Few questions about my first wax

[MilkMan_SHO]

I have had my car for about 4 months and have not yet waxed it (have used Ultimate Quik Detailer and Ultimate Quik Wax.)

Here is what I am planning on doing next weekend: Claying the car, waxing with Cleaner Wax and then waxing with NXT Tech Wax 2.0 .

I ordered a G110V2 polisher and going by this guide got a couple of SoftBuff 2.0 Finishing Pads

Here are my questions:

1. Anyone see any problems with me doing what is described above?
2. As both of these waxes have a little polish in them (I think), how much should they be worked into the paint, in other words, should the polisher be used to just spread the wax on, or actually be used to work it into the paint a bit ( a video of this would be helpful) And would this be the same for both waxes or different?
3. How long should I wait before the application of the coat of Cleaner Wax and NXT 2.0 ?

Thanks in advance,
MilkMan

[Much More Better]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

MilkMan,

I'm kinda in the same boat as you. I have a new car (2mo old) and I'm interested in proper steps for my first wax. I want to use NXT 2.0, and I too have been using Ultimate QD, but I did clay my car first. I'm curious if I need to use a Cleaner Wax to strip off the QD before the NXT. Is the Cleaner Wax too aggressive for a new car? I'm not interested in show-quality, just wanna prolong the OEM shine. Hope you don't mind, I'm going to tag along and hear what the pros have to say.

[MilkMan_SHO]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Hey Much More Better, welcome on board and thanks for the bump


From what I have read I don't think it would hurt your car to use the cleaner wax, but if your finish is still perfect or close to it you shouldn't need it, the only reason I was going to do it was because it was recommended after claying. Again, that's just my understanding, I'm sure someone who knows their stuff can clarify.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Hey MilkMan & Much More Better, Welcome to MOL

Check these out that CieraSL posted today for another new member so it will help both of you guys out as well.
Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

List O' Links 2.0

Internet Resources for Detailing Newbs

Videos to watch:

How to wash your car show car style

How to clay bar

And don't forget to check out Meguiar's YouTube channel for more vids: Meguiar's USA YouTube Channel
__________________

[mako20C]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

well you are definately on the right track, but I would tweak it a little.
Is your car defect free? Probably not, since you are getting a DA.
If you want to remove your defects (swirls) you would be better served by.
1.washing
2.claying
3.cleaning i.e use swirl x with a polishing pad. (this will also serve as your polish step as swirl x is cleaner/polish)
4.waxing

Go and watch all the videos posted above and read all the links you will pick up a lot of tips.

You can also go to autogeek.net and watch mike phillips videos using a DA he uses different products but you will get the point and see a pro using a DA.

I would not really use a cleaner wax to remove your defects on a new car, it would remove some of the defects but I bet not to the level you are looking for.

Most important as you starting out, do you have another car to try on i.e not your brand new one.

This can not be understated do a TEST spot. Do not use a cleaner wax over the whole car with a finishing pad then to stand back and say I still see some swirls. You just wasted a whole day.

[Chris Thompson]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Not too much I can say that these other guys havent covered yet. It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I am assuming if the car is 4 months old, its probably got some light swirls in it already but hopefully not too heavy. Going along with Mako, swirlx might be a great polish to start with but of course, take a test spot. If your swirls are already a little tough for swirlx, move up to UC. As far as removing the UD, the clay process should take all of that off before you ever get to it with the cleaner wax.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Cleaner wax, SwirlX, even Ultimate Compound are all perfectly safe for use on even a brand new car.

Just being "new" is not a guarantee that the paint is defect free. If the car sat on the dealer lot for any length of time (even just a couple of weeks) before you bought it then it was most likely washed with a pressure washer and dried with an old towel. If you've ever seen a dealership wash a lot full of vehicles at once it's a bit scary! Just sitting on the lot a car will accumulate a lot of fallout and they need to be kept reasonably clean so that customers won't be immediately put off by the appearance. But time is money, so the cars tend to be washed very quickly.

As a result, most of them are pretty swirled by the time they are sold. Of course some dealerships are quite good at correcting this as part of the pre delivery prep, while others can actually make the finish worse by aggressively rotary buffing the car. More often than not, a "showroom" new finish isn't something most of us strive to achieve - too many cars sitting in showrooms have pretty messed up paint!

Now, if you're picking up a G110v2 and the appropriate pads, do yourself a favor and pick up at least some SwirlX and use that after claying and before applying your wax. It will go a long way toward removing any fine defects you might already have, and help to increase the clarity even on new paint.

[MilkMan_SHO]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Thanks for all the info and ideas guys... Swirl X really seems to be popular. The car really doesn't have much swirling at all, I ordered the car and picked it up from the dealer the day it arrived and nothing but microfiber has touched it.

I'm just worried about making things worse and not better with something like Swirl X ... it being more abrasive and me not knowing what I'm doing.


I haven't had a chance to look over the materials linked yet, and I will; but my biggest problem with the videos I have seen so far of people using the polisher to apply wax / other products is that it is them starting, then it cuts away to when they are done and I get no real idea of how long the product should be worked in.

Unfortunately I don't have a "practice" car, so I'm trying to be more on the cautious side. If I don't make things better, I'm ok with that (fine with the car as is), but if I made it worse (and seen a lot of that on these forums) that would ****, hehe.


Thanks again,
MilkMan

[searle]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

... I'm just worried about making things worse and not better with something like Swirl X ... it being more abrasive and me not knowing what I'm doing.

SwirlX is relatively mild, and it is the replacement for the discontinued DeepCrystal-1 paintCleaner. Since you are worried about hurting things, just use light pressure and dont work too long. Of course, the lighter and shorter you use it, the less it can remove any defect (swirls etc). Since it seems you car is quite new, I assume you really just want a good paintCleaner to use after the claying, and a light SwirlX treatment sounds just right. In the future you might want to work it a little more if/when you have some mild imperfections you want to remove.

As already pointed out, SwirlX also contains polish/glaze/oils, so it will be perfect preparation for applying your NXT2 sealant wax (2 thin coats, several hours apart to let first coat cure and bond).

[mako20C]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

If you go to autogeek you can watch mike phillips use a DA for an entire buffing cycle, its about a ten minute video.

[Much More Better]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Thanks for the tips. My 2010 Prius has some very light swirls but since it is white, you really have to hunt to look for it. I think I will very lightly clay (to remove traces of UD), then do Deep Crystal Polish, and then NXT to seal.
Haven't bought those two products yet, so if there's any reason why my logic is bunk, please shout out.

I just want the OEM shine to be prolonged, water to bead, car washes easier, and contaminants don't stick as aggressively.

[MilkMan_SHO]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Thanks again guys, I guess I'll try some Swirl X seeing as everyone seems to think it is a good idea

[searle]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

Thanks for the tips. My 2010 Prius has some very light swirls but since it is white, you really have to hunt to look for it. I think I will very lightly clay (to remove traces of UD), then do Deep Crystal Polish, and then NXT to seal.... I just want the OEM shine to be prolonged, water to bead, car washes easier, and contaminants don't stick as aggressively.

On a brand new car, especially white, the DC2 may not make any difference. Wont hurt, just may not help.

Even on a relatively new car, after claying I would suggest an initial very light (hand) SwirlX paintCleaning to totally optimize your OEM finish to the way it was when it originally left the factory. DC2 never hurts, then the NXT2 to seal your "factory" finish with good durability.

[Much More Better]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

On a brand new car, especially white, the DC2 may not make any difference. Wont hurt, just may not help.

Even on a relatively new car, after claying I would suggest an initial very light (hand) SwirlX paintCleaning to totally optimize your OEM finish to the way it was when it originally left the factory. DC2 never hurts, then the NXT2 to seal your "factory" finish with good durability.

Thanks. I will consider that.

Is Scratch X same as Swirl X?

[MilkMan_SHO]

Re: Few questions about my first wax

They are not the same, Scratch X(2.0) is more abrasive and I believe is intended for removing lone scratches\swirls, not doing the whole car.