First Time

[LT22]

Well today was the first time I did a full detail on my car and it took me just about 6 hours straight and im exhausted and I have some questions. Well first of all, while I was applying DC#1 to my car certain parts of the car made the pad gray, is this dead paint?
It did this when I applied DC#2 also just not as much. Doing a full detail by hand took longer than I expected. Is the DC#1 and #2 suppose to take a couple swipes to remove? It tired me out. Maybe i put too much at a time? is that possible? and When I applied the NXT Tech Wax, some part were harder to remove does this mean I put too much on that area? I didn't put a second coat of wax, because im doing that tomorrow, if my car isnt that dirty would a QD application follow up with the second coating of wax be ok?

[Don]

DC1 is a gentle, but fairly strong (chemically) cleaner. It is very possible the discoloring on your pad is embedded dirt etc the cleaner removed from the paint. If you have SS (single stage, no clearcoat) paint, then it could very well be dead paint that's been removed.

If the NXT is hard to remove, it's usually because you put it on too thick.

if my car isnt that dirty would a QD application follow up with the second coating of wax be ok?

As long as it stays dry (no dew or rain) and it just has a light coating of dust, then a QD prep should be OK.

[grover]

I think DC1 has a gray tint to it so it may be the product that's causing the color. I don't know why it would happen with DC2 except that maybe it's residue from DC1.

I've found that DC1 and DC2 are harder to remove than wax, I think it's just the nature of the products. They are still wet when you remove them so it takes a couple swipes. The wax dries and wipes off relatively easily.

I've been doing the DC1, DC2, DC3 combo for almost 4 years now and it's definitely a 4 - 6 hour process. I recently added claying and subsituted NXT wax. It's not easy, I am definitely sore the day after a detail and a g100 is on my wish list.

EDIT: I just wanted to add that what makes it all worth it is when people compliment my car and I tell them it's almost 5 years old and they think I just drove it off the lot!

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

If DC #1 is removing color from your paint to your pad, besides the color of the product itself, it could be from either oxidation or perhaps paint from single stage paint that is being removed. What color is your paint?

DC#2 is a pure polish that contains no intended ingredients for the purpose of cleaning the paint. As such, any cleaning action will come from the application material itself. Does the color on the pad resemble the color of the product? If so, it is probably just the product. If not, something else is going on and we need to investigate.

If the products are hard to remove, for LSP's (Ie. NXT) that means the product was applied too thick. You need to apply a thin, but even coat of product.

For DC#2, being a pure polish, it does not dry but rather skins over. I like to apply and remove it, one panel at a time.

As for the second coat the next day, as long as it is not "heavy" dust, meaning dust that may have been mixed with morning dew, you should be ok. Therefore use a QD for the light dust. But if in doubt, re-wash and then apply the second coat.

I hope this helps!

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Re: First Time

Originally posted by LT22
Well today was the first time I did a full detail on my car and it took me just about 6 hours straight and im exhausted and I have some questions. Well first of all, while I was applying DC#1 to my car certain parts of the car made the pad gray, is this dead paint?

What are you working on?

[LT22]

Im working on a 1996 Mercedes Benz E320 I would post of pics but no camera sorry guys. My paint color is a rare color for the Mercedes Benz line. Its a Midnight/Twilight Blue with a tint of green. The color rubs off mostly off the roof of my car, maybe the reason is because the sun hits the roof top constantly? it hasnt been waxed for the for a long time. Im pretty sure my car was at SS. Today I just QD the entire and car gave it a second coat should one more coat be necessary since my car was at SS?

[Mike Phillips]

From Meguiar's *NEW* FAQ

Here's the link, below is the answer,

How can I tell if I have a clear coat finish?


To determine whether you have a clear coat or a single-stage finish perform this simple test.

• * Find an inconspicuous area to test, such as the lower rear quarter panel of your car's fender or inside the door jamb.
  
  * Clean this area first with car wash and water or Meguiar's Quik Detailer. You don't want any dirt or grime to interfere with your test.
  
  * Using a small piece of white cotton, such as a piece of terry cloth towel, rub a little paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into the paint of this inconspicuous area.
  
  * After rubbing for a few moments, turn your cloth toward you and look to see if there is any color from your paint on the cloth.

If you have a red car and you now have red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you have a single stage finish. If you have a red car and you don't see any red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you have a clear coat.

To be 100% sure, you should test in a couple of different areas.

Note: If you have a white, or very light colored car you should use a dark piece of cotton cloth and look for the color of your car's finish on it after rubbing some paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into the finish for a few moments.

[LT22]

Maybe my car isnt at a SS, but it hasnt been waxed for a long time, the last time it was wax was when I took it to the car wash and this sealer wax comes with the car wash package never going there again they do a crappy job all they do is wipe the car dry and the machine washer dont even scrub the car down. A waste of money. I gave the car 2 coats of NXT was so far should i give it another? or 2 good enough?

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Two coats of NXT Tech Wax will ensure even coverage and provide you with the maximum protection.

Tim