Newbie Waxer just a couple questions

[adam61]

Embarrassed as I am, I've only ever waxed a car once and would like to get more consistent about it, although 2-3 times a year is realistically how often I expect to do it. I wash my car every 2-3 weeks. I have a bright red sports car I bought about 7 months ago I have not done anything to. I would like to get into a consistent regimen with it. It has never been polished or waxed, but is in relatively good condition. After reading pretty heavily on the forum Here's what I got...

Step 1) Wash...I do this already and picked up a few tips to do it better
Step 2) Clay...I understand how to do this and what it's for no questions
Step 3) Paint Cleaners....Confused??? I have light swirl marks throughout the car, but not at all deep or obvious
Step 4) Polish...Confused??? I thought this is what wax was for and most polishes seem like they are advertised as waxes?
Step 5) Wax....I'm a little more clear here I have Tech Wax Liquid I was going to do either 1 or 2 thin coats of.

This is a daily driver that is garaged at night. It's in pretty good condition. I'm willing to put in some effort to keep it that way, but I'll never keep up with it if the process is too complex or time consuming. What products and process should I use?? Here's What I have now...

1) Gold Class Car Wash
2) Meguiar's Clay Bar Kit
3) ?????
4) ?????
5) NXT Tech Wax Liquid (1 coat or 2 realistically?)

Thanks for your help I've read up a lot, but it's still confusing!!

[akimel]

Re: Newbie Waxer just a couple questions

Adam, have you read this article yet: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen. This regimen, or some variation of it, will keep your car looking good.

Consider waxing your car more frequently than twice a year. Most waxes, especially on daily drivers, do not last longer than two or three months. You want to keep the paint protected. If waxing every other month is too demanding for your schedule, how about waxing once every three months? You are already washing your car every two weeks. Waxing will only add another hour.

[Ganesa]

Re: Newbie Waxer just a couple questions


the links given by akimel is just great for people who are new to detailing :]

[adam61]

Re: Newbie Waxer just a couple questions

I've read that before, but it's more of a 4 step process so I was a little confused. Should I use cleaner wax to shine up my light swirls and clean the paint and then use NXT over that? No Polish or Swirl X or anything necessary? I just get confused in the steps that should typically come after clay and before final wax.

[gjohn28]

Re: Newbie Waxer just a couple questions

Any detailing regimen always depends on your goals. You didn't indicate whether you were doing it by hand or machine, but assuming your goal is to remove light swirls, one line up you could consider for your initial detail might be:

1) Gold Class Car Wash
2) Meguiar's Clay Bar Kit
3) SwirlX
4) M07
5) NXT Tech Wax Liquid (2X)

If you want to save some time you could also combine steps 3) & 4) and use something like M80, since it will remove light swirls and is rich in polishing oils.

"Polish" provides depth/gloss to your paint by replenishing oils that have dissipated or been removed over time. Polish offers little to no protection for your paint. "Wax" or sealants, on the other hand, not only impart gloss/shine, but also protect/seal the paint from the elements. Polish is often considered an ''optional" step, but seems to have a more noticeable impact on darker colors.

You can certainly get by with just one coat of wax/sealant, but two is usually recommended to ensure even and thorough coverage.

For subsequent periodic details, if you do a good job of keeping your finish relatively swirl-free, you could replace the "cleaner" step 3) with an AIO - maybe A12 or ColorX - and then go right to your wax/sealant step or you could still apply a polish before you wax if you like.

It is always recommended that you test your process/products on a small area first and adjust as needed to suit your goals.

Have fun and good luck.

[akimel]

Re: Newbie Waxer just a couple questions

Adam, as GJohn has noted, it all depends on your goals. The Simple Wash & Wax Regimen may be basically considered a maintenance regimen. It includes within it the elements necessary to maintain the paint finish--washing, claying (when necessary), paint cleaning, and waxing. On the philosophy underlying the regimen, see Mosca's article In Praise of Cleaner Wax.

But a maintenance regimen will not effect significant paint correction, i.e., it will not remove anything but the lightest swirls and scratches. To remove swirls and scratches you need to use an abrasive polish or compound, preferably with a dual action polisher or rotary polisher. Many of us here on MOL attempt paint correction on our daily drivers perhaps once or twice a year, and employ a maintenance regimen in-between major detailing sessions. Does that make sense?

For example, when I started getting serious about detailing last summer, I gave a lot of thought to detailing strategies for my personal car and my wife's car, and I asked for guidance from the brethren: Looking for a Practical Strategy (Part 1) and Looking for a Practical Strategy (Part 2). It was important for me to devise, at least provisionally, a workable discipline for my vehicles. I emphasize the word "workable": there's no point formulating a regimen that one cannot realistically keep. Detail as one can, not as one can't. There's no way I will ever achieve and maintain a flawless show car finish on my cars--I do not have the skills of a Mike Phillips or Tim Lingor--but I can keep them looking pretty good. The important point, I knew, was to be regular in my detailing--hence my need to devise a regimen.

Cheers,
Al