Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

[Murr1525]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

Some people will put a new coat of liquid/paste wax on when they feel like it without any prep work first.

I prefer the spray waxes, and then only putting the liquid/paste coat of wax on when doing some prep work first. But my car is outside a lot, so more build up and stuff.

[imbty]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

Man, I hate how my car quickly collects dust (parked outside overnight sometimes, DD). Anyways.

I definitely will pick up the DA Power System. A lot of the things I recently bought (polish, wax) just came on sale (I hope they'll price protect), as well as the DA. However, I will stick with one pad for now.

Next week, I plan to redo the whole process. Clay it properly, cleaner wax the entire car with my hand, use scratch-x 2.0 on my scratch [different from the rest], polish with the DA and wax with my hand.

Now in the future, if I don't want to polish/wax the entire car and just want to work on a certain part because of previous scratch/swirls or new ones, I can do that after a wash (scratch-x, polish, wax), and focus on that part without having to the whole car, right? Or would it look uneven?

I will try to post a photo of the scratch I'm talking about. It doesn't seem minor. I hope Scratch-X can remove it. If not, most people suggest the Ultimate Compound. Would I be able to use Cleaner Wax and/or Scratch-X on the entire car except for the area with the scratch, and just use Ultimate Compound for that? Or is it a "use one only so it is even" type of scenario?

[Murr1525]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

I definitely will pick up the DA Power System. A lot of the things I recently bought (polish, wax) just came on sale (I hope they'll price protect), as well as the DA. However, I will stick with one pad for now.

One pad might get awkward fast, but just have to see. The system comes with one yellow pad. Or you can get 3 packs of pads. Or you can get 1 pad and 1 smaller bottle of product.

Next week, I plan to redo the whole process. Clay it properly, cleaner wax the entire car with my hand, use scratch-x 2.0 on my scratch [different from the rest], polish with the DA and wax with my hand.

If you clayed already, shouldnt need another right away, unless you thought you missed some spots, or got splashed by something.

However... again:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ScratchX the scratch
4. Cleaner/Wax
5. Wax

or:

1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ScratchX the scratch
4. Ult. Polish
5. Wax
6. Wax

Now in the future, if I don't want to polish/wax the entire car and just want to work on a certain part because of previous scratch/swirls or new ones, I can do that after a wash (scratch-x, polish, wax), and focus on that part without having to the whole car, right? Or would it look uneven?

If the rest of the car was bright and shiny, then cleaning one spot should stay even. If the car was already swirled/scratched up, then the shiny part would stand out.

I will try to post a photo of the scratch I'm talking about. It doesn't seem minor. I hope Scratch-X can remove it. If not, most people suggest the Ultimate Compound.

For working on one small spot, ScratchX 2.0 would be similar to UC. Remember to work over an area with even pressure, not just rubbing your finger into one small spot over and over.

If by hand wont work, the machine could help.

Can you feel it with your fingernail? But a pic would help most.

[imbty]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

I got the DA Compound Pack so I could obtain the burgundy pad. I wish I could get more pads locally, but I can't seem to find them. Maybe I'll hold off on using the machine till I get my hands on them. Why exactly would it get "awkward"?

You've provided me with three work flows/methods. The first one doesn't have Ultimate Pol., why is that? If I want a very shiny finish, wouldnt using Ult. Polish be better? I assume it has more polishing oils (as per what I've been reading)?

As of now, I don't have that much swirls. Actually, I probably don't have too many that you can see unless you try your best to look for it. However, I do have isolated blemishes and one big scratch. Once again, I'll provide a photo soon. Sorry!

Ps from what you've been suggesting, I don't need to Cleaner/Wax THEN Polish. Why is that? I thought Cleaner/Wax and Ult. Polish were two different things. From what I understand, there's paint cleaner (cleaner wax, ult. compound, scratch-x- difference is aggressiveness), polish, and wax. Am I misunderstanding some concepts?

[Murr1525]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

I got the DA Compound Pack so I could obtain the burgundy pad. I wish I could get more pads locally, but I can't seem to find them. Maybe I'll hold off on using the machine till I get my hands on them. Why exactly would it get "awkward"?

Well, it depends what you need to do. You can wax the entire car with one pad... even polishing could be done with one pad if just doing light cleaning.

Swirl removal can work best with 1-2 clean pads every so often.

And of course if you were to try to clean, polish and wax with one pad, you would be trying to wash and dry over and over.

You've provided me with three work flows/methods. The first one doesn't have Ultimate Pol., why is that? If I want a very shiny finish, wouldnt using Ult. Polish be better? I assume it has more polishing oils (as per what I've been reading)?

Well, individual steps will tend to give the best results. But that adds extra time also. So the cleaner/wax type products cover a few steps at once to speed things up, but perhaps not the absolute best results. Just a trade off to decide on.

Ps from what you've been suggesting, I don't need to Cleaner/Wax THEN Polish. Why is that? I thought Cleaner/Wax and Ult. Polish were two different things. From what I understand, there's paint cleaner (cleaner wax, ult. compound, scratch-x- difference is aggressiveness), polish, and wax. Am I misunderstanding some concepts?

Probably...

The Ult. Compound, ScratchX are cleaners.

The Ult. Polish is a cleaner/polish.

The Cleaner/Wax (and ColorX, White Wax, etc) are cleaner/polish/waxes.

So you wouldn't want to use a cleaner/polish/wax, and then go back to just a cleaner/polish.

[imbty]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

Hmm. I'm definitely going to be doing light pressure. I just think it'd be faster with the DA. Then again, last time I did it, time was fine, it just wasn't enough for that particular day (had an appointment).

So you say Ult. Polish is a cleaner/polish. What is a pure polish then? I thought Ult. Polish was purely a polishing product.

[Murr1525]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

Well, we tend to use Meguiars terminology here... different companies and people will use some words to mean other things.

A pure polish would be just oils.

A cleaner/polish would have some cleaning ability, and then polishing oils.

Ult. Polish being a very mild cleaner/polish.

[imbty]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

I believe I introduced some swirls with the DA Power System + Yellow Pad using Ult. Polish after I did a thorough wash + clay. I guess I didn't wash it properly (which, I tried my best to do. Actually took my time) because after a few days, I see circular swirls.

Even if I'm trying to look for it, it takes a while to see it under the right angle, but it's there. It really *****. I tried to make my exterior looking good, but I think I made it worst.

Like I said, it's barely noticeable. I'm not that worried or bummed out about it because you can faintly see it, but at the same time, it ***** that it's there. They're very small, probably half an inch. I wonder if I'll be able to show it with a photo. Maybe I'll try to do Ult. Polish again in a few months to try and clean/remove it.

Maybe my technique with the DA Power System needs tweaking. I did put a bit of pressure (as what I've been reading). But nothing like putting body weight on it.

edit: I'm confident it's the DA because they're circular, and I don't do circular motion when washing or claying. Nor when wiping (at times, but not like how the swirls show it).

[Murr1525]

Re: Is My "Work Flow" Efficient?

Try to work on a small part, or panel before doing the whole car.

You may want to try UP with a yellow pad, or even a black pad.

[acecustoms]

I have those microfiber towels. They seem good nice and plush. Way better then the Simonize ones from Canadian tire. Looked at the wash mitt and it seems good to