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**Slats** · Mar 22, 2004, 07:57 AM

Ah, a fellow Honda Accord owner! Cool.

I have not tried ScratchX, but it sounds like maybe DACP would work to take out those swirls. Someone else here could probably be more helpful about that. Is you car dark colored? If so, the polish you use should be removing the swirls.

Here are my tips on using the clay. First, run your hand over the surface after you wash and dry the car. Does it feel smooth as glass? If not (mine rarely does) then you would benefit from claying. All you have to do is work on one area at a time (a fender for example). Spray the QD on the area and rub the clay in a side to side motion. Sometimes you can hear the clay pulling **** off the paint. Keep rubbing till the area is smooth and the bar glides over it easily. After doing the whole car, use QD and a towel if there is any residue before you wax. Speaking of wax, you only really need one coat, as more than that is just wasted. Your paint will only need so much, so one thin coat is what most people recomend. You can use as much polish as you'd like. Other than that, your process sounds good.

For my 88 Accord LX I clay and wax every 3-4 months. If you want to touch up the wax inbetween, you could use something like Quick Wax. I'd say you don't need to use the cleaner every time unless you are waxing really often and worry about it building up. I do recommend claying every time you wax, however. After the first time it will get easier.

Anyway, hope this helps!

Slats

**BriLam** · Mar 22, 2004, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the clay bar tips. I do have a few more questions, however:

- In response to your comment about only using a cleaner when I have buildup, how often do you think I should use it?

- I understand about the unneeded second coat of wax. Thanks!

- My car is metallic silver, Heather Mist Metallic to be exact. An odd name, if you ask me. Regardless, I do see swirl marks and have seen Meguiar's has some professional strength swirl remover. Is this what you referred to? When should I use it, before the polish?

- Do you have any experience with Scratch X? I really feel it did nothing for my car...

- In terms of Meguiar's new nxt generation product, do you have any opinions towards it? To be honest, I have gotten GREAT results from Meguiar's 3 step process while utilizing the Gold Class Wax and don't feel the need to stray. Any comments?

Thanks again!

**Keo** · Mar 22, 2004, 12:09 PM

Regarding the clay, you can look real close at the trunk or rear and see tiny black specks embedded in the clear coat. This is especially clear to the eye on a silver car. I have only clayed the front of my car once but the rear is a different story. Find those black specks by looking close and then lube and clay. Clay is pretty amazing stuff!

**Rick** · Mar 22, 2004, 02:36 PM

Second that with the clay bar, run it over the surface until you can hear it stop picking up anything. Also while using it kneed the bar into itself from time to time so you get a fresh clay surface to use. And use as much lube as needed. I usually use almost a whole 16 oz bottle to clay bar my car (and it's sub compact). For frequency of polishing and waxing it depends somewhat on the environment your car lives in. I clay bar 3 to 4 times a year, you really only need to do it when it's needed, and this depends largely on how clean you keep it. For a car that lives outside I try my best to not give anything time to bond to the paint, realisitically I could probably clay bar once or twice a year and be fine, but I desire that extra bit of perfection. For touch ups I'd say wash and wax once a month would be good. It's probably mostly personal preference, I tend to put clay barring and polishing together.

I wanted to also mention that I have not tried scratch x, but dual action cleaner polish on my Honda with great results. I'm not 100% sure if there'd be any difference in paint as your car was likely built here, and mine was built in Japan, but I'd assume they are at the least similar. NXT is also an amazing product, you might try using it with gold class too. NXT on first for protection and gold class on last for added gloss.

**BriLam** · Mar 22, 2004, 04:39 PM

In terms of using NXT, you said use it first and then Gold Class? Is this in addition to polish? I am not familar with the NXT product (and intend to read up tonight!)

Thanks.

**Slats** · Mar 22, 2004, 04:55 PM

Hey,

It's really just a matter of your prefference about using the cleaner. I've used it before on lighter colored paints and not noticed much difference. By the way, my Accord is the exact same color!

I'm not sure about the swirl remover. I've heard good stuff about the DACP (dual action cleaner polish from the pro line), but never used it or needed to. Truthfully, since your car is light colored you won't see much difference in using polish, but it is good for the paint.

I've never used scratchX

Dido for the NXT products. I think others here would agree that you should "find something you like and stick with it". If you really like Gold Class, might as well not bother getting something different.

These are the steps I usually take to detail my Accord:
Wash and dry
Clay
Cleaner/Wax

However, I'm going to use deep crystal polish next time and hopefully get some Gold Class soon.

Slats

**4.6GT** · Mar 22, 2004, 08:23 PM

I have used Scratch X and it worked pretty good for me, i have a black car, maybe it's better on dark colors. Also if you like Gold Class try NXT. I used Gold Class myself but i feel the NXT is better cuz it helps cover/remove small marks as well as leave a great shine.

**ironchef10** · Mar 23, 2004, 02:01 PM

With regards to clay, I used it on both my new Honda Pilot and my 2001 RAV4. On the Pilot, I couldn't feel it pick up anything, and sometimes you won't. But rest assure it does work. I concur with Rick...use a LOT of lube so that the bar slides easily on the paint surface. I tend to spray as I go along and if I hit an area that not slick, I'll spray it as I'm rubbing with the clay. Works great for me. Good luck!

**BriLam** · Mar 23, 2004, 02:06 PM

I'll definitely attempt the clay bar again. Problem is, I don't see the Meguiar's Quik Clay system in stores around me and am not too excited to pay such exorbitant shipping prices (which I experienced last time I purchased products on the site.) Is the Mother's system just as good?

Also, with regards to the Gold Class/NXT, would it be beneficial to use both, with NXT coming AFTER the Gold Class? I like the Gold Class so much but also want to use the NXT, as well, after hearing such great things about it.

Would this be beneficial or completely unnecessary?

Thanks for all the tips, guys and gals!

**rusty bumper** · Mar 23, 2004, 03:45 PM

Re: Wax & Clay Bar Inquiry

Originally posted by BriLam
Hello,

I have also tried using Scratch X and feel it did very little for my car. I have not used it since. Does anyone have any opinions on this?

I have noticed a lot of swirl marks on my car and want to use a swirl remover. I believe Meguiar's has one, correct? Is this a good solution to these marks? What step would this precede?

I would save the ScratchX for stains & spots...Not that it won't remove scratches, but I would get myself a PC and use some of Meguiar's pro cleaners if you want to see less swirls.

I have heard of some people using products like DACP by hand and getting good results, but it takes a lot of work to accomplish this.

If your doing this by hand, then maybe you could try a terry pad to give the cleaner more bite.

**Slats** · Mar 24, 2004, 08:36 AM

Not to deter you from getting Meg's clay, but you can pick up Clay Magic for about $10 at Wal-mart or auto parts store. K-mart sometimes has Meguiars Quick Clay.

As far as the waxes, I only see the need for one coat, so I'd use either the Gold Class OR NXT, but not both.

Slats

**electricgreen** · Mar 24, 2004, 10:18 AM

I have tried the scratch-x on my 91 Ranger, which is a light silvery blue, and it didn't really seem to do much, imo. I also get good results from the Gold Class wax, and although the NXT is tempting, I think I'm sticking with what works! The claybar is something that takes getting used to using, since it's not like a wax or polish where you can see the product what you are doing with it. You can hear/feel it working though, in my experiance....

**rkcrozier** · Jul 17, 2008, 09:53 AM

Re: Wax & Clay Bar Inquiry

New to this forum and new to Meguiars...

I recently clay barred my Mazda MX-5 (Silver) and was thrilled with the immediate results. After claying, I put a thin coat of wax that came with the clay bar kit and the finish was as smooth as glass. Three days passed and I ran my hand over the car and I felt little bumps, I couldn't see anything, just could feel it. Did I miss a step? I expected the smooth as glass finish to last at least a few weeks. Is there something that I can do to get back that smooth as glass feel without clay barring the car again?

HELP!

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