Several newbie questions ;-)

[james0509]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

1 - OK. I guess a chamois will do?
2 - I lost you. I read UQD wasn't a good choice to lubricate the clay? Anyway as tated, I have the claying kit, so this comes with a QD bottle.
3 - OK - Just missing one piece of info : I've read ColorX could be a good setp there too. I just dont fully understand what it does?
4 - OK, and twice I guess.
;-)

1. yes a chamois should be fine!
2. UQD works OK for me, but to be safe I guess you should keep buying QD instead of UQD.
3. Color X supposedly removes scratches and swirls , at the same time restoring gloss and color ( a bit like a polish) and it also acts as a wax.

color x is basically a 2 in 1 product combining a light polish with a wax.

from what I heard from people they like to use ColorX AND THEN use a wax on TOP of the colorX.

4. Yes I guess this step would be applying your wax on top of the ColorX!

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

Thanx for your input man ! Anyway, as I said, I don't even think ColorX 's available here in France. I should check out if MOL deliveres abroad. I mean just compare these two i.e.:

France :

http://www.meguiars.fr/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?cat=ENT_POLISH#2

US :

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+G12718

France :

http://www.meguiars.fr/cgi-bin/catalog.pl?cat=ENT_ACCS#2

US :

http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/detail/MEG+X3002

I mean, these are just two products, but the scheme is the same for all of them. I tend to think the price difference is just hilarious...

[james0509]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

yeahh you could experiment with some European products and let us know how well it turns out!

Anyway if you can't find colorX in France you can replace colorX with Polish & Protection on the section "luster & proteger "

they should do roughly the same thing!

Good luck!

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

Dont get me wrong. I WISH to use Megs products. I just dont understand the price difference. I'll check ADS to see if they ship abroad...

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

One more ;-)
What I am supposed to wipe the different products with? All I could find here was the Ultimate wipes. Are those OK or should I really try to find the "supreme shine microfibers"?

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

And actually (sorry for the triple posts, cant edit after a while) what should I get? Ultimate wipes or supreme shine microfibers? They are at the same price here in France so...
Thanx for your swift answer, I'm about to place an order to get my car done this week-end ;-)

[Murr1525]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

I like the Supreme Shines for removing products with lots of residue, like cleaners & polishes, for when using QD to dust the car, and for applying spray waxes.

I like the Ultimate Wipes for removing thin coats of wax, esp a final wipe, removing spray waxes, quick detailing after a wash.

If ordering all one kind, I would order Supreme Shines. Or more Supreme Shines, and 1 or 2 Ultimate Wipes.

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

OK I think I'm done with my shoping. I ordered what I still needed from the french Meg site.

So here's a list of what I have :


Nxt generation Car wash
Smooth surface clay kit (clay and QD)
SwirlX
Nxt TechWax 2.0
Ultimate Quick detailer
Ultimate Quick Wax
Pads, Ultimate wipes and water magnet
Plus some other stuff for the interior, wheels and windshield.

For some reason, I got talked into skiping the polish process. I first wanted to get the Paint Cleaner, colorX isn't available here, but was told this step really wasnt necessary. I'm not really sure about this but well...

So here's how I'll proceed, i hope this time I'll have it right :

1 - wash the car (high pressure : that OK since I need to strop off the Nxt Tech wax I applied a week ago).

2 - Drying with the water magnet. Still got to find a technique to do this efficiently though)

3 - drive the car home

4 - UQD to remove the dirt i could have gathred on the way (probably an optional step)

4 - clay with QD

5 - swirlX if needed.

I guess if I find out the paint's more scratched than I thought, I'll probably need to switch to Ultimate compound right?
BTW does it make sense to use UC, and then SwirlX? Let me explain : If UC is "harsher" than SwirlX, I guess applying SX after UC will refine the process ? A little like you do when using sandpaper : first you use some coarse paper and go to finers afterwards? Does that make any sense?

6 - Nxt Tech Wax 2.

7 - The day after a second layer of NXT Tech Wax 2 if I find the time, and a little UQD, just to blind oher cars on the road ;-)

This will be my "first day" in detailing.

What I'll probably do for the first step the next times will be to go to the high pressure washing, wet the car, get some water in buckets, wash with Nxt car wash, rince with high pressure, dry the car, and use UQW.

Does that all sound correct? or should I really go for some Paint cleaner?
Best regars,

[james0509]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

OK I think I'm done with my shoping. I ordered what I still needed from the french Meg site.

So here's a list of what I have :


Nxt generation Car wash
Smooth surface clay kit (clay and QD)
SwirlX
Nxt TechWax 2.0
Ultimate Quick detailer
Ultimate Quick Wax
Pads, Ultimate wipes and water magnet
Plus some other stuff for the interior, wheels and windshield.

For some reason, I got talked into skiping the polish process. I first wanted to get the Paint Cleaner, colorX isn't available here, but was told this step really wasnt necessary. I'm not really sure about this but well...

So here's how I'll proceed, i hope this time I'll have it right :

1 - wash the car (high pressure : that OK since I need to strop off the Nxt Tech wax I applied a week ago).

2 - Drying with the water magnet. Still got to find a technique to do this efficiently though)

3 - drive the car home

4 - UQD to remove the dirt i could have gathred on the way (probably an optional step)

4 - clay with QD

5 - swirlX if needed.

I guess if I find out the paint's more scratched than I thought, I'll probably need to switch to Ultimate compound right?
BTW does it make sense to use UC, and then SwirlX? Let me explain : If UC is "harsher" than SwirlX, I guess applying SX after UC will refine the process ? A little like you do when using sandpaper : first you use some coarse paper and go to finers afterwards? Does that make any sense?

6 - Nxt Tech Wax 2.

7 - The day after a second layer of NXT Tech Wax 2 if I find the time, and a little UQD, just to blind oher cars on the road ;-)

This will be my "first day" in detailing.

What I'll probably do for the first step the next times will be to go to the high pressure washing, wet the car, get some water in buckets, wash with Nxt car wash, rince with high pressure, dry the car, and use UQW.

Does that all sound correct? or should I really go for some Paint cleaner?
Best regars,

the part about using Swirl X and UC, if UC is harsher than swirl X you should NOT use UC first!!! You got the concept wrong!!

ALWAYS use finer products FIRST to see if it works, it it doesn't remove swirls, THEN move to harsher products. This is because if you use the harsh products you have a chance of damaging your paint, or "over doing it"

remember! start with the FINEST products, then slowly move up if they don't remove your problems!

Other than that your steps seem fine.

[Poki]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

I want to say THANKS to all you guys that have taken the time to help out a new to detailing guy! You are fantastic...as always..at hanging in there and walking folks through the processes and correcting where needed without making him/her feel like they are asking dumb questions. To me, this is the greatest value of Megs on line!

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

OK many thanx for all your help ! I guess all these investigations will end up paying off. I'm still wondering if I'm not goinf to go for the cleaner wax anyway, It'd be a shame to skip a step and not have absolute optimum result after all the time and money spent on this...

BTW I have bought this car second hand. The former owner sealed some scratches and holes in the paint using what seems to be finger nail varnish (sorry for my poor english, remember I'm from abroad). Is there any danger into applying Megs products on top of that?

Regards,

[Murr1525]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

It doesnt seem like proper touch up paint?

[philming]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

I dont really know to be honest. That's just an advice I got a while ago. Something to do between SwirlX or UC and waxing... Unfortunately we dont have that much products available in France, so I got to go ith what's there. It seems to be the only actual polish available here (considering Megs products of course. GS27 is widely available here, but i want to stick to megs).

[Murr1525]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

I actually meant the scratches repaired with finger nail varnish, it doesnt just look like touch up paint in a blob or something?

[james0509]

Re: Several newbie questions ;-)

Hmm the nail polish part sounds a bit tricky. Anyone got ideas on what to do with it?

If I were in your position I would find some nail polish remover to remove the nail polish. LAST TIME I CHECKED rubbing alcohol SHOULD be fine , it will remove all the wax though.

If you aren't sure that it is actually nail polish, I would just leave it, its too risky using chemicals on something unknown.