Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

[LelandGray]

I washed my 1998 Honda Accord last night, and experimented a little. This was the second time using my G110v2, the last time I did a small test spot on the trunk using UC and then NXT2.0.

Last night, I:

Washed using two buckets & Gold Class soap
Dried (tried using my blower, didn't go so well!)

Then on the hood only:

Clayed using mild clay and UQD
UC w/ LC white polishing pad
#7 w/ LC black finishing pad
Two coats of NXT 2.0 w/ LC black finishing pad

I wanted to do one coat of NXT and a coat of #26, but I didn't have the time to wait to do the #26, so I just did a second coat of NXT.

I was AMAZED at how my hood looked after using UC on it. All of the swirls were gone. I took some pictures, I'll have to get them up later.

My questions:

How do I know when I need to add more product to the pad?

I broke my hood up into three sections when I applied UC. I would put some more product on the pad for each section, but the pad seemed pretty wet still every time.

When I applied NXT though, the pad seemed to get pretty dry. Does this mean I need to use more product?

Also, when I'm waxing, do I need to 'pre-charge' the pad, or whatever it's called?

Also, I used the aerosol spray Hot Tire shine, I think that's what it's called. That is an awesome product! It applies so easy! I'm used to the liquid spray version of Hot Shine and I had to do a lot of cleanup after using it.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

did you use the Black foam finishing pad (W9207) ?

If so, i know what your talking about. for the first application, you need to "prime" your pad so that it gets wet with product and doesnt stay dry throughout your waxing process..

read this thread

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24776

it will answer your questions about the waxing problem you had

[Mike Pennington]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

i washed my 1998 honda accord last night, and experimented a little. This was the second time using my g110v2, the last time i did a small test spot on the trunk using uc and then nxt2.0.

Last night, i:

Washed using two buckets & gold class soap
dried (tried using my blower, didn't go so well!)

then on the hood only:

Clayed using mild clay and uqd
uc w/ lc white polishing pad
#7 w/ lc black finishing pad
two coats of nxt 2.0 w/ lc black finishing pad

i wanted to do one coat of nxt and a coat of #26, but i didn't have the time to wait to do the #26, so i just did a second coat of nxt.

I was amazed at how my hood looked after using uc on it. All of the swirls were gone. I took some pictures, i'll have to get them up later.

Glad to see it went well and you are experimenting -

my questions:

How do i know when i need to add more product to the pad?

When you are not seeing any product being laid down on the surface. You don't need to over apply, but you certainly don't want the product to be dry while trying to apply.

i broke my hood up into three sections when i applied uc. I would put some more product on the pad for each section, but the pad seemed pretty wet still every time.

You only need to apply product as needed for each section when working with UC since it is part of the new abrasive technology (SMAT) As long as there is product being laid down and worked into the finish, you are good to continue working.

when i applied nxt though, the pad seemed to get pretty dry. Does this mean i need to use more product?

Yes

also, when i'm waxing, do i need to 'pre-charge' the pad, or whatever it's called?

Only when the pad is brand new and dry do we recommend "priming" the pad.

also, i used the aerosol spray hot tire shine, i think that's what it's called. That is an awesome product! It applies so easy! I'm used to the liquid spray version of hot shine and i had to do a lot of cleanup after using it.

That is why we make such a variety of products...Different situations, and different preferences for people...

[LelandGray]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

I also learned that I need some 4" pads for my DA. I can see where using the larger pads on areas like fenders and door panels will be easier with the smaller pad.

speed3: no, it wasn't a Meg's pad it was the black Lake Country black pad.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

the 4 inch pads are really nice to work with...but after using the 7 inch pads for some time, ive kind of learned the trick and secrets to using a 7 inch pad in tight spots and still get good results..but i must say, i wish i would of tried a 4 inch pad before learning how to use a 7 inch pad in tight spots, woulda made my life easier ! lol

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

Try this also. After you apply the hot shine tire spray. Wait 20 minutes or so. Then take a clean tire applicator and wipe off the excess tire shine. Helps prevent sling, and evens out the spray.

[Honda Fit]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

I don't mean to thread jack but I'm in the same boat as LelandGray as a first time DA user and I have a quick question.

At the end of the day, what is your process for cleaning/storing the pads?

I didn't have a terry cloth but an old t-shirt and I used that with the "on the fly" technique. It didn't do much. Some pads are dirtier than others. I want to wash them but I heard that ruins the velcro. So I just blotted them down and put them back into the ziplocks unsealed.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

Terry wil lcertainly help on the fly.

The new 2.0 pads can be washed, and then let them dry put in a bag.

Older pads I just kind of squeeze out by hand with a little soapy water, and let dry before bagging.

[LelandGray]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

With my Lake Country pads, I spray them down with a cleaner that my pads came with, and then I just rinse them out, ring the water out by hand, and then let them sit and air dry.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

I don't mean to thread jack but I'm in the same boat as LelandGray as a first time DA user and I have a quick question.

At the end of the day, what is your process for cleaning/storing the pads?

I didn't have a terry cloth but an old t-shirt and I used that with the "on the fly" technique. It didn't do much. Some pads are dirtier than others. I want to wash them but I heard that ruins the velcro. So I just blotted them down and put them back into the ziplocks unsealed.

I too wash my pads in the sink, what I do like alot of others is to let my pad soak in hot water for a few minutes and scrub with my finger tips to loosen up any remaining product then rinse again and apply some dawn foam direct and scrub again with finger tips.

Soak for a few minutes and then rinse off and dry/wring out excess water and then place on a wire rack for a day or two then place back in the bag. Haven't had any problems with backing coming loose from the pad until the other day when I found three old 1st generation pads and washed in the washer with some tide and a cup of distilled vinegar the other day(using for test pads only now-order new 6 pack pads) anyway on my W8006 polishing pad that has been used for #80 only (over a couple years-know telling how many washes) the middle of the backing started coming loose alittle.

I'm sure it wasn't a good Ideal to put these pads in the washer but they have been laying around in my detailing bag for a couple used and since I'm using them for testing only, I give it a shot.

Anyway I found this last week by Jason Rose, some great info! Will be trying this way out with my new pads.


I have some helpful input on this topic...

First, one of the reasons washing foam pads with detergents is not a good idea is due to the fact that some cleaning chemicals can change what is called "compression strengh." In simple terms, this means the bounce-back or resistance of the foam to compression. After washing, with altered compression strengh, the foam pad may not perform as it should.

Second, the best pad maintenance program is this...
- Use dedicated pads for each product
- Don't use too much product. Common mistake. We all use way too much product. A build up on a pad is counter-productive, and simply more to clean off later.
- To clean after use, place the pad face down on a microfiber towel. Roll up the towel really tight, kind of like your wringing out a chamois. The compression will squeeze out excess product and the microfiber towel will soak it out. (wash the mf towel)
- Place the foam pad in a clean dry cabinet or box FACE DOWN. Air tight is not neccassary, but free from airborn particulate is important. Plastic bags are good for the mobile detailer folks...not sealed. Need to allow any chemicals to out-gas off the pad. But again, in a box with a lid. Not an open crate.

Hope this information helps...

Jason "Waxman" Rose
Field Marketing Manager: Professional
Meguiar's, Inc.

[LelandGray]

Re: Detailed my daily driver last night, have some questions.

I store my pads in plastic bags (opened, the plastic bags they were shipped in) and in one of those three-drawer plastic cabinets you can pick up at Lowe's or Home Depot.