Newbie questions

[kgb]

Hi all,

I'm just getting into this whole detailing thing ... seems like fun so far :-) Luckily I have an old clunker to practice on before I launch myself at my Audi.
I have a few questions that would help me get going:

1) Should I use a polish like #7 every time I wax? Seems like that might eventually do some damage over the years if it removes much paint.

2) How long do these products last on the shelf? I have some wax and polish that's been sitting around for a couple of years ... not sure if I should use it or not.

3) I got a battery powered random orbit polisher as a gift - how much can I expect to accomplish with it? It seems to be fairly sturdy, runs on rechargeable batteries just like a cordless drill. I was hoping to remove swirl marks, etching from bird droppings, etc with it.

Thanks! BTW, great forum - lots of useful information in here.

Ken

[Xtreme99_s-Dime]

Hi. and welcome to the wonderful world of detailing.

I'm not sure about shelf life, but #7 is very mild. It only removes an extremely small amount of clear, so you're safe in that department. However, it isn't great at removing scratches and swirls, for that I would try #9 or even something a little more aggressive.

Just a few questions about your polisher, what brand is it, what does it look like (pics ?) and does it have a speed marked on it? This will help you decide if it's able to make the best of Meguiars' products designed for polishers.

[Murr1525]

Shelf life can be hard to say... depends on conditions, if it has ever been shaken up, etc..

As Xtreme mentioned, #7 is great, but completly non abrasive. So you can use it often, but it wont remove any scratches, etc.

I'll leave the orbital questions to someone else...

[Djmigs]

Re: Newbie questions

Originally posted by kgb
Hi all,

I'm just getting into this whole detailing thing ... seems like fun so far :-) Luckily I have an old clunker to practice on before I launch myself at my Audi.
I have a few questions that would help me get going:

1) Should I use a polish like #7 every time I wax? Seems like that might eventually do some damage over the years if it removes much paint.

2) How long do these products last on the shelf? I have some wax and polish that's been sitting around for a couple of years ... not sure if I should use it or not.

3) I got a battery powered random orbit polisher as a gift - how much can I expect to accomplish with it? It seems to be fairly sturdy, runs on rechargeable batteries just like a cordless drill. I was hoping to remove swirl marks, etching from bird droppings, etc with it.

Thanks! BTW, great forum - lots of useful information in here.

Ken

Hi Ken..Welcome To Meguiars Online

I will try to help you understand but i certainly am no expert...

To answer your first ? ....No. 7 is a pure polish (if you want that show finish)it does not contain any waxes to protect your car from the elements....if you use(#7) this you will definitely need to use a wax afterwards..of your choice...

your second ?...i have heard it can last any wear from 5 to 7 years shelf life possibly even longer but as long as it has not been frozen.....

your third ?....wireless random orbital polisher.....IMHO i think these are to hold your towel(paper weight) ...the reason i say that first its cordless there not enough power v. one that uses electric.......next they do not have enough power to work the polish and wax because they have a constant speed which can not be changed v. DA(Dual Action Polisher-G 100)...Since the orbital cannot really work the polish or wax it will not remove swirl marks,etching,oxidizing, and so forth....if you really want to tackle or have those problem your best bet is the g100 DA but if you prefer by hand the only thing i can think of is scratch X to remove scratches,etching and of course some polish and wax...hope that kind of guide you ..sorry it is kind of late for me...if i made an error please let us know


by the way read Meguiars five step paint care cycle this is a must...so you understand everything from begging (washing) to end(Wax) and everything in between all count for the best reflection/protection

[Accumulator]

With decent conditions products can last a very, *very* long time. Manufacturer's reps have to be careful about what they say lest some weird conditions tick off a customer, but I can assure you that "shelf life" isn't much of an issue. Just keep 'em tightly closed and avoid temperature extremes. The can of Meguiar's #16 I'm currently using (on my wife's A8) was first opened in the early '90s and I use other products that are older than that.

Heh heh, as a long-time Audi owner I'll warn you that Audi (Spies-Hecker brand) clear is very hard. Try not to mar it because removing that marring is a bit of a job. No way will the battery powered polisher touch swirls/etching on an Audi. Even the G100 is a bit too mild for all but the lightest work.

[kgb]

Originally posted by Xtreme99_s-Dime
Hi. and welcome to the wonderful world of detailing.

I'm not sure about shelf life, but #7 is very mild. It only removes an extremely small amount of clear, so you're safe in that department. However, it isn't great at removing scratches and swirls, for that I would try #9 or even something a little more aggressive.

Just a few questions about your polisher, what brand is it, what does it look like (pics ?) and does it have a speed marked on it? This will help you decide if it's able to make the best of Meguiars' products designed for polishers.

Polisher pic is attached - it's a Simoniz. Batteries are only 4.8V. Sounds like it might not be up to much - maybe I'll ask for a G100 for Christmas

Thanks for the tips!

Ken