couple buffing questions

[turbochargedv8]

Well as some of you may know im new to auto detailing and when i first started out i knew nothing and was very confused.

Im starting to pick up on things and have a few questions.

When polishing a car with no clear coat (single stage paint job), when the pads start to absorb a little paint as pictured below is this ok or should one switch to a new pad?

also after fully polishing a car and waxing how often should one wax considering they wash it regularly, What would you reccomend for a car that has a clear coat and for a car without a clear coat?

much apreciated

[turbochargedv8]

[Troy@Protekt]

When polishing a car with no clear coat (single stage paint job), when the pads start to absorb a little paint as pictured below is this ok or should one switch to a new pad?

They look like they still can be used more before cleaning. You can easily go through 6 or more pads working on a badly oxidized car though.

also after fully polishing a car and waxing how often should one wax considering they wash it regularly, What would you reccomend for a car that has a clear coat and for a car without a clear coat?

That`s really a loaded question and one I get from my customers all the time.

There are many factors that effect how long wax or sealant will last. Should not matter if the paint is single stage or clear coat although single stage will show the effects of not having wax or sealant quicker.

Here are some factors to consider each one of them effecting how often you should wax or seal your car.

Weather - Sealants typically hold up better than waxes to things like rain and especially sun. A car that is in the elements a lot is going to need waxing/sealing more often than one that isn`t no matter how good the wax or sealant is.

Color - Darker colors in high heat areas will need to be waxed or sealed more often.

Washing - Depending on how aggressive you need to be washing your car each time, and how strong the car wash soap is you`re using, will effect how long it will be before it needs to be waxed/sealed again.

Surface Prep - A wax or sealant will hold up quite a bit better on a properly prepped paint surface (cleaned, clayed and polished).

Now here`s what I tell my customers. I use one of the best sealants on the market. Typically on a car that is driven regularly and garaged regularly it will need to be done atleast twice a year. I inform them that if their car is black or dark colored it would be a good idea to have it done more often.

I go on to tell them to use Ph balanced soap when washing. I tell them to not use anything stronger on bugs or tar. Soak the effected areas and they will come clean without the need for something stronger.

[turbochargedv8]

The method im using is full hand wash polish and full hand wax, should i be claying and using sealant also?

[dr_detail]

I`m gonna take a stab at Q#2

Client: "How often should I wax my car now that it`s been detailed?"

My Response: "Never. Instead I will suggest you sign up as a regular monthly client, and I`ll be here once a week maintaining your vehicle, and waxing it once a month"