Need help with my black car.

[69cents]

Hi all, I have a black car (Black Mica) that have been parked under a tree almost half a year, before it was parked there, I've send it for major waxing job by my local Meguiar car wash shop. Anyway just last week I send it for a car wash and notice a lot of tree sap and dried bird drooping. What I want is to make this car as my project/practice car for my waxing etc skill. I was told I need an aggressive clay for my job which I agree, can you help to list what else I need? If possible with item # or link and quantity. Btw my major problem actually are, I'm doing this all by hand, no machine yet, I can't spend days just doing this, it's just a Sunday job any maybe if I'm lucky 3hrs straight. After that I have to leave it another Sunday or 2.
So can I wash and clay this week and leave the rest of the steps next week (Car without polish or wax)? Once I start this project I will have a space in the garage for my car, and this is a spare car that I rarely use. And I will follow the 5 steps procedure. TQ.
1. Ult Wash & Wax shampoo (G17748)
2. Aggressive clay (C2100)
3.
etc..




PS/ I'm doing survey on repainting this car, but that will be a long way to go... Right now, just need to maintain it's look & practice.

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help with my black car.

You can certainly do a panel a day, or stop and start, etc. Just make sure you are working on a clean surface, so you may have to wash or QD panel before working on it.

1. Wash
2. Clay - Hard to say if you want the Mild or Aggressive clay. You may be better of using some glass cleaner on the sap. And then the mild clay.
3. Clean - Sounds like you will want Ultimate Compound as a strong cleaner. You would want a milder cleaner like SwirlX or Ultimate Polish in the future.
4. Polish - Is the car old, or single stage paint? If so, a pure polish step would be good, like using the Deep Crystal Polish.
5. Wax - Can pick your favorite wax, like Gold Class Plus, Nxt 2.0, Ultimate Wax, etc.
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

[69cents]

Re: Need help with my black car.

You can certainly do a panel a day, or stop and start, etc. Just make sure you are working on a clean surface, so you may have to wash or QD panel before working on it.

1. Wash
2. Clay - Hard to say if you want the Mild or Aggressive clay. You may be better of using some glass cleaner on the sap. And then the mild clay.
3. Clean - Sounds like you will want Ultimate Compound as a strong cleaner. You would want a milder cleaner like SwirlX or Ultimate Polish in the future.
4. Polish - Is the car old, or single stage paint? If so, a pure polish step would be good, like using the Deep Crystal Polish.
5. Wax - Can pick your favorite wax, like Gold Class Plus, Nxt 2.0, Ultimate Wax, etc.
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best.

Hi, thx for your reply.
1. I never knew about the glass cleaner can take off tree sap, any glass cleaner will do? All I have here are the blue color glass cleaner china made.
2. So, even after applying Ult Compound, I still need to apply polish? I thought that Ult Compound is already polish?
3. The car is about 10yrs old, but paint still shine, problem are a few dent & rust from small accident( that's why I want to repaint the car) Just a few deep scratch, but swirl mark are all around!! How do I check my paint stages? It's a Toyota.
4. 2 thin coats? I will do a survey on this method, and others mentioned above. Anyway again thank you for your help.
Btw, what & how many tyep of towels & pad do I really need? Trying to cut cost here if possible.

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help with my black car.

1. I never knew about the glass cleaner can take off tree sap, any glass cleaner will do? All I have here are the blue color glass cleaner china made.

Well.. Maybe do a small test spot out of the way first...

I think it is the alcohol that does the job... so diluted IPA could also be an option.

2. So, even after applying Ult Compound, I still need to apply polish? I thought that Ult Compound is already polish?

Yeah, it is easy to get messed up in different companies and peoples terms.

Some people would call UC a polish, some a compound...

In Meguiars terms, polishing means adding polishing oils, so that the paint doesnt dry out.

Basically, UC is going to clean the paint. It doesnt have a lot of polishing oils in it. So adding some more can be helpfull.

A product like SwirlX, or Ultimate Polish, have a mild cleaning ability, and more of the oils in them. So, if not this time, at some point you would want a product with more oils.

3. The car is about 10yrs old, but paint still shine, problem are a few dent & rust from small accident( that's why I want to repaint the car) Just a few deep scratch, but swirl mark are all around!! How do I check my paint stages? It's a Toyota.

When you apply the cleaner, some dirt will come off gray of course. But if it is very black, it is likely to be the black paint. Clear coat would have clear paint coming off, so just the gray of the dirt.

4. 2 thin coats? I will do a survey on this method, and others mentioned above. Anyway again thank you for your help.

Yeah, like apply the wax, let dry, remove. Then apply again, let dry, and remove. So steps 5/6 together.

Btw, what & how many tyep of towels & pad do I really need? Trying to cut cost here if possible.

Well, you would need 1 pad per product, and 1 towel to remove product for each step at least for a small car, and then any spares incase you drop one.

Can wash in between of course if working over a few weeks.

[akimel]

Re: Need help with my black car.

My go-to product for removing tree sap, tar, and bugs is Stoner Tarminator. I find it indispensable. It will, of course, remove any wax on the area it is sprayed, so you will have to re-wax.

[69cents]

Re: Need help with my black car.

So my new list & steps will be
1. Wash - Ult Wash & Wax shampoo (G17748)
2. Clean SAP - Glass cleaner. I do have Citrus Clean, will this do also?
3. Aggressive clay (C2100)
4. Ultimate Compound (G17216)
5. Ultimate Polish (G19216)
6. ULTIMATE LIQUID WAX (G18216) Twice.
In which steps do I need to use clear coat (G18110) still not sure what it do.

Anything I missed except towels & pad?

[69cents]

Re: Need help with my black car.

My go-to product for removing tree sap, tar, and bugs is Stoner Tarminator. I find it indispensable. It will, of course, remove any wax on the area it is sprayed, so you will have to re-wax.

Sadly I can't find the product here... Anyway thx.

[akimel]

Re: Need help with my black car.

May I suggest that you begin with the consumer version mild clay. You may well find that not only is the aggressive clay is unnecessary but that it may mar the paint. Professionals don't worry about marring, because they know they can quickly remove it through machine polishing. In any case, if the mild clay doesn't do the job, you can always switch to the aggressive version.

Meguiar's does make Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover. Is that available in your country?

[69cents]

Re: Need help with my black car.

May I suggest that you begin with the consumer version mild clay. You may well find that not only is the aggressive clay is unnecessary but that it may mar the paint. Professionals don't worry about marring, because they know they can quickly remove it through machine polishing. In any case, if the mild clay doesn't do the job, you can always switch to the aggressive version.

Meguiar's does make Gold Class Bug & Tar Remover. Is that available in your country?

Ok, I'll try the mild clay 1st. I think I saw the Bug & Tar Remover, but when do I apply it? Before or after wash/clay?

I still can't figure out what stage my car paint is, any help here?

[Murr1525]

Re: Need help with my black car.

Even the mild version of the Pro Clay would be a nice middle ground.

When you apply the cleaner, some dirt will come off gray of course. But if it is very black, it is likely to be the black paint. Clear coat would have clear paint coming off, so just the gray of the dirt.

[69cents]

Re: Need help with my black car.

Thx for all the replies. When to my local shop today, sadly they don't have stock on any clay except the smooth version, most of 2011 product still not available as well. I guess I have to wait then.. Just gonna do research & reading for now...