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Wow, I should visit this section more often.
best wax W/O a buffer?
- Thread starter MSP#735
- Start date
For car shampoo, buy Meguiar's Gold Class. It's a good shampoo (better than Turtle Wax for sure) and it's available locally cheap. If you're willing to shop online, Poorboy's Super Slick and Suds is one of my faves, as is Zaino Z7.MSP#735 said:
What do you use ICE for? In between applications of NXT?
For clay, I recommend the Claymagic claybar, $10 at AutoZone. Google for claybar tutorials, it's easy. All the other claybars are cool too, but they are usually more $$$.
Here's a procedure you can try:
1. Wash w/ Meg's Gold Class
2. Clay, generously spraying the supplied clay lube (usually a quick detailer spray)
[After claying, you will notice how smooth the paint is]
3. Wash again to get the clay lube residue off
4. Apply Meg's #21 wax using the softest cotton or MF applicator you can find
5. Wait 20 minutes
6. Remove Meg's #21 wax using a good buffing MF towel
6b. If you have more time, repeat steps 4-6 to put on Meg's #21 again. This will ensure even coverage (you can't layer Meg's #21 because it has light cleaners in it).
7. You're done.
Afterwards, to upkeep the car:
1. Wash w/ Meg's Gold Class
2. Spray down with Meg's Quick Detailer, if you want, but I usually don't bother, Meg's #21 still shines nicely
To reduce the swirls on your car, it's imperative you buy quality towels! Don't touch your paint with anything other than a quality mitt (e.g. sheepskin mitt) and quality microfiber towels.
Do not use a chamois to dry your car--there is nowhere for dirt to go. If you catch some dirt under a chamois, you're dragging that against your car. It's safer to use a quality microfiber drying towel (preferably one that has a waffle weave, which acts as a squeege of sorts).
I recommend you order a bunch of good towels online (e.g. check exceldetail.com, they have a bunch of great towels). You need:
1) a drying MF towel (I recommend 2)
2) a buffing MF towel (I recommend 2)
3) a general purpose MF towel (I recommend 4 of those)
Now, it happens that Target actually has some decent MF towels. The stuff online is still nicer, but this is a good start anyways. You can get these at target:
1) a large yellow microfiber drying towel (make sure it's not the stuff in the round containers, but just a large standalone towel.. it will feel really soft)
2) a set of white/gray microfiber detailing towels (they will feel pretty soft too, I think they have like a 6-pack for $8)
That should get you started.
Peruse autopia.org, an excellent detailing forum.
some good info!! when it comes to the cleanliness of my car, i am extremely anal! i clay my car twice a year and wax atleast every three months. when i dont wax i use a quick spray wax (as an in between waxes) as far as towels MF all the way and wash mits always! i probably use one of the worst drying techniques. i first remove the hose knozzel and let free flowing water flow over the car (creating a sheeting action) i then use the California Water Blade (which is the bad part, probably) then i use MF towels to remove the excess water. i will be doing the entire process this weekend (i.e. strip the current wax, clay, re-wash, Meg's #21 and Meg's Quick Detail Spray) Thanks again!!!
Some good info, but personally i would say, get alot more towels than you think you need. I got exceldetails 7 for 6 yellow supremes deal, and i constantly wish i had more. I also have 2 huge WW drying towels, but having another small one for the wheels would be really nice.
I've never used Megs #21, but i just want to point out the difference i had when going from just zaino (a polymer sealant), to layering some Natty's Blue carnuba wax on top of the zaino. The natty's doesn't last as long, probably only a month, but its made a big difference in the appearance and i still have the protection afforded by the zaino. Plus, both products are layer-able, so the shine can get better and better if you put more work into it.
Oh, and polishing isn't just about swirl marks. It also gives you a deeper, more true color to start off with. I can't wait till i have the time and money to polish in addition to the other stuff i do.
Oh, and i personally love Z7 carwash, but if you're going for storebought soap, i like meg's NXT over the gold class. I've always used the NXT on my wheels and the Z7 on my paint (because i feel bad dumping out the Z7 only to fill it up again). Personal preference i guess.
I've never used Megs #21, but i just want to point out the difference i had when going from just zaino (a polymer sealant), to layering some Natty's Blue carnuba wax on top of the zaino. The natty's doesn't last as long, probably only a month, but its made a big difference in the appearance and i still have the protection afforded by the zaino. Plus, both products are layer-able, so the shine can get better and better if you put more work into it.
Oh, and polishing isn't just about swirl marks. It also gives you a deeper, more true color to start off with. I can't wait till i have the time and money to polish in addition to the other stuff i do.
Oh, and i personally love Z7 carwash, but if you're going for storebought soap, i like meg's NXT over the gold class. I've always used the NXT on my wheels and the Z7 on my paint (because i feel bad dumping out the Z7 only to fill it up again). Personal preference i guess.
sheeting the water off the car using free flowing water is a great technique.
california water blade is not a good idea. it's the same deal as the chamois: there's nowhere for the dirt to go. sure, the blade is soft and won't scratch the paint, but the dirt it traps may. it depends on how clean your working area is. if you're drying in a clean garage, or there's no wind if you're drying outside, then you're less likely to marr.
what are you going to use to strip the current wax? if it's been a while since your last application, i don't think that you'll have to. between clay and the light cleaners in meg's #21, you should be OK w/o having to use a paint cleaner. of course, you probaby will get even better results if you do strip. if you're doing the stripping, i would recommend doing it after claying, so you have a smooth, clean surface to work with.
for stripping, you can do an IPA wipedown (isopropyl alcohol).
california water blade is not a good idea. it's the same deal as the chamois: there's nowhere for the dirt to go. sure, the blade is soft and won't scratch the paint, but the dirt it traps may. it depends on how clean your working area is. if you're drying in a clean garage, or there's no wind if you're drying outside, then you're less likely to marr.
what are you going to use to strip the current wax? if it's been a while since your last application, i don't think that you'll have to. between clay and the light cleaners in meg's #21, you should be OK w/o having to use a paint cleaner. of course, you probaby will get even better results if you do strip. if you're doing the stripping, i would recommend doing it after claying, so you have a smooth, clean surface to work with.
for stripping, you can do an IPA wipedown (isopropyl alcohol).
Astral do you really feel that NXT looks better than the megs #21 (at least at first)?? I had put a coat of NXT on my car and i wasn't nearly as impressed with that as i was with a couple coats of zaino (or of course zaino + natty's). I think my first zaino application was over two days, 2 coats of Z5 and two coats of Z2Pro. Although, i clayed when i started using zaino, and didn't for the NXT which i'm sure made some difference. I still think NXT is very good as a 'garden variety' wax if you will, but like i said i just wasn't too impressed by it.
Paul (Mr Detailer) has used both natty's blue and the regular natty's, and hasn't seemed to find any difference besides the smell, and like i said i completely trust his judgement, so i just went with the natty's blue. I bet you'll be happy with it if you do. Besides, its so nice to put on, makes the whole garage smell like gumballs.
Oh and what astral said about sheeting the water off your car when you're done made me think (and he is very right).... it can never hurt to ask someone very involved with detailing about your washing process, as thats one of the biggest problems some people have with avoiding swirls and other problems. It may be fine, or you may be doing something thats actually quite bad for the car, just cuz you never really thought about it.
Also, i've always used a wash with Dawn dish soap (plain original dawn) for removing old wax/sealant, because that is what Zaino reccomends with their products, however Mr Detailer did inform me that it will degrade your weatherstripping and other trim bits over time so it probably is a better idea to do the IPA thing. Or polish, that would of course work too.
Paul (Mr Detailer) has used both natty's blue and the regular natty's, and hasn't seemed to find any difference besides the smell, and like i said i completely trust his judgement, so i just went with the natty's blue. I bet you'll be happy with it if you do. Besides, its so nice to put on, makes the whole garage smell like gumballs.
Oh and what astral said about sheeting the water off your car when you're done made me think (and he is very right).... it can never hurt to ask someone very involved with detailing about your washing process, as thats one of the biggest problems some people have with avoiding swirls and other problems. It may be fine, or you may be doing something thats actually quite bad for the car, just cuz you never really thought about it.
Also, i've always used a wash with Dawn dish soap (plain original dawn) for removing old wax/sealant, because that is what Zaino reccomends with their products, however Mr Detailer did inform me that it will degrade your weatherstripping and other trim bits over time so it probably is a better idea to do the IPA thing. Or polish, that would of course work too.
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jmv, you know, I never compared NXT and Meg's #21 on the same car (I never used NXT on mine). My friend used NXT for a while, and I could see the durability and the shine go away. I was never particularly impressed with NXT, but it did look pretty good after application. That car now has Zaino Z5 Pro x3, where my friend has been raving about the durability 
So actually I'm basing that NXT looks better than #21 at first on autopia forum posts I've read, which may not always be right. NXT may work better with certain colors.
jmv, I used Dawn a couple of times, and I think it's not all that bad, if you use it just a few times (like once or twice a year). Certainly, though, there are valid concerns with its use. I don't use Dawn wash now though because I don't want it to drip on my Zaino'd wheels and compromise the sealant.
Right now, I have a bottle of "Four Star Ultimate Pre-Wax Cleaner," which I was going to use to do the wax stripping. However, it's very tempting to ditch that and use Jeff's Werkstatt Prime instead, which I've heard many a good thing about.
So actually I'm basing that NXT looks better than #21 at first on autopia forum posts I've read, which may not always be right. NXT may work better with certain colors.
jmv, I used Dawn a couple of times, and I think it's not all that bad, if you use it just a few times (like once or twice a year). Certainly, though, there are valid concerns with its use. I don't use Dawn wash now though because I don't want it to drip on my Zaino'd wheels and compromise the sealant.
Right now, I have a bottle of "Four Star Ultimate Pre-Wax Cleaner," which I was going to use to do the wax stripping. However, it's very tempting to ditch that and use Jeff's Werkstatt Prime instead, which I've heard many a good thing about.
Mr Detailer
Member
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- 99 Protege LX 5spd
An STi and an RX8. I envy you, Sir. I think I recall talking to you on Autopia before about your previous Protege, right? You made the right move...I'd trade my Protege for either of those cars in a heartbeat.
Hey Mr Detailer, yes, I am on Autopia, we talked there about exactly that. I will say this, I loved my Protege. If I only bought a manual (didn't know better at the time when I bought the auto), I would've kept it and turbo'd it. I had a beautiful laser blue color (which I used to like more than my winning blue, but now I love my winning blue more). I love my RX-8 though! (even more now that I put stiffer antisway bars on it and raised the revlimit to 9300rpm!)Mr Detailer said:
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Wow, I thought I was doin' pretty good using a clay bar and Meguiar's Gold Class stuff but this thread has got me looking into all kinds of other things.
Sorry for the threadjack but do you guys know what is best to get polish residue out of black plastic like what's on top of my P5?
Sorry for the threadjack but do you guys know what is best to get polish residue out of black plastic like what's on top of my P5?
bradicus18, i know that Poorboys makes a trim restorer of some sort, Mr Detailer would be able to tell you more about it.
03.5MSP, to get rid of swirl marks you're going to need to use an abrasive polish, which usually works best when used in conjuction with a random orbital buffer. The 'industry standard' if you will is made by Porter Cable (thus the buffer abreviation PC). You would need the buffer, a set of good pads, and some polish. Again, Mr Detailer could tell you more about it than myself. You'd be looking at about $200 for all the stuff.
03.5MSP, to get rid of swirl marks you're going to need to use an abrasive polish, which usually works best when used in conjuction with a random orbital buffer. The 'industry standard' if you will is made by Porter Cable (thus the buffer abreviation PC). You would need the buffer, a set of good pads, and some polish. Again, Mr Detailer could tell you more about it than myself. You'd be looking at about $200 for all the stuff.
bradicus - the poorboys trim restorer is AWESOME stuff, it will definitely help. I know that Paul (mr. detailer) also uses Klasse AIO to help remove residue. I've not tried that yet, but if the trim restorer can clean up that rental 6 i had last may, it can definitely help you out.
Mr Detailer
Member
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- 99 Protege LX 5spd
The plastic mirrors on that 6 were disgusting. But yeah, Andrea was able to clean those right up within a couple minutes, having never used Trim Restorer before. I might even have the before/after pics somewhere...
Mr Detailer
Member
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- 99 Protege LX 5spd
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That looks excellent. Maybe I should look into just removing the roof caps and stuff.....I could have sworn I've seen someone who had done it. I think I'll try and figure that out. I will definitely look into the Trim Restorer though. Thanks everyone.
Here's another thumbs up for Trim Restorer.
Mother's Back to Black left white residue, kinda like in the photo above, after wearing off. Plus it was runny. I do not recommend Mother's Back to Black anymore. I switched to Poorboy's Trim Restorer and, sure enough, it rocks.
Mother's Back to Black left white residue, kinda like in the photo above, after wearing off. Plus it was runny. I do not recommend Mother's Back to Black anymore. I switched to Poorboy's Trim Restorer and, sure enough, it rocks.
ThrillRide
Member
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- Truck
MSP#735 said:
i'm late on this but here you go anyway. you are not old fashion...however a ton of people do have a buffer (doesn't mean they know what the heck they are doing). I apply most waxes by wand. Liquid waxes are fine to spread with the buffer, but you will not get a better shine than with a high quality carnauba paste.
how much do you want to spend? what color is your car. You can get p21s paste wax (s100 is the same thing but cheaper
) and it will give you great looks. durability with is is not as long as some. but you can layer it with no porblem. is shines great on lighter colored cars. Pinnacle souveran paste wax is awesome. it is about 70 bucks which is on the high side for the regular consumer. but for shine (on any color) and durability is is one of if not the best carnauba paste wax out there.now if you have money to burn go grab a tub of zymol royal for 7 grand! lol
all joking aside zymol makes great waxes. carbon is not too expensive and it is a great wax. vintage is on the high side but is a fantastic product. also look at swissol. the dude that started this company worked at zymol. he started his own and most of the products are the exact same. he did get sued by zymol. some prices are better and some are higher.
anyway that my .02 for you. i don't prefer synthetics even if they last longer. they don't look nearly as good. liquid waxes are fine, they just don't look as good or last as long as paste IMO.
