Advice on detailing products

C

CletusTheDwarf

New member
I am very new to the detailing community, and i want to do it right. I've had my 2005 Subaru WRX (WR Blue) for about 3 months now, and I am going to do my first good cleaning soon. Here are some products I have picked out so far, and I would just like some input on my choices.



Meguiars Medalion Paint Cleaner

Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit

P21S Bodywork Shampoo

Meguiars NXT Tech Wax



Anything i'm forgetting? Anything I should change? Also, considering the paint is very new, does that change what treaments I should give it? Is it too early for using clay on it? Thanks for helping out a noob.
 
Clay is great to use from Day 1, mainly because there should be a nice amount of rail dust embedded in your paint. i would pick up some clay. my favorite is the wolfgang polyclay which can be bought through www.autogeek.net or wolfgangs website
 
it's never too early to clay. although your car is new, it probably has junk accumulated on it's surfaces during transporting and sitting on the dealer's lot. try checking out this link about claying.



as long as the paint doesn't have any swirls, you can use the products you've listed.



wash

clay

meg's medallion paint cleaner

NXT



happy detailing. :wavey
 
:welcome to Autopia!



The products you listed will certainly work very well.



I don't think you necessarily need other chemicals but you may find some useful at times. For instance, I always keep a tube of ScratchX handy. You don't need it unless you get a scuff, swirl or stain that's a little more stubborn than the cleaner will remove easily.



Definitely get top quality tools, towels, mitts, buckets (two or more), etc.





PC
 
P21S Bodywork Shampoo-Anything p21s is good.

Meguiars Medalion Paint Cleaner- I'd switch to AIO

Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit-Best clay IMO!!

Meguiars NXT Tech Wax=good sealant choice



Not only is CM a very good clay, but it also very economical. Their lube is also excellent, I buy it by the case. So the deal that Carcare has is simply smoking. Two bottles of clay lubricant and the best clay bar for 12 bucks, you can't top that.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/awc-88256.html
 
Burlyq said:
P21S Bodywork Shampoo-Anything p21s is good.

Meguiars Medalion Paint Cleaner- I'd switch to AIO

Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit-Best clay IMO!!

Meguiars NXT Tech Wax=good sealant choice



Not only is CM a very good clay, but it also very economical. Their lube is also excellent, I buy it by the case. So the deal that Carcare has is simply smoking. Two bottles of clay lubricant and the best clay bar for 12 bucks, you can't top that.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/awc-88256.html
Click to expand...



AIO?
 
Klasse All In One (AIO)



See the "Secret Decoder Ring" located on the home page --> top left coner in the little box. You can find all the various acronyms commonly used here at Autopia
 
CletusTheDwarf said:
for future refrence, if i did have swirls eventually, what should i change in my product selection?
Click to expand...



for swirls u cant go wrong with the poorboy's Super Swirl remover line
 
Burlyq said:
P21S Bodywork Shampoo-Anything p21s is good.

Meguiars Medalion Paint Cleaner- I'd switch to AIO

Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit-Best clay IMO!!

Meguiars NXT Tech Wax=good sealant choice



Not only is CM a very good clay, but it also very economical. Their lube is also excellent, I buy it by the case. So the deal that Carcare has is simply smoking. Two bottles of clay lubricant and the best clay bar for 12 bucks, you can't top that.

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/awc-88256.html
Click to expand...



i'm confused, i thought klasse AIO was a wax? So i should wash it, wax it, clay it, and wax it?
 
No, don't wax, then clay.



Wash.

Clay.

Polish or cleaner.

Sealant or wax (here is where you'd use AIO or NXT...)

Carnuba wax if you put a sealant down first.
 
but burlyq said to use AIO instead of the meguiar paint cleaner.



so wash with p21s, then clay with clay magic perfect finish, then AIO then NXT? or is it just one or the other?
 
Is the Medallion Cleaner a polish or a cleaner? If it's a polish (as in, actually removes swirls) then you'd use it before AIO. Using it after AIO (AIO leaves behind protection and a good base for any additional product layering) will remove the layer.



AIO alone won't do much for swirls at all. It might be good as a follow up polish to remove some hazing, but its abrasives are very minor, IMO.



Wash.

Clay.

Polish (swirl remover).

AIO.

Sealant (maybe NXT, but be careful, it does have some mild cleaners).

Carnuba.
 
Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner is a cleaner. It'll remove oxidation and fine scratches, but the abrasives in it are too fine to remove swirl marks. It leaves no protection on the paint.



It's an excellent product for maintaining a finish that is already in good shape.
 
I haven't used it, but I don't think it will act as a good polish for removing swirl marks either. I don't believe it leave any protection behind either.



Good SMR's are Meg's 383 and #80, PB's SSR line, Adam's SMR's, Sonus SFX system, 1Z PP and UPP, Pinnacle SMR and ASMR, etc...
 
CletusTheDwarf - this is what is being recommended and there order of application so far



1. Car wash concentrate- P21S Bodywork Shampoo

2. Detailerâ€â„¢s clay- Clay Magic Perfect Finish Kit

3. Paint cleaner- Meguiarâ€â„¢s Medallion or Klasse All-In-One

4. Polish â€â€œ Meguiarâ€â„¢s ScratchX

5. Glaze-*

6. Polymer sealant-Meguiarâ€â„¢s NXT Tech Wax

7. Carnauba wax-*

8. Quick detailer-



Note: *not always necessary / required steps



Don't get too tied up with products, the surface that you're applying the products over is the most important part of detailing. Your surface is in good condition so whatever you cover it with will reflect that. You will hear this quoted often, the surface preparation is far more important than the product.



It really does all come down to; 85% preparation, 5% product, 7% application method and the balance is in the eye of the beholder

JonM
 
**** Question****

After claying, would you use P21S Paintwork Cleanser or 1Z MP? I have both and I'm planning on using one or the other today as prep for Zaino. ( my new Zaino order should be here by 10:30am. I'm pretty excited!! ) Keep in mind that I've asked this question before, I just like to get as many opinions as possible!!
 
The 1Z MP has oils/fillers etc. in it, so you will have to strip those oils before the "Z"... Have'nt used the other one.
 
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