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**aonorato** · Sep 5, 2011, 11:21 AM

Re: First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

Hey Joe,

1) my cars dont have much damage, maybe a couple scratches, and swirls (on the maroon corolla) , the light colored cars can barely tell if there is defects, aside from rock chips that need to be filled. So, my plan was : 1) wash 2)clay 3) Ultimate compound 4) NXT wax (paste or liquid, depending on hand or DA buffer) Is this enough?... or do I need to go into polishes and glaze? (I am really confused when it comes to all that)

I would do a polish after compounding, just to clarify the paint. Sometimes compounds can leave a light haze that isn't really noticeable until you polish it and realize how great it looks. Ultimate Polish works AWESOME, I always follow up with it after using Ultimate Compound.

2)How do polishes and glazes differ from Ultimate compound? Is my 4 steps enough for the light cars and then maybe add another step to the maroon car? such as a glaze. So far I have clay, Ultimate compound and NXT paste/liquid waxes. couple packs of MF towels... I see many using "mirror glaze" products , how are they different from UC/swirl,scratchX?

Mirror Glaze is a professional line. Some of the products are very comparable to the Consumer line and Detailer line. I would stick with Consumer products because of their ease of use. Hell I use some consumer products on customer's cars. UC is rather aggressive, while UP or any polish or glaze doesn't really have any cutting ability. You will rarely be able to remove swirls with a polish or anything like that. It's more for well...polishing the paint. I would use Ultimate Wax for the darker car. Apply it SUPER thin, by the time you apply it to the whole car, follow the in the same direction with a MF towel, it dries that quick...

3) Can I air dry?... granted I have been using walmart MF towels, I am having a hard time drying my car properly with towels, I almost see better results just letting it dry in the shade.(silver cars) ... I'm guessing on the maroon car, there will be spots. I have a MR clean car wash kit with the filter... I am thinking of just using the final step rinsing feature to give me spot free drying

Try picking up a waffle weave towel. I know pepboys sells a brand that makes one. Make sure you're using a towel specifically made for drying or else you'll have a hell of a time. If you sheet the water off before drying, there's not much water left to pick up anyway.

4) I think I have settled on a DA G110v2 but I cant find any used ones for sale locally. not even cheaper ones on ebay. so where is the best place to buy one?... I did however find couple nice condition makita rotary buffers for sale locally in the 100$ range.... this seems like better bang for buck, but how hard is it to learn how to use one?.. is it wise to use one as my first buffer?

Do NOT start with a rotary. Go with the G110v2. I love mine, and it's super easy to use. I got mine for $250 with the MF Correction System and a few other goodies at ADS(autodetailingsolutions.com). Rotary can do a lot more harm that good until you learn how to properly use one, which guys who have been using the rotary for years will tell you that they still haven't perfected it.

Good luck!

**bigjoe87865** · Sep 20, 2011, 05:40 AM

Re: First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

Thanks for the reply

I went ahead and cleaned my silver bmw for the first time , washed with gold class, clayed the car, used UC by hand and MF applicator, Ultimate polish by hand, and finally NXT 2.0 liquid wax .

the finish looks great, the paint is really smooth and soft.. I love it. I will never do it by hand again, took me close to 5-6 hours, (took breaks here and there) and the next day, my body has been sore as hell.

due to my inexperience, I might have introduced some new swirls here and there, OR due to my inexperience and hand method, I didnt remove ALL the swirls

anyways, DA buffer next time onwards for sure!

----

how can I maintain this paint now?... what should my program be?... Wash every week with gold class and maybe apply some sort of spray wax? UQW?...

or just wash once a week, skip the spray wax, and apply NXT once a month?...

will washing my car once a week at the most remove the wax and shine from the polish?

what do you guys do to maintain the car?... after just one drive, I see a bunch of dust built up on the waxed paint...

thank you

**Murr1525** · Sep 20, 2011, 06:14 AM

Re: First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

I went ahead and cleaned my silver bmw for the first time , washed with gold class, clayed the car, used UC by hand and MF applicator, Ultimate polish by hand, and finally NXT 2.0 liquid wax .

the finish looks great, the paint is really smooth and soft.. I love it. I will never do it by hand again, took me close to 5-6 hours, (took breaks here and there) and the next day, my body has been sore as hell.

A little exercise never hurt...

But at the same time, if keeping after it, shouldnt need something strong like UC, that needs really worked in every time.

due to my inexperience, I might have introduced some new swirls here and there, OR due to my inexperience and hand method, I didnt remove ALL the swirls

More likely didnt remove them all.. its is hard by hand.

------

how can I maintain this paint now?... what should my program be?... Wash every week with gold class and maybe apply some sort of spray wax? UQW?...

Yeah, washing every week or so will be about the best you can do. I like to use UQW after washing. I also keep some UW&W for when really in a hurry.

or just wash once a week, skip the spray wax, and apply NXT once a month?...

Yeah, if you applied Nxt once a month, you'd be ok. But with the UQW being so easy, and probably will get past a month or two with it still feeling smooth/sheeting well, before it feels like it needs re-detailed.

will washing my car once a week at the most remove the wax and shine from the polish?

If you use a good soap like Gold Class that is very mild, it will remove as little as possible. Then the UQW to top it back up.

what do you guys do to maintain the car?... after just one drive, I see a bunch of dust built up on the waxed paint...

Live with it...

**bigjoe87865** · Mar 26, 2012, 06:03 PM

Re: First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

Hey guys, back again with few more Q's

so far iv been busy and my car is only getting washed about once every 3 weeks. I apply nxt 2.0 every 3 months. and at every wash I do UQW (every 3 weeks) so my nxt gets boosted about 3-4 times before being reapplied. this seems good enough right?... my main concern is protection against bugs and the hot sun (really hot)

next up, I still dont have power tools, so I am applying by hand. I really feel like I should put 2 coats of nxt 2.0 liquid wax when its time to do it, because I really feel like 100% of the car does NOT get covered with wax in one pass. I know that with a buffer, its not required since it applies the wax nice and evenly, but what about by hand?

if two is better than one, what about this?

apply 2 coats of nxt 2.0 OR 1 coat of nxt 2.0 and then 1 coat of UQW (to reduce the amount of work exerted because UQW is easier than nxt2.0)

is it even logical to apply ultimate quik spray wax right after a nxt?

thanks guys

**Murr1525** · Mar 26, 2012, 06:21 PM

Re: First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

so far iv been busy and my car is only getting washed about once every 3 weeks. I apply nxt 2.0 every 3 months. and at every wash I do UQW (every 3 weeks) so my nxt gets boosted about 3-4 times before being reapplied. this seems good enough right?... my main concern is protection against bugs and the hot sun (really hot)

Cant do much better. The only thing you could do is apply a cleaner/polish or polish before the NXt, to get more oils on the paint. Or something like ColorX then NXt to get it in two steps.

next up, I still dont have power tools, so I am applying by hand. I really feel like I should put 2 coats of nxt 2.0 liquid wax when its time to do it, because I really feel like 100% of the car does NOT get covered with wax in one pass. I know that with a buffer, its not required since it applies the wax nice and evenly, but what about by hand?

Two will be better than one by hand or machine.

if two is better than one, what about this?

apply 2 coats of nxt 2.0 OR 1 coat of nxt 2.0 and then 1 coat of UQW (to reduce the amount of work exerted because UQW is easier than nxt2.0)

is it even logical to apply ultimate quik spray wax right after a nxt?

I would look at the ColorX then Nxt, if you want to keep it at two steps, and get some more oils onto the paint.

Otherwise, it would be Cleaner/Polish, Wax, Wax to get even more, but more steps.

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First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

First timer need a few suggestions on a plan of attack and buffer choice

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