail Question

what order should I do the following: Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner, ScratchX, Deep Crystal System Polish, Claybar, NXT Wax, Cleaner Wax.

if one is not necessary let me know. thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: Car Detail Question

For top looks for the show, you would want to do:

1. Wash - Gold Class Wash

2. Clay

3. Clean - DC#1 for general cleaning, ScratchX for scratches/swirls.

4. Polish - DC#2

5. Wax - Nxt 2.0. Two thin coats are best.

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

How to correctly apply ScratchX to remove swirls and scratches

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Car Detail Question

what order should I do the following: Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner, ScratchX, Deep Crystal System Polish, Claybar, NXT Wax, Cleaner Wax.

if one is not necessary let me know. thanks.

Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and ScratchX are both paint cleaners so you would only use one of them.

Wash
Clay
Clean
Polish
Wax

This is the order this article teaches you, if you haven't already, please read it as head knowledge is just as important as a bottle of wax.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

[TerryAdams]

Re: Car Detail Question

what order should I do the following: Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner, ScratchX, Deep Crystal System Polish, Claybar, NXT Wax, Cleaner Wax.

if one is not necessary let me know. thanks.

What condition is the paint in now? After a careful washing of the car(in the SHADE), evaluate the paint. Does the paint feel "rough" to the hand? If so, clay the car.

After claying, reevaluate the paint again. Evaluate the the car's paint in the sun. Look from different angles. What's it look like? Scratches everywhere? If so, you need to figure on how much work and time your willing to put into the job of removing the defects. Meguiar's has many different products to choose from, to help you. The absolute BEST way to remove the defects is to start with the least aggressive product and tools to do the job. Work toward more aggressive product and tools, if NEEDED, to get the job done.

Sounds like this will all be done by hand? If so, this would be my advice:

1. Wash car in the shade or early/late part of the day.

2. Clay the car (if NEEDED)

3. Evaluate the paint back in the sun. Bring it back to the shade to work on it.
Do a 1 foot X 1 foot part of the hood with cleaner wax like (A12) or go the route of trying the "Deep Crystal" way of using the #1, #2, and #3 products. If #1 DC cleaner is getting you the results you want, you just found the process you should be using for the whole car.

4. After you have cleaned the paint, it's time to polish it(My favorite part). Give the DC #2 a try in a 1ft X1ft spot. Do a quick look of that spot in the sun (Nice and shiney!!). Bring the car back into the garage and finish off the polishing.

5. Last step: Protection. Try the DC #3 wax or go for the NXT wax. I LOVE the NXT liquid wax!!


Homework for you: Do searches within the Meguiar's forum for these topics:
1. What type of towels and applicators you should be using.
2. What items are needed to wash a car without hurting the paint.
3. Claying a car - Why, when and how.
4. How to apply and remove cleaners and polishes.
5. How to apply and remove wax.


Time saving tip: Notice everyone here, will always tell you to evaluate the paint after each and every step? We will also preach, to do small test spots on the paint.

There's a ton of great info and terrific people on the Meguiar's forum!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Car Detail Question

Moved to Detailing 101

Please don't posts new threads to our "How To Articles" group or any forum group in the Information Station.

Thank you!

[Black Bart]

Re: Car Detail Question

As someone who goes to a car show every week I can tell you that you will need to do more than just shine the paint.
They will ask you to raise the hood so before doing anything to the paint I would detail the engine bay.
If your car is a daily driver it will be impossible to bring it to a winning standard but that don't mean you can't go and enjoy yourself.

[mike h]

Re: Car Detail Question

Guys, just attended the Saturday class. The scatchX is good BUT the 105 works wonders with less work.