Final detail, microfiber towel, NXT

[DSG Man]

I picked up a new black Ford Explorer on Saturday (built in October) and decided to through a coat of NXT on it Sunday as I had the use of a heated garage foe a couple hours. When I got there I realized I didn't have a foam applicator or cotton applicator pad so I had to use a microfiber towel - or not wax it at all till a future date (cold in Chicago).

I ended up some light spidering afterwards. This shouldn't be, should it? Also, I went over it with Final Detail to get some leftover dust off and it seemed to leave an oily residue on the truck. Is this common?

[Mike Phillips]

A quality microfiber shouldn't scratch your finish, so this doesn't seem normal.

Temperature humidity can cause problems with removing Final Detail and Last Touch.

Congrats on the new truck!

Mike

[RamAirV1]

Are you sure the spider webs weren't there before you started working on it? They could have been there and you couldn't see them because of the dust.

RamAirV1

[gb387]

When I bought my Ford it was on the lot for a few months as well. I did not notice any spidering when I bought it but when I get it into better light and clened it up better the spidering showed its self. I have used my pc and many meguiars products and have gotten the truck to look MUCH better!

I will say NXT will look great on black. I never use a detailer right after a wax, any wax I like to let it set for a day or so before anyother products are used or applying a second coat of wax.

[DSG Man]

It had no spidering. That's why I decided to wax it the day after I brought it home.

[jfelbab]

Your dealer likely applied a product that contained a lot of fillers which hid the marring. This is pretty common at dealerships. It would explain why you didn't see marring prior to your application. Either that or in the process of waxing you instilled them.

Did you feel the surface for bonded contaminants like rail dust prior to waxing? I might have clayed before waxing since this vehicle was built some 2-4 months ago and spent some time on the lot. You might want to do the test now and see if the paint feels "as smooth as glass".

To remove them you might want to use #80 and then reapply NXT (x2).

Buy your friend with the heated garage a six pack and see if you can get it back in there.

[DSG Man]

I am familiar with claying and its purpose. There was very little debris felt on horizontal surfaces and the sides were pretty clean.

Aside from buffing a small scuff on the hood, all the dealer did was wash the car. I know what I might need to do to remove them. I am just aggravated and am trying to figure out how I put the spidering there in the first place. Thats why I mentioned the microfiber towel. I have used these same towel previously to remove product without any problem. My thought was that in applying the product the microfiber may be the culprit.

I was hoping someone else that might have used a MF to apply product would chime in.

Thanks for the replies so far, fellows.

[jfelbab]

Thanks for clarifying your issue, DSG man. I didn't mean to sell your detailing skills short in my previous answer, so if you took it that way please accept my apology. It was not my intent.

I frequently use a MF covered foam applicator for application of product. I use them primarily wherever I don't use my PC. I see Meg's has some MF covered applicators coming out in a few days that look really nice.

One thing that can occur with some microfiber towels that you may already know about is that some of them have hems of nylon thread that can cause marring. I only use Meg's Ultimate, a hem-less MF, on paint. Also, be sure to cut the labels off of any microfiber towel as they also can cause marring.

[DSG Man]

No problem. I didn't mistake your intent. I alwyas fold the MF towels in such a way that I don't have to deal with the edges.

ABout the only thing I can think of is that I didn't use ENOUGH product and may have been wiping with a partially dry towel.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by DSG Man
About the only thing I can think of is that I didn't use ENOUGH product and may have been wiping with a partially dry towel.

Hi DSG Man,

The above could be the culprit, microfiber polishing cloths are soft, but having plenty of lubricating product on the surface adds a lot to the equation.

I myself use Meguiar's microfiber polishing cloths for applying both Meguiar's spray waxes with no apparent problems. The trick to doing this is to lightly saturate one side so that it is damp with product and thus lubricated just to avoid any potential for wiping product on with a dry polishing cloth which then makes the process difficult because at the same time you're trying to apply the wax, the dry parts of the cloth are trying to remove the wax.

I have not tried using a microfiber for applying a real wax, be it liquid or paste.

What are you plans to move forward?

Mike

[DSG Man]

None for now. Busy schedule and crappy Chicago weather, you know. Thanks, all. Will advise when I get a chance to work on it.