Cold temperatures

[atclew]

Need some advice,

Below is a pic of my recent addition to the pollack's garage.


I've been absolutely aching to get my G-100 after it but I know it's a bit cold for that. I use DACP, #81, and NXT as my favorite combo of Meg's products using the G-100.

My question is this: What's the lowest temperature recommended for using those Meg's products? I can do the work in the garage but it is a little tight in there, and it is not heated. Although if need be I could purchase a ceramic heater. Any advice warmly welcomed in Chicagoland.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Lew,

From my experience, most detailing products respond best when the temperatures are above 50 degrees. However, I have detailed many vehicles in freezing temperatures. The problem is having a polymer etc. "set-up," as it takes much longer when it is cold out.

If possible, I would detail it in the garage. A 1500W Ceramic heaters work very well!

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Cold temperatures

Originally posted by atclew
My question is this: What's the lowest temperature recommended for using those Meg's products?

Hi atclew,

Check out this link,

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=2999


Mike

[mirrorfinishman]

Lew,

I have used NXT on a number of vehicles during the past month with temperatures just above freezing and not had a problem. During these cold weather months I simply make sure the car is parked directly in the sunlight and I always use a thermometer just to be sure that it's above the freezing point of 32 degrees. Parking the car in the direct sunlight will allow the vehicle to warm up a bit and it also helps when it's a relatively dry day.

Yes, these conditions are less than ideal. However, as long as the product dries on the surface and can still be easily removed, you have to figure that there propably is an acceptable amount of bonding going on between the product and the surface. At this time of the year, any amount of bonding has got to be much better than doing nothing.

Just my thoughts on the subject.

[mirrorfinishman]

Here are a couple of photos of a HUMMER that I recently detailed using meguiar's NXT on a cold day. The first picture was taken early in the day when the temperature was slightly below freezing. And the next picture was taken later that afternoon when the vehicle was completed and the temperature was in the upper 30s.

[toyotaowner]

I do find some products cake up easily in the cold. I was using ScratchX once...last February and needless to say, I got more stuff on the pad than onto the car.

However, I'm planning to wash and wax the car this New Years as it's reported to be up to 60! Very rare but I'll take the opportunity to protect the car for winter.

[atclew]

Thanks for all the great info on the subject. Now if I can only get some sunshine on my days off, I'd be good to go.

I'll probably throw a ceramic heater in the garage, as Tim suggested, and then move the car to sunlight once the surface is at a warmer temperature. I'm going to have to clay the car to start with since this is my first detail with it. I can't wait!