New to detailing, which products should I use?

[CorradoT5]

Hello everyone, my name is Sahar, I own a Vw corrado which I wash every week and wax every month, including interior cleaning.
After I exposed to the detailing stuff, it made me think, i'm not treating my car the best I can, So ! I decided to buy a nice kit for my car, including a microfiber towel, a shampoo, wax, clay and everything needed to make her looks gold.

I looked at the online store but there are so many kinds of shampoo, so many kinds of clays, waxes and stuff, what do I need for my car ???

Car has many swirls and little scratches which I believe a good hand can remove...
Here are some pics, trying to show the metal condition (looks better in pics than on the car):


By corradot5, shot with Canon PowerShot A75 at 2008-06-20


By corradot5, shot with Canon PowerShot A80 at 2008-06-20

[Murr1525]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Here are some links for the paint care, that explain the full process. Understanding them will get you in good shape for that:

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
Step 1 Wash
Step 2 Clean
Step 3 Polish
Step 4 Protect
Step 5 Maintain

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

Recommended Products - G100a Dual Action Polisher

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

Each one, teach one... Ferrari Fiorano 355 F1 Spider

Of course a few products may need tweaked depending what is available for you, but give those a read, then we can really get you in good shape.

[new2detailing]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Hello Sahar,

From personal experience, I like Gold Class wash. I would recommend a mild clay (Meguiars clay kit). You could use Mequiars cleaner wax as a one step cleaner/wax or do a multi step process. The NXT wax does a superior job especially on darker colors like your Corrado. You stated that the vehicle has swirls. You could use Deep Crystal polish after clay and before wax for a truly perfect shine.

[CorradoT5]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Thanks for the info guys..
What if I use a device like this:

http://www.cicorp.co.kr/ky/dg-100h_img.gif

instead of the meguiar's G110 ?
Seriously...with the correct pad?

Also, I would like to know if the "5 steps paint care cycle" is good for all kind of surfaces?
When detailing a car, should I do the same for the bumpers(plastic\fiber) just like doing on metal? what about polished parts (valve cover or some parts on the bumpers, mirrors maybe in some cars)?

Thanks !

[Murr1525]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Depends if you are meaning painted plastic/metal, or the pebble textured black/gray kind of trim? The 5-step is for painted surfaces. The textured kind can be washed and clayed, but then you would move on to a dressing to shine up and protect them.

Polished metals would also use different products, such as a metal polish. There is also the plastic chrome kind of surface that I prefer to just use a cleaner/wax on.

As far as that machine, do you know how to use it? You can easily damage your paint if you dont know what you are doing.

[CorradoT5]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Whats best? wax by hand or with a pad ? if waxing using hands, should I use the paste only ?
thanks

[Murr1525]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

You can use liquid or paste by hand, just personal preference. The goal is to apply thin even coats, so You dont need a machine if you dont feel like it. The benefits of a machine are really in the cleaning/swirl removal steps.

As far as which wax, Nxt 2.0 is very popular.

[Orca]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Hi Sahar - With regard to hand or pad application of the wax, it depends upon the wax. I have not tried the soft paste waxes from Meg's, but I do use their #26 liquid wax from the Professional range a lot (by pad, of course) and their #16 paste wax. I prefer to apply #16 with a foam pad, too. I have tried it by bare hand, but didn't get on with that method for that particular wax. You might well really enjoy it, so try it - the wax responds well to body temperature and comes out of its solid state very quickly for easy application. I prefer to apply to one panel at a time, leave it a couple of minutes and then buff off.

You'll have to take advice on swirl removal by hand with Meguiars product - I do not have the experience. You'll get the right advice here, though. For washing, you really can't go wrong with the Gold Class shampoo, but #62 from the Professional range is well regarded and considered very similar, if not more slick? I think I'm right there, from what I have read. I have used Gold Class shampoo and can confirm that it is a truly excellent shampoo, leaving a lovely slick shine straight from washing. I will be trying #62 next.

My preference with Meguiars products are their Professional range. After washing and polishing up, I think your car will really benefit from some nice glazing oil - #80 is a good product for this and a great compliment to the more abrasive #83 polish; both of which can be used by hand. #7 is even better IMO and if best followed up with #26 (liquid wax is my preference) for a deeper, darker shine as well as being compatible with #21 sealant which can be applied for even greater longevity of the finish. #83, #80, #9, #7, #26 and #21 are all compatible in pretty much any combination, but do keep them away from plastic trim! For plastic trim, #40 is no doubt spot-on - I have not used it, but would blind buy it quite happily. Finally, a good quick detailer will help you keep that car in tip-top "justr waxed" condition - #135 (or Ultimate Quick Detailer from the Consumer range) is great misted on and carefully wiped off and then buffed to remove dust.

Check out http://www.meguiars.com, click on 'Products' in the top left and then on 'Professional (Mirror Glaze)' down the side for more information. Absorb what others say and make your choices from there.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

If you are not experianced with the machine you can achieve excellent results by hand. I would go with the gold class shampoo. For the scratch and swirl removal you could use scratch-x. The smooth surface clay kit would be good also. For your cleaner wax; you could go with color-x,or the maroon bottle consuner cleaner wax A-12. For your last step productreally its up to you. NXt 2.0 Gold Class. The possibilities are many. Good Luck on your VW.

[CorradoT5]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Ok after lots of reading and learning through the web site, I decided to order the below items:

1. For washing - NXT generation car wash
Microfiber wash mitt
Water magnet microfiber drying towel
Q: 22x30 is kinda small am I wrong (mm?) ?
And what is the natural chamois and premium?!
is this what I need? the water magnet?

2. For cleaning - Smooth surface clay kit
This Includes ONE clay? and does it includes a spray?
Ultimate quick detailer for using with the clay bar
Scratch-X
Where do I find a pad for the scratch-X?
Supreme shine microfiber towel three pack for remoinvg scratch-x

3. For polishing - Deep crystal polish

4. for protecting - Nxt 2.0 wax is a pure wax? is this what I need?

5. Maintaining - Quick detailer Above.

So what do you think? Am I heading the right way?
Please tell me If I'm missing anything, I have nothing, everything needed, from waxes to towels...How many pads do I need btw?

Thanks everyone!

[TxZ71]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

I have a dark color truck and the Gold Class Car wash produces amazing results! I would definately go with the NXT 2.0 wax as well. Again, wonderful results on my dark color.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Thanks for the info guys..
What if I use a device like this:

http://www.cicorp.co.kr/ky/dg-100h_img.gif

instead of the meguiar's G110 ?
Seriously...with the correct pad?

This looks like a grinder, kind of like what's called a Peanut Grinder because compared to a full size grinder it's small.




It's sold on a site that sells grinding supplies.

Usually these things have one speed and it's very high rpm, if that's the case it won't work to polish paint but it will work to grind or burn it off.

Better to stick with a tool designed for working on paint.

[Jokeman]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

Ok after lots of reading and learning through the web site, I decided to order the below items:

1. For washing - NXT generation car wash
Microfiber wash mitt
Water magnet microfiber drying towel
Q: 22x30 is kinda small am I wrong (mm?) ?
And what is the natural chamois and premium?!
is this what I need? the water magnet?

2. For cleaning - Smooth surface clay kit
This Includes ONE clay? and does it includes a spray?
Ultimate quick detailer for using with the clay bar
Scratch-X
Where do I find a pad for the scratch-X?
Supreme shine microfiber towel three pack for remoinvg scratch-x

3. For polishing - Deep crystal polish

4. for protecting - Nxt 2.0 wax is a pure wax? is this what I need?

5. Maintaining - Quick detailer Above.

So what do you think? Am I heading the right way?
Please tell me If I'm missing anything, I have nothing, everything needed, from waxes to towels...How many pads do I need btw?

Thanks everyone!

1.) Water Magnet works great. I was very impressed with this towel. If you cannot find them locally Id suggest Target and their Vroom drying towel. It actually works very well. Normally Im a meg's guy but this thing actually really impressed me a lot.

2.) The smooth surface clay kit comes with 2 100gram bars, quick detailer and a towel if I recall. You do NOT want to use the Ultimate Quick Detailer as a clay lube.

As far as a pad for the scratchX, you can use the Hi-Tech applicator pad or any type of pad. I usually use whatever I can find locally and only use the hi-tech's for my NXT application.

Yes on the Suprime shines or Ultimate Detailing Wipes for removing the scratchX.

Your looking good

[CorradoT5]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

What's the diffrence between the quick detailer (coming in the clay kit) and the ultimate quick detailer, why can't I use the ultimate QD as a lube for the clay? just curious

[TimG]

Re: New to detailing, which products should I use?

What's the diffrence between the quick detailer (coming in the clay kit) and the ultimate quick detailer, why can't I use the ultimate QD as a lube for the clay? just curious

UQD is generally focused on removing light dust/fingerprints/etc plus it has the properties of making water bead on the surface its been applied to whilst QD doesnt.
Apart is the cost factor. UQD retails for $9.99 and QD retails for $6.49 (prices quoted from Megs Online Store).

Hope this helps.

Tim