wax for a new car

[Murr1525]

Re: wax for a new car

this is my first new car...always thought that a "new" car would have great paint (my friend asked me why I needed to wax a new car)

dealer said he would "prep" it for me, which I think he just ran it through an auto wash because the paint was still really dull

Yeah, better to do things yourself.

but the QUESTION is...can i first just put the ultimate wax on for now (to protect it)? does putting on the last step first, mean that I can't go back and do step 1 2 and 3 again the next time I wash and detail my black car?

Claying is pretty quick.

What you could do is wash, clay, and use the Cleaner/Wax that comes with the Smooth Surface Clay kit.

Then attack the hard work later, even a panel an evening or something.

i don't understand how wax...and polishes work..

In what way? How used, or what they do?

[Murr1525]

Re: wax for a new car

what is the difference between polish and compound?

I have the dc2 (step 2 polish)...do i have still have to buy the ultimate compound?

Different companies call things different terms, which only makes it harder for new people. But we'll go with Meguiars terms here.

Polish will mean oils. So the product is going ot put oils into the paint, keep it drying out, add some gloss, etc.

A compound is a strong cleaning product, meaning removing dirt and swirls if applied right.

So yeah, if you want the swirls out, you will need something stronger then DC2.

[MikeEast]

Re: wax for a new car

If you are pressed for time, I'd wash it, then clay it before I did anything else. The basis for a good finish is the prep, even if it takes a week or more to do, do it slow, take your time and do it right. It won't hurt it to leave it unfinished.

After the claybar I'd just wax it until you have time to really attack whatever problems you spot. Like Murri said, a panel a night works just fine. The end results are worth it.

Mike

[brendan1234]

Re: wax for a new car

Yeah, better to do things yourself.



Claying is pretty quick.

What you could do is wash, clay, and use the Cleaner/Wax that comes with the Smooth Surface Clay kit.

Then attack the hard work later, even a panel an evening or something.



In what way? How used, or what they do?

did some research...alot of research tonight...so basically found that polishes are for smoothing out the surface (compound are too but are much more stronger) while waxes are to "seal" everything in...so basically waxes don't smooth out the surface but simply seal everything in AFTER you have polished or compounded the surface

[brendan1234]

Re: wax for a new car

I will try to do a "panel at a time" since I don't have much time...

since this is my daily driver...it's going to be dirty from driving outside


when I do a "panel at a time" that means I still have to wash it with the car shampoo and dry and everything (on that particular panel)
before i start clay, polish...and wax right?

[Murr1525]

Re: wax for a new car

If it isnt filthy, you could Quick Detail the panel. Or a splash of water and soap in a bucket for the panel itself. I wouldn't wash the whole car daily, unless you were doing like 1 car wax and panel a week or something.