Newbie wit a Subie loaded but gunshy

[czop suey]

Went on spree recently at local Pep Boy. Can see the arsenal in my Introduce Yourself thread. Haven't done anything yet - not even wash. Partly because haven't had 2 days of no rain strung together; but, also because have some trepidation.

Month old black Forester has very light swirls I noticed in direct sunlight when we first picked up. I've heard if swirls are very light may just disappear with good waxing. Keeping with least aggressive first theory, could someone rank order the methods I should try? For example: Gold Glass Shampoo, Smooth Surface Kit, GC Paste Wax (see if swirls disappear). If no good then, GC Shampoo, Cleaner Wax, GC Paste Wax. If still no good, GC Shampoo, ColorX, GC Paste Wax, etc... I'm thinking from least to most aggressive: Wax only, Cleaner Wax, ColorX, SwirlX, ScratchX. If I'm missing anything or out of order let me know.

Also, if I clay then wipe down with Quick Detailer before waxing car, will that area be different because the surface was polished and therefore the wax will look shinier then the other areas that were contaminent free to begin with but washed only? Is uniformity of the total surface part of the reason some people do the polish step between wash/clay and wax?

[Andrew C.]

Re: Newbie wit a Subie loaded but gunshy

If you clay, you should try to clay the entire panel or car to get the most uniform appearance. Heck, if one panels needs to be clayed, the others probably will too so why not do them.

Waxing is not going to remove any swirls, it may have some filler to make very small ones less noticeable. Claying will not remove swirls, but it will remove bonded contaminants. Your aggressiveness order seems correct.

Remember, always do a test spot to see how your results work out.

[Murr1525]

Re: Newbie wit a Subie loaded but gunshy

I would say you will want SwirlX at least by hand to try and remove swirls.

That said, if nervous, just detail the car now, and do the more in depth job next time.

Something like:

Wash - Gold Class
Clay - clay everything the first time
ColorX
Wax

Would be a good first detail, and get you a bit more comfortable at first.

Then:

Wash
Clay if needed
SwirlX
Wax
Wax

When you are ready for more swirl removal.

[tguil]

Re: Newbie wit a Subie loaded but gunshy

Yep, Murr1525 has it right....as usual.

Tom