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**Mike Phillips** · Jan 27, 2009, 02:22 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assitance

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

Ok, I've looked up and down through the posts and have read many recommendations on detailing your car and what products to use... I just discovered all the great reviews on the Meguiar products. So, here goes my questions:

Lots of meaty information here,

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

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

#1. I heard claying is only supposed to be used on cars that have been constantly waxed. Someone told me not to clay because I don't think my car has been waxed for at least 2 years

. Should I proceed to clay my car?.. I don't want to ruin the paint with it.

You heard wrong.

Claying is to remove contaminants that have bonded to the paint and won't simply wash off. You can clay anytime regardless of when or how often a car has been waxed. Just feel the paint after washing and drying, if you feel bumps on the paint that's a pretty good sign you need to clay the paint.

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

#2. I've read through the 5-step process. So #1 I wash my car, then #2 I'm supposed to clean the paint... Ok, so if I clean the paint can I use ColorX? my car is dark blue. #3 Clay bar #4 clean paint again? #5 polish #6 wax...

ColorX is a cleaner/wax, it's like using a paint cleaner, a polish and a wax all in one product. You can wash, clay and use ColorX if you want and you have minimized your detailing project to 3 steps.

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

That being said... Can ColorX be used to clean the paint & polish?

Yes. ColorX is very popular because it does 3 jobs in one and does it very well. Keep in mind, when using a cleaner/wax on neglected paint, you don't simply wipe it on "you" have to work the product over the paint and you usually want to only work small sections at a time, about a foot squared so you can adequately focus enough cleaning power to each square inch of paint for uniform cleaning and thus uniform appearance.

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

I don't have tons of money to shell out so I'm wondering if I can consolidate products (use the same product for some of the steps). I don't have any major scratches etc. I do want my paint to look good. I've been concerned with the car not being waxed so I'm trying to be proactive and get it done... I plan to keep on buying more necessary products to maintain my exterior and interior but I am just a little clueless. I just don't have all the money at once to buy a whole complete system of all the things you guys suggest using.

I don't have access to a machine to buff or whatever. I'll be using my hands. I'm not super strong... and don't have a male around to do it for me... so I'm attempting it all by myself.. I don't mind having sore arms LOL

You need,

Car Wash
Clay if you feel bumps on the paint after washing and drying
ColorX

**Mike Phillips** · Jan 27, 2009, 02:32 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Here's what Washing, Claying, ColorX and NXT Tech Wax did all by hand to a 1947 Plymouth Coupe, You can skip the application of NXT Tech Wax and still get these kind of results.

Before - Horrible Swirls throughout the finish

First we removed the white paint overspray using Quik Clay System

Then applied one hand application of ColorX followed by one hand application of NXT Tech Wax Liquid

**jnk809** · Jan 27, 2009, 02:39 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Awesome, Thanks for the fast response and links! I looked at the black car project and it turned out so good! THX

But.. 1 more question... Do you think ColorX is an adequate wax? I was just asking because I live right buy the ocean... I thought maybe I should buy something stronger? I don't know if it matters... or not

**Murr1525** · Jan 27, 2009, 02:39 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Just wash, clay, and ColorX will already be night and day for you.... But it'll get you hooked.

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

If you like, you can follow up ColorX with the Nxt 2.0.

**jnk809** · Jan 27, 2009, 02:45 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Originally posted by Murr1525 View Post

Just wash, clay, and ColorX will already be night and day for you.... But it'll get you hooked.

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style

If you like, you can follow up ColorX with the Nxt 2.0.

awesome. I just noticed the clay system kit has all the stuff in it.. i thought i had to buy all that quick detailer and stuff separately .. so woohoo..

not as pricey as I thought... I've already become mildly obsessed with cleaning my car... I'm sure it will become worse overtime lol!

**dvtldav** · Jan 27, 2009, 04:39 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

If you think you are obsessed now just wait until you detail your car for the first time. Then it is this is great but I think I can get it a little better, so you will save your money and buy another product or two and before you know it your garage or storage room will look like a Meguiar's stock room.

**J. A. Michaels** · Jan 27, 2009, 04:53 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Just relax, you are hooked. You will be buying more and more product in no time.

**Tuck91** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:21 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Originally posted by J. A. Michaels View Post

Just relax, you are hooked. You will be buying more and more product in no time.

and it never stops

**jnk809** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:29 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Originally posted by Tuck91 View Post

and it never stops

LOL... This all started when I was asking in another car forum about how to prepare my car for shipping. My car will be transported by ship so I was trying to see if there was anything special I needed to do. Someone mentioned the whole clay bar thing... Had never heard of it ever in my life LOL until just this last 2 weeks. Then... I found this forum and saw all the before and afters... WOW..

Still never fully got an answer about preparing a car for transport via ship... probably for a couple weeks on that thing.

**Mike Phillips** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:39 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

Still never fully got an answer about preparing a car for transport via ship...

There's not a lot of "extra" things you can do outside the normal car care steps except note that cars that look well taken care of get more respect from the people that deal with them, (work on them or move them in your case), so having it freshly waxed and detailed will be doing about 99.9% of everything in your control that you can do to insure a safe, no mishaps shipment.

Wash the car
Feel the paint to see if you feel little bumps, if you do then clay the paint.
Wax the car
Dress any trim
Dress the tires

If you feel little bumps on the paint then that's a good indicator that the paint has bonded contaminants and needs to be clayed.

This is important because this is a very good indicator that besides the little bumps you probably have a dirt film on the paint and wax won't stick to dirty paint.

So claying is essential for good wax adhesion.

What are you working on?

**jnk809** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:43 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

By working do you mean what kind of car? LOL well if so then its a 02 VW Golf. If not... I don't get it lol.. sorry total newb

**Mike Phillips** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:50 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

At one of our Saturday Detailing Classes last year, one of the cars brought to the class that we used for a demo car was a 1969 Cougar Convertible, Restored with a brand new paint job, (6 months old). The owner 'thought' it was in PRISTINE condition, after all it was just painted, how could anything be wrong with brand new paint.

Here's the thread,

San Diego Shelby Club - Pictures & Comments
Meguiar's Detailing 101
Saturday March 29th, 2008

Here's some detailing clay after claying just a portion of the hood by one of the ladies that attended...

Note: Wax won't stick to dirty paint and gloss comes from smoothness, if you paint has bonded contaminants that means the surface has a texture to it therefor gloss is diminished.

Claying restores smoothness thus claying restores gloss. Claying removes everything off the surface enabling your choice of wax, (whatever brand that may be), to stick, bond or adhere better.

It's a win/win deal for you and your car's paint. (If your car's paint does in fact need claying)

Hope this helps...

**Mike Phillips** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:54 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

Originally posted by jnk809 View Post

By working do you mean what kind of car? LOL well if so then its a 02 VW Golf. If not... I don't get it lol.. sorry total newb

Whoops...

Sorry about that, I meant to include the word "on" at the end of the question. I was speed typing in two windows at the same time.

I edited my mistake to read,

What are you working on?

**jnk809** · Jan 27, 2009, 05:57 PM

Re: I've searched all over but still need assistance

The clay thing is the thing I'm really excited about doing!! I definitely knows it needs a good "claying". Ever since I've been reading about it everytime I go out to my car I carefully look at everything that is looking "wrong" about it.

Thank you very much for responding and giving such good ideas and helpful information

really appreciate it