Newbie needs some advice...

[Drvr02RT]

Hey all this is my first post that involves asking ??'s about detailing here. I'm fairly new at detailing cars so I just want to know what you guys think would be a good plan to start with.

To begin, I have a few questions...

1. I have some oxidation or brake/rail dust stuck to my car around my R/T emblems and would like to have it removed, which would be the best product to do this with?

2. I have a few rock "nicks" on my hood that I would like to eliminate as well, again, which product for this?

3. I have 3 6" long scratches on my back-driver side door that look just awful mainly because they are at the point in the body where there is a good amount of shadow from the body lines, now I cant feel them with my finger nail so I dont think that they are that deep, but one last time, which product would be most effective at removing or diminishing these?

I have the following products on-hand as of right now...

Meguiars Hot Wheels
Meguiars Hot Shine Spray
Meguiars Deep Crystal Car Wash (pink soap)
Meguiars Quik Clay Detailer Kit
Meguiars Scratch X
Eagle One Nanowax (I know, I know, not Megs but I heard mixed feelings about the NXT wax)

I also bought a Craftsman 10" orbital buffer/polisher today.

Any help would be much appreciated.

You can see pics of my ride here.

[Murr1525]

1. You will need t ostart with the quick clay, and lots of lubricant.

2. and 3. will require scratchX by hand most likely, a few applications worked in well. That will at least minimize them, if it cant remove them.

With your orbital, you could mpurcahse some #80 and #83 and apply those by machine, and see how it goes as well.

[the other pc]

ScratchX is your best bet for diminishing those long scratches by hand. Don't just wipe it on, work it in with some "passion" (as Barry is fond of saying). If the first application doesn't do it, try a couple more.

I wouldn't get my hopes up using a 10" orbital to remove any scratches, swirls, etc. Too much surface area and too little power to be effective. They can be used to "spread products around" and remove products but can't really work a product in.


PC.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Newbie needs some advice...

Originally posted by Drvr02RT
Hey all this is my first post that involves asking ??'s about detailing here.

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!

I'm fairly new at detailing cars so I just want to know what you guys think would be a good plan to start with.

To begin, I have a few questions...

You've come to the right forum to get great answers!

1. I have some oxidation or brake/rail dust stuck to my car around my R/T emblems and would like to have it removed, which would be the best product to do this with?

As someone else has already posted, claying first with Meguiar's Quick Clay System followed by working over the area with ScratchX will take care of these two problems.

2. I have a few rock "nicks" on my hood that I would like to eliminate as well, again, which product for this?

You need to get some matching touch-up paint and apply small amounts carefully with something with a fine tip like an artist fine tip paint brush, or even a toothpick. The goal is to not end up with big blobs of paint on top of the rock chips which is usually what the built-in brush in the touch-up paint lid will do for you.

3. I have 3 6" long scratches on my back-driver side door that look just awful mainly because they are at the point in the body where there is a good amount of shadow from the body lines, now I cant feel them with my finger nail so I don't think that they are that deep, but one last time, which product would be most effective at removing or diminishing these?

ScratchX by hand. This will either remove the scratches or at least improve the scratches to the point that they will be harder to see.

I have the following products on-hand as of right now...

Eagle One Nanowax (I know, I know, not Megs but I heard mixed feelings about the NXT wax)

As far as what you hear and read about NXT Tech Wax, check out the two first prizes the owner of this Overhaulin Challenger received two weeks ago after we polished out the swirls and applied two coats of NXT Tech Wax.

(copied from the CorvetteForum thread)

Meguiar's has been in business for over 100 years, and besides creating products that outperform the competition, we also take great pride in offering training and education to equip people with the necessary skills to do the job right the first time, every time.




That way your car can be the show car of the neighborhood! Or even take first place at a local show!









Meguiar's visit to Icon Productions

(end of copy and paste)

I also bought a Craftsman 10" orbital buffer/polisher today.

As the other pc posted, these are pretty much only good for applying a coat of polish or wax and sometime removing a coat of polish or wax. They are not very effective at removing defects like swirls and scratches.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[Drvr02RT]

Regarding the Craftsman Buffer, I'm thinking of taking it back and saving up for a PC 7336 from Lowes.