New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

[KidDetailer]

I have read a few threads such as the 5step cleaning procedure.
Currently my garage has products ALL OVER the place and from different companies. They are my father's car care products and it confuses the heck out of me what is used first and how to use them.

So now I decided to dedicate my entire car care products with Meguiars' lineup.

I am learning my detailing skills with an 07' VW GTi Black Magic Paint

Step 1 - Wash
Not sure which product. They all seem the same to me.

Step 2- Prep/Clean
Smooth Surface Clay kit
then Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner or Scratch X?

Step 3- Polish
Deep Crystal System Polish

Step 4 - Wax
Cleaner Wax (A1214 11)
I normally use rub on wax like Turtle Wax paste. No experience with spray or liquid car waxes. Do you guys recommend them over paste? if so which one?

Step 5 - Maintenance
Quik Detailer

Accessories
Water Magnet Microfiber towel
Even Coat Microfiber Applicator
Supreme shine Microfiber towerls
How many of each? I don't think I'll be using the same pad for polishing and waxing...or same towel for wiping off clay , wax, etc.

For Clay bars, wouldn't folding the clay after working with one area just eventually push the dirty part of the clay out? How long can I fold the clay before I have to buy another kit?




I have highlighted my questions in red if someone can help me. I am a newb when it comes to detailing. When my questions are answered, I'll buy all the above and begin practicing on my car.

[mac1589]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Welcome to Meguiar's

I will try to answer some of your questions but im sure others will chip in as well.

-For the wash many people including myself like using Gold Class shampoo and condition. You can find it just about anywhere, Just make sure you have a good quality wash mit and it wouldnt hurt to invest in a gritgaurd to prevent rubbing dirt into your paint.

-As far as paint cleaner or ScratchX
If your trying to get rid of swirls then i would give scratch x a try. It will have more bite than the paint cleaner.

-Cant go wrong with step 2 polish

-For wax I would look into nxt 2.0. It should produce a better shine and longer lasting protection than the cleaner wax. 2 thin even coats over the whole car. For future "quicker" details you can try a wash,dry,cleaner wax, nxt 2.0 as this process works for many people.


good luck!

[gb387]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

In addition to the suggestions mac posted above (all are great).... as for the accessories/towels the more the better. I would suggest Meguiars foam applicator pads for applying your product. I like them better than the Even Coat Microfiber Applicator but thats just me. As for the towels, you can never have enough. I would say two Water Magnets are better than one and something like 10-12 Supreme Shines (these will be for removal of all your products), again you can never have enough towels. For reference I have some where around 75-100 towels but I have a 'issue'.

[KidDetailer]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Scratch X or Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner does the same thing right?
Except Scratch X is stronger?

Mac, I hear you shouldn't wax after you wash.
If you do, the debris that are not completely cleaned off from just washing (hence the need for paint cleaner/clay baring) will be sealed in with the wax...if you wash/dry/wax.

[akimel]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Step 1 -Wash
Not sure which product. They all seem the same to me.

Gold Class is probably the favorite here on MOL.

Step 2- Prep/Clean
Smooth Surface Clay kit
then Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner or Scratch X?

If you are working by hand, then you will find DC1 a lot easier. Doing an entire car with Scratch-X is hard, hard work! Save the Scatch-X for incidental scratches.

I normally use rub on wax like Turtle Wax paste. No experience with spray or liquid car waxes. Do you guys recommend them over paste? if so which one?

Paste or liquid--it's totally your preference. If you like working with paste, then by all means continue with it. You have lots of good paste choices in the Meguiar's line: NXT, M26 (Hi Tech Yellow Wax), Gold Class, Cleaner Wax. Or you can give the liquid waxes a try and see if you like using them better.

Accessories

Water Magnet Microfiber towel
Even Coat Microfiber Applicator
Supreme shine Microfiber towerls
How many of each? I don't think I'll be using the same pad for polishing and waxing...or same towel for wiping off clay , wax, etc.

You only need one or two water magnet towels, but you should get yourself at least two dozen microfiber towels (as rightly noted above, you can't have too many of them) and at least a half dozen foam applicators--at least according to my limited experience.

For Clay bars, wouldn't folding the clay after working with one area just eventually push the dirty part of the clay out? How long can I fold the clay before I have to buy another kit?

You should be able to get a couple of cars out of one bar of clay.

Mac, I hear you shouldn't wax after you wash.
If you do, the debris that are not completely cleaned off from just washing (hence the need for paint cleaner/clay baring) will be sealed in with the wax...if you wash/dry/wax.

You didn't hear that here! I think it is accurate to say that many, perhaps most, MOL members wax their cars on occasion, perhaps even frequently, without having clayed or paint-cleaned immediately prior. Some always clean the paint, often using either Cleaner Wax or ColorX. Different disciplines abound here. MOL members, however, typically clay only as needed, usually once, twice, or thrice a year.

Welcome to Meguiar's Online, Kid. It's a great community. You will find here a wealth of detailing knowledge and a willingness to freely share this knowledge with folks like you and me.

Cheers,
Al

[JTOWN]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

I would say most ppl wouldnt even know to how to clay their car and would wax up straight away.. my opinon, not always essential to you a clay bar, yes ocassionaly as mentioned to your own prefernece it never hurts to clay.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Well, I would do the following.

Wash- Gold class

Clay- Smooth surface clay kit Then scratch-x for isolated swirls

Wax- your choice liquid or paste. I would go with NXT2.0

Maintain- the quik detailer of your choice.

Accessories- you can never have enough microfibers, foam applicators. The more the merrier.

Good luck.

[mac1589]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Scratch X or Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner does the same thing right?
Except Scratch X is stronger?

Mac, I hear you shouldn't wax after you wash.
If you do, the debris that are not completely cleaned off from just washing (hence the need for paint cleaner/clay baring) will be sealed in with the wax...if you wash/dry/wax.

Its fine to wax after just a wash, you just want to make sure the paint is as clean as possible. I usually go over my whole care twice with the wash mit giving it a good rinse before and after each time around, also the water magnets should help pick up a small amount of dirt that may be left behind. Keeping a good coat of wax on the car will help to reduce the amount of crud that will bond to the paint. You should only have to clay 2 or 3 times a year tops depending on what the car is exposed to and how well you maintain it.

[akimel]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Kid, you may find useful this Mike Phillip's video: How to Wash Your Car (Show Car Style!). It's one of the most helpful detailing videos I have come across.

[gjohn28]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Since you're working on black paint, if you are going to use DC1, then I'd also recommend a polish such as DC2. However,if you want to save some time, you might also consider ColorX. A step up from DC1 in aggressiveness, but a notch below ScratchX, it's a one-step cleaner/polish/wax that would eliminate the DC1/DC2 steps, still provide some mild swirl removal capability and be a lot easier to use by hand than ScratchX over an entire car. I would recommend ScratchX for the random, isolated scratches.

Gold Class
Clay
ColorX
NXT 2.0

Good luck with whatever you decide. (Remember to try a small test area first to check your results.)

[KidDetailer]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Was wondering where the Soft foam applicator is on meguiar's direct?
I can not locate the item. If anything I may just use Even Coat applicator for Scratch X, Polish, and Wax paste.

So I'll give this a try:

Wash- Gold Class
Prep/Clean - Clay kit then Scratch X
Polish- Deep Crystal system Polish
Wax - NXT 2.0

What is the difference between cleaner/polish .....compared to just using a paint cleaner then a pure polish?

[akimel]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Kid, if Meguiar's is out of the foam applicator pads, you will find them at Auto Detailing Solutions. ADS has the entire Meguiar's line, gives great service, and is often used by MOL members.

[gjohn28]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Was wondering where the Soft foam applicator is on meguiar's direct?
I can not locate the item. If anything I may just use Even Coat applicator for Scratch X, Polish, and Wax paste.

So I'll give this a try:

Wash- Gold Class
Prep/Clean - Clay kit then Scratch X
Polish- Deep Crystal system Polish
Wax - NXT 2.0

What is the difference between cleaner/polish .....compared to just using a paint cleaner then a pure polish?

I read where some feel that because a pure cleaner and pure polish are dedicated to a specific purpose, they tend to be more effective than combination products. However, my experience with each is a little different.

I have done one of my black cars with both protocols - once with DC1 (pure cleaner) and DC2 (pure polish), once with ColorX, a combination cleaner/wax and once with #80, a cleaner/polish. I felt the results with #80 were the best. The ColorX detail did a better job on some minor swirls than the DC1, but it's polish/wax finish was just a tad less deep/rich looking than the DC2. I should add that the DC1/DC2 and ColorX details were by hand and the #80 with a DA.

There are also pure cleaners and polishes in the Professional line that I have not tried. Regardless, it simply comes down to what your priorities are - show car like results, a minimal time investment or optimization of both.

[KidDetailer]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Okay, This is what I just bought.

1. Gold Class Car Wash 64oz
2. Smooth Surface Clay kit
3. Deep crystal system paint cleaner
4. Deep crystal system polish
5. NXT Tech Wax 2.0 Paste

Accessories
1. Meguiar's Microfiber wash mitt
2. 3x WaterMagnet
3. 3x Supremeshine microfiber towels
4. 2x High tech applicator pad

~$86.95

Will take pics of my washing procedures once I get the products.

[akimel]

Re: New here and want to use Meguiar's lineup

Good choices. Good luck!