First wash and wax in over a year

[KaBar6]

Hey everyone, I'm prepping to wash and wax my car this weekend with my DA polisher. I haven't done this forever, so I'm trying to get back in to the groove.

What I have so far:
DA polisher
NXT Tech Wax 2.0
Meguiars wash with wash mitt
MF towel

What I still need to get(?)
Ultimate Compound
Clay bar kit
Anything else I'm missing?

Now, the process goes wash, dry, clay bar, dry, apply UC, buff, then apply NXT then buff again?

Now on the clay bar, I can just get your everyday normal clay for this right? I've read up that I can just use a bit of dish soap filled in with a water bottle correct?

Any other tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Murr1525]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

What condition is the paint in?

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Eh, it's a bit rough right now, but nothing is damaged. I'm also thinking of applying Scratch X to a few spots. I have been without my buffer for a whole year(last time I lend out my equipment), but I've tried to take care of the paint the best I could while using some spray wax in between. I haven't clayed it for over a year.

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

What condition is the paint in?

Ah, I see that UC is just that, ultimate. Looks like I'll be using that with my buffer. I've got scratches and swirl marks galore, so I'm going to have to work at it a bit.

[ffboy]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

To save time and money, I'd use UC on the problem spots, it's more aggressive than ScratchX 2.0 anyway, I would instead get a proper clay lube, such as the original quik detailer (maroon spray bottle) or Last Touch instant detailer dilluted 50%.

Or you can follow up the UC with either SwirlX or Ultimate Polish, depending on how the paint responds with UC to add even more shine or remove any remaining swirls or marring that may have been inflicted by UC. If you get mostly marr free finish with just UC, good for you.

[h_bomm]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Use your ultimate compound on a yellow polishing pad and on speed 5 on the buffer and you'll be good to go. As far as Ultimate Polish goes, if you have a light colored car like white or silver you may not need to use it as you might not notice much of a difference. But if you have time and want to try using UP you certainly won't hurt anything! I would invest in the Clay Bar Kit as well. It comes with a couple bars of clay, the Quick Detailer in the maroon bottle, not the Ultimate Quick Detailer, and a microfiber towel. Also there is no real reason to buff after applying your wax. Just let it dry to a haze and wipe off with a microfiber. Hope this helps!

[goldenlight]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

I would add Ultimate Polish to your line up to help refine the finish to give it that extra pop. Ultimate polish has abrasives in it. Then your favorite wax over a 2 day period.

To save time you can clay car while its wet. Just spray the clay lube on it and rinse each panel.

MOthers or Meguiars clay kit will be fine to use. Sometimes you can find this on sales at autozone.

You can buy Last touch and make all the claylube you want :-)

Do paint Corrections while its cool. It you can't lay your hand on the paint comfortably for 30 seconds. its too hot..

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

I would add Ultimate Polish to your line up to help refine the finish to give it that extra pop. Ultimate polish has abrasives in it. Then your favorite wax over a 2 day period.

To save time you can clay car while its wet. Just spray the clay lube on it and rinse each panel.

MOthers or Meguiars clay kit will be fine to use. Sometimes you can find this on sales at autozone.

You can buy Last touch and make all the claylube you want :-)

Do paint Corrections while its cool. It you can't lay your hand on the paint comfortably for 30 seconds. its too hot..

Ah, so that clay lube would be the Quik Detailer?

[ffboy]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Yes, so I would recommend getting an extra bottle of quick detailer. You might end up using a lot of it depending on how much contaminants your paint has. Using dishwashing soap or even a car wash may compromise the clay bar, some have experienced the clay collapsing or something to that effect. Last Touch is a very good and versatile product and in the long run, more cost effective.

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

So with the NXT wax, I would add the UP on top of it to finish it off?

[h_bomm]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Nope. You would want to wash, clay, UC, UP, wax. Wax is always the last step. And definitely get an extra bottle of Quick Detailer, they are usually in the 5-6 dollar range

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Nope. You would want to wash, clay, UC, UP, wax. Wax is always the last step. And definitely get an extra bottle of Quick Detailer, they are usually in the 5-6 dollar range

Cool. Now with the clay, do I get the actual clay bar kit and use the Quik detailer as lubricant? Or can I just use the QD and wipe off?

[h_bomm]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Not sure what you mean by "just use the QD and wipe off". The QD itself will have no power to remove the kind of bonded debris that the clay picks up. The QD is a lubricant for the clay. I would get the Smooth Surface Clay Kit for sure. It comes with a couple bars of clay, a bottle of the QD (for lube) and a microfiber towel. And i would still get an extra bottle of QD too even though the kit comes with one. You don't want to use a whole bar at a time though. I usually tear a bar in half and work with that. If you drop your clay on the ground, throw it away and grab some more. The clay will pick up dirt from the ground then you will be rubbing that into your paint scratching it up really bad

[KaBar6]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Got it. Now I've read that you either rinse off and dry after claying and you then start the polish/waxing, or that you don't rinse at all.

[Murr1525]

Re: First wash and wax in over a year

Depends on how you are working... If you wash and dry the car, then clay, you are pretty much drying the car as you go, and it is ready to go from there.

If you wash, and clay while the car is still wet, or soapy even, (if you are in a cool area where it wont dry and spot), you may want to rinse after then dry.