Need some answers kinda quick.

[roushstage2]

Today, I went out and bought Mothers Clay Bar Kit (no Meguiar's in town). Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, Polish, and Carnauba Wax.

1. Should I wash my car in between applying each different item? (i.e.- from clay to cleaner, cleaner to polish, etc.)

2. Do I need to wait any amount of time in between applying any of these if I don't have to wash it?

3. How long should I let each coat of wax sit?

4. Can the Wax be applied every month?

I am going to start to do this to my car at around 10-11 AM today, so any answers before then would be much appreciated!

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Need some answers kinda quick.

Originally posted by roushstage2
Today, I went out and bought Mothers Clay Bar Kit (no Meguiar's in town). Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, Polish, and Carnauba Wax.

1. Should I wash my car in between applying each different item? (i.e.- from clay to cleaner, cleaner to polish, etc.)

No need to, just do a good job of wiping each product's residue off after each step, including claying.

2. Do I need to wait any amount of time in between applying any of these if I don't have to wash it?

No, go from one product/process to the next. The only Meguiar's products you have to let dry are our waxes.

3. How long should I let each coat of wax sit?

The Swipe Test

How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove


A good rule of thumb for knowing when a Meguiar?s wax is ready to remove, is to wait until the wax dries to a haze and swipes clear using the Swipe Test. In most cases, in most climates, this should be approximately 10 to 15 minutes after application. In warmer climates, it will hedge towards the 10 minute range, and in colder, wet climates, it will take longer and hedge towards the 15 and even 20 to 25 minute range. Other factors include how thick of a coat you applied, relative humidity and air flow.

Another way to test if the wax has set-up long enough besides measuring with time, is to perform the Swipe Test.



"Swipe Test"

The swipe test is where you take your clean finger, and swipe it briskly across the finish with the wax on it. If the paint is clear, without residue where your finger made the swipe, the wax is ready to wipe-off. If the area you have swiped is smudgy, or streaky, or there is noticeable wax in the swipe area, then the wax has not set-up long enough and you should allow more time for the wax to set-up before your remove it.

If you remove it before it has set-up, you will risk removing too much of the wax from the surface and thus leave less than engineered to remain behind on the finish.

Once enough time has passed and your coating of wax swipes clear, remove the wax using a clean, soft premium microfiber polishing cloth such as Supreme Shine Microfiber polishing cloths, or with a clean, 100% cotton, terry cloth towel like our Ultra Plush Terry Cloth towels,

4. Can the Wax be applied every month?

Yes.

I am going to start to do this to my car at around 10-11 AM today, so any answers before then would be much appreciated!

Have fun!

[roushstage2]

Thank You Very Much Mike!!!

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

Did anyone else notice that Mike answered that question at 12:25 AM!!!!!!

Tim
ps. Mike, you should be sleeping!

[Superior Shine]

And "roushstage2" replied rigth after!! I was sawing logs just about then.

[silence]

What do you guys recommend as a simple solution to removing wax? I've heard that the Mr. Clean car wash is a wax remover and I have an old bottle of it that i never use.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by silence
What do you guys recommend as a simple solution to removing wax? I've heard that the Mr. Clean car wash is a wax remover and I have an old bottle of it that i never use.

Hi silence,

The best method of removing previously applied wax is to use a paint cleaner. Specifically, in the Meguiar's line, this would be Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, or ScratchX if you want to work by hand.

If you want to use a dua action polisher, then you could use a Cleaner/Polish. In a few moments I'll post Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle which thoroughly explains the different steps of detailing and also includes the 5 primary categories of products and explains what they're for.

On other forums, you'll have people telling you to wash your car with a strong detergent, but that's what Meguiar's calls working backwards as you're actively dulling the paint and if your goal is to make your car's paint look good, then you're working in the wrong direction.

A Meguiar's paint cleaner will clean the paint, by this we mean it will remove unwanted above surface contaminants and below surface defects, it will also remove previously applied wax. The key important difference between using a strong detergent wash and using a product specifically formulated to clean paint without harming paint, is that after you use a Meguiar's paint cleaner, your paint will be clean look good.

I actually see people on other forums routinely recommend wiping your paint down with different solvents and other strong chemical solutions to remove wax, which is a complete overkill and an indicator of their knowledge level.

Using a Meguiar's paint cleaner over the finish will clean the paint and remove previously applied wax and perfectly prepare the surface for further polishing with either a Meguiar's cleaner/polish or pure polish, or even wax depending on your car care goals.



Claying also removes wax but primarily off the surface, not from out of the microscopic surface irregularities.



If you want to start with a fresh base to work with, and your car is a daily driver and parked outside at least part of each day, then a good way to go would be to,

• * Wash the car to remove loose contaminants
  * Clay the finish to remove above surface bonded contaminants
  * Clean the finish using a paint cleaner to thoroughly remove any below surface defects
  * Polish the finish to restore maximum clarity, brilliance gloss and richness of color
  * Protect the finish by applying two thin coats of a wax of your choice.

[silence]

Last time i used that paint cleaner I gotta say i was a little diappointed with it it didn't remove any of the fine scratches and water spots that it said it would remove. i guess it usefull for prepping the paint for a polish and wax. Not bashing meg's I love using your products. like i said i was just dissapointed with t he paint cleaner. I do everything by hand right now because I can't afford the polisher and it would **** to try and do the whole car with scratch-x. I'm gonna try that on remote areas

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by silence
Last time i used that paint cleaner I gotta say i was a little disappointed with it it didn't remove any of the fine scratches and water spots that it said it would remove.

You're referring to the Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner?

The problem with removing scratches is that in order to actually make the scratch go away, as in the paint is flat again and without defects, you need to remove paint.

Herein lies the problem, generally speaking, modern clear coats are very hard, at least compared to traditional lacquer and enamel paints. Even though they're hard, (relatively speaking), they still scratch very easily.

Because they're hard, it's difficult for you or anyone to [b][i]remove small particles of paint in an effort to level, or smooth out the paint surrounding the scratch which actually what you must do in order to remove a scratch.

Technically, you don't remove the scratch, or scratches, or etchings, etc. you remove the paint around these below surface defects and the physical and visual result is that the scratch, or defect is removed.



Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner is a very, very, very mild paint cleaner and relies on chemical cleaning instead of a diminishing abrasive like Meguiar's other paint cleaners to clean the paint. For this reason, and because clear coats are typically fairly hard, you with your hand will have a difficult time removing swirls, scratches and etchings, in other words, any defect that is below the surface.

Try ScratchX, work small areas at a time, overlap into the previously worked area and wipe this product off after applying it and working it in and either applying more or moving onto a new section.

[Mike Phillips]

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
(Posted in the The Information Station)

What's the difference between polish and wax?
(Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle)

There is a lot of confusion about the difference between a polish, and a wax. Many companies are marketing waxes and paint protectants as polishes and glazes and the terms have become almost interchangeable.

Professionals know there is a big difference.

Meguiar's is a true polish manufacture. That is, unlike many of our competitors that can only offer you a few products for cars with cured paint, Meguiar's product range runs from the highest quality finishing papers in the industry, to state-of-the-art pure synthetic paint protectants, to everything in-between.

Example: Most companies only offer the following products:

* Car wash
* Pre-wax cleaner
* One or two waxes (usually some type of natural wax or polymer/silicone synthetic protectant)
* Multi-surface vinyl protectant

And sometimes one or more of the following:

* Some type of wheel cleaner, leather treatment, or tire dressing.


Because they offer such a limited selection, and often times don't even manufacture the products themselves, they really have no expertise when it comes to formulating complex products that professionals require as an intricate part of performing their job duties as skilled craftsman. This is why frequently you will see a product whose purpose is to protect the paint labeled as a polish.

Instead of merely defining the difference between a polish and a wax, below you will find the Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle and the products and procedures for each of the 5 steps.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle


The 5-step paint care cycle outlines the 5 basic but important procedures and the accompanying products that enable you to restore and maintain a show car shine on your car's finish.

Below are the 5 categories of products including pure polishes and cleaner/polishes as they are placed in the 5-step paint care cycle.

The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle includes:

Step-1 Washing


Washing removes loose surface dirt and loose contaminants that have not yet bonded to the surface. All Meguiar's wash products are specially formulated to clean well without stripping wax protection or dulling and drying out all paint types. All Meguiar's washes also contain special conditioning agents that leave behind a slick, high gloss surface.

Because most people wash their car more than any other procedure, it's important to use a car wash solution that is specifically formulated for the unique chemistry used to make modern clear coats. Above all, avoid using common dish washing detergents because these products are extremely harsh and tend to dull the finish down with each use. Dish soaps are also hard on other materials and components such as rubber, vinyl and plastics, remember, when you wash your car with dish soap everything is subjected to the dulling and drying effects high alkaline soaps cause to your vehicle.



Step-2 Cleaning or Surface Prep


Surface Prep includes both paint cleaning (not to be confused with the washing step), and claying the finish (with a clay bar). To help you accomplish these two steps, Meguiar's offers a number of safe but effective paint cleaners and an easy to use clay bar kit that includes everything you need to clay your car's finish.

Paint Cleaners
This includes highly specialized Compounds and Paint Cleaners, which utilize both microscopic and macroscopic diminishing abrasives? technology. Meguiar's has pioneered and led the industry in diminishing abrasive technology since 1901. Over the course of these many years, Meguiar's has developed more formulas than any other company for performing the delicate procedure of removing a defect in the paint, while at the same time, removing as little paint as humanly possible during the process.

Meguiar's diminishing abrasive technology is one of Meguiar's most guarded secrets that is so highly sought after by our competitors and which completely separates us from the rest of the competition when you look at the results with your own two eyes. Our abrasive products, correctly used, leave the surface looking as though it were just polished, not as though it were just scoured with a compounded.

Out of all the procedures in the 5-step paint care cycle, cleaning is the most important procedure because the results from your cleaning step will determine the end result for the polishing and protecting steps.

"A surface won't go clear until it comes clean"

It is vitally important that all bonded contaminants, surface imperfections, oxidation, pore-embedding stains, and built-up road grime, etc. first be removed in order to bring the finish to it's highest potential for clarity, gloss, depth and shine.

Applying a wax, whether it's synthetic, natural or a blend of both, to a neglected surface that has not been properly cleaned and then polished, will merely act to seal or lock the contaminants to the finish, and will do nothing to improve, or remove the other defects and in most cases will only marginally improve gloss, shine and reflectivity.


Clay Bar Technology
Clay bar technology evolved as a natural reaction to the need that arose for a way to safely remove bonded contaminants from clear coat paints without resorting to traditional rubbing or polishing compounds and the resulting scratches caused by the sharp, hard abrasive typically used in these formulas.

In the old days, if you found overspray or any type of unwanted substance on the hood, roof or deck lid of your car that washing didn't remove, you could simply go to the garage and grab any old compound, and together with a rag, you could quickly remove the offending contaminants. After that you could simply apply just about any companies wax and presto-chango, the problem was gone.

Not so simple anymore.

If your were to perform that same procedure to a modern clear coat today, you would see a horrible looking scratched-up mess everywhere you applied the compound, and the wax would do nothing to cover the scratches up.


Enter the Clay bar
Clay bars are non-abrasive bars of synthetic clay called Polyclay. They are somewhat like a high-tech version of Play-Doh?. They work in three easy steps:

1) - First you mold the clay bar into a pancake-looking flat wafer
2) - Second you lubricate the finish with a spray lubricant like Meguiar's Quik Detailer
3) - Third you then rub the clay bar back and forth across the paint (somewhat like a bar of soap against your arm)

That's it! You are now claying your car's finish. As you're doing this, the clay bar will grab onto, lift, and pullout the contaminants that have bonded to the surface of your finish.

Generally speaking for most cars, only the horizontal surfaces need to be clayed, as it is the horizontal surfaces that contaminants tend to land on and if not removed within a reasonable period of time will then bond tightly to the surface. For extremely neglected vehicles, you can always evaluate the vertical surfaces and if need be, clay them too.

One important thing to keep in mind, if a vehicle's finish has bonded contaminants, it is highly likely that it also has below surface defects, for example, pore-embedding stains. For this reason, Meguiar's recommends for best possible results, always use a paint cleaner after claying to insure the finish is clean both on top of the surface as well as below the surface.



Step-3 Polishing



Meguiar's offers two types of polishes, Cleaner Polishes and Pure Polishes. Cleaner Polishes are for removing very light or fine defects while restoring a crystal clear, smooth high gloss surface. Pure polishes are for finishes already in excellent condition and are for the purpose or creating brilliant high gloss with deep dark reflections.

If you look in Webster's Dictionary under the word polish, one of the definitions they include reads like this:

"A preparation that is used to produce gloss, and often color for the protection and decoration of a surface."

This definition best describes Meguiar's Pure Polishes. Meguiar's pure polishes are designed to create brilliant high gloss while preparing the surface for the application of a protective coating. Meguiar's pure polishes accomplish this without the use of abrasives.


Another definition found in Webster's Dictionary for polish is,

"To make smooth and glossy by friction."

This definition best describes Meguiar's Cleaner/Polishes. Meguiar's cleaner polishes are formulated to very gently abrade the surface with Meguiar's Diminishing Abrasive TM and Buffered Abrasive TM technology to remove the finest defects and create a perfectly smooth, high gloss finish.

Depending on what type of paint you're working on, traditional paints like lacquers and enamels, or catalyzed clear coats, Meguiar's has the products specifically designed to work on both types of paints, not to mention many other surfaces such as plastics and polyester resins (Fiberglas Gel-coats).


Meguiar's Trade Secret Polishing Oils
The trade secret oils Meguiar's uses in both types of polishes are unique to the industry and to this day have never been surpassed for creating deep, dark reflections and brilliant high gloss by any of our competitors in over 100 years.

The oils Meguiar's uses are also important in maintaining the original condition of the paint by filling in the naturally occurring microscopic pores and surface imperfections thus preventing detrimental substances and elements as simple as water, or worse, acid-rain, from entering into these pores and microscopic surface imperfections thus causing oxidation and chemical etching. These oils act to replace the original resins as they wear away through natural processes.

When paint is new, it is the most impermeable it will ever be, this means it is a very smooth non-porous, continuous film. With age, exposure to the environment and micro-scratching caused by day-in, day-out wear and tear, your paint develops micro-fissures in the surface along with other defects. These micro-fissures and other defects act to make the continuous film or coating of paint more porous. As this happens, your car's finish becomes more vulnerable to corrosive elements that will attack and degrade your finish.


Remember, waxes, synthetic or otherwise, are meant to be Sacrificial Barriers with the intended purpose sealing the surface, while blocking those things that would attack your paint, from coming into direct contact with the paint.

"Waxes protect your finish by sacrificing themselves so that your paint doesn't have to"

An analogy is your skin. In the same way you can clean, polish and protect your skin, you can clean, polish and protect your car's finish. Soap can be used to clean your skin and remove dirt from the pores. Skin lotions can be used to moisturize your skin, conditioning it and making it more clear and beautiful. Protection products like lotions used to protect hands from exposure to chemicals and UV protectants can be applied to help protect your skin from the things that would attack your skin if these harmful things could come into direct contact with your skin.

While human skin and automotive paint are very different, the analogy is very similar. With Meguiar's, you can:

* Wash your car's finish to remove unwanted and accumulated dirt contaminants
* Clean your paint with our special paint cleaners and cleaner/polishes
* Polish your paint with our pure polishes to create unequaled beauty
* Protect your paint with our advanced paint protection products
* Maintain your car's finish using our fast and easy to use maintenance products.


The unique thing about Meguiar's highly specialized trade secret oils is their ability to restore and maintain the Optical Clarity of both single stage and clear coat paints in a way that waxes alone cannot match, (both natural and synthetic), the results of which are demonstrated in side-by-side comparisons.


Step-4 Protecting


Paint protection products (waxes by any other name), whether they are based on natural ingredients or synthetic ingredients (or a blend of both) provide a protective film, or Sacrificial Barrier (as mentioned above) against Mother Nature and other detrimental or corrosive substances. Without this sacrificial barrier, your finish is susceptible to attack at any time, as harmful or corrosive substances come into direct contact with the surface.

This brings up the topic of Water Beading. While most people use the visual indicator of water beading on the surface to mean their finish is protected... it is actually only an indicator of High Surface Tension.

High Surface Tension does not automatically mean the coating that has been applied is actually providing any real or meaningful protective characteristics.

Meguiar's R & D department has decades of expertise in creating the most advanced polymer-based formula's made from state-of-the-art engineered synthetic polymers, which are able to evenly cross-link very tightly to the surface and offer real protection on a multitude of surfaces against a multitude of attacks. Our products can also achieve optimal cross-linking within 15 to 20 minutes after application allowing the excess product to be removed shortly thereafter.

Some of Meguiar's polymer-based waxes include:

Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax
#20 Polymer Sealant
Medallion Premium Paint Protection
Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax
Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax
Marine Flagship


Even our Spray Waxes contain high performance, engineered synthetic polymers, as do some of our Car Wash products.

Besides acting as sacrificial barriers to protect the underlying surface, a premium wax can also increase the visual appearance of a finish. Many of Meguiar's waxes will not only provide better protection than the competition, but will also:

* Increase optical clarity and distinction of image (D.O.I.)
* Enhance and increase the reflective characteristics of medium to dark color finishes
* Add shine and slickness
* Create wet-looking gloss
* Fill-in and hide swirls and scratches
* Provide the most UV protection available
* Offer water sheeting action, or water beading action (depending on the wax)


Choosing the right wax for your finish and your unique circumstances is something our Surface Care Experts would love to help you determine. Just call our Customer Care Hotline and talk to a knowledgeable technician to help you make the right choice.



Step-5 Maintaining


Maintenance products, like our Quik Detailer, and our Quik Wax, allow you quickly clean your car and restore that just waxed look in just a matter of minutes... practically anywhere.



Meguiar's Quik Detailer removes fresh contaminants before they have a chance to bond or etch into the surface.

Meguiar's Quik Wax quickly and easily boosts your already existing wax protection while turning your finish dramatically darker and increasing shine and gloss.



Meguiar's actually invented the concept of a mist and wipe product for consumers back in the early-80's with the introduction of their mist & wipe product called "Trigger Wash"

As leaders and experts in the surface care industry, we have a history of creating new products, such as mist & wipe products like our Quik Detailer and M-34 Final Inspection to help our customers maintain and beautify their vehicles.

In keeping with that history, we have just introduced a brand new spray wax that produces similar results as Meguiar's Quik Wax. It's actually a part of Meguiar's NXT Generation line of products based upon Meguiar's ESP Technology (Engineered Synthetic Polymers) and is a companion product to Meguiar's new NXT Tech Wax it's called NXT Spray Wax.






Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle clearly demonstrates there are 5 basic steps to professional and intelligent car care.

Using the correct Meguiar's products and the right technique, you can remove scratches and swirls that have accumulated from years of neglect to successfully restore a flawless, show car finish as demonstrated here on a 1991 BMW E34 M5. The left side is untouched, while the right side has been professionally restored using all Meguiar's products.




The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle enables you to understand exactly what a product is not just by the name on the label, but by the results the product accomplishes according to the 5 different groups of procedures outlined in the 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

If a product is labeled a polish, but in fact is used to protect the paint, then you know it's a wax or a paint protectant and not an actual polish in the true sense of the definition of the word.

Here at Meguiar's we manufacture some very complex products, of which polishes and waxes are only a small portion of our complete line.

[silence]

Wow. All I was saying was that the cleaner said it would remove fine scratches and it didn't, I understand what your saying about getting scratches out thats why I plan I using several coats of the scratch-x in remote locations were I have deeper scratches, but theres nothing out there right now that I can afford that will remove all the fine scratches all over my car.

[roushstage2]

Originally posted by Superior Shine
And "roushstage2" replied rigth after!! I was sawing logs just about then.

I had just gotten home from work. I am usually there until around midnight.

[roushstage2]

Originally posted by silence
Wow. All I was saying was that the cleaner said it would remove fine scratches and it didn't, I understand what your saying about getting scratches out thats why I plan I using several coats of the scratch-x in remote locations were I have deeper scratches, but theres nothing out there right now that I can afford that will remove all the fine scratches all over my car.

The cleaner got rid of some fine scratches. Between the cleaner and the polish, a lot of the fine scratches are gone. I am pretty happy with the whole deep crystal system. Claying the car helped a lot too, got all of the clearcoat overspray off the front of my that the bodyshop got all over it. Got most off of the back and all off of the windows (yes, it was ALL OVER the car)

[roushstage2]

Put some pics up in the gallery for those interested.