Names for the car care cycle steps

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Michael, I had inadvertently put claying in the step with washing because for some reason I thought that was where Meguiar's had it. Both processes involve above-surface contaminants, but claying and the other prep steps are less routine. I changed it back to step 2 later on in my revisions.

I suppose you could break claying out as a separate step too, just depending on what you are trying to accomplish with the 5 step cycle. I had the impression it is mostly a teaching aid for people just being introduced to the Meguiar's products.

Michael, I wonder if you could please clarify your statement here, because I see what appears to be confusion over this all the time:

Gold Class and NXT are both polish/waxes, meaning they combine those two steps in one.

Continued below:

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Gold Class and NXT are both polish/waxes, meaning they combine those two steps in one.

Does it mean they contain polishes as in pure polishes, or does it mean they contain polishes as in abrasives, or what is sometimes called "cleaners."

In otherwords, these are not cleaner waxes are they, even mild cleaner waxes? They are only waxes with pure polishes to add some shine, is that correct?

Because I get the impression people confuse this statement that Gold Class and NXT 2.0 have light abrasives in them.

And yes, polish/clean, that is where I find the terminology not well defined at times, but I think people can tell from the context what you are talking about, at least most of the time.

[CieraSL]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Michael, I wonder if you could please clarify your statement here, because I see what appears to be confusion over this all the time:

Gold Class and NXT are both polish/waxes, meaning they combine those two steps in one.

I know Gold Class wax has some polishing oils in it, but I don't believe NXT 2.0 does, so I am a bit confused on this statement as well.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Michael, I wonder if you could please clarify your statement here, because I see what appears to be confusion over this all the time:

Gold Class and NXT are both polish/waxes, meaning they combine those two steps in one.

Happy to, Mary!

Gold Class & NXT are polish waxes, meaning they both contain polish and wax in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

M06, M20, ColorX and Cleaner Wax (duh) are cleaner waxes, meaning they contain both cleaners and wax in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

Deep Crystal Carnuaba Wax and M26 would then be considered pure waxes in the sense that they contain no cleaners and no polish. They server one purpose only - protection.

M205, M82, M80, M83, SwirlX and M09 are cleaner/polishes, meaning they contain both cleaners and polish in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

M07, M05, M03 and Deep Crystal Polish are pure polishes, meaning of course that they contain no abrasives or waxes, and are therefore only gloss enhancers.

Ultimate Compound, Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner (discontinued) and M04/M02/M01 are dedicated paint cleaners as Meguiar's defines the term, although Ultimate Compound and M04 walk a fine line between just being paint cleaners and being outright compounds (compound being a very powerful cutting product designed for fast removal of extremely heavy defects).

M105, M91, M85 and M84 fall into the category of compound. These are generally not suitable for use by hand or D/A although recent advances in technology have changed that in the case of M105.



So, Shane, NXT is indeed a polish wax (well, polish sealant, if you want to get technical!)

[CieraSL]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

So, Shane, NXT is indeed a polish wax (well, polish sealant, if you want to get technical!)

Interesting. I did not know that. Well, you learn something new every day!

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Happy to, Mary!

Gold Class & NXT are polish waxes, meaning they both contain polish and wax in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

M06, M21, ColorX and Cleaner Wax (duh) are cleaner waxes, meaning they contain both cleaners and wax in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

Deep Crystal Carnuaba Wax and M26 would then be considered pure waxes in the sense that they contain no cleaners and no polish. They server one purpose only - protection.

M205, M82, M80, M83, SwirlX and M09 are cleaner/polishes, meaning they contain both cleaners and polish in the way Meguiar's defines these terms.

M07, M05, M03 and Deep Crystal Polish are pure polishes, meaning of course that they contain no abrasives or waxes, and are therefore only gloss enhancers.

Ultimate Compound, Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner (discontinued) and M04/M02/M01 are dedicated paint cleaners as Meguiar's defines the term, although Ultimate Compound and M04 walk a fine line between just being paint cleaners and being outright compounds (compound being a very powerful cutting product designed for fast removal of extremely heavy defects).

M105, M91, M85 and M84 fall into the category of compound. These are generally not suitable for use by hand or D/A although recent advances in technology have changed that in the case of M105.

Wow, lots of information in this post worthy of keeping. So 21 has cleaners in it? For some reason I thought it was more similar to NXT 2.0 as a sealant.

So here's the trick question. The products that you refer to as compounds, these are not taught in the 5-step cycle, presumably because you would ordinarily have to use a rotary for them.

If there were a step for them, what would that step be called? For want of a better word, I have seen it just called "compounding" when referring to use of a heavily cutting compound, and sometimes what Meguiars calls cleaners and cleaning to be called "polishing compounds" and "polishing." If there is anything close to an industry standard, that is what I have found.

But again, as you say, none of this is universal. I come from the South originally, and I would say, back in those days we did call car wax "polish," probably because there was both wax and mild abrasives in the waxes they sold then and it did kind of bring up a shine in the paint as well as protect it.

[Tuck91]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

No, M21 does not have cleaners in it.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Sorry, typo on my part. M20 has cleaners, M21 does not. I'm going to change that in my original post.









stupid fingers

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

The use of a compound, or the process of compounding, is not taught in the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle because it's generally used only in very dramatic cases, including the removal of sanding marks following painting. Sure, there are times when compounding is done to remove severe defects like extreme oxidation on single stage paints, or reconditioning badly neglected finishes (if you've ever seen a black rental car toward the end of its life at Hertz/Dollar/Avis/etc you know what we mean!). This is a rotary operation and just not part of a routine paint care program.

[Tuck91]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Sorry, typo on my part. M20 has cleaners, M21 does not. I'm going to change that in my original post.









stupid fingers

I figured you meant M20. I know you probably have a lot of numbers to memorize Mike, LOL.

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Talk about regional variations in detailing terminology,

this is from Wikipedia on Auto Detailing:

"In the UK, the term 'car valeting' or sometimes 'auto valeting' is used instead (of detailing)".

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

The use of a compound, or the process of compounding, is not taught in the 5 Step Paint Care Cycle because it's generally used only in very dramatic cases, including the removal of sanding marks following painting. Sure, there are times when compounding is done to remove severe defects like extreme oxidation on single stage paints, or reconditioning badly neglected finishes (if you've ever seen a black rental car toward the end of its life at Hertz/Dollar/Avis/etc you know what we mean!). This is a rotary operation and just not part of a routine paint care program.

It seems as the technology in the chemistry of car products advances and so many people here are used to pushing the envelope as to what can be accomplished, the line between the compounds kind of blurs and it all becomes routine car care for some of us here, with or without a rotary. Mike Phillips using a DA to do wet sanding is an example. I have high standards for what I want to do for my car's paint, maybe too high, and I have only been introduced to Meguiar's a short time ago. But I feel I would not want to call myself a professional detailer until I was confident that if a car's paint can be made to look like new, I can choose the right products and the right method and do it.

You're right, I don't think there is a lot of competition in Kansas City for detailers, mainly because there isn't much demand for the service of being a car housekeeper. People are happy enough to drive through automatic car washes on the super wash setting so their car gets waxed. I have done it for years. But to be able to make a permanent change to renew, recondition, rejuvenate the paint, I think there would be a demand for that just about anywhere if people just knew it could be done.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

Talk about regional variations in detailing terminology,

this is from Wikipedia on Auto Detailing:

"In the UK, the term 'car valeting' or sometimes 'auto valeting' is used instead (of detailing)".

Which is a prime example of why the best Meguiar's can do is stay consistent within its own brand. It's literally impossible to name things in a way that will satisfy everyone.

[Mary S]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

You're right, I don't think there is a lot of competition in Kansas City for detailers, mainly because there isn't much demand for the service of being a car housekeeper. People are happy enough to drive through automatic car washes on the super wash setting so their car gets waxed. I have done it for years.

I should apologize to my fellow Kansas Citians for the blank generalization. As any generalization, it doesn't apply to everybody, just that I don't get the feeling keeping up with the Joneses on the condition of your car is as big here as it may be in other markets. But even I see a brand new Explorer pass buy, and you can tell the minute you see it it is brand new, and sure enough, there is the temporary license plate; and I remember what it was like when my car was new. And other than average wear and tear, it is still the same car, still has the same huge array of Eddie Bauer edition options. I wouldn't pay the 38K to buy a new one, but a few hundred to make my paint shine like that, yes.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Names for the car care cycle steps

I should apologize to my fellow Kansas Citians for the blank generalization. As any generalization, it doesn't apply to everybody, just that I don't get the feeling keeping up with the Joneses on the condition of your car is as big here as it may be in other markets. But even I see a brand new Explorer pass buy, and you can tell the minute you see it it is brand new, and sure enough, there is the temporary license plate; and I remember what it was like when my car was new. And other than average wear and tear, it is still the same car, still has the same huge array of Eddie Bauer edition options. I wouldn't pay the 38K to buy a new one, but a few hundred to make my paint shine like that, yes.

It's not just in KC, Mary. We've seen people out here lay down $100k+ for a new Porsche or AMG Mercedes and then splurge on a $5000 sound system, $4000 for aftermarket tires/wheels and another $2500 for an exhaust, but they look at you like you're from Mars when you suggest spending a few hundred on a D/A and the requisite pads, liquids, towels, etc. And they also are not willing to spend $600-$1000 to have a pro detail the car properly. It most likely just comes down to what they know - they understand the appearance factor of the wheels, the killer thump of the sound system or the rasp of the exhaust. But even when point out the swirls they don't know what they're looking at.