SoCalm Miata Club at Meguiar's

[Mike Phillips]

SoCalm Miata club at Meguiar's

Meguiar's would like to extend a very warm welcome to members of the SoCalm Miata Club!

[Mike Phillips]

[Mike Phillips]

Full class!



The SoCalm Miata club members were a very enthusiastic group of people, there were lots of great questions covering every topic from terry cloth towels versus microfiber polishing cloths, how long to let a wax dry, how to remove swirls and everything in-between.

More pictures to come!

Mike

[davisinla]

Hey, this had to be one of the best "car" days I've ever had.

A HUGE thanks to Mike Phillips. I don't know where that guy gets his energy! Mike - YOU ARE TOPS! I'd love to hang around with you down there for a week!

I thought I knew most of this stuff, but I learned so much! It makes such a difference learning techniques from a professional. Needless to say I spent Sunday "practicing"!

(I've just GOT to figure out a way to sneak into another seminar!)

Paul D.

[tigger]

Thanks for the great class, Mike. I learned a great deal about how to clean my car and I can't wait to put it to use.

Any of you who get a chance to attend one of these cllinics should jump on it! You won't regret it.

[Mike Phillips]

Hi tigger,

Welecome to Meguiar's Online!

Thank you for the kind words, it was Meguiar's pleasure to have the SoCalm Miata club at Meguiar's! I had just as much fun as everyone else.

I have to finish a report today and then I'll upload some more pictures from the event including some of the before and after photo's of some of the cars we worked on.

Mike

[davisinla]

Hey Mike...

You were SUPPOSE to be taking today off! Step away from the keyboard and GO OUTSIDE!

Thanks again for a great day.

Paul

[Mike Phillips]

After the Power Point Presentation and a time for Questions & Answers, we headed out to the parking lot to do what we call a Walk By. This is where we all spend some time walking by the club member's cars, look at the finish and discuss their current car care system.

[Mike Phillips]

Spending some time walking around and discussing with the owner the condition of their car's finish helps to generate good questions about how to evaluate the condition of the finish as well as different products and procedures in general.






Mike

[Mike Phillips]

After inspecting the different Miata's at Meguiar's for the clinic, we chose Tori's Miata for Mini-Makeover.



After wiping the finish clean using Meguiar's Quik Detailer and some Ultimate Wipe microfiber polishing cloths, we then take turns evaluating the finish both visually, and with our sense of touch to determine if there are above surface contaminants.




Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Our surface evaluation revealed to us that the finish did in fact have quite a bit of above surface bonded contaminants so the first detailing step we will perform is to clay the finish using Meguiar's Quik Clay System

As I explain how to knead the clay bar into a wafer and use the Quik Detailer as a spray-on lubricant, members of the SoCalm Miata Club listen and watch a quick demonstration.



Basically when you clay a car's finish, you want to mist some Quik Detailer onto your clay bar and then onto your car's finish, then move the clay around on the finish somewhat like you would rub a bar of soap across your arm.



Mike

[Mike Phillips]

After the demonstration, people that have never used a clay bar are encouraged to jump right in and try their hand at claying on Tori's Miata!








The rear bumper and lower panels in the back of the car often have bonded contaminants because as you drive air swirls around the back of the car and exposes these areas to all kinds of particles, some air-borne, some kicked up from the road by cars driving in front of you.

[Mike Phillips]

Here's an example of what the clay was removing from finish of Tori's Miata!



As you can see, clay bars remove a lot of gunk that has built-up over time onto the surface of a car's finish. Often times your eyes cannot see this build-up, in some cases your hands cannot feel this build-up, but the clay bar does a good job of removing it and showing you what was really on the surface.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

When you attend a detailing clinic at Meguiar's, we always have on hand a large selection of our different products for you to try out on your own car. This gives you the opportunity to try it, before you buy it.



If you ever have any questions as to which product to use, or how to use it, we're always happy to help you choose and use the right product. Sometimes, a little technique goes a long ways.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

After removing the above surface contaminants with the claying process, the next thing were going to do is to use ScratchX to remove and reduce swirls, scratches, staining, oxidation and etchings. To do this, we follow the same techniques outlined in this how-to article,

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

First a quick demonstration. We apply a small amount of ScratchX to our foam applicator pad.



Then spread the product out in a small area and begin working it in. You want to work the ScratchX until it's almost gone. One of the ways you can tell you have thoroughly worked in the ScratchX and broken down the diminishing abrasives is the ScratchX will start out out fairly white and then turn clear as it dissipates.



After watching for a few minutes, members of the SoCalm Miata club decide they want to try their hand at applying the ScratchX. If you look where I have been working the ScratchX in the above photo, the product looks white on this dark green paint. Now if you look at the below picture, you can see the ScratchX has turned clear and almost disappeared.



After wiping the remaining product off you can see it has left a clear finish.



Meanwhile, back on the deck lid, members are going to town!



After applying the ScratchX to the entire car, members help to remove any excess using microfiber polishing cloths.



Mike