Confused by the steps

[philming]

That's step 1, BEFORE polish...
I thought cleaning paint would be done after polishing, witch makes sense, not before...
Hi there. A while back someone suggested I added a step between polishing and waxing, and that would have been paint cleaning. Checking the Meg products, I found Deep cristal paint cleaner.
(BTW, I'm still not completely sure about the use of this extra paint cleaning step)
So the steps would have been wash, clay, polish, clean, wax...
Right?

[CieraSL]

Re: Confused by the steps

Keep in mind that Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner is a very mild paint cleaner, so it won't do much for swirls and scratches. You would want to use one of the newer paint cleaners, such as Scratch X 2.0, Swirl X, or Ultimate Compound. The proper steps would be:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean (this is where your paint cleaner comes in)
4. Pure Polish (optional step - you can use DC2 or M07 to give it that extra pop)
5. Wax

Read this thread: Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

[akimel]

Re: Confused by the steps

philming, we need to clarify the meaning of "polishing." There can be confusion about this because Meguiar's offers two kinds of polishes: cleaner/polishes (SwirlX, M80, M83, etc.) and pure polishes (Deep Crystal Polish [DC2], M07, M81, etc.). Cleaner/polishes remove paint and smooth the paint surface. Pure polishes are nonabrasive and only add gloss by the application of oils. So the question is, When you refer to "polishing," what product are you referring to?

If you are referring to the use of a cleaner/polish, then there is no need to use Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner (DC1), because a cleaner/polish will accomplish everything that DC1 does (and more). Your process might look like: wash, clay, cleaner/polish, wax. It's also possible to add in a pure polish step, thus: wash, clay, cleaner/polish, pure polish (optional), wax.

If you are referring to the use of a pure polish, then you would use the paint cleaner first and then follow-up with an application of the pure polish. Your process might look like: wash, clay, DC1, pure polish, wax.

Does that make sense?

[philming]

Re: Confused by the steps

These are the products I have / will have at my disposal.
SwirlX, UC, 80 an 83.
I was going to clay, then use one of the above to polish, not sure witch one to be honnest, with a DA when I'll have it. I know about the test spot and using the less abrasive first.
I thought Paint Cleaner was used as the pure polish to apply after all this.
Yes, MO7 seem to be a good bet for the optionnal step.
Wax.

Edit. OK the above was poted while I was typing. Tnax for the input !

So I guess the plan will be :
1 - Clay
2 - SwirlX-83-UC depending on what I have to work on (Cleaner - polish)
3 - 80 or M07 (pure polish) (is 80 a pure polish? Sounds to be but not sure)
4 - Wax

[akimel]

Re: Confused by the steps

#80 is not a pure polish. Meguiar's refers to it as a cleaner/polish. It belongs to the same category as SwirlX and M83.

I would suggest that you begin with SwirlX. If it doesn't accomplish the level of paint correction that you want, then move directly to Ultimate Compound. UC often leaves the paint LSP-ready, but if you do see that it has left some marring, then finish up with SwirlX. M80 and M83 contain the older diminishing abrasive technology and require a somewhat different technique than the newer SMAT products like SwirlX and UC.

Your process:

Wash
Clay
SwirlX and/or Ultimate Compound
M07 (optional)
Wax

[philming]

Re: Confused by the steps

OK I was going to order a DA that comes in a kit with 80 and 83. Should I just go for the DA and skip 80-83 and just use SX or UC?
BTW sorry I think something went wrong in my first post, because it doesn't really make sens this way. Great you got the meaning nonetheless...
Please read (cant edit the message no more)

---

Hi there. A while back someone suggested I added a step between polishing and waxing, and that would have been paint cleaning. Checking the Meg products, I found Deep cristal paint cleaner.
That's step 1, BEFORE polish...
I thought cleaning paint would be done after polishing, witch makes sense, not before...
(BTW, I'm still not completely sure about the use of this extra paint cleaning step)
So the steps would have been wash, clay, polish, clean, wax...
Right?
---

[Murr1525]

Re: Confused by the steps

#80 is a nice product... #83 you might not really want.

So, if you have to get both, you might just opt for SwirlX and UC.

[Jeff U]

Re: Confused by the steps

These are the products I have / will have at my disposal.
SwirlX, UC, 80 an 83.
I was going to clay, then use one of the above to polish, not sure witch one to be honnest, with a DA when I'll have it. I know about the test spot and using the less abrasive first. ...

Here's a partial list of "abrasive" polishes from most to least aggressive:

• M105 Ultra Cut Compound
• Ultimate Compound
• ScratchX 2.0
• SwirlX
• M83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish
• M80 Speed Glaze or M205 Ultra Finishing Polish (Different types of abrasives but close in cut ability)
• ScratchX (Current Version being discontinued)

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=28407&highlight=glaze

Use these after wash and clay. They will clean and correct your paint so it's ready for wax.

You don't need to buy them all.

As has been mentioned, the "pure polishes" (M07) have no abrasives, are an optional step that some people find helpful and are just trying to improve shine prior to waxing. You use them after the above abrasive polishes but before waxing. For what it's worth, I tried M07 but could not tell any difference so I stopped using it.