2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Phase 2: Wash, Clay and Spot Test
I suggest to for first time users to wash your towels ahead of time to get rid of all that 'fuzzy stuff'.

Washing

I used the measure in a cup trick to dilute the NXT car wash properly. I used roughly 70ml of NXT with 2.5 gallons of water. For those of you without a chemistry set to measure the NXT wash w/ a beaker. I just used a measuring cup, but since the cup only started at 100ml. I poured 200ml of water into the measuring cup, then removed ~70ml of water into the plastic cup.

According to online conversion, 2 fluid oz = 60ml.

Because I used the two bucket method of washing and rinsing the wash mitt separately. I was able to keep the dilution of NXT wash to water pretty consistent. Also, I realized after the wash that I used less than a gallon of NXT. So next time I'll opt for a smaller usage.

My opinion of the NXT car wash was excellent compared to the Turtle Wax car wash I was using before. Then again, I never really cared to make sure I was diluting the Turtle Wax car wash properly

After you pour the NXT into the wash bucket, make sure to get all the NXT from the plastic cup by scraping w/ your hands and to mix the wash up well w/ the wash mitt.

As for the Grit Guard, I didn't have much dirt / dust on my car so I think it was of minimal benefit for me. If you use the 2 bucket system, unless your car is really dirty, then I doubt there's that much benefit from using the Grit Guard for washing an every day driver.

Drying

I had forgotten how much of a pain it is to dry the car w/o a chamois. I opted to not use it b/c I wanted to use the MF towels instead, but it was sort of inefficient. I think I'll be ordering a magnet to help w/ drying.

Claying

I ran my hand over the trunk and the paint was pretty smooth. The only thing that caught my attention was the slight scraping noise it was making. The noise was signfiicantly less than what I remember from a Meguiar's youtube video that the guy was running his hand over the paint.

I proceeded to clay the trunk and ran my hand over it again. It was slightly smoother and no noise this time

A tip for claying is to go slow. Don't try to rush this process. I think I clayed my car in 30 min, but that's only b/c my grandfather was helping me w/ the wiping, while I clayed. If you tend to rush, then it's much easier for the clay to slip and drop to the floor. Make sure you spray the Quik Detailer evenly over the entire section you'll be claying else the dry paint will grab at the clay and it could drop to the floor.

[roushstage2]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Kudos to you! I am enjoying this post very much from the get-go, and it is not even finished yet! I look forward to seeing the end result of your work!

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Haha, thanks for the feedback guys.

I was a little surprised to find that there weren't any 'worklog' like posts at MOL. I got this idea from the water cooling forum I joined a few years back when I decided to venture into the world of water cooling my PC. I suppose a good percentage of the MOL members are professionals so I guess they need not explain such steps from the get go hehe.

But just as a disclaimer and 'in the spirit of Mike Phillips', I hope you guys make you're own informed decisions and take everything I do with a grain of salt.

[Woodie6250]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Great thread humblepie. I really enjoy the fact that you've started from the very beginning and have provided the photos to display the starting point .

I am rather envious of the fact that you are able to get such good deals and the latest products from ADS so quickly. Living across the waters from you in sunny South Africa, I will have to wait several months before the 2009 range of products are available to me via the local Meguiars distributor .

[Nappers]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Hurry up!

Can't wait to see what you get done!

[volvie!]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Hi Humblepie,

I love how you started this thread from the very beginning, explaining your objectives and reasoning behind your product choices!

Speaking as another newbie to the full detailing process, I find this very illuminating!

I'm looking forward to following your progress!

Good luck,
volvie!

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Final set of before shots are in. I ordered the web album such that you start from the hood and then you go around the car.

I think I'll have time on Friday morning to wash, clay and do some spot tests.

I believe I can use PlastX for this rear tail light, but since I don't have it, for now I'll try to do a spot test by hand w/ the M205 to see what kind of results I get.



I'm wondering if you can use PlastX on this mid trim here. It looks like just plastic but it seems that there's a thick clear coating over the plastic. I guess I'll try the M205 here first as well.



This dent/scratch here is the worst cosmetic blemish my car has. I'm hoping that a paintless dent repair place can fix it for ~$50 if not I'll just live with it. I can feel how much of the paint is gone from the dent so I doubt there's no polish in the world that can help me here.

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Just to note,

Some of your URL addresses for your photos are pretty long, I'm not sure that this will cause problems for photos to show up but I do think there is a limit at some point to how long an URL address can be and still work in the Image Tags.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll be uploading all pics to the MOL gallery eventually.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Just to note,

Some of your URL addresses for your photos are pretty long, I'm not sure that this will cause problems for photos to show up but I do think there is a limit at some point to how long an URL address can be and still work in the Image Tags.

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

I read that w7207 isn't recommended with a DA polisher due to hazing so I will just use it for the MF Bonnets instead.

Sorry I was being vague. What I meant to append was "... use it for the MF Bonnets instead (to remove wax)"

As for editing, I'll let you know when it's all done Mike. Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

I read that w7207 isn't recommended with a DA polisher due to hazing so I will just use it for the MF Bonnets instead.

On a side note, it's too bad I can't edit my post #3 and 4 now. Oh well, I'll just recompile my findings in a separate post after I'm all done. I hate having to dig through multiple pages for a worklog.

If you want to use the M105 with the DA then use it with a yellow polishing pad, either the W-8006 or the W8207 polishing pads. Meguiar's doesn't actually recommend using any of our paint cleaners or compounds with microfiber bonnets, bonnets are usually used for removing wax.

As for editing of your previous posts, e-mail me when you want to edit them and add fresh content and I'll adjust the setting so you can do this. We keep the ability to edit posts kind of tight because we've had problems with people and this feature in the past.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

Nice order. Enjoy it.

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

The products arrived much quicker than anticipated! From AZ to CA took only 2 business days to process and ship! Thanks ADS.

The web album has been updated but here are most of the pics

Tomorrow I'll get some final before shots and this weekend is when part of the magic will begin





If you're on the web album you can really zoom into the picture see the texture of each MF product. I couldn't tell the difference b/t the supreme shine and the cheap MF towel from ADS. If i order more I'll definitely go w/ the cheaper ones.






I made sure to remove every last bit of the tag

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

It appears the M105 never got added to the order (late change request) so I'll have to separately purchase a cutting pad w7207 w/ the M105 at a later time.

I read that w7207 isn't recommended with a DA polisher due to hazing so I will just use it for the MF Bonnets instead.

On a side note, it's too bad I can't edit my post #3 and 4 now. Oh well, I'll just recompile my findings in a separate post after I'm all done. I hate having to dig through multiple pages for a worklog.

[humblepie]

Re: 2008 Infiniti M35: Detailing Worklog

So far so good... any reason for your G110 pad choice?

I'm planning to use...

M205 w/ the w9207 and if needed move down to the w8207
NXT 2.0 strictly w/ w9207

It appears the M105 never got added to the order (late change request) so I'll have to separately purchase a cutting pad w7207 w/ the M105 at a later time.

I think I'll end up splitting the work into several sessions anyways due to the spot testing I'll be doing, which I plan to await for the sun to shine the next day to verify my results. So for now, I'll see how far I can get w/ just the M205. I want to be extra sure I like what I see before being rash