What do you use?

[Glyn RS2]

My current favourites are as follows:
Stage 1 Clay & Quick Detailer (Quick Clay - but I tend to do buy them seperate)
Stage 2 #83 Dual Action Cleaner Polish applied on W8006 pad by my PC at speed 5
Stage 3 # 82 Swirl Free Polish applied on W 8006 pad by PC at speed 4.5
Stage 4 #81 Hand Polish applied on W 8006 pad by PC at speed 4
Stage 5 NXT tech wax applied on W8006 pad at speed 3.5 & then buffed off with an ultimate bonnet.

I tend to do the full 5 stage process about 2 -3 times a year & stages 4 & 5 maybe once or twice in between. I plan to try the NXT Spray Wax as a weekly booster when I finish up my Quick Wax I use at present. 5 stages sounds like a lot & of course I have to wash the car first. However, if I am organised it only takes half a day & the results are excellent

Both my cars are clear coat - one pearl black & the other silver. I think the #81 certainly adds depth to the black, but not sure it makes a great deal of difference to the silver.

What do you use?
Does any one put anything on top of the NXT Tech Wax?

[2000]

[jfelbab]

On a crimson-red, non-clearcoated surface I use;
1. Clay
2. #71 GC Wash & Conditioner
3. #97 MPPC
4. #7 Show Car Glaze
5. #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax

On a Savannah metallic clearcoated surface I use;

1. Clay
2. #71 GC Wash & Conditioner
3. #97 MPPC
4. #7 Show Car Glaze
5. #127 NXT Tech Wax

Steps 3 & 4 used with a PC/W8006 at #4
Periodic touch up with #34 FI

IMHO, #26 looks much deeper on a medium to dark solid color paint than NXT.

Plan on trying #16 next.

[gb387]

On a Black Clear Coated surface I use:
1. Clay & Quik Detailer, I too buy them seperate
2. Gold Class Wash
3. #9 2.0 Swirl Remover W/PC
4. #2 Deep Crystal Polish W/PC (Changing to #81 Hand Polish)
5. NXT Wax W/PC (2 coats, with 1 coat 12 hours after the first)

I do the full deal above about 4 times a year and then I have started to wax with NXT Wax in between the full deal. Once a year I will detail the bed of the truck with the 5 steps.

[n1976jmk]

Why do you guys buy the clay and spray seperate???

[gb387]

Originally posted by n1976jmk
Why do you guys buy the clay and spray seperate???

Only reason I am now... I am trying to use all my Quik Detailer up, I am moving to the Final Detail from the detailer line. So I just get the single clay bars from meguiars.

[rusty bumper]

Some of you listed claying before washing...Was this a misprint?

Also, I didn't know you could buy Quik Clay separate from the lube. Or are you buying Meg's pro clay?

[PiP]

Originally posted by gb387
On a Black Clear Coated surface I use:
1. Clay & Quik Detailer, I too buy them seperate
2. Gold Class Wash
3. #9 2.0 Swirl Remover W/PC
4. #2 Deep Crystal Polish W/PC (Changing to #81 Hand Polish)
5. NXT Wax W/PC (2 coats, with 1 coat 12 hours after the first)

I do the full deal above about 4 times a year and then I have started to wax with NXT Wax in between the full deal. Once a year I will detail the bed of the truck with the 5 steps.

Are you going to do the #81 by hand or with the PC?

I have a dark blue (almost black) car and am looking for something to polish it with.

[jfelbab]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
Some of you listed claying before washing...Was this a misprint?

Also, I didn't know you could buy Quik Clay separate from the lube. Or are you buying Meg's pro clay?

Actually I wash before and after claying.

I also buy the C2000 clay because I have a lot of QD (A33 not the M66) around. I got a couple gallons of the QD a while back and and need to use it up.

[ebpcivicsi]

Originally posted by PiP
Are you going to do the #81 by hand or with the PC?

I have a dark blue (almost black) car and am looking for something to polish it with.

Works great either way.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by jfelbab
Actually I wash before and after claying.

I also buy the C2000 clay because I have a lot of QD (A33 not the M66) around. I got a couple gallons of the QD a while back and and need to use it up.

After I posted my question, I sort of answered it myself, but now I understand what you meant...Is there an advantage to washing after claying?

[jfelbab]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
After I posted my question, I sort of answered it myself, but now I understand what you meant...Is there an advantage to washing after claying?

Maybe not but I don't really wipe the car too clean when I clay. I pretty much just lube clay and feel if I got the surface contaminants off. The car doesn't look all that great after I finish claying so a quick wash is sort of an instinctive activity for me.

So I take it you don't wash after you clay?

[ebpcivicsi]

Originally posted by jfelbab
Maybe not but I don't really wipe the car too clean when I clay. I pretty much just lube clay and feel if I got the surface contaminants off. The car doesn't look all that great after I finish claying so a quick wash is sort of an instinctive activity for me.

So I take it you don't wash after you clay?

I have never felt a need to wash post clay. Then again, I probably clay a little differently than most.

I wash the car, leave it wet, mix up a new buket of suds. I then cut a piece of clay off, use a clean mitt to distribute the wash solution to a panel, clay the panel, rinse with hose, repeat until vehicle is completely clayed. I give the car a final a rinse, then dry.

Saves a ton of time, been doing it this way for years.

I throw the clay away after I finish. The soap will degrade the clay faster than a detail spray.

[Rockpick]

I currently have SEVERAL 'stand-by' products in my arsenal.

1. #9 SMR w/ PC
2. #83 DACP w/ PC
3. #26 w/ PC
4. NXT w/ PC
5. Final Detail w/ microfiber

And these are just a few...

I'm also utlizing products like Meguiar's Natural Shine, #40, NXT Protectant, Meguiar's Cleaner Wax, #7, Gold Class Shampoo, Endurance High-Gloss...

I could go on and on...

Also, you asked about topping NXT... I've found that #26 is a great product over the NXT. Two coats of NXT topped with two coats of #26 have helped to bring my vehicle's finish to another level that I'd never seen before...

RP

[jfelbab]

Here is a pic of some of the Meguiars products I use.