Your single stage expertise, please

**miata54** · 05-14-2011, 05:53 PM

Overall, I`m very happy with the finish of my 90 Miata which I bought new and have self maintained for 21 years. The paint is single stage, is the original paint, and I understand, presents a different set of criteria for maintenance versus base/clearcoat.

The paint has been waxed approximately 3 times a year for the last 21 using Meguiars Gold Class. No cleaner has ever been applied. The surface is mirror smooth as is reflectivity. Up until 2 months ago, all applications and buffing were done by hand. I just received a B&D orbital polisher as a gift. I understand it is not the best, but that is what I`m working with.

When in direct sunlight, very faint spider webs can be seen over the paint surface. Also, a few very minor water spots do exist. Gloss and depth of shine are outstanding as can been seen here, pic #9: www.cardomain.com/id/miata54

I would greatly appreciate any help both in technique and what products to use as I consider whether to attempt the removal (if at all possible) of the spider webs. The LAST thing I want to do is damage the finish that I have. The car has won several awards for overall finish & condition.

Thanks

Chris

**Street5927** · 05-14-2011, 06:23 PM

I did a Single Stage Mitsubishi last year. If I remember correctly, I used M105 with purple foam wool and then M205 with LC Orange and it came out very nice. Here are some pics. Just keep in mind that you will need many pads for the single stage; but they wash out very easily. The first two pics are a 50/50 and the last two are finished product. This vehicle was badly oxidized, as you can see in the pics.

**MrCLRider** · 05-14-2011, 07:02 PM

I cleaned up an older Ford Ranger just a few weeks ago with some Poli-Seal and Menz Power finish on a black 3M waffle pad and my Griots RO.

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**Scottwax** · 05-15-2011, 12:35 AM

Optimums new spray polishes (Hyper Compound and Hyper Polish) work amazingly well on single stage paints. You will need a proper polisher though.

**Accumulator** · 05-15-2011, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Scottwax

Optimums new spray polishes (Hyper Compound and Hyper Polish) work amazingly well on single stage paints. You will need a proper polisher though.

I`ve only tried the Optimum Hyper Compound (not the polish yet) and it`s *VERY* user-friendly. So much moreso than Meguiar`s M105 that I suggest you go with the Optimum.

For a follow-up with a milder product, I`m tempted to recommend the old stand-by Meguiar`s #80 Speed Glaze (don`t mind the name, it`s really a polish). The older Meguiar`s products have a lot of the "Trade Secret Oils" that work incredibly well on single stage, and *IMO* are better in that regard than the oils in M205, which seem to dissipate over time in a way the older-product oils don`t do.

For maintaining, you can use clay and the (nearly nonabrasive) Meguiar`s M09, which will hide some minor marring pretty well.

When it comes to the Last Step Product ("LSP", i.e., wax or sealant), the Gold Class wax has a kind of "signature look" and I`m not sure what to recommend...something else that`s "better" might not look the same/as nice to you, and it`s your opinion that counts :think: I generally prefer waxes on single stage, rather than sealants.

**Scottwax** · 05-15-2011, 01:01 PM

What surprised me was how much better OHP was on single stage paint than Meguiars #80 is. I thought since #80 was developed when single stage paint was still common and had the "trade secret oils" it would be superior to OHP but I was wrong. OHP cut much faster and more evenly across oxidized paint. Real pleasant surprise!

**Accumulator** · 05-15-2011, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by Scottwax

What surprised me was how much better OHP was on single stage paint than Meguiars #80 is. I thought since #80 was developed when single stage paint was still common and had the "trade secret oils" it would be superior to OHP but I was wrong. OHP cut much faster and more evenly across oxidized paint. Real pleasant surprise!

Ah, that`s good to know! If the OHP is anywhere *near* as nice as the compound, I`ll just have to try it some time.

The correction and oxidation removal notwithstanding, I guess I was thinking more about how the #80 leaves its...uh...."signature stuff" behind. It`s not the last word in gloss, but I still *really* like how the older Meguiar`s stuff looks on single stage.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 05-15-2011, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Ah, that`s good to know! If the OHP is anywhere *near* as nice as the compound, I`ll just have to try it some time.

The correction and oxidation removal notwithstanding, I guess I was thinking more about how the #80 leaves its...uh...."signature stuff" behind. It`s not the last word in gloss, but I still *really* like how the older Meguiar`s stuff looks on single stage.

I`m with Scott... the OHP is absolutely fantastic. However I too am still a huge fan of the old-school Meguiar`s polishes on single stage.