many NewB questions - scratchX, pads, etc, thanks

[vdubpower]

last week i detailed my nautic blue 500sel, with wash, clay then NXT liquid using the PC to apply and then hand wipe off. what im wondering now, because the car has been covered since, and not driven if i can apply some scratch X. i have come across a tube by chance. my trunk does have a few lines in it, so what would be the the best way to apply the scratch x, should it be on and off via hand.
is scratchx a product that should only be used on specific areas or can it be used on the whole car?


also I need new pads, i had done my car with only white pad the PC came with and its gotten pretty dirty. I have soaked it, but i dont think i will use it again on the car surface enless its strictly for the lower panels. So i was wondering, how are different pads different, like Sonus has DAS pads and SFX pads, and then Meguiars ofcourse has its own line. How do they differ and which are better and why.

i am planning on detailig next my granite grey Mercs. this car is only 2 months old but just was driven 2000 miles cross country, so im wondering whats the best approach for that.
i actually now have access to the Step 1, 2, 3 system, Gold class and NXT waxes, the scratch X ( tho the car doesnt have any).

should i wash , clay, do step 1-3, then choose nxt or gold class, or skip 1-3. How should i mix up what i use?
and if i do use the steps 1-3 do they each need their own pad.

thanks for all the help, love this site

[Murr1525]

Well, hard to tell if you were applying by hand or PC?

You would want to start with a good wash and maybe claying if you need to, though I doubt it cause you just did one. You can usualy go a while in between.

Then, it would change a little if working by hand or PC:

PC:
Start with #80, which is the milder cleaner and polish, probably enough for your needs.
You could step up to #83 if you find you need the extra cleaning/swirl removing power.

Then you would apply your choice of waxes, either Gold Class, Nxt, #21, whatever. Probably would want to stick to the liquid if using PC.

Hand:
Start with the ScratchX if you have any spots or swirls you want to touch up. You could scratchX the whole car, but doesnt sound like yours needs it. You can go over the whole car with DC#1, which is a milder cleaner, as well as using it without the ScratchX if you nothing that needs touched up.

Then, DC#2 will be an excellent polish to apply by hand, and should help a nautic blue look wet.

DC#3 is a wax, so you would choose between DC#3, or Gold Class, or Nxt. You would not need to use DC#3 and then another wax, unless you really wanted to, for different layering affect, etc.

You definately dont want to wax withoug making sure you have a good clean base. You can skip polishing, but I would recomend at least a paint cleaner first. Unless you are just using a spray booster wax over a good coat of wax.

I am not a PC expert, but certainly MEguiars pads seem to produce good resutls for the guys and gals here. They usualy wash them some with Dawn by hand i believe. Certainly dont want to replace them every time, or leave product caked in them.

[the other pc]

You can use ScratchX on the whole car but it’s a lot of work so I tend to use it on isolated spots. If the whole car needs something like ScratchX I’d go to a machine instead and use #80, #83 or something like that. Here’s an article on how to use ScratchX

Use a different pad for each product. If you can’t avoid mixing products on a pad only use similar products, waxes with waxes, polishes with polishes.

The fixed pad that comes with the 7424 is pretty lame. Hook&loop backed pads are way better. You can’t go wrong with Meguiar’s pads. They work great, are readily available from many suppliers and are reasonably priced. I haven’t tried Sonus pads on the PC myself but I’m sure they’re an excellent product.

The best way to get set up for Meguiar’s pads is to buy the W-DAV99, DA Velcro Buffing System. It’s a set of 3, 6.5" Polishing Pads and Backing Plate. Velcro backing for easy switching: 2 polishing pads (W-8006), 1 finishing pad (W-9006).

If I were doing the job with the products you mentioned my personal choice of sequence would be:

Wash
Clay
ScratchX isolated spots
DC step 1 the whole car by PC (or MPPC, #80, #83, etc if needed)
DC step 2 (not needed if you use #80, etc.) - Optional but can be nice, try it on an area and see what you think.
NXT wax


Have fun,
PC.