[Turbo_435i]

I'm pretty good at keeping my car clean. I wash it at least 2-3 times a week to keep it clean, and its good exercise for me. I have a couple of questions for those that know about detailing. I recently acquired a new car. The paint is in great condition, it's pearl white, so it really doesn't show swirl marks,etc. I have already clay bar"d" the car and wax it a couple of times using Mother's Carnauba wax. The wax works great, and i usually do it by hand. I would like to take it to the next step and get an electric buffer. My questions are :

1. I dont need to do correction on this car, do I ?
2. I dont want to go "overboard" on waxing ,etc., what is the standard procedures for claying,waxing, acrylic, etc... what goes first ?
3. Can someone give me a basic outline of the products that are the best to use and what order ( ie.... clay(mothers), acrylic(????), wax (mothers).....
4. also, if i use a buffer, what speed? and what pads ?

thanks alot for all your help in advance, I really dont need a lengthy answer, just the basics.

[Turbo_435i]

also, is it bad to wash a car too much (2-3 times a week). does this remove the wax ?

[SpecC]

welcome to the board!

1. you may later on which will really suck!
2. well first you wash with a harsh car shampoo, then clay, then polish, then sealant, and finish up with wax
3. clay is just about all the same and products are based on your choice.
4. since you probably won't be using it much, i would say a porter cable is enough. Many may disagree since the porter cable is so weak, but I think it'll suffice

now washing your car a lot can be bad if you have bad technique, but as long as you use a soft-mild car shampoo, it'll be fine for your wax. The mother's wax doesn't last that long from my experience anyway though

Take a look at this. http://www.detailedimage.com/guides.php As long as you follow that and keep doing what you're doing, you should be fine!

[Turbo_435i]

I just realized I've been using the "mothers cleaner carnuba wax" vs. A pure carnuba wax. I should only need to use a pure carnuba wax, right ? and will the pure carnuba wax last longer. I basically want my paint to feel like its been waxed all the time. I like the butter feel, but it only feels like this for a few days then after washing it kinda goes away ?

you said polish,sealant, then wax .

what type of polish ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?

what type of sealant ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?

wax, same as above ? applied / removed ?
thanks man

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by schybrid

I just realized I've been using the "mothers cleaner carnuba wax" vs. A pure carnuba wax. I should only need to use a pure carnuba wax, right ? and will the pure carnuba wax last longer. I basically want my paint to feel like its been waxed all the time. I like the butter feel, but it only feels like this for a few days then after washing it kinda goes away ?

you said polish,sealant, then wax .

what type of polish ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?

what type of sealant ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?

wax, same as above ? applied / removed ?
thanks man

no wax is pure carnauba wax. the closest i've seen s the zymol one and that costs 2 grand!

for polish, your new car may not need it yet, but after a while, i'd apply it by machine and just buff it off with MF towels. I use PO106FF with my polisher.

for sealant, Jetseal 109 is the only one i tried other than Klasse AIO and it is hard to beat! The application is simple, smear a light coat of the product all over your car and let it sit for suggested 12 hours. Some people do 1-2

for wax, the safe bet is some Chemical Guys 50/50. The shine is nice, it's durable, but it's not exactly cheap. I do these by hand only. Sometimes, the buffers destroy the wax particles

hope this helps

[Concours Finish]

Originally Posted by schybrid

thanks alot for all your help in advance, I really dont need a lengthy answer, just the basics.

I'll try to be as basic as I can.
1. I dont need to do correction on this car, do I ?
Probably will need to eventually.
2. I dont want to go "overboard" on waxing ,etc., what is the standard procedures for claying,waxing, acrylic, etc... what goes first ?
Wash with 2-bucket method using mild soap that won't strip wax, clay, polish if neccessary, glaze to add slickness and gloss, sealant followed by wax.

3. Can someone give me a basic outline of the products that are the best to use and what order ( ie.... clay(mothers), acrylic(????), wax (mothers).....
The best stuff can't be bought at your local auto parts store. There are tons of great products: chemical guys, menzerna(known for their polishes), zaino just to name a few. As far as OTC, I would use meguiars nxt product line.

4. also, if i use a buffer, what speed? and what pads ?
I would recommend using a Dual Action Orbital Polisher - either a PC (Porter cable 7424/7336) or a UDM (ultimate detailing machine).

From my own personal experience, this a breakdown on Lake country 6.5" pads using a PC from most aggressive to least aggressive:

Yellow Foam - Most aggressive. you prob don't need this one - speed 5-6
Orange Foam - Most widely used for cutting/polishing - Speed 5-6
White Foam - less cutting power, for polishing..and applying glazes - speed 4-6
Black Foam - no cutting power, for super fine polish/glazes and waxes speed 4-6, for applying wax speed 2-3
Blue Foam - applying wax, speed 2-3


just realized I've been using the "mothers cleaner carnuba wax" vs. A pure carnuba wax. I should only need to use a pure carnuba wax, right ? and will the pure carnuba wax last longer. I basically want my paint to feel like its been waxed all the time. I like the butter feel, but it only feels like this for a few days then after washing it kinda goes away ?
Washing in excess is probably stripping your wax. Instead of washing it, use a quick detailer next time as it will help maintain the slickness of the paint.

Carnauba's usually only last up to 3 months. Synthetic Polymer Sealants will last around 6 months. People usually prefer the look of carnaubas. To get the best of both worlds put on sealant first, allow it to cure, and then layer on a carnauba.


you said polish,sealant, then wax .
Correct

what type of polish ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?
look above, apply with buffer, remove with microfiber towels

what type of sealant ? applied with buffer / removed with buffer ?
Too many to list but here are a few: CG jetseal 109, zaino z2,z5, prima epic(what i use ). Applied and removed either by hand or buffer. I like to apply by buffer and remove by hand.
wax, same as above ? applied / removed ?
Usually hand application and removal.

[Turbo_435i]

thanks alot for taking the time to answer my questions, much appreciation !!!

[orionredwing]

Hi schybrid, I think it's pretty cool you already spend so much time cleaning your car. So from a time commitment standpoint, you're already there. Other than that, my advice is to read the stickies at the top of this forum. They will explain most of your current (and unasked follow-up) questions.

Depending on how you wash your car, you may or may not be adding unnecessary swirls (2 bucket system w/ grit guard, multiple wash mitts?). If your car does not get that dirty, I would suggest incorporating a quick detailing routine, instead of multiple washes each week.

For example, replace your 3 washes with a wash -> quick detail -> quick detail each week. This assumes your car doesn't get super dirty due to work, driving conditions, etc.

A quick detailer (like Meguiar's Ultimate Quick Detailer, Poorboy's Spray & Wipe, Chemical Guys Speed Wipe) will only take you ~10 mins. Don't forget to use good microfiber towels with it. This may reduce the chances of swirling your car from an improper wash technique, not to mention all that time saved. I'd buy the quick detailers in gallon sizes, given your frequent wash routine.

Originally Posted by schybrid

I'm pretty good at keeping my car clean. I wash it at least 2-3 times a week to keep it clean, and its good exercise for me. I have a couple of questions for those that know about detailing. I recently acquired a new car. The paint is in great condition, it's pearl white, so it really doesn't show swirl marks,etc. I have already clay bar"d" the car and wax it a couple of times using Mother's Carnauba wax. The wax works great, and i usually do it by hand. I would like to take it to the next step and get an electric buffer. My questions are :

1. I dont need to do correction on this car, do I ?
2. I dont want to go "overboard" on waxing ,etc., what is the standard procedures for claying,waxing, acrylic, etc... what goes first ?
3. Can someone give me a basic outline of the products that are the best to use and what order ( ie.... clay(mothers), acrylic(????), wax (mothers).....
4. also, if i use a buffer, what speed? and what pads ?

thanks alot for all your help in advance, I really dont need a lengthy answer, just the basics.

[Turbo_435i]

wouldnt the "quick detailer" stuff tend to scratch the paint more ? I figure if I'm using water and spraying off all the dirt,etc.... then washing with a sponge, it will clean it better and not scratch teh car as much as a spray and wipe would.

[SpecC]

Originally Posted by schybrid

wouldnt the "quick detailer" stuff tend to scratch the paint more ? I figure if I'm using water and spraying off all the dirt,etc.... then washing with a sponge, it will clean it better and not scratch teh car as much as a spray and wipe would.

quick detailer is like windex for your paint. It doesn't streak and it does a light cleaning job. So quick detailer is just soap, water, some anti streaking chemicals and ta da! you have quick detailer. The difference between them is that some might leave behind some carnauba, some have anti static chemicals so less dust sticks to your car, some others might also streak cause the makers suck haha

you choose your own based on what you want out of it all

[haper]

Originally Posted by schybrid

wouldnt the "quick detailer" stuff tend to scratch the paint more ? I figure if I'm using water and spraying off all the dirt,etc.... then washing with a sponge, it will clean it better and not scratch teh car as much as a spray and wipe would.

the number one rule is anytime you touch the paint you are running the risk of causing marring.

washing will strip the wax, and washing - no matter how careful you are - will cause scratching. many ppl use QD in place of a traditional wash for ease of use and to extent the life of the wax, but only when the car is very lightly dirty.

you should test out the QD a few times in a small section, after a few weeks see if it is causing marring. if not, then you can use it in place of an occasional traditional wash.