Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

[DARTICUS]

Do all do the same thing? Is it that one is easier? Ron

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

Clay is different.

SwirlX and UC are paint cleaners, SwirlX being milder, UC being stronger.

So a 'general' detailer would be Wash, Clay, SwirlX, Wax.

[DARTICUS]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

Clay is different.

SwirlX and UC are paint cleaners, SwirlX being milder, UC being stronger.

So a 'general' detailer would be Wash, Clay, SwirlX, Wax.

Why not just Wash SwirlX and Wax?

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

Well, you certainly can... the above 4 steps was a more complete detail, eac hstep doing something different.

1. Wash - Remove the big loose dirt
2. Clay - Removed the bonded on dirt/contaminants.
3. Clean/Polish - (SwirlX) - This will remove the dirt from the pores of the paint, add some polishing oils to the paint, and depending on the product/application method, can remove swirls/scratches.
4. Wax - Seals in the polishing oils, add some gloss of its own, and acts as a sacrificial barrier against the elements.

Dirt/contaminants that are well bonded on will stay stuck to the paint, with the applicator for the cleaner and wax just bouncing over them and leaving them on the surface. So each step does its own thing. You may not need to clay every detail, most here probably clay 2-3 times a year. And then another 2-3 details without claying.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

You might want to read through our 5 Step Paint Care Cycle to gain a full understanding of what all is going here.

In a nutshell the process goes like this:

• Step 1 - Washing; this is simply the removal of loose contaminants from the surface.
• Step 2 - Cleaning; this is a two fold process but in the end it's what gives you the vast majority of shine. Shine comes from smoothness and that's just what these two process do to the paint.
  • Claying - the removal of above surface bonded contaminants. This is the crud that lands on and ultimately sticks to your paint, and that routine washing won't remove. It makes your paint feel rough to the touch, when it should feel literally as smooth as glass.
  • Paint cleaning - the removal of below surface defects, like swirls, fine scratches, etching from bird droppings, stains, oxidation. This is stuff that you can visually see under very good light, like direct sunlight. Paint cleaners come in varying degrees of aggressiveness; SwirlX is pretty mild, Ultimate Compound much more aggressive. Neither of these products will scratch your paint
• Step 3 - Polish; this is the creation of a brilliant, high gloss. We consider this to be an optional step as modern clear coat finishes don't show as dramatic a change with this process as older single stage paints do, nor do light colors show as dramatic an impact as do darker colors.
• Step 4 - Protect; this is the preservation of the high gloss finish you created in steps 2 and 3 above. Basically, this is your wax step.
• Step 5 - Maintain; this is the frequent removal of light contaminants using a quick detail spray such as Ultimate Quik Detailer or similar.

You have a car that is know to have very hard paint, so jumping straight into the Ultimate Compound would be recommended. You car is also a light color so the polish step may be even more optional for you. If you are thinking of purchasing a buffer like our G110v2, which most everyone here would highly recommend for getting the most out of your finish, we would suggest using the Ultimate Compound for defect removal (after you clay) and then even follow up with some M205 to really refine and clarify the finish before applying a coat of NXT Tech Wax 2.0 to really give a bright, crisp shine to the finish.

Maybe you've seen the post from one of our fellow Crossfire members over on that forum (and reproduced HERE with his permission) - this was his first ever attempt at machine polishing, and he did this on a black car. If he can do this, you can too.

[DARTICUS]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

You might want to read through our 5 Step Paint Care Cycle to gain a full understanding of what all is going here.

In a nutshell the process goes like this:

• Step 1 - Washing; this is simply the removal of loose contaminants from the surface.
• Step 2 - Cleaning; this is a two fold process but in the end it's what gives you the vast majority of shine. Shine comes from smoothness and that's just what these two process do to the paint.
  • Claying - the removal of above surface bonded contaminants. This is the crud that lands on and ultimately sticks to your paint, and that routine washing won't remove. It makes your paint feel rough to the touch, when it should feel literally as smooth as glass.
  • Paint cleaning - the removal of below surface defects, like swirls, fine scratches, etching from bird droppings, stains, oxidation. This is stuff that you can visually see under very good light, like direct sunlight. Paint cleaners come in varying degrees of aggressiveness; SwirlX is pretty mild, Ultimate Compound much more aggressive. Neither of these products will scratch your paint
• Step 3 - Polish; this is the creation of a brilliant, high gloss. We consider this to be an optional step as modern clear coat finishes don't show as dramatic a change with this process as older single stage paints do, nor do light colors show as dramatic an impact as do darker colors.
• Step 4 - Protect; this is the preservation of the high gloss finish you created in steps 2 and 3 above. Basically, this is your wax step.
• Step 5 - Maintain; this is the frequent removal of light contaminants using a quick detail spray such as Ultimate Quik Detailer or similar.

You have a car that is know to have very hard paint, so jumping straight into the Ultimate Compound would be recommended. You car is also a light color so the polish step may be even more optional for you. If you are thinking of purchasing a buffer like our G110v2, which most everyone here would highly recommend for getting the most out of your finish, we would suggest using the Ultimate Compound for defect removal (after you clay) and then even follow up with some M205 to really refine and clarify the finish before applying a coat of NXT Tech Wax 2.0 to really give a bright, crisp shine to the finish.

Maybe you've seen the post from one of our fellow Crossfire members over on that forum (and reproduced HERE with his permission) - this was his first ever attempt at machine polishing, and he did this on a black car. If he can do this, you can too.

Thanks to everyone on this site for being so helpful. Great info. and I will do my best to survive this project. Ron

[DARTICUS]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

Wanted to ask about the use of Ultimate Compound Vs SwirlX on my car. Is this paint I have really a hard paint that needs the UC treatment rather than SwirlX. I have the G100 buffer so if you think I should use the UC on the hood I will try it there. I guess I don't need SwirlX than and I guess after using it I would go to NXT TechWax2.0. Not sure what M205 is. Ron

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

While we generally don't like to make broad generalizations about paint hardness, the Crossfire is one car that has always presented hard paint, regardless of model year. Keep in mind that this car had a pretty limited production run, but they all seem to be quite hard when it comes to the paint.

In Steve's write up he used three passes with UC to fully clean up his black car, but it was horribly swirled and, well, black shows everything. When coupled with the G100 Ultimate Compound is still extremely safe to use, and it's going to make your life much easier on that paint. You can go straight to NXT after using UC, no problem at all. But if you're chasing the best possible shine, M205 Ultra Finishing Polish can be just the ticket. Again, it's an optional step and might be more work than you want to do if this is a daily driver. That's ultimately your decision to make.

[DARTICUS]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

While we generally don't like to make broad generalizations about paint hardness, the Crossfire is one car that has always presented hard paint, regardless of model year. Keep in mind that this car had a pretty limited production run, but they all seem to be quite hard when it comes to the paint.

In Steve's write up he used three passes with UC to fully clean up his black car, but it was horribly swirled and, well, black shows everything. When coupled with the G100 Ultimate Compound is still extremely safe to use, and it's going to make your life much easier on that paint. You can go straight to NXT after using UC, no problem at all. But if you're chasing the best possible shine, M205 Ultra Finishing Polish can be just the ticket. Again, it's an optional step and might be more work than you want to do if this is a daily driver. That's ultimately your decision to make.

Sounds like SwirlX is a waste with my car so UC will be the choice. M205 must be a polish between UC and SwirlX. Thanks Ron

[DARTICUS]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

What would be the recommended advice on the wax part. When waxing should I do two coats of NXT 2.0 or 1 coat of NXT 2.0 and a coat of GOLD CLASS Carnauba plus? Maybe two coats of Gold class Carnauba plus. Thanks Ron

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

Ron, we always recommend two thin coats just to ensure uniform coverage and appearance. Applying one coat of a synthetic product like NXT and then topping it with a carnauba product like Gold Class becomes a very personal selection. Since NXT is our longest lasting, best protecting product we would recommend applying two thin coats of NXT 2.0. That's going to give you max protection and longevity.

[searle]

Re: Clay or SwirlX or Compound?

What would be the recommended advice on the wax part. When waxing should I do two coats of NXT 2.0 or 1 coat of NXT 2.0 and a coat of GOLD CLASS Carnauba plus? Maybe two coats of Gold class Carnauba plus. Thanks Ron

Partly depends on what color your car is.
- For light colors, 2 coats of NXT is probably best, and you will get a very glassy/reflective shine.
- and, 2 coats of NXT is always a safe approach, it is never "bad" no matter what
- If you have a Red or dark color car, then many folks (me included) do 1 coat of NXT to seal the prepared paint finish, and then a 2nd coat using a carnuba based wax (GC, DC3, #26, etc) since we perceived that carnuba gives these colors a slightly warmer/deeper shine.

You might well want to do half the hood one way and half the other way, and see what YOU like best. Then use that combination thereafter.