My 5 Step

[mjohn]

Does this all look correct? I have the items on bold purchased.

Thank You

1. Wash
a.Gold Class Soap

2. Clean/Surface Prep
a.Clay Kit
b.Colorx
c.Scratchx

3. Polish
a.DC 2?

4.Protect
a. Gold Class Liquid

5.Maintain.
a. QD

[Murr1525]

Re: My 5 Step

Would you be doing step 2 all at once, like in that order? Or are those kind of "just to have on the shelf if needed"?

[mjohn]

Re: My 5 Step

Well, I need the clay, and want to remove a bit of the blur (it is clear, but not like a mirror, it is a bit like ripples on water I guess, and it is only noticeable when looking closely). I have swirl marks, but they are not that bad, and I do not want to ScratchX a whole vehicle by hand!

So, I'd say on the shelf if needed, but I know I will need the Clay and either Scratch or ColorX

Vehicles are a 2002 Black Dakota and a Red 1998 Ford Escort

[Murr1525]

Re: My 5 Step

Just in case you follow up later, here are the two processes I would look at:

Full Detail:
1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. ScratchX for trouble spots, DC#1 for general cleaning.
4. DC#2
5. Wax - A thin coat of your favorite pure wax.
6. Wax - A second thin coat

Quick Detail:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax - A coat of your favorite wax.

Then after future washes, I like the Ultimate QD to follow up. But the UQD is only for detailing, you would want an extra bottle of the regular QD for claying.

And of course good quality towels, sponges, applicators, 2 buckets, Grit Guards, etc....

EDIT:

Just saw your response.... the ripply look is called orange peel. That you will be stuck with, and most factory cars come with it to some degree these days. But at least you can make your orange peel shiny like the rest of us.

[mjohn]

Re: My 5 Step

Just in case you follow up later, here are the two processes I would look at:

Full Detail:
1. Wash
2. Clay as needed
3. ScratchX for trouble spots, DC#1 for general cleaning.
4. DC#2
5. Wax - A thin coat of your favorite pure wax.
6. Wax - A second thin coat

Quick Detail:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax - A coat of your favorite wax.

Then after future washes, I like the Ultimate QD to follow up. But the UQD is only for detailing, you would want an extra bottle of the regular QD for claying.

And of course good quality towels, sponges, applicators, 2 buckets, Grit Guards, etc....

EDIT:

Just saw your response.... the ripply look is called orange peel. That you will be stuck with, and most factory cars come with it to some degree these days. But at least you can make your orange peel shiny like the rest of us.

I figured ColorX would be in full detail
Is it stronger than DC1?

[new2detailing]

Re: My 5 Step

ColorX is more for hand application whereas DC1 would work better with machine application.

[Murr1525]

Re: My 5 Step

DC#1 is a dedicated cleaner. ColorX is a cleaner/polish/wax. Both are fine by hand or machine, and I really wouldnt plan to remove swirls by hand with either product.

So if you were to use ColorX in a full detail, your steps would effectively look like:

Wash
Clay
Clean
Polish
Wax
Polish
Wax
Wax

... kind of repetetive. I would really only use a cleaner/wax if it is going to save me time and effort, but thats just my opinion. Otherwise, you may as well use a dedicated cleaner.

[mb911]

Re: My 5 Step

Murr - May I ask you a question?

You said DC 1 as cleaner for most of car and Scratch X for trouble spots.

Is that because you think there could be some danger in Scratch X as cleaner on entire car? I have done that before, so I was a bit worried.

Thanks.

[Murr1525]

Re: My 5 Step

Murr - May I ask you a question?

You said DC 1 as cleaner for most of car and Scratch X for trouble spots.

Is that because you think there could be some danger in Scratch X as cleaner on entire car? I have done that before, so I was a bit worried.

Thanks.

No danger at all. It just ***** to remove swirls on an entire car by hand, and would be expensive and time consuming to use ScratchX as your "general purpose" paint cleaner every detail.

It sounded like john had some areas he wanted to fix up a bit, then live with the rest for now. Maybe he is looking at a machine in the future. So he can just focus on the bad areas with ScratchX, then DC1 the rest, and stick with DC1 in the future for mild cleanings. Or ScratchX one panel this time, one panel next time, and work his way around the car.

I should add that it would be fine to ScratchX trouble spots first, then ColorX and wax.... but I would still skip polishing at that point, I dont like going back and repeating myself.

[92mr2]

Re: My 5 Step

Actually I'm planning to do my whole project car (black '99 Lexus) by hand with scratch X.
It's like one panel a week, several applications will be needed.

It's a stress reliever in the evening......................at least for a while.

Bob

[Murr1525]

Re: My 5 Step

Actually I'm planning to do my whole project car (black '99 Lexus) by hand with scratch X.
It's like one panel a week, several applications will be needed.

It's a stress reliever in the evening......................at least for a while.

Bob

You might look at #105... it is getting good reviews for use by hand, and the larger bottle would be more appropriate for a whole car.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: My 5 Step

I agree with Murr. Get some 105. In numerous threads on this site it is doing a wonderful job using it by hand.