In Need Of Some Clarification...

[CBLW]

For those of you who read my previous post on this subject, I've got some stubburn **** on the lower lip of my front bumper that I'd like to try to remove before waxing this weekend. Here are my questions:

Megs Quick Detailer (the original)

1. I have one bottle of this stuff. I am FAIRLY certain that the car was waxed upon delivery, but not positive. Is it safe to wash the bumper area, then try to remove the stubburn spots with regular Megs QD even if I'm not entirely sure that the car currently has wax on it?

2. I HATE microfiber cloths. I see that QD recommends using microfiber or even terry for product application. When I use microfiber in almost any capacity on my car it scratches up the paint. My concern is that the QD will REMOVE the spots, but that the microfiber used to apply it will marr up the paint. If I go this route, am I just going to end up having to hit the entire area with ScratchX afterwards? Becuase if that's the case, then what's even the point?

3. Is the Ultimate Quick Detailer THAT much better? Am I going to be disappointed if I use the regular stuff?

ColorX

1. Is it stronger than ScratchX? The same? Less abrasive? I plan to use it as my wax after washing the car. Just curious.

2. How many foam pads do I need to use in order to apply ColorX to the entire vehicle? I don't want to use too few and end up marring the paint.

As usual, thanks everyone!!

[Andy M.]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Well first, the original QD and the ultimate QD are 2 different products in my opinion. The original QD is for removing dust and fingerprints and even bird droppings. Original QD is also used as clay lube. The Ultimate QD does all of the above but does add some protection to the vehicle. If you are trying to remove a defect from your vehicle I would suggest using the Quik clay kit., and following up with colorx or NXT if you wish.

Yes IMO Ultimate quik detailer is THAT much better than the original with it's hydrophobic properties.
ColorX is a polish and wax in one and is not as aggressive as ScratchX. Why do you dislike MF towels so much? Just curious.

You can use the same pad for the entire vehicle using ColorX. That being said, Use one pad per product at all times.

Andy

[CBLW]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Microfiber cloths (not Megs, mind you) wrecked havoc on my paint when I was using them to apply ScratchX sometime ago. I've seen learned to stick exclusively with the foam applicator pads, but even still, I now fear that ANY microfiber contact (especially the aggressive kind, as would be required) is a death sentence for my paint.

As for your point about claying: I know, I know, I could clay the vehicle. The car is VERY new though, and I'm working on a limited schedule this weekend. Since the bumper is the ONLY affected area, would it be so bad to just hit it with regular QD and then call it a day?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

[quote=CBLW;247177]
For those of you who read my previous post on this subject, I've got some stubburn crud on the lower lip of my front bumper that I'd like to try to remove before waxing this weekend.


Here's your previous posts for those following this thread...

Scratch X Is Killing My New Car. HELP.
A Couple of Pressing Questions for Mike (or others)
Waxing/Crud Removal Question... HELP!

Here are my questions:

Megs Quick Detailer (the original)

1. I have one bottle of this stuff. I am FAIRLY certain that the car was waxed upon delivery, but not positive. Is it safe to wash the bumper area, then try to remove the stubborn spots with regular Megs QD even if I'm not entirely sure that the car currently has wax on it?

Yes you can try. But remember, mist and wipe products like Quik Detailer are for removing,

• Light dust
• Fingerprints
• Smudges

Not sure what the substance your stubborn spots are made out of but if they are more complex than simple dust, fingerprints and/or smudges then it's likely QD will not remove them and you're choosing the wrong product for the job.

2. I HATE microfiber cloths.

Just for clarification, when you used microfiber to apply previous products, was it a cloth or an applicator pad? There's a difference.

Millions of people could be wrong but personal experience has shown me that when correctly used microfiber polishing cloths are superior to all other options when it comes to removing paint care products off paint and the goal is to not instill any kind of defects in the process.

For example, the below truck had a single stage urethane black paint finish that would easily scratch or mar if you didn't use good technique or a soft, clean wiping cloths. ALL paint care products were removed using microfiber polishing cloths and the finish came out flawless...





Same thing for this 1954 Corvette with an antique single stage lacquer paint job, again in black.







So could it be the dislike you have for microfiber polishing cloths is really more about the difficulty you're experiencing working on the paint system on your car?

I see that QD recommends using microfiber or even terry for product application.

By application, what is meant is you mist some Quik Detailer onto the paint then use a "Microfiber Polishing Cloth", usually folded 4-ways to give you 8 wiping sides and to help spread out the pressure of your hand. Then after misting some product onto the paint you use your polishing cloth to GENTLY spread the misted product around and then turn to a dry side and GENTLY wipe the surface dry.

You don't apply a mist and wipe product like Quik Detailer with a microfiber applicator pad like you would a paint cleaner or a wax.
(Just for clarification for you and everyone that will read this into the future).

When I use microfiber in almost any capacity on my car it scratches up the paint.

This could be a characteristic of your car's paint. Meguiar's doesn't make paint, paint companies make paint and they make paint to the specifications of car manufactures.

One of the reasons this forum is popular and our Thursday night and Saturday classes are so popular is because so many people become so frustrated when they try to work on their car's clear coat finish and simply put clear coat paints are a lot more difficult to work on than older single stage paints because they are scratch-sensitive and because scratches in clear coat paints show up so easily to our eyes.

We do our best to make product to work on clear coat paints but we don't make the paints, so if you find you have a car with a difficult to work on paint system then this might be something you want to take up with the dealership where you bought your car.

For example, this guy returned his car and got his money back due to paint issues with a BRAND NEW CAR.

Are holograms and buffer swirl the norm for a black car?


There's also something to be said for skill. Every Saturday that I have the privilege of teaching the Saturday Car Care 101 Class I'll get to work on a car I've never seen before. I know nothing about the paint on the car we choose and we ALWAYS choose the car with the worst looking finish and each time we follow the same format and that includes wiping all products off using microfiber and all the finishes come out looking great.

So microfiber is a time-proven successful product and the further proof of this is so many people have switched from everything else to microfiber polishing cloths for working on paint. Just be sure to be using a quality microfiber polishing cloth as there are shoddy products on the market.

My concern is that the QD will REMOVE the spots, but that the microfiber used to apply it will marr up the paint.

If that's the case then that's a pretty good indicator that you're pushing on the cloth with way too much pressure and that would not be the fault of the cloth. It's also and indicator that you would be using the wrong product for the job and thus the wrong use of a microfiber polishing cloth to apply the wrong choice in product.

The first thing you should be doing is trying to find out what the spots are? What are they made out of? Is it,

• Road tar?
• Paint?
• Glue?
• Cement?

What is it?

Meguiar's teaches to evaluate the condition of the surface and this will help you to choose the right product.

Was this substance, that makes up the spots or as you call it "Crud", was it on the car when you bought it? If so take it back to the dealership and have them tell you what it is and then have them remove it.

If I go this route, am I just going to end up having to hit the entire area with ScratchX afterwards? Because if that's the case, then what's even the point?

See all my comments above, especially the ones about using the right or wrong product and finding out what the substance is to start with.

3. Is the Ultimate Quick Detailer THAT much better? Am I going to be disappointed if I use the regular stuff?

Again, mist and wipe products like Quik Detailer and Ultimate Quik Detailer are for removing,

• Light dust
• Fingerprints
• Smudges

It sounds like whatever this substance is you're trying to remove is beyond the intended purpose of a mist and wipe product.

ColorX

1. Is it stronger than ScratchX? The same? Less abrasive? I plan to use it as my wax after washing the car. Just curious.

ColorX is a strong cleaner/wax and ScratchX is a dedicated paint cleaner, they will both clean the paint and in some cases when used correctly they can and will remove below surface defects by removing a little paint surrounding the defects which is how you remove defects below the surface. (Just to clarify),. You and everyone reading this thread into the future can and should read this thread as it explains in detail what it means to remove a defect out of anything.

What it means to remove a scratch out of anything...

2. How many foam pads do I need to use in order to apply ColorX to the entire vehicle? I don't want to use too few and end up marring the paint.

If the car is clean to start with and you're using good technique, you should be able to wax the entire car using only one applicator pad. You should turn your applicator pad over frequently and inspect the surface of the face of the pad for any kind of dirt particles that you may have picked up off the car by accident and if discovered switch to a new, clean pad.

As usual, thanks everyone!!

Can you post a picture of the car?
Can you post a picture of the crud you're trying to remove?

We would like to see you through to success but at this time I don't think Quik Detailer, (a mist and wipe product), is the right product for what you're trying to do.

Thanks...

[Mike Phillips]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

The car is VERY new though,

Have you tried taking it back to the dealership?
Was the crud on the car from the dealership?

Since the bumper is the ONLY affected area, would it be so bad to just hit it with regular QD and then call it a day?

If the crud you keep referring to won't wash off with a gentle wash using soap and water then it certainly isn't' going to wipe off using a mist and wipe product.

You need to seek out some help from a professional detailer with experience with this kind of issue.

And just to be clear, Meguiar's doesn't recommend trying to remove "crud" that is stuck on paint like you describe as it's the wrong product for the job.

You need to FIRST find out what the substance is that you're trying to remove, once you figure out what the substance is you can then figure out what it will take to dissolve or somehow remove the substance off the paint without damaging the paint.

[CBLW]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Mike,

Thanks much for the detailed response!! I greatly appreciate the time and energy that went into your post. Please rest assured, this post of mine was not meant to disparage Megs products at all, it was only meant as a Q&A for how I might deal with my bumper before waxing this weekend.

And with that in mind...

• Road tar?
• Paint?
• Glue?
• Cement?

I think that it's probably something along the lines of road tar. Not a serious problem, it comes right off with ScratchX (but it's not a scratch), but I'd like to clean it off.

Aside from claying, can you recommend an appropriate Megs product that will remove this sort of thing quickly and easily?

Thanks!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Mike,

I think that it's probably something along the lines of road tar.
Thanks!

If it's road tar, or something like it, then one of the easiest ways to remove it is with a product called Goo Gone which is a citrus based solvent that is safe for paint. You can find it at Target and Wal-Mart.

If ScratchX is working then you can also use ScratchX and use it on the heavy side as you're wanting the chemical cleaners to dissolve and loosen the tar so you can wipe it off.

We also make a Bug & Tar Remover but it can sometimes be hard to find at the retail level.

ColorX, because it also contains chemical cleaners should also remove it.

Whichever product you decide to use, use it wet or heavy so there's plenty of liquid on the surface to soak in, penetrate and then dissolve and loosen whatever it is you're trying to remove.

After you remove the substance, apply some wax if you didn't use ColorX

Best of luck to you....

[CBLW]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Mike... SCORE! I'm thrilled to hear that you think ColorX will do the trick. If that's the case, then I think that I'll just give her a GOOD bath, then use the ColorX to knock out whatever's left after that. THANK YOU! You just simplied things big time and allowed me to get my waxing in this weekend! Woohoo!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: In Need Of Some Clarification...

Mike,

Thanks much for the detailed response!! I greatly appreciate the time and energy that went into your post.

You're welcome, on a personal note, I enjoy helping people get the best use from their time, money and efforts when it comes to working on there detailing projects with Meguiar's...

I also wrote this article to help forum members help themselves...

The Number 3 - Try to limit the number of questions in a single message to three...


It's easier to type out really detailed answers when there's not too many questions in a single post as it requires more formatting.... (just for everyone that will read this into the future!)