fairly new to detailing. tips?

[94exa2]

ok, so i drive a frost white 95 civic ex coupe and the paint is in REALLY good shape (for it being 15 years old anyways....) and im looking for tips as to give it that "show car" shine. i usually wash my car once a week and clay then wax it every 2-3 months using meguiars cleaner wax (maroon tin/bottle). ill usually wash and dry it, clay it, hand wax with the meg cleaner paste wax (in the maroon tin) using the foam app pad, let dry, wipe off and then use my buffer (10" with foam bonnet) using meg cleaner liquid paste wax (in the maroon bottle). but i've been reading alot about polishes and sealants and things that ive never used. when do i use polish and sealants? which products would u recommend for white paint. im really just looking for which products to use and in what order. thanx guys!

[Murr1525]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

Do you know if it is single stage or clear coat?

At any rate, sounds like you have been doing ok, though the 2 coats of cleaner/wax is a bit repetitive.

Offhand, I'd consider something like:

1. Wash - Gold Class, 2 buckets, quality sponged, towels, etc.
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - SwirlX
4. Polish - Deep Crystal Polish is easy to use. This step is optional, but on older paint, and single stage paint, can be a good thing to do.
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0 or #21 2.0
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

7. Maintain - After future washes, Ultimate Quick Wax is great to use.

Then in the future, you can do:

1. Wash
2. Cleaner/Wax
3. Nxt 2.0/#21 2.0

as a good quick detail.

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

Do you know if it is single stage or clear coat?

At any rate, sounds like you have been doing ok, though the 2 coats of cleaner/wax is a bit repetitive.

Offhand, I'd consider something like:

1. Wash - Gold Class, 2 buckets, quality sponged, towels, etc.
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean - SwirlX
4. Polish - Deep Crystal Polish is easy to use. This step is optional, but on older paint, and single stage paint, can be a good thing to do.
5. Wax - Nxt 2.0 or #21 2.0
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

7. Maintain - After future washes, Ultimate Quick Wax is great to use.

Then in the future, you can do:

1. Wash
2. Cleaner/Wax
3. Nxt 2.0/#21 2.0

as a good quick detail.

u say 2 coats of wax is a bit repetitive then say to put 2 coats of wax on?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

I think Murr means 2 coats of cleaner wax is repetitive. Meguiar,s recommends 2 coats of wax. Applied very thin. This insures complete coverage.

When using the cleaner wax, even the maroon bottle. It has mild abrasives that clean the paint. So in theory, the second coat of cleaner wax, is "cleaning" the first coat of wax. In effect removing some of it. So youi are not really getting 2 true coats of wax applied.

Now, you could also use a combination. If you are happy with the cleaner wax. Apply this first. Then follow it up with NXT 2.0. It will be a very good combo.

I hope this helps. Did not mean to confuse you in any way.

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

so after wash/dry and clay use a cleaner wax, then a polish, and then 2 coats of wax(non cleaner wax)? what about sealants and other things ive never used?

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

so basically, wash with meg gold class wash, dry, clay with meg clay kit, clean with swirlx (meg product?), deep crystal polish (meg product?), then 2 coats of nxt2.0 and or #21 2.0 ?

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

also, what would you guys suggest for the black plastic trim on my car? trim detailer? ultimate compound?....

[Tuck91]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

also, what would you guys suggest for the black plastic trim on my car? trim detailer? ultimate compound?....

Ultimate Protectant.

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

there are just SOOOOO many meguiars products out there idk where 2 begin! theyre are too many meg wash soaps and cleaner waxes and polishes and waxes, idk which to use

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

also, y use gold class wash over other meg wash soaps? and why use swirlx as a cleaner as opposed to reg meg cleaner wax? just trying to figure things out as there are so many confusing options....

[StuSSYsporT]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

^+1 on this

[Murr1525]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

Dont worry about the number of products. Really only need 4 or 5 starting off, and then can add more as you like. And we can help you get those 4-5, pretty much listed them already.

u say 2 coats of wax is a bit repetitive then say to put 2 coats of wax on?

Think of it like this:

A regular detail would look like:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax
6. Wax

And that way, approximatley 2 coats of wax are on the paint, as mentioned to ensure unifrom coverage, protection, etc.

To do 2 coats of cleaner/wax would be:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax

So you are back to just one coat of wax left on, and basically repeating the full detail twice.

You may notice above, I mentined a quick detail with Cleaner/Wax followed by Wax. That way, it finishes with 2 coats of wax, not going back into the clean/polish steps.

also, y use gold class wash over other meg wash soaps? and why use swirlx as a cleaner as opposed to reg meg cleaner wax? just trying to figure things out as there are so many confusing options....

There are lots of products because people have lots of different situations. But starting off basic leaves the list in my first post. And yes, they are all Meguiars products.

Basically, the Cleaner/Wax is a very mild cleaner, and of course polish/wax in one. Since you wanted to take the results up a step, you will tend to get better results using seperate products for each step. Also, after 15 years, you may have a few more imperfections that a very mild cleaner cant handle. Of course being white paint, it will hide swirls a bit more, but the same ideas/products apply.

As far as Gold Class soap... it is a favorite here, esp for the 'show car' side. Nxt seems a little stronger, and wont leave quite the same looks.

And then the option/reason of using a pure polish was mentioned above. SwirlX is a cleaner/polish, so it has some polishing oils in it. But 15 yr old paint could probably use a little extra, esp for the 'show car' at least once in a while.

Dont worry, ask away.

[FRS]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

so after wash/dry and clay use a cleaner wax, then a polish, and then 2 coats of wax(non cleaner wax)? what about sealants and other things ive never used?

As for sealant, it's very similar to wax. I use sealant all the time.

My order is:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Seal (Sealant)
6. Wax

[Murr1525]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

For Meguiars, sealant and wax are just different names for the same thing.

Some companies use the terms to mean different things. Like polish/glaze, some companies use them to mean all kinds of things.

[94exa2]

Re: fairly new to detailing. tips?

oh okay. so....

-wash with meg gold class wash....dry obviously
-clay with meg clay kit
-clean with meg swirlx (no need for ultimate compound or anything else?)(swirlx work better for cleaning than meg cleaner wax?)
-polish with meg deep crystal polish
-seal with meg ____ sealant (?)
-wax with meg nxt 2.0? (2 layers)

then use meg ultimate protectant for the black plactic trim? (would u suggest this over meg trim detailer?)

then use meg quick detailer after washes/between waxes?