Hiyo

[sambuh]

Howdy from Va! I am really getting into this whole concept of "detailing" the car. To me driving a clean car, regardless of what you are driving, is like putting on a brooks brother suit. And I LOVE doing it. Helps me relax. I have also really found a lot of success with the Meguiars products. Love em!

would love some feed back on my current process and have a follow up question

1st wash of the month process-

Ultimate Wash and Wax
Meguiars Ultimate Compound
Meguiars Ultimate Polish
Meguiars Ultimate Wax

inbetween washes I use Meguiars Ultimate Quik Detailer

Next 3-5 washes
Meguiars Ultimate Wash and Wax
Meguiars Ultimate Wax Spray


Then back to steps in 1st Wash of the month


Here is my question, do you think it would be more advantageous to use a liquid wax as opposed to the spray?


Also, is a clay bar a better option to the compound? And are the mirror glaze products, the cut 105 and 205 better options to the Ultimate compound and polish? For reference, my car is a 2012 less than 2K miles on her. the paint is in great shape. I noticed very small light scratches. nothing the meguiars 2.0x cant get out. Anyways, thank you in advance! I look forward to any feedback you guys can offer.

[gsaintchar]

Re: Hiyo

Welcome too the forum! I think your 1st wash of the month is spot on, as well as the next 3-5 washes. Regarding the wax over the spray, I would say stay with your routine, if your are waxing once a month, that's plenty.

The clay bar will remove surface contaminants and the compound has dissolving abrasives that will work into the surface and when worked properly, work into a gloss. I would use clay bar, compound, polish, wax. So there ya have it for what it's worth. Good Luck! BTW- what car did you purchase and what's the color?

[sambuh]

Welcome too the forum! I think your 1st wash of the month is spot on, as well as the next 3-5 washes. Regarding the wax over the spray, I would say stay with your routine, if your are waxing once a month, that's plenty.

The clay bar will remove surface contaminants and the compound has dissolving abrasives that will work into the surface and when worked properly, work into a gloss. I would use clay bar, compound, polish, wax. So there ya have it for what it's worth. Good Luck! BTW- what car did you purchase and what's the color?

Awesome! The car I just purchased is a 2012 Corolla S, black. But have also been doing this on a 2012 WRX and 07 300SRT8

So you suggest adding a clay bar with it?

Thanks again!

[Rick McDonough]

Re: Hiyo

Welcome to Meguiar's Online!!

[imz4n]

Re: Hiyo

Clay bar does not correct scratches on the surface of the paint. With your process, I would doubt you would need to clay very often. Compounds like UC, are for removing scratches on the paint. Polishes are what make the paint shine and removes the light scratches. My thought would be wash, clay, compound, polish and wax 2-3 times a year. Wash, polish and wax as often as you like or need. I always try to use the least evasive process possible. Do you garage your car or does it sit out all the time? Do you work by hand or have a machine? Last thought, two coats of thin wax is better than one thick coat.

[sambuh]

Re: Hiyo

Clay bar does not correct scratches on the surface of the paint. With your process, I would doubt you would need to clay very often. Compounds like UC, are for removing scratches on the paint. Polishes are what make the paint shine and removes the light scratches. My thought would be wash, clay, compound, polish and wax 2-3 times a year. Wash, polish and wax as often as you like or need. I always try to use the least evasive process possible. Do you garage your car or does it sit out all the time? Do you work by hand or have a machine? Last thought, two coats of thin wax is better than one thick coat.

that makes sense. all our cars are outside. no garage :/ tough area to find 3-4 car garages, or garages are kind of rare here generally speaking. Also I work by hand. Id love to buy a DA, but man i have a hard time pulling the trigger! haha. And I havent come to a place where i dont like doing it. I am steeped in the research, and trying out all sorts of different things. So I am really enjoying it.

let me ask your opinions on this;

i understand the concept of a "less evasive process" but if the product is safe, does it matter?

I guess in my mind, i travel so much on the road, that the road grime etc builds up quicker and I feel better about Compound, Polish, Wax once a month, rather than 2-3 times a year. Make sense?

[Paul S]

Re: Hiyo

No sense to compound one a month unless the paint defects call for it. A proper wash will go far in maintaining your paint .Stay out of tunnel wash places and use your two bucket procedure. Leaving a car a little dirty does less harm the going through a brush type car wash. Remember when you compound, a small amout of clear coat is removed.

[gsaintchar]

Re: Hiyo

Since you are on the road that often, have you considered Cleaner Wax? Will save you alot of time.

[sambuh]

Makes perfect sense

[sambuh]

I have a liquid cleaner wax, meguiars. You think wash, them cleaner wax?

[gsaintchar]

Re: Hiyo

I have a liquid cleaner wax, meguiars. You think wash, them cleaner wax?

Yes, then in between actual washings use your spray on cleaner wax

[imz4n]

Re: Hiyo

that makes sense. all our cars are outside. no garage :/ tough area to find 3-4 car garages, or garages are kind of rare here generally speaking. Also I work by hand. Id love to buy a DA, but man i have a hard time pulling the trigger! haha. And I havent come to a place where i dont like doing it. I am steeped in the research, and trying out all sorts of different things. So I am really enjoying it.

let me ask your opinions on this;

i understand the concept of a "less evasive process" but if the product is safe, does it matter?

I guess in my mind, i travel so much on the road, that the road grime etc builds up quicker and I feel better about Compound, Polish, Wax once a month, rather than 2-3 times a year. Make sense?

You are correct, I would rather save the compound step and time and sit under a tree and have a beer LOL. What I am really trying to say is, unless you have deep scratches in the paint, the polish will most likely do the job for the minor scratches. If a scratch does not come out I would spot compound it, especially if I were doing it by hand. The more times you polish the paint, the better the paint will look in the long run instead of compounding and polishing everytime if you see where I am coming from. Do what makes you happy and just tell me to go buff a car. LOL

[sambuh]

Lol! Makes perfect sense! This time I just washed, and used Meguiars cleaner wax. So I will save the compound, and go just polish and wax next time. And then 3-5 times a year I'll clay, polish, and wax!!

I'll save the spot compound and use the scratch x as needed. Thanks guys!