Newbie products questions

[akimel]

Re: Newbie products questions

Zeque, I think you have misunderstood. A lot of folks here on MOL use a "pure polish" in their detailing regimen. DC2 is one of several pure polishes that Meguiar's offers. If you have read the article Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle, then you know that a pure polishes are "for finishes already in excellent condition and are for the purpose or creating brilliant high gloss with deep dark reflections." They are not intended to remove swirls and scatches. If you want to remove swirls and scratches, then you need to employ one of Meguiar's cleaner-polishes. Meguiar's pure polishes include DC2, M05, M07, and M81.

What precisely do you want to accomplish?

[Murr1525]

Re: Newbie products questions

Lots of folks use the DC system, or parts of it. I guess as we learn more, we sort of pick and choose from different product lines, which makes it harder for you to follow.

You never really "return" color to a car. What you do is make the surface as perfect as possible (removing swirls, scratches, oxidation), and then whatever color is there will show.

Removing swirls by hand will really get easier when you can get your hands on the new 2009 products (SwirlX, ScratchX 2.0, and Ultimate Compound) or even #105 Ultra-Cut Compound. Unfortunately, I am sure they will take a little longer to get to you. You can do some test spots with DC1 or the old ScratchX, but the new products sure are nice.

Also, if you havent noticed, removign swirls by hand is slow and takes time. My honest approach would be to get the car detailed and looking good, and then look around for or talk to the shop about the 2009 products. It will likely take several days to remove swirls by hand, so getting the car detailed, then each day or weekend you can work on a couple panels.

So, a quick detail like this:
1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Cleaner/Wax or ColorX
4. Nxt 2.0 - This will look nice and give you the recomended 2 coats of wax, esp if it might take a while to find the products for swirl removal.

And then when you find the proper swirl removal product:
1. Wash or QD the area
2. Clay only if needed
3. Clean - Use your product to remove swirls
4. Polish - DC2
5. Wax - 2 coats of Nxt 2.0

The foam applicators are good for applying products, just have to get some good quality towels to remove them, and for drying. Dont wantto put swirls back in the future.

You shouldnt really need the Nxt Speed Detailer. You will want the regular Quick Detailer for claying, and removing bird bombs, etc. The Ultimat Quick Detailer is great for after future washes to bring back that fresh shine.

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

my idea would be to remove swirls and leave a high gloss finish.
this is what I've: Clay Kit, ScrachtX, NXT 2.0 paste wax. I can get the DC2 and anothers brand swirls remover(3M).

I understood you message, and I think that DC2 will be a great option for my black car, and from what I've read it's specially for dark colours.

[akimel]

Re: Newbie products questions

my idea would be to remove swirls and leave a high gloss finish.
this is what I've: Clay Kit, ScrachtX, NXT 2.0 paste wax. I can get the DC2 and anothers brand swirls remover(3M).

I understood you message, and I think that DC2 will be a great option for my black car, and from what I've read it's specially for dark colours.

Given the products you have and can easily obtain, here are your steps:

1) Wash the car.

2) Clay the paint.

3) Apply ScratchX.

4) Apply Deep Crystal Paint Polish (DC2).

5) Apply NXT (two coats).

I think you will be very pleased with the results.

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

Great! Now regarding the two coats of wax, I've read that the maximun protection I will get it applying the second coat after 12hs(cure time). What about if I have to use the car after applying the first coat? I've to wash it to remove the street dusty (or there is another solution) to apply the second coat?

In those steps I don't see the use of the Cleaner Wax, should I leave when I don't have time to do the steps and apply it?? is it wrong if after Cleaner Wax I apply the NXT 2.0 paste wax??

[akimel]

Re: Newbie products questions

Great! Now regarding the two coats of wax, I've read that the maximun protection I will get it applying the second coat after 12hs(cure time). What about if I have to use the car after applying the first coat? I've to wash it to remove the street dusty (or there is another solution) to apply the second coat?

Yes, if you drive the car between the first and second coats, you should wash the car the car immediately before applying the second coat. You do not want to risk scratching the paint.

In those steps I don't see the use of the Cleaner Wax, should I leave when I don't have time to do the steps and apply it?? is it wrong if after Cleaner Wax I apply the NXT 2.0 paste wax??

Think of Cleaner Wax as a maintenance wax. For example, you might decide to do the full 5-step program twice a year (spring and fall) and use Cleaner Wax the rest of the year. And yes, you can top Cleaner Wax with NXT. Many of us do. On the value of Cleaner Wax as a maintenance product, see this article: In Praise of Cleaner Wax.

For example, here is one workable wash & wax plan for a daily driver, based on Murr1525's "quick detail":

Every one or two weeks:

1) Wash your car:

How to Wash Your Car Show Car Style



Dry with a microfiber waffle-weave towel.

Every two months:

2) Inspect paint surface. Gently run your hand over the surface. Is it smooth as glass? Do you feel bumps and rough spots? If you do, you need to clay your car:

How to Claybar Your Car



Typically, you will only need to claybar your car twice a year.

3) Apply a coat of Cleaner Wax or ColorX. Massage and work it into the paint. You are working it into and against the paint because you are hoping to clean the paint and remove light swirls, oxidization, and previous layers of wax. Allow it to haze and buff off.

Wait 15-30 minutes.

4) Apply a thin coat of NXT or M26. Allow to haze and buff off.

A regimen like this will keep your car looking good month after month. Keep it simple and keep it fun!

Cheers,
Al

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

wow great explanation, many thanks!

I know this can sound strange, but as i only can wash my car in saturday morning I will do the steps and leave a few hours(like 3-4) and then apply the second coat. is it recommended after applying the second coat to not use the car for some hours?if so, how many are we talking about?

[akimel]

Re: Newbie products questions

wow great explanation, many thanks!

You are very welcome!

I know this can sound strange, but as i only can wash my car in saturday morning I will do the steps and leave a few hours(like 3-4) and then apply the second coat. is it recommended after applying the second coat to not use the car for some hours?if so, how many are we talking about?

After you have applied your second coat of wax, feel free to jump in your now beautiful looking car and take her for a spin!

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

Well I've just bought the DC2
Sadly it's raining and I think it will be during all the weekend, I hope it stop so I can apply the products, pictures will come after

Question about DC2, in the below link Mike apply it with foam pad and in the instructions it says to apply it with cotton, what are differences?

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7011

thanks to all! good bye!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie products questions

Question about DC2, in the below link Mike apply it with foam pad and in the instructions it says to apply it with cotton, what are differences?

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7011

When writing label copy you write for the largest target audience the product will be focused at and the average person has access to a cotton towel so you write instructions that enable them to use the product.

Believe it or not there are still people that use diapers, t-shirts and cotton towels instead of microfiber polishing cloths for removing polish and wax.

So our wax products always include directions to remove the product using either microfiber or 100% cotton towels. Most people have easy access to cotton towels at their home but most people don't have easy access to foam or microfiber applicator pads at their home.

Sure they're available at auto parts stores but let's just guess that a lot of people buy the chemical but maybe don't realize when they get home they need a way to apply the product.

Kind of the KISS philosophy, Keep It Simple Simon.

Foam and microfiber are more gentle to clear coat finishes than the average cotton towel especially when the towel will be used with pressure. The more aggressive nature of cotton terry cloth can be used to your advantage when you need more cleaning or abrading power or it can be a disadvantage when someone without a lot of skill, knowledge and experience works on a clear coat finish.

So in the thread you referenced and at most all of our Saturday classes we use and demonstrate with foam applicator pads.

You can use either one when you work on your car but a soft foam applicator pad will be more gentle to the paint as compared to cotton terry cloth.

Does that help?

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

Yes Mike, it's very helful thanks!

I asked this cause a friend told me to use normal cotton, and I wasn't sure.

[zeque]

Re: Newbie products questions

Sorry but I've something in mind that I would like to know, I got a 3M compound and I don't know if it will be more agressive to use with a microfiber towel or the foam pad(yellow one) ???

[akimel]

Re: Newbie products questions

Zeque, are you really, really, really sure you want to use a compound? I have never used the Turtle Wax compound, but I know I would be hesitant to try it. But perhaps others on the board have experience with it.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie products questions

Sorry but I've something in mind that I would like to know, I got a 3M compound and I don't know if it will be more aggressive to use with a microfiber towel or the foam pad(yellow one) ???

Most compounds will remove defects out of the paint the problem is they will also tend to scour and scratch the paint at the same time. Thus you replace one set of defects for a new set of defects.

Kind of one step forward, two steps backward, plus anytime you use a compound you remove some clear paint so if the first application doesn't fix the problem any future work will continue to remove more paint.

We introduce some break-through abrasive technology that gives you an aggressive compound that won't scour the paint. So feel free to try what you have and if it ends up scratching the paint we can show you how to fix it.

From our How To Articles forum, the below threads show both a bird dropping etching removed and a what we call a Random Isolated Deeper Scratch Removed, (RIDS).

The Bird Dropping Etching was removed with M105 but you can do the same thing with Ultimate Compound. (At the time we removed the BDE Ultimate Compound wasn't out yet)


How To Remove a Bird Dropping Etching by Hand using M105 Ultra Cut Compound


The scratch in the below thread was removed with Ultimate Compound. Look at the pictures and read the text because it specifically states exactly what was done and the results look like we applied a wax, not used a compound.

Scratch Removed using Ultimate Compound

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie products questions

Check out this thread in our Hot Topics forum which has lots of meaty threads with popular topics of discussion when it comes to detailing.

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...