A few general questions from a newbie...

[Namirrem]

Wow, I didn't know that detailing was so involved..........thought it was wash, wax, & done. I have some swirl marks in my Pearl White 95 Maxima SE, and bought some Meguiar's Scratch X for the initial oxidation/swirl removal. I recently had my car broken into (Body shop replaced the entire dash, middle console), and the bodyshop inadvertantly jumped Max into a workbench (car was still in first gear). Anyway, they had to replace the hood, front bumper & fog lights, so I essentially have a new front end. I shouldn't use the scratch-x on these new parts, right? I'll be doing everything by hand, and I'll be claying the rest of the car.... should those new parts be included?
Also, I just purchased Meguiar's Clear Coat (paste) wax last night, and want to know if this will work well on my color (Pearl White) car. I've heard that Carnubas are good for dark colors, and polymers are good for light, is this correct? Can I follow up the MCCW with #26 to give it an added shine (I'm hoping, since I bought it as well)? What will make my car look it's best? Thanks in advance for the help, it is MUCH appreciated!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: A few general questions from a newbie...

Originally posted by Namirrem
Wow, I didn't know that detailing was so involved..........thought it was wash, wax, & done. I have some swirl marks in my Pearl White 95 Maxima SE, and bought some Meguiar's Scratch X for the initial oxidation/swirl removal. I recently had my car broken into (Body shop replaced the entire dash, middle console), and the body shop inadvertently jumped Max into a workbench (car was still in first gear). Anyway, they had to replace the hood, front bumper & fog lights, so I essentially have a new front end. I shouldn't use the scratch-x on these new parts, right?

Since they're brand new parts/paint you shouldn't need to use a paint cleaner like ScratchX on these parts, but you can. ScratchX is completely safe for all paints and the least it will do is ensure that the paint is perfectly clean before you apply wax.

I'll be doing everything by hand, and I'll be claying the rest of the car.... should those new parts be included?

Yes. You would be surprised at what drifts around in the air and lands on your car.

Also, I just purchased Meguiar's Clear Coat (paste) wax last night, and want to know if this will work well on my color (Pearl White) car. I've heard that Carnauba are good for dark colors, and polymers are good for light, is this correct?

All Meguiar's waxes will work great on any color. Most cars are clear coated so you're not actually working on a color, but on clear paint.

Meguiar's formulates their polishes and waxes to add richness, clarity, reflectivity and depth to paint. This is why after applying a Meguiar's polish or wax to most dark colors the color will become richer. Meguiar's polishes and waxes actually add richness, clarity, reflectivity and depth to all paint colors it's just that light colors do show a dramatic difference, the difference is still there, your eyes just cannot perceive it.

Some waxes on the market don't add any richness to any color, these product are often recommended for light colors because the there is a lack of understanding on what the product is actually doing, or more specifically, not doing.

Paint manufactures do everything they can to create paints that are rich in color, Meguiar's pure polishes and waxes often times will improve upon what the paint manufacture is capable of doing.

What you want out of your car's finish is the best looking results, for most people this usually mean vibrant color, high gloss, high shine, and if your car is a medium, dark or black colored car you want it to as deep, and dark and rich as possible. Meguiar's pure polishes and waxes are famous for this.

Can I follow up the MCCW with #26 to give it an added shine (I'm hoping, since I bought it as well)? What will make my car look it's best? Thanks in advance for the help, it is MUCH appreciated!

By MCCW do you mean, Meguiar's Car Cleaner Wax? If so, then yes you can follow this with the #26 Hi Tech Yellow wax. Basically, you will be using the cleaner/wax as your prep product and the #26 will build on the results it creates.

To take your car's finish to its maximum potential, you simply need to follow the below steps and add your own amount of passion to the process and your results will be stellar!

Here's the basic order of steps to follow,


Washing
Before detailing your car, first do an extremely good job of washing it. Remove all the dirt from all the nooks and crannies. This prevents any small abrasive dirt particle from entering into the machine polishing process and potentially instilling a swirl. Get the Car Sparkling Clean to start with and everything will be downhill after that.

Claying
After that clay the car, at least the horizontal surfaces. Again, do a good job of claying to insure you remove all above surface contaminants. The level of gloss you can achieve from your car's finish is mostly determined by how smooth you can make your paint. Claying will make your car's finish as smooth as glass.

Cleaning
Cleaning is different than washing. Cleaning is removing both above surface defects like oxidation and below surface defects like swirls, scratches, etchings, and dirt that has embedded itself under the surface. Choose the appropriate paint cleaner for the condition of your car's finish and your application process. If you're unsure of which paint cleaner or cleaner/polish is right for your car, describe your car and if possible post a picture and we'll be glad to make some recommendations.


Polishing
Polishing after removing the defects is typically using a pure polish that is non-abrasive to restore brilliant high gloss and deep, dark reflections. This is an optional step and one best used on medium to dark colored car.

Protecting
This is where you apply your choice of wax or paint protectant. Adding a layer or two of wax creates a sacrificial-barrier on your car's paint to protect it and also add shine and gloss. Generally, two thin coats will insure even coverage with a uniform appearance.

Maintaining
Maintaining is the use of products like a quick detailer or a spray wax to maintain that "Just detailed look" in-between regular washings, and the regular application of a normal coat of wax.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[king]

Mike, hope you can provide assistance..as I am pretty new (but confused) to the array of your product.

I had two weeks old new Subaru which I just had given it a good 1.5hr NTX wash and then chamois dried. After 1 hour, I run my fingers on the paint surface but I felt tiny dust on the paint. I also found a few yellish stain left behind after either tree-sap or bug had been removed from the wash. The car is parked outside and recently we had high wind, so perhaps the dust may be everywhere.

I want to protect the new car with a good coat of wax and hope in future I can be easily maintain the shine.

What I need to know is, what do I need to achieve the following:

1. to remove the yellowish stain from either tree-sap or insect

2. avoid getting dust on the car after wash

3. after step 1 & 2, do I apply paint cleaner and the pure polish before waxing

Please advise?

PS: The color is champagne. Park mainly outside.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by king
Mike, hope you can provide assistance..as I am pretty new (but confused) to the array of your product.

I had two weeks old new Subaru which I just had given it a good 1.5hr NXT wash and then chamois dried. After 1 hour, I run my fingers on the paint surface but I felt tiny dust on the paint. I also found a few yellowish stain left behind after either tree-sap or bug had been removed from the wash. The car is parked outside and recently we had high wind, so perhaps the dust may be everywhere.

I want to protect the new car with a good coat of wax and hope in future I can be easily maintain the shine.

What I need to know is, what do I need to achieve the following:

1. to remove the yellowish stain from either tree-sap or insect

Quik Clay System

2. avoid getting dust on the car after wash

Enclosed Garage or any work area inside out of the wind.

3. after step 1 & 2, do I apply paint cleaner and the pure polish before waxing

Please advise?

Yes, after washing and claying the car, go right to the paint cleaner and follow that with a pure polish and the two thin coats of wax.

ScratchX
Deep Crystal Polish





Remember, neither paint cleaners nor pure polishes need to dry before removing them. Simply apply and work the product into the finish and then remove it. Many people prefer to work panel by panel when applying paint cleaners and polishes.

Meguiar's waxes do need to dry before you remove them.

PS: The color is champagne. Park mainly outside.

If it's parked outside most of the time, then you're going to want to wash it often to prevent air borne contaminants from settling and bonding to the finish. Sad to say, a good quality wax can help prevent bonded contaminants from bonding, but left on the surface for any length of time and they will eventually attach themselves and often time require claying to remove.

If you really want to maintain your car's finish, and the car is going to be parked outside most of the time, then you really need to find some products you like and use them often. This will include a good quality car wash and a car wax with some cleaning ability.

Check out this articel,

A Lesson From White Paint

Especially these last three paragrahps...

If you are a serious car enthusiast, and it’s important to you to keep your car’s finish in tip top shape, then it’s important that you understand that dirt is building-up on your car’s finish. This is not a problem, per se, you simply need to use a paint cleaner or gentle polish to clean the paint surface and remove the build up. A paint cleaner, (also referred to as a pre-wax cleaner), or a quality cleaner/wax is so important for good regular maintenance of your car’s finish. Dedicated paint cleaners and the chemical cleaners used in cleaner/waxes, remove the dirt build-up off and out of your finish. This restores clarity to your paint enabling your eyes to clearly see the true color without any contaminant blocking your view.

The slow build of dirt in paint explains why the majority of car waxes you find on the shelves of your local auto parts stores are usually some type of cleaner/wax. If you merely wash a car whose paint has accumulated dirt build-up on both the surface and in the pores, then apply a pure wax, or at least a wax with little or no cleaning ability, you will in essence be sealing or locking the dirt into the paint. This will exacerbate the clouding-effect and it will also accelerate the deterioration of the paint itself.

Working on daily drivers that had single-stage white paint taught me the importance of cleaning paint, before waxing, and to share with people that have medium to dark colored cars that their paint looses it’s clarity over time because it becomes cloudy with an embedded dirt stain that is hard for their eyes to see because it builds up evenly and slowly over time.

Hope this helps...

Mike

[king]

Many thanks for prompt answer and right to the point. Now I am more confident and clear about the products I need to use.

Last two questions before I go out tomorrow and buy the products you recommend.

1. Why do you recommend ScratchX instead of DC Paint Cleaner? Is this because DC PC is being phased out or ScratchX is milder on the new car?

2. Why can't I purchase just the clay bar? Sorry, I had two bottles of Quick Detailer as Chrissy present!

Again, much appreciated for your prompt and excellence reply.