Stage???????

[andikendall]

Was wondering if anyone does or knows a stage thats inbertween polishing ya car and the final wax? or am i just being silly? and waxing should be straight after polishing.
cheers

[Murr1525]

Re: Stage???????

Its really just different names of steps that make things confusing. And then some products can combine steps.

Basically, the individual steps would be (in Meguiars terms):

1. Wash - remove loose dirt
2. Clay - remove bonded on dirt
3. Clean - Remove dirt from pores/imperfections of the paint. If strong enough, also remove swirls.
4. Polish - Use polishing oils to moisturize the paint and fill in any imperfections
5. Wax - Add your protective product. Some people like synthetic products, some like carnuba. Some like to do synthetic for a fist coat, carnuba for a second coat. That would make some people say use a 'sealant' before a 'wax', but really it just means they like synthetic before carnuba.

A lot of products these days are cleaner/polishes, meaning they have some ability to clean, but a bit of oils in them for the polishing step. So using a pure polish after may not be needed.

[andikendall]

Re: Stage???????

just clear it up when ya say clean is that using ultimate compound or swirl x?

that carnuba is hard to work with aint it i believe or am i wrong? do meguiars do one?

[Murr1525]

Re: Stage???????

Yes, Ult. Compound or SwirlX type products would fall in the 'clean' step. Of course SwirlX is one of those that fit into the 'cleaner/polish' category...

Any wax can be easy or hard to use. Usually the trouble comes from people caking it on thick. All you want is as thin a coat as possible, and let it dry properly.