How did I do?

[Dtro176]

Let me start by saying I'm no professional detailer by any means. I'm just a backyard guy who likes to make his vehicle to look nice. This is my 2013 Traverse. I took delivery of it one month ago. I have washed it a couple time but, have not clayed the vehicle yet. Today was the first wax job form the info I learned here. First I washed the Traverse on Thursday with some Gold Class Wash, Flod rinsed, dried with a Fireman's Friend synthetic chamois followed by the first coat of Ultimate paste wax. This morning I duplicated the wash process and then put a second coat of Ultimate Paste Wax. Wheels are polished with Ultimate paste also. Tires are cleaned by something my dealer uses. (non Mequiars product so I'm hesitant to say what it is. Not sure if I like it yet though) Before the pictures I lightly wiped with a Microfiber Polishing Cloth. All done by hand. So my question is...How did I do? What could I have done to make the Traverse look better. (besides claying) I could use the advice. (there are a couple more pictures in my gallery)

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[Murr1525]

Re: How did I do?

Looks good.

You may like to add a cleaning product before the wax.

Maybe

Ult. Polish, then Wax, then Wax.

Or

ColorX/White Wax/Black Wax, then Wax.

[Dtro176]

Re: How did I do?

Thanks Murr. It figures I spent all morning washing and waxing the car and now it's raining cats and dogs

[ffboy]

Re: How did I do?

Not bad! I'm sure it looks better in the flesh than in the pics... Pic 3 to me gives the best impression on how shiny the car is... Maintain it with Ultimate quik detailer and Ultimate quik wax.. it will stay that shiny for a long time..

[wifpd4]

Re: How did I do?

ouch, can't look at photos too long. Too bright....

Around here, the sun just peeks out and then it rains. So tired of a dirty car and being wet all the time.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How did I do?

So my question is...How did I do? What could I have done to make the Traverse look better. (besides claying) I could use the advice.

From these pictures it looks like you did great! The red is really popping, the shine looks fantastic, black trim looks deep and black, and there are no obvious signs of sloppy work (wax on the trim, loaded in the cut lines, etc).

What we don't see here, however, is a close shot of the paint with the sun hitting directly on it. That would tell us if you really needed to use any sort of a paint cleaner, like Ultimate Compound, on it first. Most important of all is this - what is your goal here? Are you happy with the appearance or do you look at the car and think "I'd like to improve __________"?

As for the clay, does the paint have any rough feel to it at this point? That's the sort of thing claying will remove, and removing it will make waxing easier and the wax will actually last longer.

[Dtro176]

Re: How did I do?

Thanks Mike. Because I'm a bit knew to taking pictures of the hood with the sum directly on the hood. I think it will need a bit of clay on the hood but, I think I may wait to clay until the fall. That way I will be ready before the snow starts to fall here. I think the car looks good but then again I have an untrained eye. I appreciate all the help and advice everybody has given me thus far. As far as what I would like to improve? I'd like to improve my knowledge of the right way to clean a car (I've learned a lot already here) and the courage to use the DA system. I used a polisher many years ago (about 35 years ago) and I put nasty marks in the paint. I still haven't forgot about that and am a bit nervousness to use power equipment lest I relive my past and ruin more paint LOL.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How did I do?

There's a huge difference between the tool you used 35 years ago and a modern DA. A rotary is so easy to go wrong with and do damage very quickly, but if you use a DA incorrectly you really do nothing more than fail to get a result. You may have read here or elsewhere online that it's impossible to damage your paint with a DA, but the reality is anything is possible. But here's the big difference: you almost have to try to damage your paint with a DA, and even then you probably won't succeed. As long as you use just the slightest little bit of common sense and don't let that "it's impossible" line get the better of you, you aren't going to hurt anything. When people read "it's impossible" they think that means they can get silly aggressive, lean on the tool, work in one spot for a long time, etc. That's when things go wrong.

[ffboy]

Re: How did I do?

The 3rd picture to me captures how good you did... Clear, crisp, bright and deep shine from that red color... Good work for someone who isn't a pro detailer... Keep it up, now that you found out the satisfaction one can get in waxing, I'm afraid you have been inflicted with the detailing bug or OCD... But we'll see..

[LoveBlackPaint]

Re: How did I do?

IMO the only way to damage the paint using a DA is to not put a pad on the backing plate

Work very slowly and in small sections.
Only focus on a 2x2 foot area, no need to move on if you still have issues with the first area.

Kevin

There's a huge difference between the tool you used 35 years ago and a modern DA. A rotary is so easy to go wrong with and do damage very quickly, but if you use a DA incorrectly you really do nothing more than fail to get a result. You may have read here or elsewhere online that it's impossible to damage your paint with a DA, but the reality is anything is possible. But here's the big difference: you almost have to try to damage your paint with a DA, and even then you probably won't succeed. As long as you use just the slightest little bit of common sense and don't let that "it's impossible" line get the better of you, you aren't going to hurt anything. When people read "it's impossible" they think that means they can get silly aggressive, lean on the tool, work in one spot for a long time, etc. That's when things go wrong.

[ffboy]

Re: How did I do?

IMO the only way to damage the paint using a DA is to not put a pad on the backing plate

Work very slowly and in small sections.
Only focus on a 2x2 foot area, no need to move on if you still have issues with the first area.

Kevin

Or "dropping" the DA Polisher on the car. Aside from scratches, you'll also dent the car.