NXT....uh

[benhui86]

i think this guys just not preping his finish..... and applying and wiping off nxt wrong....

[Aurora40]

Originally posted by HammerDown
And I thank you for your opinion.
When I called Meguiar's 1800# and asked what their best product would be for my application >>> I was directed to the NXT.

Noooooow (if) Meguiar's wants to send me a few sample oz's of their #16 it would be my pleasure to give it a try. Other than that....I'm keeping my $$$ in my pocket
I would try it on the front bumper cover and the rear deck lid

Well, #16 isn't for sale in the US anymore, so the 1-800 folks could hardly have recommended that. Also, it's unlikely anyone could accurately pick the right product for an arbitrary person all the time. It's just like any advice you'd get here. The people are familiar with the products, they have some idea of what you want (based on what info you have given) and they make an educated guess at what might be most suitable for you.

As to samples, they don't sell #16 here anymore, so I don't think you'll be getting that. And it's a paste wax, which would be hard to package in a sample.

As an aside, there are not many companies that will send you samples of their products for you to try before buying. Meguiar's does have NXT samples that they have given in the past. And I've seen samples of Quick Strips (or whatever that goofy car wash strip is called), and can remember when they would send you a sample of Endurance when it first came out.

But if you want to try various products in search of what is the ultimate for you, you should probably expect to buy a few things in that search. If you are serious about wanting to try #16, then shoot me a PM and I'll see about shaving some off and mailing it to you.

[Aurora40]

Originally posted by benhui86
i think this guys just not preping his finish..... and applying and wiping off nxt wrong....

Using my "rude to tactful" dictionary, how about giving us some details Hammerdown? How old is the paint you are applying it to? What condition is it in? How do you prep the paint prior to applying the NXT? What do you use to wash and maintain the finish afterwards? Perhaps there is something in there that will help you get more life out of a wax.

Also, you'd mentioned you put it on your shelf of products that didn't cut it for you. What other products do you have on that shelf?

[HammerDown]

Originally posted by Aurora40
Using my "rude to tactful" dictionary, how about giving us some details Hammerdown? How old is the paint you are applying it to? What condition is it in? How do you prep the paint prior to applying the NXT? What do you use to wash and maintain the finish afterwards? Perhaps there is something in there that will help you get more life out of a wax.

Also, you'd mentioned you put it on your shelf of products that didn't cut it for you. What other products do you have on that shelf?

Well the vehicle is (new) the condition is well...(new)...so there's zero contaminants on the surface, no need at this time for any real prep work other than a good body wash. I use a brand name automobile body wash to clean my vehicles (no dish soap etc ever)!

Apply the product as stated on the label (not rocket science here) lay it on in the shade on a cool surface etc...Im 48 and been a hands on very mechanical person all my life, fully mantaine my Corvette, Ford Diesel, Harleys and Big Block chevy Jet Boat. I know how to color sand, buff,polish out faded gel-coat etc. And have even painted several projects.
In short (I've been around the block)

Ya know I'm wondering (if) by chance I may have purchaced a "bad" container/batch of paste NXT??? I did return 2 spray bottles of NTX because of defective spray triggers!

At any rate, I applied 3 coats of the NXT Paste > one per day, and like I stated prior...the shine is very good (but were talking NEW paint anyway)...however the protection is marginal at best. It looses that buttery feel after one day cooking in the sun.

So now I've just been washing the car and using the quick detailer NXT spray. I aim to use up the NTX spray product and (maybe) try a good brand name Carnauba Wax product.

Personally I don't see the need to "top coat" different paint protection products. Clean, polish wax...yes. But NTX then Carnauba over it etc...no. I kind of belive people that do this are maybe fooling themselves (just a opinion)

Again, I've herd so much good about NTX paste I figured I would give it a try...not saying everyone's wrong and Im right but Im now thinking maybe just maybe I may have a bad batch/container of this product. If I can locate a friend who uses NTX it I try some on one half of a deck lid too see how it protects/lasts. Other than that I don't belive Im going to lay out another $15 smakers and purchase another tin.

thanks for all the feedback...Ray

PS. I'd rather not mention the other manufactures products in my shop as this might not be the proper thing to do (here). But I can say I do use Meguiars Marine Polish on my boat, and have gone through a few Mequiar's cleaner/wax.

[RamAirV1]

If you are not happy with the durability of NXT, the you will probably be even less happy with a carnauba-based wax. You are better of staying with polymer sealants.

It is possible you have a defective tin of NXT paste. It could have frozen somewhere in the shipping process. If you call Customer Service they will probably send you another one N/C.

Trigger sprayers can break easily if they are dropped just the wrong way, or if the trigger is pulled while the nozzle is turned off. They could have been dropped in shipping or in the store if you bought it locally.

RamAirV1

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Hammerdown,

Just because a car is new does not mean that there are no contaminents on the surface. In fact the converse is almost always true.

New vehicles will often have rail dust embedded in the surface from when the vehicle was transported to the dealer from the manufacturer. Also, many contaminents will also be on the surface from any exposure to the elements. Unless the car is in the garage and never driven, it will have surface contaminents (from the road, air pollutants, etc) whether they can be seen or not. The presence of contaminents may greatly diminish the effectiveness of any product that is applied to the surface.

I would suggest that you clay the surface with Meguiar's Quik Clay and follow with a dedicated paint cleaner like Meguiar's Deep Crystal #1. This will help to ensure that a clean surface has been obtained before applying the sealant and/or wax; thereby, maximizing the ability of any brand of product to protect the paint as intended.

Meguiar's suggests following the 5 Steps to proper car care for the very reason that many people are not aware of the necessity to do certain steps. Not doing the steps may in fact produce diminished results from any brand of product.

Here is Meguiar's 5 Steps

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
(Posted in the The Information Station)

What's the difference between polish and wax?
(Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle)

There is a lot of confusion about the difference between a polish, and a wax. Many companies are marketing waxes and paint protectants as polishes and glazes and the terms have become almost interchangeable.

Professionals know there is a big difference.

Meguiar's is a true polish manufacture. That is, unlike many of our competitors that can only offer you a few products for cars with cured paint, Meguiar's product range runs from the highest quality finishing papers in the industry, to state-of-the-art pure synthetic paint protectants, to everything in-between.

Example: Most companies only offer the following products:

* Car wash
* Pre-wax cleaner
* One or two waxes (usually some type of natural wax or polymer/silicone synthetic protectant)
* Multi-surface vinyl protectant

And sometimes one or more of the following:

* Some type of wheel cleaner, leather treatment, or tire dressing.


Because they offer such a limited selection, and often times don't even manufacture the products themselves, they really have no expertise when it comes to formulating complex products that professionals require as an intricate part of performing their job duties as skilled craftsman. This is why frequently you will see a product whose purpose is to protect the paint labeled as a polish.

Instead of merely defining the difference between a polish and a wax, below you will find the Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle and the products and procedures for each of the 5 steps.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle


The 5-step paint care cycle outlines the 5 basic but important procedures and the accompanying products that enable you to restore and maintain a show car shine on your car's finish.

Below are the 5 categories of products including pure polishes and cleaner/polishes as they are placed in the 5-step paint care cycle.

The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle includes:

Step-1 Washing


Washing removes loose surface dirt and loose contaminants that have not yet bonded to the surface. All Meguiar's wash products are specially formulated to clean well without stripping wax protection or dulling and drying out all paint types. All Meguiar's washes also contain special conditioning agents that leave behind a slick, high gloss surface.

Because most people wash their car more than any other procedure, it's important to use a car wash solution that is specifically formulated for the unique chemistry used to make modern clear coats. Above all, avoid using common dish washing detergents because these products are extremely harsh and tend to dull the finish down with each use. Dish soaps are also hard on other materials and components such as rubber, vinyl and plastics, remember, when you wash your car with dish soap everything is subjected to the dulling and drying effects high alkaline soaps cause to your vehicle.



Step-2 Cleaning or Surface Prep


Surface Prep includes both paint cleaning (not to be confused with the washing step), and claying the finish (with a clay bar). To help you accomplish these two steps, Meguiar's offers a number of safe but effective paint cleaners and an easy to use clay bar kit that includes everything you need to clay your car's finish.

Paint Cleaners
This includes highly specialized Compounds and Paint Cleaners, which utilize both microscopic and macroscopic diminishing abrasives? technology. Meguiar's has pioneered and led the industry in diminishing abrasive technology since 1901. Over the course of these many years, Meguiar's has developed more formulas than any other company for performing the delicate procedure of removing a defect in the paint, while at the same time, removing as little paint as humanly possible during the process.

Meguiar's diminishing abrasive technology is one of Meguiar's most guarded secrets that is so highly sought after by our competitors and which completely separates us from the rest of the competition when you look at the results with your own two eyes. Our abrasive products, correctly used, leave the surface looking as though it were just polished, not as though it were just scoured with a compounded.

Out of all the procedures in the 5-step paint care cycle, cleaning is the most important procedure because the results from your cleaning step will determine the end result for the polishing and protecting steps.

"A surface won't go clear until it comes clean"

It is vitally important that all bonded contaminants, surface imperfections, oxidation, pore-embedding stains, and built-up road grime, etc. first be removed in order to bring the finish to it's highest potential for clarity, gloss, depth and shine.

Applying a wax, whether it's synthetic, natural or a blend of both, to a neglected surface that has not been properly cleaned and then polished, will merely act to seal or lock the contaminants to the finish, and will do nothing to improve, or remove the other defects and in most cases will only marginally improve gloss, shine and reflectivity.


Clay Bar Technology
Clay bar technology evolved as a natural reaction to the need that arose for a way to safely remove bonded contaminants from clear coat paints without resorting to traditional rubbing or polishing compounds and the resulting scratches caused by the sharp, hard abrasive typically used in these formulas.

In the old days, if you found overspray or any type of unwanted substance on the hood, roof or deck lid of your car that washing didn't remove, you could simply go to the garage and grab any old compound, and together with a rag, you could quickly remove the offending contaminants. After that you could simply apply just about any companies wax and presto-chango, the problem was gone.

Not so simple anymore.

If your were to perform that same procedure to a modern clear coat today, you would see a horrible looking scratched-up mess everywhere you applied the compound, and the wax would do nothing to cover the scratches up.


Enter the Clay bar
Clay bars are non-abrasive bars of synthetic clay called Polyclay. They are somewhat like a high-tech version of Play-Doh?. They work in three easy steps:

1) - First you mold the clay bar into a pancake-looking flat wafer
2) - Second you lubricate the finish with a spray lubricant like Meguiar's Quik Detailer
3) - Third you then rub the clay bar back and forth across the paint (somewhat like a bar of soap against your arm)

That's it! You are now claying your car's finish. As you're doing this, the clay bar will grab onto, lift, and pullout the contaminants that have bonded to the surface of your finish.

Generally speaking for most cars, only the horizontal surfaces need to be clayed, as it is the horizontal surfaces that contaminants tend to land on and if not removed within a reasonable period of time will then bond tightly to the surface. For extremely neglected vehicles, you can always evaluate the vertical surfaces and if need be, clay them too.

One important thing to keep in mind, if a vehicle's finish has bonded contaminants, it is highly likely that it also has below surface defects, for example, pore-embedding stains. For this reason, Meguiar's recommends for best possible results, always use a paint cleaner after claying to insure the finish is clean both on top of the surface as well as below the surface.



Step-3 Polishing



Meguiar's offers two types of polishes, Cleaner Polishes and Pure Polishes. Cleaner Polishes are for removing very light or fine defects while restoring a crystal clear, smooth high gloss surface. Pure polishes are for finishes already in excellent condition and are for the purpose or creating brilliant high gloss with deep dark reflections.

If you look in Webster's Dictionary under the word polish, one of the definitions they include reads like this:

"A preparation that is used to produce gloss, and often color for the protection and decoration of a surface."

This definition best describes Meguiar's Pure Polishes. Meguiar's pure polishes are designed to create brilliant high gloss while preparing the surface for the application of a protective coating. Meguiar's pure polishes accomplish this without the use of abrasives.


Another definition found in Webster's Dictionary for polish is,

"To make smooth and glossy by friction."

This definition best describes Meguiar's Cleaner/Polishes. Meguiar's cleaner polishes are formulated to very gently abrade the surface with Meguiar's Diminishing Abrasive TM and Buffered Abrasive TM technology to remove the finest defects and create a perfectly smooth, high gloss finish.

Depending on what type of paint you're working on, traditional paints like lacquers and enamels, or catalyzed clear coats, Meguiar's has the products specifically designed to work on both types of paints, not to mention many other surfaces such as plastics and polyester resins (Fiberglas Gel-coats).


Meguiar's Trade Secret Polishing Oils
The trade secret oils Meguiar's uses in both types of polishes are unique to the industry and to this day have never been surpassed for creating deep, dark reflections and brilliant high gloss by any of our competitors in over 100 years.

The oils Meguiar's uses are also important in maintaining the original condition of the paint by filling in the naturally occurring microscopic pores and surface imperfections thus preventing detrimental substances and elements as simple as water, or worse, acid-rain, from entering into these pores and microscopic surface imperfections thus causing oxidation and chemical etching. These oils act to replace the original resins as they wear away through natural processes.

When paint is new, it is the most impermeable it will ever be, this means it is a very smooth non-porous, continuous film. With age, exposure to the environment and micro-scratching caused by day-in, day-out wear and tear, your paint develops micro-fissures in the surface along with other defects. These micro-fissures and other defects act to make the continuous film or coating of paint more porous. As this happens, your car's finish becomes more vulnerable to corrosive elements that will attack and degrade your finish.


Remember, waxes, synthetic or otherwise, are meant to be Sacrificial Barriers with the intended purpose sealing the surface, while blocking those things that would attack your paint, from coming into direct contact with the paint.

"Waxes protect your finish by sacrificing themselves so that your paint doesn't have to"

An analogy is your skin. In the same way you can clean, polish and protect your skin, you can clean, polish and protect your car's finish. Soap can be used to clean your skin and remove dirt from the pores. Skin lotions can be used to moisturize your skin, conditioning it and making it more clear and beautiful. Protection products like lotions used to protect hands from exposure to chemicals and UV protectants can be applied to help protect your skin from the things that would attack your skin if these harmful things could come into direct contact with your skin.

While human skin and automotive paint are very different, the analogy is very similar. With Meguiar's, you can:

* Wash your car's finish to remove unwanted and accumulated dirt contaminants
* Clean your paint with our special paint cleaners and cleaner/polishes
* Polish your paint with our pure polishes to create unequaled beauty
* Protect your paint with our advanced paint protection products
* Maintain your car's finish using our fast and easy to use maintenance products.


The unique thing about Meguiar's highly specialized trade secret oils is their ability to restore and maintain the Optical Clarity of both single stage and clear coat paints in a way that waxes alone cannot match, (both natural and synthetic), the results of which are demonstrated in side-by-side comparisons.


Step-4 Protecting


Paint protection products (waxes by any other name), whether they are based on natural ingredients or synthetic ingredients (or a blend of both) provide a protective film, or Sacrificial Barrier (as mentioned above) against Mother Nature and other detrimental or corrosive substances. Without this sacrificial barrier, your finish is susceptible to attack at any time, as harmful or corrosive substances come into direct contact with the surface.

This brings up the topic of Water Beading. While most people use the visual indicator of water beading on the surface to mean their finish is protected... it is actually only an indicator of High Surface Tension.

High Surface Tension does not automatically mean the coating that has been applied is actually providing any real or meaningful protective characteristics.

Meguiar's R & D department has decades of expertise in creating the most advanced polymer-based formula's made from state-of-the-art engineered synthetic polymers, which are able to evenly cross-link very tightly to the surface and offer real protection on a multitude of surfaces against a multitude of attacks. Our products can also achieve optimal cross-linking within 15 to 20 minutes after application allowing the excess product to be removed shortly thereafter.

Some of Meguiar's polymer-based waxes include:

Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax
#20 Polymer Sealant
Medallion Premium Paint Protection
Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax
Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax
Marine Flagship


Even our Spray Waxes contain high performance, engineered synthetic polymers, as do some of our Car Wash products.

Besides acting as sacrificial barriers to protect the underlying surface, a premium wax can also increase the visual appearance of a finish. Many of Meguiar's waxes will not only provide better protection than the competition, but will also:

* Increase optical clarity and distinction of image (D.O.I.)
* Enhance and increase the reflective characteristics of medium to dark color finishes
* Add shine and slickness
* Create wet-looking gloss
* Fill-in and hide swirls and scratches
* Provide the most UV protection available
* Offer water sheeting action, or water beading action (depending on the wax)


Choosing the right wax for your finish and your unique circumstances is something our Surface Care Experts would love to help you determine. Just call our Customer Care Hotline and talk to a knowledgeable technician to help you make the right choice.



Step-5 Maintaining


Maintenance products, like our Quik Detailer, and our Quik Wax, allow you quickly clean your car and restore that just waxed look in just a matter of minutes... practically anywhere.



Meguiar's Quik Detailer removes fresh contaminants before they have a chance to bond or etch into the surface.

Meguiar's Quik Wax quickly and easily boosts your already existing wax protection while turning your finish dramatically darker and increasing shine and gloss.



Meguiar's actually invented the concept of a mist and wipe product for consumers back in the early-80's with the introduction of their mist & wipe product called "Trigger Wash"

As leaders and experts in the surface care industry, we have a history of creating new products, such as mist & wipe products like our Quik Detailer and M-34 Final Inspection to help our customers maintain and beautify their vehicles.

In keeping with that history, we have just introduced a brand new spray wax that produces similar results as Meguiar's Quik Wax. It's actually a part of Meguiar's NXT Generation line of products based upon Meguiar's ESP Technology (Engineered Synthetic Polymers) and is a companion product to Meguiar's new NXT Tech Wax it's called NXT Spray Wax.






Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle clearly demonstrates there are 5 basic steps to professional and intelligent car care.

Using the correct Meguiar's products and the right technique, you can remove scratches and swirls that have accumulated from years of neglect to successfully restore a flawless, show car finish as demonstrated here on a 1991 BMW E34 M5. The left side is untouched, while the right side has been professionally restored using all Meguiar's products.




The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle enables you to understand exactly what a product is not just by the name on the label, but by the results the product accomplishes according to the 5 different groups of procedures outlined in the 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

If a product is labeled a polish, but in fact is used to protect the paint, then you know it's a wax or a paint protectant and not an actual polish in the true sense of the definition of the word.

Here at Meguiar's we manufacture some very complex products, of which polishes and waxes are only a small portion of our complete line.

Finally, it is important to realize that even your washing procedures, the products used, the ratio of soap to water are all important in maintaining a finish.

No one's product can prevent water spots as water etching is often a function of the chemical composition of the water in your area (Ie. acid rain). Same as Bug etching. The acid in some bugs will etch the paint regardless of brand of product used.

I hope the above makes it a little more clear as to what needs to be done in order to bring your paint to its maximum potential.

Please try the above suggestions and then post back a reply.

Cheers!

Tim

[Aurora40]

Originally posted by HammerDown
Well the vehicle is (new) the condition is well...(new)...so there's zero contaminants on the surface, no need at this time for any real prep work other than a good body wash. I use a brand name automobile body wash to clean my vehicles (no dish soap etc ever)!

...

So now I've just been washing the car and using the quick detailer NXT spray. I aim to use up the NTX spray product and (maybe) try a good brand name Carnauba Wax product.

Well, how new is "new"? I mean, you didn't just buy it this weekend. My 'roara is 3 years old and I still think of it as new.

As Tim said, though, even a new car can need prep. To summarize his post, evaluating the surface is important. If it needs claying, it needs claying, no matter how recently it was done or how new the paint is. Same with cleaning or polishing or what-have-you.

Also, as I'd mentioned before, keeping the car clean, cleaning off contaminants like bugs quickly, and using things like QD's to keep the surface the most resistant to crud will help with any product you use. So use of that spray wax stuff can only help.

However, since you mentioned carnauba, do you have at least one or two quality carnaubas on that shelf of yours? Did they work any better? As an aside, it's ok to talk about other products you use here. Obviously the goal of the forum here is to help people use Meguiar's products effectively, but it's all car people here. Most people seem happy to discuss any products. I was only asking as it might give some insight into the types of products you've been using, and perhaps it would shed some light on your unhappiness with them, or the thought process used to select them initially. I didn't intend it as a way to take shots at other manufacturers or anything.

[lrosales]

When I bought my new car 1 year ago, I didn't even know what 'automotive clay' was, or that it even exsisted. Wanting to take the best care I could of this new car, I stumbled upon this web site, and learned all about surface prep, and clay. Being a newbie, I followed the 5 step program to the letter. I was utterly amazed at how much stuff the claying process removed from the paint on my brand new car. As I was preparing to 5 step my car, I had noticed little rust blooms all over my paint. Later learned this is called rail dust. Nedless to say, they were all gone after the 5 step program. Not sure what is meant by the 'buttery feel', but if it's that silky smooth feel you get when you run your car across the paint of a freshly waxed car, then my car to which I just 5-steped again two weeks ago with NXT, still has it, and it's a daily driver. No where near knowing as much as most here, but definately happy with the results of NXT on my car.

[HammerDown]

Originally posted by Aurora40
Well, how new is "new"? I mean, you didn't just buy it this weekend. My 'roara is 3 years old and I still think of it as new.

New as in, I drove it out of the show room last week

As far as "rail dust"...I just stopped being a Teamster Car Hauler so yes I'm well aware of what that is.
I've seen rail dust first hand. None on this vehicle as Toyota and several other foreign manufactures ship their vehicles with white plastic on all top surfaces, and sometimes even the sides. I use to peel off the plastic cover prior to the dealer checking the car's over for inspection.

Gotta run, but I would like to touch on other comments made...
Thanks for all the feedback/support...Ray