MBWorld.org at Meguiar's!

[Mike Phillips]

[Mike Phillips]

After the classroom portion is over, we like to go outside and do what we call a Walk-by where we all walk by each car, evaluate the finish and ask the owner what they currently do for a car maintenance program.





We help to evaluate the finish and make recommendations as to products and procedures the owner can use to restore their car's finish or bring their car's finish up to an even higher level.

We also look for a couple of cars that have both above surface defects and below surface defects that will make excellent learning vehicles for students to test out Meguiar's products and learn proper techniques for applying them for the hands-on portion of the class.

[Mike Phillips]

After selecting two Mercedes-Benz to work on, we drive them into Meguiar's Garage and everyone joins in to wipe them down and remove any light dust and other loose contaminants using Quik Detailer

[Mike Phillips]

Next we evaluate the surface with the palm of our clean hands and inspect for above surface bonded contaminants, if we find them, we use Meguiar's Quik Clay System



Before beginning, students we share a few tips and techniques for kneading the clay and using it on the surface.

[Mike Phillips]

Then we turn the students loose to clay the car! We always encourage everyone to participate, especially if they have never used a clay bar before attending Meguiar's Detailing 101 class.

[Mike Phillips]

After claying both cars, we chose one car to demonstrate techniques for applying product by hand, and the other car for applying product using Meguiar's G-100 Dual Action Polisher.

First up we're going to learn how to properly apply Meguiar's ScratchX to remove swirls, blemishes, oxidation and scratches. We start by applying some ScratchX directly to the outer edge of our foam applicator pad.



Then we select an area to work and begin applying the ScratchX using both a combination of circular motions to spread the product out, (over the area we're going to work), and in straight-line motions to work the diminishing abrasive against the finish.



Meguiar's is often asked whether it is better to use circular motions or straight-line motions when applying paint cleaners, polishes and waxes to a car's finish?

Meguiar's believes that if the product you are using are non-abrasive, and your applicator material is non-abrasive then it shouldn't matter because neither of these two things should be instilling scratches into your finish. If you're seeing scratches left behind after you have removed any remaining residue then you need to stop and re-evaluate your choice of product, applicator and/or procedure.

Meguiar's ScratchX is completely non-abrasive. It uses a microscopic diminishing abrasive cushioned, or buffered in a rich lubricating base. This combination of ingredients enable you to remove defects without instilling more scratches than your remove.

For more information on how to remove swirls, scratches, etchings and other below surface defects, read this article on using ScratchX.

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

Mike

[AlbertFattal]

Do you have full size images of them all?

[sped]

I just wanted to take the time to thank Mike and Tim for a very good day at Meguiar's this last Saturday.

Both the inside class and the outside class were very informative...CONGRATULATIONS TIM on your first class!!!!
I have given clinics from time to time and know exactly what it is like to speak in front of people.

It was nice to see first hand how each product was used and for what purpose. I went out Sunday and started to stockpile materials to replace some of the car care products I purchased before. Some of the tips that were discussed were very helpful to, like how to apply the polish to the pad and how to hold the clay.

I have been a car-crazed person for many years and welcome the new knowledge to care for my Mercedes Benz cars.

It was well worth the 4.5-hour drive from Henderson, Nevada for the class, I would definitely consider another trip for another detailing class.

It takes an exceptional company to open their doors like Meguiar's does in this day and age. Thank you…….

Regards,
Ed

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by AlbertFattal
Do you have full size images of them all?

Yes. I keep my original in one folder, and my resized photos in an Upload folder. Any image over 700 pixels wide is to large for use in forums. Any image over 800 pixels is usually to wide for use on a dedicated webpage.

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by sped
It was well worth the 4.5-hour drive from Henderson, Nevada for the class, I would definitely consider another trip for another detailing class.

It takes an exceptional company to open their doors like Meguiar's does in this day and age. Thank you…….

Regards,
Ed

I guess you win the Long Distance Award!

Seriously, thank you very much for driving all that way and attending our Detailing 101 Class, Meguiar's sincerely appreciates everyone who spends their Saturdays with us here at our Corporate office no matter how far they drive, but we especially appreciate our fans such as yourself that go the extra mile, (no pun intended ), and drive as far as you did!

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Next we applied Deep Crystal Polish.



Apply a small amount of polish to the outside edge of your applicator pad as this is where your fingers will be pushing down on the other side, not the middle.




When applying a pure polish like the Deep Crystal Polish, it's important to spread the product out and then work it gently and thoroughly into the paint. You don't need to work the finish like you do with a paint cleaner because at this step you're not trying to remove defects, (that's the cleaning step with the ScratchX), but are merely trying to add gloss and beauty. Usually, two well applied passes over the surface is sufficient to work the polish into the paint.



It's important to note that when applying paint cleaners like ScratchX and polishes like Deep Crystal Polish, that neither of these product need to dry after they have been applied. Only waxes, or paint sealants need to dry in Meguiar's line of products.

Mike

[Tim Larson]

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone that came to the class on Saturday. We all had a lot of fun. I hope you all learned something. I know that learned a lot from all of you that attended. Hope you can all return again sometime.



Tim Larson
Meguiar's Customer Care

[Mike Phillips]

After removing the polish, we then applied one application of NXT Tech Wax.



After letting the wax dry for around 15 minutes, we then used a Meguiar's Ultimate Wipe.



Unlike paint cleaners, cleaner/polishes and pure polishes, which do not need to dry before removing, all Meguiar's waxes need to dry before you remove them. The best way to tell if a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove is to use the How to tell when a Meguiar's wax is ready to remove - The Swipe Test

Mike

[Mike Phillips]

Next we backed the car out into the sun to inspect the results and the difference between the before side and the after side.



As it's November, the sun doesn't not travel directly overhead any longer and this makes seeing the results more difficult.



You have to position yourself at the right height, and view the hood at the right angle to see all of the differences.



Often times, the results from our hand applied products are very dramatic, sometimes they are not. We don't want everyone to think that each and every time, on every paint type that hand applied product will produce a show car finish as this is not true. Often times it will require a machine applied product from our Professional line to create a completely flawless finish. But it is important to to try, and to see what can be done with hand applied product because not everyone owns a dual action polisher, but most people have their two hands to work with. The results here, while hard to capture did reduce the swirls, but we did not completely remove the swirls. We could do better if we just spend more time with the first step, the paint cleaning step using ScratchX.



From a different angle, you can better see how cleaning, polishing and protecting did create a more clear finish, with a richer, darker look to the after side.



Mike

[breastroker]

I thought Tim did a great job being his first time in front of a very large group. As long as Mike is there to fill in the gaps Tim will eventually be fine on his own.

My blue Coupe looks pretty good in the photo, but truthfully the last time I did a complete wax was after the March Mercedes Benz clinic.

I use NXT wash only now, it is far superior to all others. I always carry a bottle of NXT Booster wax in the car, and more importantly something else that was not brought up at this clinic!

Final Detail is the best product for cleaning bird droppings and tars I have ever used.

This is where I agree with Mark, many of us were able to go to the store and purchase the Meguiars PC and Final Detail.

Please tell Mr. Meguiar that you are loosing sales on every clinic. People hate waiting and hate paying for delivery. I would bet with a stocked store there would be at least $2000 worth of purchases from every clinic, but even more following up after the initial purchase.


Finally I think it very important for people to stay and work on their cars under the watchfull eye of the master, Mike! It is far different helping others compared to doing your entire car, and think of the publicity of 20 cars out on the road with great shines, every one will get quizzed on where they got their cars done. And then can proudly say I did it myself with Meguiars wax!!!