• If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Very new to detailing. Need help!

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Very new to detailing. Need help!

    Hi everyone,

    Like the title said, I am very new to detailing. I have been reading non-stop for the last couple of weeks, and honestly have become even more confused because of all the different products and terminology. Finally after all the great reviews of the Meguiar's line of products, I decided to buy a "system" of Meguiar's products for my car. Here are a couple things that I have picked up so far:

    1. NXT 2.0 liquid wax
    2. Meg's Clay Bar kit

    I have a silver car w/ some light swirls on the hood, and the rest of the car is pretty fault-free. From my understanding of the 5 step system, I need a couple more things to make my "system complete. My questions are:

    1. What polish should I use? I have seen a couple like the deep crystal polish, but that's for darker colored car, so what would be the best on silver?

    2. Should I also pick up some Swirl X?

    3. What is the difference between the show car glaze, the Deep Crystal Polish, and the ColorX?

    Thank you so much for your time in advance.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

    First welcome to MOL. It's a great place to learn. I will give my responses and know that the more knowledgeable will help too.

    1. What polish should I use? I have seen a couple like the deep crystal polish, but that's for darker colored car, so what would be the best on silver? Polish is an optional step. I personally like it even on some lighter colors.

    2. Should I also pick up some Swirl X? SwirlX would be a great pick up.

    3. What is the difference between the show car glaze, the Deep Crystal Polish, and the ColorX? #7 Show car glaze and DC Polish are essentially the same product. ColorX is a poish/cleaner/wax all in one.
    http://www.facebook.com/SuperiorDetails
    http://www.superiordetails.time2detail.com/

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

      Because it is a silver car, I would go with a cleaner/wax topped with your NXT 2.0.

      For example, lay down a layer of either Colorx or Cleaner Wax (Maroon Bottle). Let that haze and then wipe off the residue with a microfiber towel. Then, lay down a thin layer of NXT 2.0 and let that sit for about 15-20 minutes. Then, wipe the residue offf with a microfiber towel.

      Because the car is silver a wash will make it look a lot better. It's very hard to see defects like swirls in silver paint so a cleaner/wax topped with NXT 2.0 will do a great job. The cleaner/wax will clean the pores of the paint of any dirt so that the paint can shine the best. Then, the NXT 2.0 will give several months of protection while giving a fanstastic shine.
      Tedrow's Detailing
      845-642-1698
      Treat Yourself to that New Car Feeling

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

        Thanks a lot guys for your quick responses. Im trying to go for the maximum wettest look possible. So what I understand is pick up the gold class cleaner wax, correct? Does it matter if it's the liquid or paste form in the red tin can?

        Another question: For the interior, is the quick interior detailer sufficient to use on its own? Or is it just a quick cleaner that needs to be followed up by a protectant?

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

          GC cleaner wax is a good choice. However, Nxt wax2.0 will surely give your car that crazy wet look. And you can maintain it by using UQW once in two weeks.
          The things what you would need are:-
          1) SwirlX
          2) GC car wash
          3) DC Polish( no matter what color your car is)
          4) Foam pads ( at least 4)
          5) Microfibers and Water Magnet (1 ultimate wipe if possible)
          6) UQD and UQW ( to maintain the shine -- Highly recommended )

          And for the interiors, I would recommend to apply a protectant(UP) after every 5th application of QID. Applying UP would go a long way and will provide maximum UV protection

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

            You're well on your way! You can either do what Shawn T. said and use a cleaner wax before NXT 2.0 or you can do SwirlX and then NXT 2.0. It sounds like you have little defects in your paint which is why a cleaner-wax or SwirlX would be a great choice for you to apply before you put on NXT 2.0. Clay the car before you apply cleaner-wax or ColorX though.

            So in summary, this is what you want to do:
            1. Wash the car with Gold Class or Ultimate Wash & Wax, preferably using the 2 bucket method with GritGuards. Don't know what those are? Check the links at the end of this post.
            2. Clay with Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit.
            3. Apply EITHER Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, ColorX, or SwirlX.
            4. Apply a nice thin coat of Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax 2.0.
            5. (optional) Apply a second coat of NXT Tech Wax 2.0.

            NXT 2.0 specializes in that wet look, by the way. I've been using it for over 2 years.

            On a final note, I'd like to tell you not to let the terminology confuse you. All a "polish" is, is a product that contains oils and conditioners to make the paint look better. Some polishes contain paint cleaners (the ability to remove swirls and scratches), some don't. The polishes that simply add a shine are called pure polishes. The polishes that also remove swirls and scratches are called paint cleaners or compounds.

            The word "polish" is thrown around in reference to several different types of products. Meguiar's five step program includes a pure polish as one of the steps. However, the latest Meguiar's paint cleaners (such as ColorX and SwirlX) also contain oils and conditioners so that step is really optional.
            -HealthyCivic
            Check out the glossary

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

              Want a detailing system? Here's a simple one that should keep your car looking good: Your Daily Driver: A Simple Wash & Wax Regimen.
              Swirls hide in the black molecular depths, only waiting for the right time to emerge and destroy your sanity.
              --Al Kimel

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                I have a silver car too, great color for hiding defects.

                My detailing usually consists of:

                wash,
                clay bar,
                Ultimate Compound ( this could substitute for your polish since you only have the hood to worry about)
                No.7 Glaze (optional)
                2 coats of NXT 2.0 wax.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                  Guys,

                  Thank you for all the responses. Washed the car, clayed it, applied cleaner wax, and nxt 2.0. What a difference. My car is so shiny, even shinier than the day I bought it. Everything is smooth as glass. Even the paint is smoother than my actual windshield and windows. I was using Ice polish before, and everything hazed in a day and attracted dust like a vacuum. Never going with anything else than Meguiar's ever again. Pretty good prices at Walmart too. Thanks again. You guys are so informative.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                    So clay the glass.....
                    2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                      Yes Murr. That's what I'm gonna do too. Just got hit w/ some rain though, so gotta wait. Does washing the car remove the NXT coat? What do I need to do after I wash it to get that wet shiny look that I have right now? Another coat of NXT?

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                        Anything that touches the car will remove molecules of wax, but using a high quality soap like Gold Class will remove as little as possible, while removing the dirt as safely as possible.

                        As far as something of a 'booster' for the wax, you could look at washing with Ultimate Wash n'Wax, which will leave some wax behind.

                        The best results would be from washing with Gold Class, and then using the Ultimate Quick Wax after. You could do a full coat of wax after, but the UQW is much faster. When the UQW doesnt seem to want to spread as nicely, it would be time to re-wax with Nxt (or Cleaner/Wax and Nxt).
                        2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                          Originally posted by firefighternickn View Post
                          Guys,

                          Thank you for all the responses. Washed the car, clayed it, applied cleaner wax, and nxt 2.0. What a difference. My car is so shiny, even shinier than the day I bought it. Everything is smooth as glass. Even the paint is smoother than my actual windshield and windows. I was using Ice polish before, and everything hazed in a day and attracted dust like a vacuum. Never going with anything else than Meguiar's ever again. Pretty good prices at Walmart too. Thanks again. You guys are so informative.
                          Good job! It makes such a difference, huh!?
                          -HealthyCivic
                          Check out the glossary

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                            Makes a difference? That's not even a question. Night and day. Black and white. Need I say more? I think I'm hooked on detailing.

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Very new to detailing. Need help!

                              Originally posted by firefighternickn View Post
                              Yes Murr. That's what I'm gonna do too. Just got hit w/ some rain though, so gotta wait. Does washing the car remove the NXT coat? What do I need to do after I wash it to get that wet shiny look that I have right now? Another coat of NXT?
                              Washing will not wash away a lot of the wax, the wax should last for about 2-3 months.

                              In between waxing you can also spray on some Ultimate Quik Wax and it gives your car the "just waxed" kind of look.

                              Comment

                              Previous template Next
                              Your Privacy Choices
                              Working...
                              X