massaging my black silverado's finish

[racer742]

Hey, I'm pretty new to taking real good care of my cars finsih, since this is the first brand new truck for me. Anyway I bought a 2004 Black Silverado right after Thanksgiving, I first washed it with GC car shampoo, then waxed it with NXT liquid. I recently applied another coat of wax about two weeks ago. I try and wash it about once a week since it sits outside and is a daily driver. Now to my question, I want the paint to look a mile deep. The finish is in excellent condition with the exception of the hood which I could feel has some above surface contminets. So would it be best to clay bar the entire truck then polish and follow up with wax or clay bar the flat surfaces (hood, roof, top of bed rails etc..) and use the deep crystal paint cleaner on the rest of the truck then polish and then wax or use the deep crystal system on the whole truck. I know I saw something on this board about #7, and then someone said something like #80 or #83 was better for CC and especially dark colors. I like to do it all by hand, I dont know if that makes a difference or not. Thanks for the help.

Adam

[scottlee]

although sometimes you can get by with just claying the horizontal surfaces , i think once you start claying and feel the ultra smooth results, you might just want to clay the whole truck,
Even if you are a first time clay user, you will pick up the method quickly, it is very easy and the results even on a new vehicle are amazing, just use plenty of clay lube, fold your clay often and keep us posted on your results

[gb387]

Originally posted by scottlee
although sometimes you can get by with just claying the horizontal surfaces , i think once you start claying and feel the ultra smooth results, you might just want to clay the whole truck,
Even if you are a first time clay user, you will pick up the method quickly, it is very easy and the results even on a new vehicle are amazing, just use plenty of clay lube, fold your clay often and keep us posted on your results

When I got my truck a year ago I was supprised by how much bonded contaminates were on a fresh off the lot truck. Claying is well worth the time even on a new truck!

As for the depth.... I have had very good luck with Meguiars Body Shop Hand Polish #81 I get great results from it then seal in the shine with NXT Tech Wax, I use 2 coats of wax one 12-24 hours after the first. From what I understand #81 was formulated with Clear Coat paint in mind it is my favorite polish. I have used Show Car Glaze #7 I like the product but I perfer #81 for my truck.

As for cleaner I too use Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner its a great paint cleaner. Easy to use, easy to find provides good resluts and cheap!

Nothing looks better than Black all shined up!

Here is the process I used in this photo:
1. Wash w/Gold Class Soap
2. Clay w/Meguars Clay and Last Touch
3. Wash w/Gold Class Soap
4. #9 Swirl Remover 2.0
5. #81 Hand Polish
6. NXT Tech Wax (2 coats)
~All was applied with a PC

[racer742]

Hey guys, So i'll clay the whole truck, but then should I use the paint cleaner, swirl remover, or go straight to #81, will the polish or paint cleaner remove very slight swirls? Black shows the smallest of imperfections. I think I'll use either the Deep crystal or #26 Hi tech yellow wax, any preferences? I think I like the carnuba wax alittle better than the polymer NXT, personal preference, seems a little thicker if you know what I mean.

gb387: Very nice truck, I'v always liked and wanted a Lightining, just dont know if I could do with out 4wd in Missouri. One of my friends had one and added some engine mods and I beleive he said it was about 450hp. Very cool truck. Looks awesome.

[Rob66]

gb387 - that is one beautiful truck you have there, i'd love one os those but couldnt afford to run it over here...LOL.

Racer - Heres what i do with my black Celica. GC wash, Clay the whole car, once you start you cant stop , then either #7 Show Car Glaze or the Step 2 Polish then finish with NXT on top looks great.

I find the NXT makes the black darker (if you know what i mean), used various Carnuabas (although not meguiars) Zymol and P21S and although good never seemed quite as dark somehow.

Be sure to let the NXT dry thoroughly and only a thin layer, otherwise i find it streaks on the flat surfaces sometimes.



Rob

[gb387]

Thanks for the compliments guys! racer... Yeah its not much good in the snow but I work close to home so no problem for me.

I have used both the Deep Crystal Wax and #26. It seemed the #26 held up longer over the deep crystal wax but both gave great resluts. The best part of the deep crystal system is that they are inexpensive and very easy to find.

On my truck below I used:
DC#1
DC#2
#26 Hi-Tech wax
Hard to see much but it looked real good with that combo, I no longer have this truck the L took its place.


Here is an old post where someone used #26 and Deep Crystal Wax kind of interesting.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=848&highlight=Deep+Crystal+26

[racer742]

When I clay the whole truck will that remove the NXT that is already on it or should I use paint cleaner or will the polish remove the NXT. Sounds kinda confusing. I wonder what the difference is in #7 and #81?? To me the NXT feels too thin, I dont know, it always seems like it looks better a few days after I wax it for some reason. I have never used the Meg carnuba wax, only the GC a long time ago. I guess I could always do a side by side compairison between GC and NXT on a freshly polished section. Which does a better job removing contaminets, the quick clay kit with QD or the body shop clay that comes two in the little tub??
So much to learn to baby your body.

Adam

[gb387]

This post was by 2hotford sometime ago on #81 and #7:

Hey,

Just to clarify...

Both Meguiar's #81 Hand Polish and #7 Show Car Glaze are pure polishes. They will not remove scratches or otherwise. They are designed to beautify the finish by adding rich TS oils etc...

The #81 was designed, like the rest of the 80 series, with BC/CC is mind. Where as #7 was designed many years ago when Single Stage paint was the norm. However, both work really well on today's modern finishes with the edge in removal going to the #81.

I prefer to apply the product to one panel at a time, then remove. There is no need to leave the product on the surface as it does not dry but rather "skins" over. Use a quality MF towel for removal.

If you have light swirls, I suggest either #9 Swirl Remover (light swirls) or #80 Speed Glaze (a little deeper swirls). On the deeper scratches, I would suggest ScratchX.

I hope this helps!

Tim

[racer742]

gb387, when you use #9 do you then go back over it with #81 then wax? The pro section talks about #81 transforming subtle surface defects into a shining gleem or something to that affect, Im not saying your wrong or dont know what your talking about. I'm just trying to figure out whats best for my application. I think the only swirls may be from the factroy, actually there not really swirls more like super fine directional scratches maybe from me washing or waxing, who knows. I just want the finish to look like a million dollars.

Adam

[gb387]

Originally posted by racer742
gb387, when you use #9 do you then go back over it with #81 then wax? The pro section talks about #81 transforming subtle surface defects into a shining gleem or something to that affect, Im not saying your wrong or dont know what your talking about. I'm just trying to figure out whats best for my application. I think the only swirls may be from the factroy, actually there not really swirls more like super fine directional scratches maybe from me washing or waxing, who knows. I just want the finish to look like a million dollars.

Adam

Yes that is one process that I use... I also replace the #9 with Deep Crystal Cleaner from time to time.

#9 has some cleaning and polishing ability as well as some fine scratch and swirl removal ability all in one. Where #81 has little to no cleaning ability its a pure polish.

On my truck the #9 alone does not produce the shine that #81 produces. But #81 will not clean the paint so I use the #9 with its ability to clean then #81 to give the better shine then seal it in with NXT.

[wblynch]

Originally posted by racer742
gb387, when you use #9 do you then go back over it with #81 then wax? The pro section talks about #81 transforming subtle surface defects into a shining gleem or something to that affect, Im not saying your wrong or dont know what your talking about. I'm just trying to figure out whats best for my application. I think the only swirls may be from the factroy, actually there not really swirls more like super fine directional scratches maybe from me washing or waxing, who knows. I just want the finish to look like a million dollars.

Adam

In the case of dark cars with swirls I have had my best success with #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish, then #80 Speed Glaze then #81 then your choice of final wax or sealer.

You should try the less agressive product first then move up only if it isn't working. (For example, try #80 before trying #83).

I used the G-100 polishing machine rather than attempt doing the entire car by hand. Not only does it reduce the manual effort, I feel the machine gets a more consistent result.

The #81 or #7 are non abrasive polishes that appear to really bring out the color of the car before putting the wax on. If you have the time, using the polish will make your detail really pop.

Post us some pictures when you're done.

[gb387]

In the case of dark cars with swirls I have had my best success with #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish, then #80 Speed Glaze then #81 then your choice of final wax or sealer.

That is why I use the #9 and not #83.

[racer742]

gb387, thanks for your patience and taking the time to explain everything, from the looks of your truck I beleive you know what your talking about. I will be using, in this order; clay, #9, #81, and either #26 or NXT. I will post pics soon as I'm done, probably be a few weeks, my work is closed on the weekends utill early April, so that lets me use the heated shop on the weekends to mess with my truck. Thanks again.

Adam

[gb387]

Originally posted by racer742
gb387, thanks for your patience and taking the time to explain everything, from the looks of your truck I beleive you know what your talking about. I will be using, in this order; clay, #9, #81, and either #26 or NXT. I will post pics soon as I'm done, probably be a few weeks, my work is closed on the weekends utill early April, so that lets me use the heated shop on the weekends to mess with my truck. Thanks again.

Adam

Its a good combo for me and I am sure you will find the same... I am sure others will keep adding to this post and give their ideas.

[tguil]

Racer 742,

If you want that "mile deep" shine, buy a Porter cable 7424 dual action polisher (Meguiar's G-!00). It's worth every cent, especially when you are working on a black vehicle. I've had black vehicles for the past 25 years and never could get the results by hand that I get with my PC.

My present truck is a black Dodge Hemi, the PC does a terrific job on it. I use #83 for the bad swirls and scratches. Then #81 followed by NXT. I apply and remove all of the products with the PC.

Tom