Corvette Detailing Instructions

[CorvetteMan]

Hello,

I had my 2006 Convertible Corvette (Red, LT3, Z51, Full options) polished and waxed by a garage. I am not happy with the results.

There are some Meguiar products available here... but not all. For example, i cannot find hte Clay Bar. Do you have anyone carrying your whole portfolio in UAE?

I read the FAQs and watched the videos for 3 hours... unfortunately i don't have days under my hand to read and digest the abundance of information available. I want to get a wax for my paint but there are 10 different waxing products. Hard do make an educated choice without spending days reading the instructions/reviews.

What products do you suggest for detailing a corvette?

Thank you!

A.

[Andy M.]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Hi and welcome to MOL. We are glad you decided to join and you will learn everything you need to know to keep your corvette looking great. Please post questions to the appropriate forum, if you are not sure where to post them the Detailing101 section of our forum is a catch all for your questions.

Andy M.

[VonLego]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

corvette is known for really hard paint, so correction may be tough with out a machine.

That being said, a quick clay and wax does wonders and is pretty time effecient. You can order clay online (its what I do for everything). Go through meguiars.com or autodetailingsolutions.com. ADS is likely cheaper, but both sites have great customer service.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Clear coat paints are difficult to work on even for Pro Detailers, just a casual reading of this forum will turn up hundreds and even thousands of posts from people asking for help removing swirls and scratches.

If you don't want to take on detailing as a new hobby the try something very simple.

Wash the car and then apply a thin coat of NXT Tech Wax Liquid. Allow the wax to fully dry and then wipe it off and see if this improves the look of the paint to make you happy. If so then just repeat this whenever you want the Vette to look like it was just waxed.

If this doesn't improve the paint to the point that you're happy then you're going to have do some correction work either by hand or learn to use a machine.

Another simple option would be to rub the paint out with some Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and then apply the Tech Wax. The cleaning step, if you invest some time to work the paint cleaner over small sections at a time and do a thorough job should act to remove some of the fine swirls and make the clear paint more clear and smooth. Then apply wax over these results.

These are two simple products and easy to find and by themselves will go a long way to make the paint look good.

If the "Garage" or Detail Shop that buffed out your car left it looking like this,

Before


Then you will have to rub the car out with some M105 by hand or again, learn to use a machine to undo their damage.


We can show you how to fix the above as you can see from the picture below, the passenger side was done by hand, the driver's side was done by machine. The passenger side was done with ScratchX and Tech Wax you could get similar results on your car using Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner or ScratchX, (They're both paint cleaners, ScratchX is a tad more aggressive), followed by Tech Wax.

The key in good end-results is doing a good job of applying and working the paint cleaner as this is where you're going to remove a little paint and that's how you remove swirls, you remove a little paint.


After




Also, read through this thread as it will explain what's involved when a detailer hacks up your car with shoddy work.

Are holograms and buffer swirl the norm for a black car?


Also welcome to our forum...

[CorvetteMan]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

If the "Garage" or Detail Shop that buffed out your car left it looking like this,

God no! Nothing like that. The car is shiny with minor swirls, but i believe it could be better. I cannot shave by looking at the paint!

Clay was applied. Then the car was polished with a rotary machine (no oscillating appliance). Then wax was applied and buffed off. This was done a week ago.

The car has never been machine washed. Always hand washed in gas stations (with my clothes after detailing).

Deep Crystal and ScratchX both available. NXT Tech Wax and NXT Tech Vax 2.0 are available too. There were also many other Mequiars waxing products that i dont recall. Just tell me the best.

Clay Bar is not available. Machines are not available.

I would like to clay this car, then apply polish (ScratchX ?), then wax. Since i don't have access to machine, all will need to be done by hand. Is this appropriate? Or is this overkill since this car was done a week ago?

What is suggested for the convertible fabric?

And which product needs to be used for interior cleaning?

Thank you for your time!

Could you also please move this topic to the appropriate forum section? I forgot to mention it in my initial post.

[CorvetteMan]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

corvette is known for really hard paint, so correction may be tough with out a machine.

That being said, a quick clay and wax does wonders and is pretty time effecient. You can order clay online (its what I do for everything). Go through meguiars.com or autodetailingsolutions.com. ADS is likely cheaper, but both sites have great customer service.

VonLego thanks.

I can say claying made the most difference. But the car had minor paint spillage on it.

Don't want to go through online ordering due to shipping delays. Some Meguiars products are available here. I will see if i can make do with them.

[yalerd]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Hi and welcome to Meguiar's Online!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

God no! Nothing like that.

Good to hear.

The car is shiny with minor swirls, but i believe it could be better. I cannot shave by looking at the paint!

That would be best done with a mirror, maybe a black car if you had to shave and didn't have a mirror but probably not going to get enough DOI, Distinction of Image in the reflection you get out of red paint to shave.

Clay was applied. Then the car was polished with a rotary machine (no oscillating appliance). Then wax was applied and buffed off. This was done a week ago.

Often times when the last machine process done to a car is with a rotary buffer then there will be holograms or buffers swirls at least at some level. A good coating of a quality wax or paint sealant will act to mask very light swirls for a while but with time, exposure to the environment and repeated car washing the protective coating will be removed and if there are any swirls they will become noticeable in bright light.

The car has never been machine washed. Always hand washed in gas stations (with my clothes after detailing).

The best option is to take ownership of the washing process that way you have absolute control over everything that touches the paint.

If you take it to a "Hand Car Wash" then make sure their wash mitts are clean and in excellent shape and their using clean buckets with clean wash solution and that whoever is touching the paint, (pushing the wash mitt over the surface), is doing a good job as clear coat paints while they tend to be fairly hard, they will still scratch very easily and removing the scratches is usually difficult.

Deep Crystal and ScratchX both available. NXT Tech Wax and NXT Tech Vax 2.0 are available too. There were also many other Meguiar's waxing products that i don't recall. Just tell me the best.

Clay Bar is not available. Machines are not available.

If you want to remove any defects that are "in" the paint, that is they are below the surface of the paint then in order to remove them you must remove all the paint surrounding them until the paint is level, that is until the upper most surface of your paint is level with the lowest depth of the deepest defect.

That's how you remove defects in the paint.

Paint cleaners like ScratchX and Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner are very gentle product in that you can't use really abrasive products on clear coats as all you'll do is remove one set of scratches and replace them with new scratches.

So these two products are gentle but they do contain microscopic diminishing abrasives and when used with the right technique they are able to remove light defects.

A faster and more aggressive product that will still finish out really nice is our new M105 Ultra Cut Compound.

You would probably have to order this. So instead, pick up a tube of ScratchX and a couple packs of foam wax applicator pads and see if you can apply ScratchX to one section and remove any of the defects that your not happy with and that the "Garage" left or instilled in the paint. After applying the ScratchX to one small section, follow this with a coat of NXT Tech Wax. Allow the wax to fully dry. Wipe off the dried wax.

Now inspect the results.

Does the paint in this one section you just worked on look better or worse.

if it looks better, then duplicate this over the entire Corvette.

If the Test Spot doesn't look better then post back here what you're seeing.

Just to note, removing swirls an scratches out of a clear coat finish by hand with ScratchX is a technique, that is you need to work the product over the paint and put a little passion behind the pad but no so much that you with your hand pressure instill your own scratches.

The only way the diminishing abrasives in the ScratchX formula are going to remove any paint is if they are worked-against, or pushed-against the paint, not merely spread around.

Again this is because clear coat paint tend to be hard, not soft and thus hard to remove small particles of in a controlled manner.

I have the good fortune of having taught hundreds and probably thousands of people first hand, how to use ScratchX by hand and most are surprised to see how to properly apply a hand applied paint cleaner.

Accordingly, lots of these same people have not had good luck using ScratchX and it's not that the product doesn't work but more of the product not be applied using the right technique.

But as we say here on the forum,

"You don't know what you can do until you try"

So pick up a tube of ScratchX, some foam applicator pads and some Tech Wax and do a Test Spot and then inspect your results.

I would like to clay this car, then apply polish (ScratchX ?), then wax. Since i don't have access to machine, all will need to be done by hand. Is this appropriate? Or is this overkill since this car was done a week ago?

If the shop did a great job then all you should have to do is maintain their work, this means washing and waxing. You shouldn't have to clay or fix the paint if there are blatant problems.

ScratchX is a "Paint Cleaner", read this to get up to speed with the different categories of products and the different steps when it comes to detailing your car's paint.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

What is suggested for the convertible fabric?

This thread can be found in "Hot Topics"

Canvas Top - Convertible Top - Which products to use?


Lots of popular topics in "Hot Topics" and "How To Articles"

Have Questions? Looking for Answers?
So much good, practical and helpful information in the "Information Station" like these two forum groups and the List 'O Links thread.
Hot Topics
How To Articles
List 'O Links 2.0

[CorvetteMan]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

yalerd, andy, thank you for your welcomes.

If you take it to a "Hand Car Wash" then make sure their wash mitts are clean and in excellent shape and their using clean buckets with clean wash solution and that whoever is touching the paint, (pushing the wash mitt over the surface), is doing a good job as clear coat paints while they tend to be fairly hard, they will still scratch very easily and removing the scratches is usually difficult.

Mike you have more than made up for the initial delay, forgiven, thank you.

It is not their wash mitts -- they use my clothes and those clothes are new and thoroughly cleaned and used ONLY for my vette. There are also no buckets, the car is washed and rinsed with clean pressurized water. So i don't understand where swirls might come from.

If the Test Spot doesn't look better then post back here what you're seeing.

I will get the car washed and post some pics first before getting into testing.

If the shop did a great job then all you should have to do is maintain their work, this means washing and waxing. You shouldn't have to clay or fix the paint if there are blatant problems.

Would it hurt to clay even if a good job is done?

ScratchX is a "Paint Cleaner", read this to get up to speed with the different categories of products and the different steps when it comes to detailing your car's paint.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

I read that. While thorough, it does not specify which product is 'Pure Polish'. I think, in my scenario, i am better off with a 'Pure Polish' than 'Paint Cleaner'. Don't you agree?

I don't want to play down the abundance of information that need to be digested or people who detail cars as a hobby. I am a perfectionist by nature, i don't like half-baked jobs. I am afraid, if i get into detailing, it will consume a huge amount of my time (that i dont have). That is the reason i am asking advice. You and others must have done tons of vettes and know what you are doing. After all, these are your products.

Thank you again.

A.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Corvetteman, I don't want to step into this convo as Mike clearly has it handled, but one thing that struck me as odd is that you mentioned them not using buckets.

That makes me wonder if they are using soap? How are they lubricating the surface for the wash mitts? Are they rinsing the mitts numerous times as they wash the vehicle?

These answers just might play a potential part in your problem/solution.

Hope it helps.

Mark

[CorvetteMan]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

That makes me wonder if they are using soap? How are they lubricating the surface for the wash mitts? Are they rinsing the mitts numerous times as they wash the vehicle?

Yes, they are using soap. And i believe it is the cheapest one they can find.

The process is:

1. Rinse the car with pressurized water.
2. Spray foam (probably some form of detergent).
3. Wipe the car with my wash mitts.
4. Rinse the car with pressurized water.
5. High-pressurized air to get water off the car.
6. Dry the car with my microfibers.

This is the best solution for this car. I neither have time nor place to wash it myself. The car gets washed twice a week. I am in a hot country. No rain. Only problem is dust. And a lot of it!

Which brings me to another question... Is there some sort of anti-static coating for cars?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Well washing cars is probably one of the most common ways to introduce swirls. Do it twice a week, and without the use of a two bucket method (and grit guards) and you have a recipe for disaster in my opinion. Even if they rinse first, they should optimally be rinsing the mitt after every panel, or even half of each panel depending how dirty is is.

If they aren't, they are moving the dirt around the surface for the entire duration of the wash. (I often spend a solid hour on the rinse and wash alone to prevent swirls! I am super OCD, but hey it works for *me*)

Also, not enough soap, or poorly lubricating soap (cheap soap) can do a few bad things, ranging from failing to keep dirt from coming in direct contact with the paint during the wash (swirls) and if it is not properly balanced for car washing it can prematurely strip the wax, also lessening your protection.

Hopefully Mike can chime in later this morning with his take on this- he knows a heck of a lot more than I do so I would take his advice over mine anyday!

[CorvetteMan]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

Mark thanks.

Points well taken.

It is important to note that i DO NOT have DIRT. I have dust. The car does not get dirty, it gets dusty. Roads are clean and it is desert. High-pressure rinse removes dust. Well, i am not sure if it would scratch the paint while doing so. There is no other option, i cannot ask them to use a different hose for me.

I am at a loss -- there are so many different Megs products. I don't know what to choose. I want something for the interior -- there are 20 different products... I want something for leather -- there are 10 different products -- spray, paste, liquid, aloe... I want some microfibers -- there are 50 different options!!!

I do understand the need to cater different segments but can someone working for Mequiars compile me a list of items to buy which are best in its catergory for detailing my car 2006 Convertible Red Vette Fully-loaded (price no problem)?

I need:

1. Interior detailing (carpets/upholstery/dashboard, all).
2. Leather detailing.
3. Chrome rims detailing.
4. Tyres detailing (natural color / non-shiny).
5. Convertible Canvas (thanks, i am done with this, only 2 options thankfully )
6. Clothes for washing / drying / rinsing / glass.
7. Polish/wax (well, i will work on this one here with you with pictures, sufficient advices so far except 'Paint Remover' / 'Pure Polish' option).

Thanks!

A.

[RDVT4ME]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

1. Interior detailing (carpets/upholstery/dashboard, all).

M40 on all plastic or rubber
You can use it on your dash, doors, molding.
Carpet-any meguiars carpet cleaner will work great. APC (all purpose cleaner) does a great job also.

2. Leather detailing.

I use meguiars aloe leather cleaner (blue) and conditioner (white)

3. Chrome rims detailing.

4. Tyres detailing (natural color / non-shiny).

I use meguiars hot shine tire gel. I will leave it shiny, but you can use a terry cloth towel to buff down the shine. You can also use M40 on the tires.


5. Convertible Canvas (thanks, i am done with this, only 2 options thankfully )

6. Clothes for washing / drying / rinsing / glass.

washing-most good microfiber wash mitts should be fine.
drying - meguiars or adams microfiber waffle weave drying towl.
glass - I use a plain old white terry cloth towel that I get at Costco.

7. Polish/wax (well, i will work on this one here with you with pictures, sufficient advices so far except 'Paint Remover' / 'Pure Polish' option).

You will need a machine to polish corvette paint. It is very hard. If you use a Da, M83 (polishing pad), followed by M80 (polishing pad) and then for final gloss M09 or M86 with a finishing pad.

If you use a rotary, then M105 will be your best friend!

That's what I use on my vette and it looks pretty good.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Corvette Detailing Instructions

I don't want to play down the abundance of information that need to be digested or people who detail cars as a hobby. I am a perfectionist by nature, i don't like half-baked jobs.

I am afraid, if i get into detailing, it will consume a huge amount of my time (that i dont have). That is the reason i am asking advice.

From what you posted, I kind of picked up on the idea that for time reasons, you didn't want to make detailing your Corvette you new hobby, you just wanted to find out what to use to hopefully improve and maintain your Corvette's finish and posted this in my first reply to this thread...

Clear coat paints are difficult to work on even for Pro Detailers, just a casual reading of this forum will turn up hundreds and even thousands of posts from people asking for help removing swirls and scratches.

If you don't want to take on detailing as a new hobby the try something very simple.

Wash the car and then apply a thin coat of NXT Tech Wax Liquid. Allow the wax to fully dry and then wipe it off and see if this improves the look of the paint to make you happy. If so then just repeat this whenever you want the Vette to look like it was just waxed.

If this doesn't improve the paint to the point that you're happy then you're going to have do some correction work either by hand or learn to use a machine.

Another simple option would be to rub the paint out with some Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner and then apply the Tech Wax. The cleaning step, if you invest some time to work the paint cleaner over small sections at a time and do a thorough job should act to remove some of the fine swirls and make the clear paint more clear and smooth. Then apply wax over these results.

These are two simple products and easy to find and by themselves will go a long way to make the paint look good.

NXT by itself, correctly applied and removed, might be enough to make you happy with your Corvette's finish. You won't know till you try.


n order to figure this out simply wash your Corvette or wipe it clean using a quality quick detailer and then LOOK at your car's paint in good light, like bright sunlight if at all possible. You're trying to see your paint's current condition before you apply NXT Tech Wax.

At our Saturday classes, before we work on a car we'll have the owner of the demo car park the car in the sun and let EVERYONE look at the current condition of the paint. I'll usually instruct everyone to lock into their brains, that is into their memory, how the paint looks before we work on it.

That's because you can't measure the improvement if you first don't know where you're starting.

So get your Corvette's paint clean by either washing or wiping it with a quick detailer and then inspect it in good light. Pay attention to how the paint looks.

Now move the car back into the shade and wax half the hood with a think but well worked coat of NXT Tech Wax. You can tape off half the hood if you like with painter's tape so you'll have a clear demarcation line between before and after.

Allow the wax to fully dry before wiping it off. After the wax is completely dried, wipe of the residue using your best, clean softest microfiber polishing cloth.

Now move the car back to where you originally did your inspection, having the sun high overhead is best but as we get into fall this gets harder to to do but it is best for evaluating the finish and looking for change. Do the best you can.

Now inspect the finish. Does the NXT side look better? Are you happy enough with the results that this will meet your expectations for your Corvette's paint?

If so then wax the rest of the car and your done. In the future simply wash and wax, use a quality car wash like our Gold Class or NXT Car Wash and then actively maintain the finish by maintaining a coat of NXT on the paint.

That's about as simple as you can get car maintenance and reducing the amount of time you need to invest in to car maintenance.

What you're doing is called a test spot, you trying a product and figuring out if it's working for you. If it is, the see my Signature Line.

If a single coat of NXT Tech Wax doesn't get the paint to where you want it and where you expect it then this means you're going to need to do some paint correction work or you're going to have to pay someone to do some paint correction work.

What makes or breaks a finish is the prep work, applying a car wax or a paint sealant will take your prep work's results to a higher level.

So first find out if the simple approach gets the job done for you. I not, the let us know and we'll do our best to help you tweak your technique but still keep it very simple. For example, in my initial reply I also suggested if Tech Wax by itself wasn't working for you the you could try using a paint cleaner first and then follow this with Tech Wax. These two steps are still very simple and both products are easy to find.


Hope this helps...