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So one of my friends and I are detailing a Ford Explorer tomorrow. It was a raffle fund raiser put on by the community and we went through our local Key Club, since we're both members of it, for our local Relay for Life, part of the American Cancer Society. He's done some details before, but from what I heard he cuts corners bad. Think that his wash is a trip with the wand at a self serve car wash, Granted we won't be doing that this time, but he did say claying would take too long and he just wanted to wash and wax it. I've yet to see what the Explorer looks like, so I can't comment on what I think needs to happen. Were most of you nervous for your first detail? And it is worse that it's a co thing, so not all the shots can be exactly what you want? Trying to get rid of swirls may be out of reach, since the only machines we have are just the buffers you'd find at Wal-Mart. I'll post pictures after it's done, but I was just looking for a little pointer or two I may be forgetting. Thanks.
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-Kyle -
Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
If you guys are trying to remove swirls, you will NEED to clay it. Claying is one of the biggest, if not biggest steps in removing swirls..Good luck! -
Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
I want to clay it...I understand how important the claying step is. It helps, if anything we do, the wax bond to the paint better. I'll see if I have any downstairs before I pack my stuff to get started.-KyleComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Just take it slow, take your time and be careful. The more care you put into each step lessens the likelihood of making a foolish mistake (not to say that we don't all make them anyhow). Don't jump into things too quickly and make use of the fact that you have a couple of guys working with you. Make sure they know about non-marring wash techniques and know how thin they should apply LSP's. You've got a big car to work on, this often makes people prone to cutting corners; resist the urge and do the job right. (I know, I did a Ford Expedition today
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If time is a factor I would recommend using ColorX followed by NXT 2.0. You will get the cleaning ability of the ColorX, which is top notch by hand, coupled with the longevity of the NXT 2.0. A good wash with ColorX and NXT 2.0 by hand can get some pretty amazing results, albeit not quite perfection.James - 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais
Calais Auto Detailing
CalaisDetails@aim.com
www.calaisdetailing.com (under construction)Comment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
I'll find out how much time we have when we get started. I have a few things I want to do:
Wash with Gold Class
Clay with Clay Kit
*I'll have to look for ColorX. All I have is Cleaner Wax and I've seen ColorX is more aggressive. Oh what I wouldn't do for a PC and some D151...*
Polishing with either DC2 or #7, still debating on which one
Top with either two thin coats of NXT or one NXT and one Gold Class. Tires will be Hot Shine spray or Black Magic Titanium gel. Wheels will get a Turtle Wax foaming wheel cleaner to start, then hit with a light coat of NXT. Black to Black or Titanium on any black exterior plastic (darn the fact that the new Meg's trim detailer isn't out yet). PlastiX on headlights and taillights.
The interior will be based on what I see. But Folex, Natural Shine, Invisible Glass, and a Shop Vac instantly come to mind.
The only thing I would go to for the engine is just a foaming tire cleaner. It's worked great in the past, but with it's someone else's vehicle, the risk of something going wrong is telling me not yet.-KyleComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
If you use a cleaner/wax, you probably dont want to bother using a pure polish after. Bit of a waste of time.Originally posted by ziggo99 View Post2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR BlueComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Good luck. Take your time and the results will speak for themselves. I agree if you use a cleaner wax, I would skip the pure polish.quality creates its own demandComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Relax and enjoy the process. The fact you are concerned says that you are going to pay much more attention than 95% of the public, and will get better results than almost anyone but a dedicated detailer.
As folks have said, the meguiars cleaner/wax includes some polish so a separate polish is not needed (wont hurt but will have negligible benefit).
If there are swirls, they swirlX or scratchX may be needed to help remove them, but recognize that if there are really bad problems then a skilled detailer with a rotary machine are likely the only way to remove them (if they are even removeable). "Typical" light swirls and/or light oxidation or imperfections should be hugely reduced with the swirlX or scratchX, and then filled in with polish/glaze. If there are not real imperfections, then cleaner/wax will be enough and make a big difference to your typcal daily driver.
Take your time, enjoy the process, and you will be fine. A good wash+clay+cleaner+NXT2.0 and your results will be absolutely great.2010 XRSComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Thanks guys. Does ColorX have more polish than Cleaner Wax? I know is has more cleaning ability.-KyleComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
I certainly could be wrong, but I thought that ColorX did not have cleaners, I thought that it was a polish(glaze)+wax. Note polish=glaze in this contect, not polish=cleaning.Originally posted by ziggo99 View Post
Cleaner-Wax has very mild cleaners, mostly for a slight elimination of surface contamination like the old (discontinued) DC-cleaner. I believe SwirlX has slightly more cleaners (to deal with very light swirls) but is still mild, and ScratchX has more cleaners to allow it to deal with real (but surface) scratches. Beyond that you get into serious (agressive) cleaners best left to the professionals.
So Cleaner-Wax is like its name says, for a very light clean+wax. ColorX, like its name, is to enhance the already cleaner/prepared color with a glaze+wax. SwirlX and ScratchX are for actual (but mild) surface defect treatment and do not include glaze (which would hide defects still requiring more work) nor wax. NXT2.0 is just wax, but is a great wax.2010 XRSComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
That's what I was going off of, under Cleaner Waxes ColorX was listed-KyleComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Hmm, seems like it does have cleaners (like the cleaner-wax). As I indicated, I was not really sure. Given that link you reference, it is unclear to me exactly how it is different from the cleaner-wax (except being "on steroids"
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2010 XRSComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Keep your process as simple as possible. You have a large vehicle to work on. Your goal is to make it look better, to make it look good. Given that you are working by hand, you won't be able to make it look perfect or even near-perfect. But you can make it look good!
Skip the pure polish. That's just an unnecessary additional step. Yes, DC2 and #7 might provide some additional gloss enhancement, but more often than not most people will not be able to see the difference.
I second Calais's recommendation to use ColorX, followed by NXT. ColorX is the strongest cleaner wax in Meguiar's consumer line. That's precisely what you need at this point. It's easy to apply and remove. It works well and will not damage the paint in any way.
Good luck and have fun!Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
--Al KimelComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Yeah, ColorX is a stronger version of the Cleaner/Wax. Quite good really.2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR BlueComment
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Re: First Detail...somewhat nervous
Well, we did it. I've posted the pictures over in the Show Off your Detailed Work.-KyleComment
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