Paint Correction Process Question

[dajonx]

Hi,

If I wash the car and try to correct the paint by hand (been using Ultimate Compound), I know I won't be able to finish it very quickly... And I know that I have to apply wax twice (Ultimate Liquid Wax) in order to protect the paint. So my question is after correcting the paint on [example:] the hood and waxing the hood, do I wax the rest of the car? What if I want to correct the paint on [example:] the driver's side door the next day? Do I have to rewash the car or just correct the paint over the waxed area?

Thanks!

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

You would want to wash and clay the whole car.

Then you can Ult. Compound and Wax the hood.

Then the next day, you would use some Quick Detailer if needed to dust off a fender, and then UC and wax the fender, etc. And just keep going around.

If you ended up waiting a week or so, and were going to wash the whole car anyway, then sure, you could wash everything, then UC and Wax your next panel.

[dajonx]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

So would this be okay?

Saturday:
Wash, clay, UC and ULW front section
And then drive it around

Sunday:
QD, UC, ULW side panels
And drive it around all week

Following Saturday (not planning on washing car again):
QD, UC, ULW rear
Drive

Following Sunday:
QD, UC, ULW roof
Drive

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Yeah, pretty much. Just up to you when you feel the dirt is heavy enough to need washing, rather than QD.

[dajonx]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Great! Thank you very much, Murr!

Sorry, I have more questions about using UC/ULW on the foam applicators. Can you please tell me if I'm doing this correctly? When I start off, I use about three "dots" of product on the foam pads. It feels like the product goes away (ie being absorbed by the pads) pretty quickly so I use another dot and keep doing that. Am I using too much product? Also when I use the foam pads, it (using UC) has some resistance. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't clay beforehand though. (I really need to do that...) Is that normal? As for the ULW, I don't really use much force so it glides much better.

For washing the microfiber towels and foam pads, I just throw them in the washing machine and wash it with hot water. Is that fine?

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Sorry, I have more questions about using UC/ULW on the foam applicators. Can you please tell me if I'm doing this correctly?

The 2 products are going to behave very differently, so not the same technique for both.

When I start off, I use about three "dots" of product on the foam pads. It feels like the product goes away (ie being absorbed by the pads) pretty quickly so I use another dot and keep doing that. Am I using too much product? Also when I use the foam pads, it (using UC) has some resistance. I'm not sure if it's because I didn't clay beforehand though. (I really need to do that...) Is that normal? As for the ULW, I don't really use much force so it glides much better.

For UC:
When removing defects, you will want to try to work over a 1 - 1.5ft square or so at a time. You will want to get enough product on your pad so that you can smear a thin layer over the square. Then, you would start working the product into the paint over the square, and pull any product back into the square that you push out.

For ULW, or other waxes:
All you need here is enough wax to cover the surface. You dont want to have a lot of excess residue when the wax is dried, just a haze to show you covered everything.

So when you start off, you will tend to have to put a few drops on the pad, and smear it across the surface some, as the pad will absorb it at first. Once the pad starts to get wet with product, you should be able to use less and less as you go. This should certainly glide across better, and you wont use much pressure at all.

For washing the microfiber towels and foam pads, I just throw them in the washing machine and wash it with hot water. Is that fine?

Remember to wash MF towels separate from any cotton/terry cloths items. I tend to do my foam applicators by hand, but some people use a machine.

[dajonx]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Thank you very much Murr!

Since I only have microfiber towels/pads and foam pads, I don't have to worry about separating them!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Sounds like you've gotten some great advice from Mat and things are moving along smoothly for you, so that's great. To that end, we were going to shoot Mat a PM but decided it was better to comment publicly here:

I was out of town at Barrett-Jackson for several days last week and as such my time on MOL was a bit limited. It has been impossible for me to notice, however, that Mat has been all over the forum helping people with all sorts of questions and I want to publicly thank him for offering up his time and knowledge in my absence. Mat has been a long standing member of this community and has been a huge help, not only to other members with questions, but to all of us here at Meguiar's, and we just wanted to acknowledge that. We don't quite know how he finds the time to respond to so many posts, but he does so willingly, quickly, and accurately. Thanks, Mat!!!

[Murr1525]

Re: Paint Correction Process Question

Ehh, lab work gives a few free minutes while a test is going.