What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

[opas]

Hi, this is my first post on this forum. I have a brand new car and will add the Meguiar's # 21 and top it with a wax I have. But what I am unsure of is what to put under the Meguiar's # 21 on a new car. I'm not sure about Crystal Cleaner be good or do you have any other tips to the surface of # 21? I hope for a quick answer. Thank you in advance!

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

You don't need to use anything prior to M21, nor do you really need to top it with anything.

Having said that, just because this is a brand new car that does not guarantee that it is free from defects. We've seen far too many cars in dealer showrooms that were full of swirls, and if a car has sat on a dealer lot for any length of time there is the very real possibility of bonded contaminants having accumulated during that time.

If the paint feels rough to the touch then claying would be in order to remove these contaminants. If you have swirls in the paint then a paint cleaner of some sort is called for. You may have one or the other, both, or neither but you will have to make that determination yourself.

Read through our 5 Step Paint Care Cycle for step by step instructions on how to do this, as well as some product recommendations for each step.

Oh, and welcome to MOL!!!

[opas]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

You don't need to use anything prior to M21, nor do you really need to top it with anything.

Having said that, just because this is a brand new car that does not guarantee that it is free from defects. We've seen far too many cars in dealer showrooms that were full of swirls, and if a car has sat on a dealer lot for any length of time there is the very real possibility of bonded contaminants having accumulated during that time.

If the paint feels rough to the touch then claying would be in order to remove these contaminants. If you have swirls in the paint then a paint cleaner of some sort is called for. You may have one or the other, both, or neither but you will have to make that determination yourself.

Read through our 5 Step Paint Care Cycle for step by step instructions on how to do this, as well as some product recommendations for each step.

Oh, and welcome to MOL!!!

Thanks Michael for the very quick answer. I'll read your link carefully and thanks for the tips

[Gattaca]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

I'd wash and check to see if it needs to be clayed. Then, I'd look for swirls...if they are there, I'd use some M205 w/white LC pad on it. Then use a glaze for the shine + top with M21.

[Murr1525]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Just keep it simple, and use something like the Cleaner/Wax first.

[opas]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

I'd wash and check to see if it needs to be clayed. Then, I'd look for swirls...if they are there, I'd use some M205 w/white LC pad on it. Then use a glaze for the shine + top with M21.

Ok.Jeg have a bottle of Meguiar's New Car Glaze # 5 in the garage. Can Meguiar's New Car Glaze provide good grip for Meguiar # 21?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Knowing tat it is a new car, It could probably be clayed. After claying, clean the paint with the cleaner wax. Then apply #21. Your vehicle will look great.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

this is interesting...isnt #21 a paint sealer ? i thought you needed to put a coat of wax on top of a sealer...or do sealers offer protection as well ?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Ok.Jeg have a bottle of Meguiar's New Car Glaze # 5 in the garage. Can Meguiar's New Car Glaze provide good grip for Meguiar # 21?

M05 New Car Glaze is essentially a gloss enhancer. It won't really remove any fine swirls, although it may hide them to some degree. The darker the color of the car, the more noticeable the gloss enhancement will be. It is completely compatible with M21 so if you want to use it before using M21, you'll be perfectly fine.

this is interesting...isnt #21 a paint sealer ? i thought you needed to put a coat of wax on top of a sealer...or do sealers offer protection as well ?

You can think of a paint sealant as just a synthetic wax. Sealants serve the same purpose as waxes, but in pure synthetic form they contain no carnauba (M20 Polymer Sealant is sort of a hybrid as it does contain some carnauba). Because all the ingredients are man made (hence, synthetic) their properties can be better controlled than a natural ingredient can. Because of the chemistry involved, sealants also tend to last longer than carnauba waxes do. Those with a trained eye will tell you that sealants look different than carnauba waxes, but regardless of any perceived or real visual appearance, the protection is not only there, it's also better with a synthetic. In most cases.

NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 is a fully synthetic product; it contains no actual "wax". The word "wax" is in the name because it serves the same purpose and, quite frankly, we didn't want Joe Consumer to be confused by a fancy name like "Synthetic Polymer Sealant" when he's looking to wax his car. With NXT you're getting the "wax" you want, only better. NXT is Meguiar's best protecting, longest lasting wax. Er, sealant. How about "paint protectant", because that's really what it is.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

gotchya mike ! i'm glad to have learned that little bit of information...i love NXT 2.0 and when i had read on here that it was a paint sealant, well lets just say that i had the wrong idea of the term "sealant"...but i understand now...i applied NXT 2.0 to my car and topped it off with M26...its my personal favorite..Thanks again for the info

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Topping a sealant with a carnauba is a common practice. You don't need to do it, but if you like the way it looks then nobody can tell you it's wrong.

[speed3blackmica]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Topping a sealant with a carnauba is a common practice. You don't need to do it, but if you like the way it looks then nobody can tell you it's wrong.

i do like the way it looks on my car...and another layer of protection can never be bad

[Fly Bye]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Just keep it simple, and use something like the Cleaner/Wax first.

[Fly Bye]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

M05 New Car Glaze is essentially a gloss enhancer. It is completely compatible with M21 so if you want to use it before using M21, you'll be perfectly fine.

Wouldn't a glaze be redundant over a cleaner wax, as I think the polishing oils in the glaze would have a hard time penetrating the wax in the cleaner wax (M83) and coat the finish with the oils in the glaze.

Just keep it simple, and use something like the Cleaner/Wax first.

I think a cleaner/wax (M83) followed up with M21 would suffice.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What to put under the Meguiar's # 21?

Wouldn't a glaze be redundant over a cleaner wax, as I think the polishing oils in the glaze would have a hard time penetrating the wax in the cleaner wax (M83) and coat the finish with the oils in the glaze.






I think a cleaner/wax (M83) followed up with M21 would suffice.

Nowhere in our post was use of a cleaner wax mentioned, simply that the finish needs to be evaluated for both above and below surface defects in order to determine a full course of action. Opas simply asked if M05 would be compatible with M21 and of course the answer is "yes". Further, M83 is not a cleaner wax, it's a cleaner/polish, emphasis on the cleaner. For a cleaner wax he might want to select ColorX or M06, but without evaluating the finish it's tough to say that's all he needs. Unfortunately we've seen far too many vehicles sitting on dealer lots, and in the showroom, where a cleaner wax alone won't bring the finish up to what most here on MOL would consider acceptable. Then again, we've seen cars delivered with gorgeous paint that needed nothing more than a coat of wax. Evaluation is critical, otherwise you're just going through the motions.