Question on product use

[TheBlueberry]

I am new to this so bear with me. I am detailing my 2001 Oldsmobile intrigue. The motor has been out and just got a new one installed. I like the car and looked around for another used car that had simler options as mine. It seams Used car prises have risen. So I decided to fix this one. I installed the motor replaced carpet and other worn items and now am consitrating on the paint work.

I am using mequiar products to bring back the shine. Before anyone says anything I understand clearcoat depth, paint burn in, scratch depth, ect. I have read and watched every video in the country. But its not an excuse for first hand experiance, I know that. But this is a daily driver that im going to get my feet wet with.

The vehicle has swirl marks and some scrathches. I intend on sanding out what I can of the deep scraches and those that are to deap, just fill and repaint. I will be using a rotory buffer with pads and mirror 84 glaze to partcialy remove sanding marks.

My meqiar products are:
Mirror Glaze 84
8201 swirl free polish
c-200 clay
synthetic sealent 2.0


My questions are,

1. How long after paint touch up can I start to use 8201?

2. C-200 clay, how often should I reneed the clay?

3. When is the clay considered to dirty to use?

4. Can dawn and water be used as a lubricant for the clay?

5. How long after synthetic sealent application can I put on a wax?

6. What wax should I use after Synthetic sealent aplication?

7. Do you recomend a 50/50 mix of alchol and water as a pre prep before wax and before 8201 use?

8. Will a 50/50 mix of alchol and water remove synthetic sealent 2.0?

9. Whats is best to remove silacone from dash? Please something cheap. I have simple green, acetone, alcahol. Will any of these do the trick. I need to install a dash mat and need good serface adherinse.

Thanks
Blue

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

So after spending 2 hous of reading I answered, maybe, some of my own questions 5 and 6.

Synthetic sealent 2.0 Is a final wax?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question on product use

See answers below in red

1. How long after paint touch up can I start to use 8201?M82 is a body shop safe product so you can use it right away. In fact, you'll probably want to use it immediately following M84, which is pretty aggressive stuff

2. C-200 clay, how often should I reneed the clay? as soon as you see the surface start to look moderately contaminated. when in doubt, sooner rather than later

3. When is the clay considered to dirty to use?It's a judgment call, really. There is no specific time limit as the level of contamination will vary from car to car. Sometimes one piece of clay isn't enough for a single car, sometimes one piece of clay is enough for 6 cars. Again, it's a judgment call, but if you can no longer expose reasonably clean looking material, you're getting to the end of the clay's useful life

4. Can dawn and water be used as a lubricant for the clay?That's really not the best choice - the detergent can break down the clay fairly quickly. A better solution if you're looking for an economical replacement for Quik Detailer is to dilute Last Touch 1:1 with plain water. Alternatively you could use some car wash soap mixed into a spray bottle, but that can cause some issues as well. We don't have a recommended dilution ratio here because, technically, we don't recommend doing this in the first place.

5. How long after synthetic sealent application can I put on a wax?In theory, you could do so right away but for the very best result you should let the synthetic sealant cure for a minimum of 12 hours

6. What wax should I use after Synthetic sealent aplication?This is a very personal choice, really, but you can use literally any non-cleaner wax on top of the synthetic. M26 and Gold Class are very popular choices though.

7. Do you recomend a 50/50 mix of alchol and water as a pre prep before wax and before 8201 use?The IPA wipedown is done more to remove any trace of compound to ensure that you're really removing all the sanding marks. There really isn't any great need to use it other than that.

8. Will a 50/50 mix of alchol and water remove synthetic sealent 2.0?Yes.

9. Whats is best to remove silacone from dash? Please something cheap. I have simple green, acetone, alcahol. Will any of these do the trick. I need to install a dash mat and need good serface adherinse.If you're looking to remove a vinyl dressing with some silicone in it, and assuming this is a water based dressing and not solvent based, then a clean terry towel that has been soaked in hot water and fully wrung out will remove most of it. You can then follow up with a mild all purpose cleaner and or a 10/90 alcohol/water mix for a final wipe down. Don't over do it on the alcohol here as it could damage the vinyl

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks for all the great answers.

The M84 will just be used for those areas that I wet sanded with 2000 grit paper.

I think I will stick to the Quick Detailer or read some more on the net. I will have to buy another bottle.

So with the M26 or gold glass, your saying a good non cleaning carnuba? Not synthetic? Is there such a thing as an non cleaning synthetic? Just checking.

On the IPA wipe down, are you saying after the M82 or just after the M84?


Im wanting to strip this car of old wax and dirt. Are you sure you would not recomend dawn as a even a wash? I understad about the salts and other stuff.


What about mineral spirets to remove tar and bugs?

[aerogt01]

Re: Question on product use

So with the M26 or gold glass, your saying a good non cleaning carnuba? Not synthetic? Is there such a thing as an non cleaning synthetic? Just checking.

Yes. You can layer NXT Tech 2.0 or M21, as they are both non-cleaning and synthetic.

On the IPA wipe down, are you saying after the M82 or just after the M84?

Many detailers use IPA to inspect their results. Here it can be used where needed, but most would use it after the M82 to make all of the swirls, holograms, and whatnot are removed.

Im wanting to strip this car of old wax and dirt. Are you sure you would not recomend dawn as a even a wash? I understad about the salts and other stuff.

You can use dawn, but many do not recommend it. You will be claying and polishing. Both of these steps will remove old waxes and sealants without the need for the harsh detergents found in Dawn. All of Meguiar's car washes clean extremely well.

What about mineral spirets to remove tar and bugs?

It is done regularly, but makes me nervous. I would recommend:
Tar:
- Tarminator
- Body Solvent
Bugs:
- paint-safe scrubbing sponge (you will be polishing, so I wouldn't be extremely concerned about swirls from this step)
- Bugs B Gone (Seafoam product, use as directed it works great)
Both:
- Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover (have not used it, so not sure how well it works)

Hope this helps.

[rst08tierney]

Re: Question on product use

my 2 cents, just say no to dawn, play it safe

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks for the replies.

On the dawn issue it seams everyone is afraid that it will dry everything out including rubber componets. I think I understand that. I have some mequires wash in the cabnet that I have used once I wax and rehydrate everything. I will just use it.

Ive used mineral spirits before, seams to work great as long as you keep it off the rubber. I just wanted to see if anyone else used it instead of expensive retail products. Ive heard of tarmenator but no one carries it locally. I also use it on windshields with a razor blade, works wonders. I use alot of it during airbrushing for cleaning before painting with enamles. I got a ton. Its not as bad as you think.

Has anyone used M26 or M21 with a rotory? 1000 RPM? Non abrasive pad?

Thanks guys.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question on product use

A one time wash with Dawn is not going to cause any harm, but there probably also is no real advantage to be gained by it, especially since you're going to be doing other things that will effectively strip the wax as well.

Mineral spirits, if used cautiously and with some common sense, won't be an issue either - provided, as you said, you keep it off vinyl, plastic and rubber trim, don't over use it, the paint is otherwise healthy, etc.

As for rotary application of M26 or M21, you can but it should be done with a finishing pad at a very slow speed. Keep the pad flat, move the buffer slowly, etc.

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks. I will probably apply the M26 by hand. Do you recommend removal with a rotary on slow with a micro bonnet?

I'm a dawn fan. I use it on house plants and every time I fertilize the lawn I spray it on the lawn before spreading the fertilizer. As long as its the blue stuff and not anything with pine or citrus in it its great. The car is pretty dirty after the winter we have had.

I'm pretty comfortable with mineral spirits.

Thanks for all your replies.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks. I will probably apply the M26 by hand. Do you recommend removal with a rotary on slow with a micro bonnet?

No, remove the hazed wax by hand with a microfiber towel.

[Murr1525]

Re: Question on product use

I like a DA and a bonnet for wax removal, but the rotary would likely just risk marking the paint back up.

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks guys, wax removale by hand, riger. i dont have a da so by hand it is.

One more question.

Ive seen some videos of people using a magnifieing glass to look at scratches. It looks like a loupe for 35 mm.

I would like it lighted, any favorites?

[TheBlueberry]

Re: Question on product use

Thanks guys, wax removal by hand, Roger. i don't have a da so by hand it is.

One more question.

Ive seen some videos of people using a magnifying glass to look at scratches. It looks like a Lupe for 35 mm.

I would like it lighted, any favorites?

Anyone recommend a magnifying glass?