Please help a Newbie

[MattMonss]

Hey guys, I am a new member to this forum. I have noticed that you guys are very knowledgable in this field and get along quite well! Well,I need your help. I am new to DETAILING cars, I dont trust anyone with my GN so i rather do it myself. I have a 86 Buick Grand National with a new 3 coat paint job that dosnt have a clear coat on it. It is a shiny paint, great job but has swirls all over it and road tar and crap on the bottom.ALso the windows have streaks and water spots on it. Can you help me with what to START with and what to END with. I am going to the auto paint supply store today. They have alot of commerical stuff. Just ,all I ask is that you be easy with me, please get into details. I dont understand certain names you guys use, like BF?

I really apprecite your help.

Thanks!

Ralph

[johnson]

I just started posting yesterday too. From some of my searches, this came up. I think some acronyms are not listed in there. I dont know if I would try any polishes because your paint my come off with no clear coat. I know mine did. I have a 91 S10 pickup that I detailed a few months ago. You can see what I used in this thread. When I was washing, claying, prepping, polishing, and waxing the hood, paint came off. I mean it really came off. I threw away my applicators and towels because it felt rough and I didnt want to use them again. Right now, I dont have to worry about that anymore after I applied the wax. Feels really smooth now and paint doesnt come off. HTH.



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14825



Autopia Forum Terms and Abbreviations

by Greg Heumann and Rich Kolbush

Edited by Mark Brustowicz



303

303 Aerospace Protectant



ABC

AutoInts ABC 3 step paint decontamination wash system



AG

AutoGlym



AFAIK

As Far As I Know



AIO

Klasse All In One



ARO

Amazing Roll Off



AZ

AutoZone



BA

Black Again



BCS

P21S Bodywork Conditioning Shampoo



BF

BlackFire detailing product



BM

BlackMagic products



CB

Clay Bar



CD

California Duster



CM

Pinnacle Crystal Mist detailing spray



CMA

Classic Motoring Accessories



CP

Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl detail spray



CT

Cotton Towel



CW

Cleaner Wax



CWB

California Water Blade



DC

Digital Camera



EF

Eimann Fabrik brand



EFBO

Eimann Fabrik Black Opal



EFCC

Eimann Fabrik Carpet Cleaner



EFCP

Eimann Fabrik Clear Pearl instant detailer



EFCV

Eimann Fabrik Clear Vision



EFHI

Eimann Fabrik High Intensity cleaner



EFPW

Eimann Fabrik Power Wash shampoo



EFSR

Eimann Fabrik Spot Remover



EFTR

Eimann Fabrik Tar Remover



EO

Eagle One



EOSR

Eagle One Scratch Remover



FB

Forever Black



FI

Meguiars Final Inspection Quick Detailer



FI-II

3M Finesse IT line usually means their white finishing compound but there is also a rubbing compound



HI

Eimann Fabrik High Intensity Cleaner



HIC

Eimann Fabrik High Intensity Cleaner



HG

Hand Glaze



HT

Hi-Temp Products



HTYW

Meguiars Hi Tech Yellow Wax



IA

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol



IG

Stoner’s Invisible Glass



IHG

3M Imperial Hand Glaze



IMHO

In my humble opinion



IMO

In My Opinion



ISO

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol



ISA

Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol



KSBF

Koala Soft Buffing Towel



KSG

Klasse Sealant Glaze



LG

Liquid Glass



LOL

Laughing out loud



LV

Lexol Vinylex



Meguiar`s #1

Medium Cut Cleaner



Meguiar`s #2

Fine Cut Cleaner



Meguiar`s #3

Machine Glaze



Meguiar`s #4

Heavy Cut Cleaner



Meguiar`s #5

New Car Glaze



Meguiar`s #6

Cleaner/Wax



Meguiar`s #7

Show Car Glaze



Meguiar`s #9

Swirl remover 2.0



Meguiar`s #16

Professional Paste Wax



Meguiar`s #20

Polymer Sealant



Meguiar`s #26

Hi Tech Yellow Wax



Meguiar`s #34

Final Inspection



Meguiar`s #36

Hi-Tech Cleaner



Meguiar`s #39

Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner



Meguiar`s #40

Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner



Meguiar`s #60

Hi Tech wash



Meguiar`s #62

Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner



Meguiar`s #66

Quick Detailer



Meguiar`s BSPHP

Body Shop Professional Hand Polish



Meguiar`s BSPSFP

Body Shop Professional Swirl Free Polish



Meguiar`s DACP

Dual Action Cleaner/Polish



MF

Microfiber or Microfiber Towel



MG

Meguiars Mirror Glaze product line



MGC

Meguiars Gold Class product



MSLT

Stoner’s More Shine Less Time spray



MT

Microfiber Towel



MW

Machine wax



ND

Never Dull Metal Polishing Wads



OB

Orbital Buffer



OG

One Grand Products



OGBW

One Grand Blitz Wax



OGOHG

One Grand Omega Hand Glaze



OGSO

One Grand Show Off Instant Detailer



P21S

A brand of Detailing Products



PB

Pep Boys



PBS

Pinnacle Bodywork Shampoo



PC

Porter Cable Orbital Buffer



PCL

P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion



PCW

P21S Paste Car Wax



PI3

3M Perfect it 3



PI II

3M Perfect It 2



PITA

Pain in the a$$



PPCL

Pinnacle Paint Cleaning Lotion



PPG

Pinnacle Paste Glaze



PS

Pinnacle Souveran



PW+

Eimann Fabrik Power Wash +



QD

Quick Detailer also Meguiar`s brand name for their Deep Crystal line detail spay.



QW

Meguiars Quick Wax



ROB

Random Orbital Buffer



RV

Fieldcrest Royal Velvet Cotton Towel



ROTFLMAO

Rolling On The Floor, Laughing My A$$ Off



SCW

3M Perfect It Show Car Wax



SG

Klasse Sealant Glaze



SIG

Stoners Invisible Glass



SM2.0

Meguiar`s #9 Swirl Remover 2



SMR

Swirl Mark Remover Usually refers to 3M Swirl Mark Remover



SS

Saddle Soap



SSB

Stoner Speed Bead



TS

Tire Swipe foam pad



TW

Turtle Wax products



UV

Ultraviolet Light a harmful and slowly damages skin, paint and automotive interiors



VNB

Vac n Blow Vacuum



WM

Wash Mitt



WS

Water Sprite towel



WWB

P21S Windshield Wash Booster



YMMV

Your Mileage May Vary



Z

Zaino



Z1

Zaino Show Car Polish LOK PreCleaner and Gloss Enhancer



Z2

Zaino Show Car Polish for Clear Coated Finishes



Z3

Zaino Show Car Polish for Regular Paint



Z5

Zaino Polish for Swirl Marks & Fine Scratches



Z6

Zaino Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray



Z7

Zaino Show Car Wash



Z9

Zaino Leather Soft Spray Cleaner



Z10

Zaino Leather in a Bottle Treatment and Conditioner



Z12

Zaino Clear View Glass Polish



Z14

Zaino Plastic Magic Cleaner & Polish



Z16

Zaino Perfect Tire Gloss



Z18

Zaino ClayBar



ZFX

Zaino Flash Cure Accelerator Additive For Z2, Z3, Z5

[jerry@robs]

Hi and welcome to the forum...



My best suggestion would be to download the Autopia Guide to Detailing ebook first, most basic issues are discussed there.



Then try to visit the Articles section of the forum for some great info...



There are a lot of Detailing Tips in www.properautocare.com as well.

[mrdetailer]

That `s a tall order. My paint supply detailer carries 3M and Meguiars products. Please also understand my personal bias. I have a Red Mazda -- conventional paint and I found that the non-carnauba products seem take off a layer of paint. The applicator really gets red even over a relatively small area. I don`t have as much of problem if I stick with conventional polishes and Carnauba paste waxes.



First Wash with Dawn, or other non-moisturizing dish soap. Removes grease well.



Second stage -- Surface Prep. 3M Wax and Tar Remover, Kleen Strip Surface Prep, 3M also has a non volitile one that works well if you keep it on slightly longer.



Third Stage -- Clay Bar. Clay Magic, Mothers, Meguiars. (I prefer Kits with a lubricant, but you can get a pint bottle, put on 2 tablespoons of car wash liquid and fill the rest with water. many, like it better. Make sure that the clay is the Most Mild -- non-abrasive type. I always clay before using any abrasive products listed below to avoid adding swirl marks.



Fourth Stage -- Oxidation Removers. If you have water spots and fairly severe swirls I would recommend 3M Cleaner Wax -- Medium Oxidation remover. I was able to get out swirls and waterspots that even a fine cut cleaner couldn`t get out. If they are mild then try the 3M Cleaner Wax -- Fine Oxidation remover, 3M Finesse It II or Meguiars Clear Coat Body Scrub. If you still have swirls try 3M Swirl Mark Remover or Meguiars #9 Swirl Mark Remover.



I would use the wax remover again if the oxidation is removed with the Cleaner Waxes, or apply a real wax a few weeks later. The cleaner waxes don`t last long at all.



Fifth Stage -- Polishes and Glazes. Meguiars Dual Action Cleaner and Polish is good. I personally love 3M Glaze and Swirl Remover for Dark Cars (machine only). Meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze and 3M Imperial Machine Glaze. If your are using a hand glaze I recommend 3M Imperial Hand Glaze. I even use it with a buffer on some vehicles.



Sixth Stage -- Waxes. Like I mentioned the mildest treatment for my conventional paint is a paste Carnauba.



From personal experience 3M Perfect It Show Car Paste is excellent if you put on 3 layers about 3--4 weeks apart. It will not last more than 4-6 weeks with one coat. This is the wax that I always use on vehicles that I do for relatives and friends. The treatment listed above has lasted up to 9 months if garaged, 4-5 of outside in the elements, including snow. Perfect-It is easy to apply and remove if you wet the applicator then squeeze dry before applying, and work in areas small enough not to let it get too hard. Good clear reflections and great depth. I do not recommend mixing this with topcoats of other waxes. Put on another coat of the same for an incredible shine. I`ve gotten over 50 applications from a can.



P21S is also excellant, although if you can get some S100 for the next month it is less expensive and is the same formula until the old stock runs out. Goes on like butter, and is removed easily before it completely dries. As far, looks only P21S has better clarity of reflections than 3M Perfect-It Show Car Paste, and on a black car it will look very deep. Durability 4-6 weeks for one coat. 6--10 weeks with a second coat applied 3-4 weeks later. Contnainer is half the size for about $25.00



Meguiars #26 Paste is also good. Under 10 dollars. A bit harder to apply and remove. Excellent wet look, Reflections are slightly less clear. Overall a good product that I`ve used for years.



While I don`t have experience, I also understand the Blitz One Grand, and Collinite are very good paste waxes.



This summer on my red car I had 3MPerfect-It Show Car Paste Wax on the hood. P21S on the Roof and Meguiars #26 on the trunk. We then had over 23 days of 100+ heat. After 4 weeks the #26 and P21S were shot, while 2 coats of Perfect-It Show Car Paste was still looking good and beading well at 8 weeks. Didn`t happen on my white car. That lasted longer on all of the waxes. All of the waxes were much longer lasting on the dark vehicle once the temperature cooled down a bit. All three have held up well through 5 weeks of rain that we`ve had this fall.





Hope this helps.

[MattMonss]

Thanks for the quick response guys! I have been reading the detailing book and it gave me alot of helpful hints.

mrdetailer. thanks man, quick question. you posted "Surface Prep. 3M Wax and Tar Remover, Kleen Strip Surface Prep". do I use BOTH or either/or? any other tips? I am going to go by your stages, sounds like alot of freaking work! what should I use to apply these products? %100 cotton towel? pad?

thanks!

Ralph

[jerry@robs]

Next thing you know, you`ll have like 5 bottles of wax, 10 bottles of polish, a drawer full of MF, etc etc... :D



Welcome to our world... :wavey

[mrdetailer]

Originally posted by gnfanatic

Thanks for the quick response guys! I have been reading the detailing book and it gave me alot of helpful hints.

mrdetailer. thanks man, quick question. you posted "Surface Prep. 3M Wax and Tar Remover, Kleen Strip Surface Prep". do I use BOTH or either/or? any other tips? I am going to go by your stages, sounds like alot of freaking work! what should I use to apply these products? %100 cotton towel? pad?

thanks!

Ralph



No, on the strippers I would use either, but not both.



Yes the first time is a lot of freaking work. After the big stuff is done I generally remove the wax, use the clay bar -- glaze and wax twice a year. (Takes about 3 hours.) I just wax if the surface still feels smooth as glass. The Oxidation removers and swirl mark removers are only used when needed. Not often once it is prepared well.



And Yes you can do it by hand, but but swirl removal, oxidation removal and glazing and polishing are much faster if a buffer is used.

[MattMonss]

Thanks guys, sounds great! cant wait to do it this week. Wondering if you can help me with something else. My girls 2002 ford focus was keyed the other night. it went through the paint and is about 2 ft long. No crease to the metal. This is what I was thinking of doing by reading the forums.

get touchup paint and use a toothpick to put it on very carefully. let it dry completely.

then use langka to make it smooth and some 2000 grit paper.

do a nice polish and wax.

what do you think? will it work?

thansk guys!

Ralph

[jerry@robs]

im not trying to discourage you or anything, but touching paint chips is a lot easier than keyed scratches... at least in my experience... especially with vertical surfaces...



one thing is for sure, better hit that ASAP, coz if it stays unprimed and unpainted, it`ll start rusting...



im sure the other guys can help you out here.