Claybarring and leaving paint exposed...

YNOT

YNOT

Poorboys Rules!
Maybe this is a dumb question, but I've got to ask it. I want to use my PC to do my whole car (for the first time) but I'm always strapped for time.

So...can I wash my car with dish soap and claybar my entire car all at once and then use the PC on it here and there when I have the time? I mean...it might take me a few weeks, off and on, to be able to buff/wax the entire car with the limited time I have in the evenings.

I guess I'm concerned with leaving the car claybarred and 'unwaxed' during the process of buffing/polishing/waxing. Will a few weeks hurt anything?

I'd really like to have an entire weekend that I can devote to it and do it all at once, but my weeknights are busy with my side biz and my weekends are just full with side-work/housework/other obligations.

Help!!
 
If you're gonna wash with dish soap to take off old waxes/sealants, you don't need to do that since you're gonna clay your car. Clay will remove the old waxes/sealants. Use an automotive shampoo, and you can clay bar while you wash if you'd like. If it was me who didn't have much time...i'd also wax the entire car just to protect my clay work, then when the time comes, depending on how long it has been since the last wash, I'd wash, dry, then start using the PC. Hopefully this helps.
 
Just a some comments.

1. Skip the dish soap and use a shampoo intended for automobiles.

2. What are the products you intend to use for the entire polish and wax procedure?

3. If you have only short intervals of time, maybe you can do the clay, polish, wax by sections. If you are using an all in one product for your polishing such as Poorboy's PwS, Optimum Poli-Seal, Klasse AIO you won;t be leaving the finish completely unprotected during the time prior to your LSP. In fact the PwS or the Poli-Seal could be your LSP.

4. If you decide to clay the entire vehicle and aren't able to get any waxing done for a few weeks, I don't think you are going to do any real damage to your paint. It probably sat for longer than that before it was delivered to the dealer and ever had anything applied to it. New paint is usually not waxed/protected for about 30 days and it seems to survive.

5. You need to work on getting your priorities sorted out. :D

Charles
 
I agree with doing the job a section at a time due to your constraints. To clarify: wash the car first before claying. Using the car wash soap to lube the clay is okay I suppose but it must be washed and completely clean first. Yes, it's obvious but I felt that it needed clarification. No need to grind soil into the paint due to a possible misunderstanding.
 
Dish soap? :wow: :passout: :crazy:

Didn't I send you some car wash soap?

It's gonna look funny doing a section at a time I would think, but do what you got to do.

Troy
 
Like others said, I would skip the dish soap and do it in sections if you're really that pressed for time.
 
hi,

if you want to pickup a good auto soap thats not really expensive and you can get them almost anywhere, check out the meguiars gold class soap. good smell and it cleans your car really good. good suds too.
 
CharlesW said:
2. What are the products you intend to use for the entire polish and wax procedure?
Click to expand...

SSR1
EX
Meg's NXT

Will those work?


CharlesW said:
5. You need to work on getting your priorities sorted out.
Click to expand...

I know...when you work a 40+ hour a week job and try to run a biz on the side in the evenings, it gets kinda crazy. You know...12-14 hour days don't allow much time for 'fun stuff'.


Troy@DetailCity said:
Dish soap? :wow: :passout: :crazy:

Didn't I send you some car wash soap?
Click to expand...

LOL...yeah...I've got the good 'car wash soap'...but I thought you had to use dish soap to 'strip' the wax. I guess I was mistaken. I'll just claybar it then, since that seems to be what'll work.

I may just hold out and see if I can find some time in the coming weekends to just do it all at once as I agree that would be the better way to do it. As I said...I'm just busy all the time.

Thanks for the help. Anyone have any ideas on how to free up more time?? :lmfao
 
YNOT said:
SSR1
EX
Meg's NXT

Will those work?
Click to expand...
It probably will be an OK combination, but I think I would use something other than the NXT over the EX. In fact, the EX might not need any product added. You could try another application of the EX a day or so later and decide if you really need anything else.
There's nothing wrong with the NXT, but I wonder if the cleaners, however mild, might have some effect on the EX. Also, on my wife's red GTP, the NXT made the paint look a little darker. Some people might like that, I didn't.

Charles
 
I have a different approach to this.... to me doing just a panel at a time, the job gets done in stages from start to finish...an example is that the front of the car that is now done, is a week / weeks older than the back that was just finished....If you keep up with this as a maintenance program in that order then I see no problem....other than parts of the car are going to look better than others.

My suggestion is to wash and clay the entire car at once....the next two hours that you have, S&W the car and polish with a good AIO or cleaner type product...then for next two hour period S&W the car and lay down a sealant or paste wax...at least the car is even in its processes....also leaving the car unprotected for a week without any thing I see no issues....some of the cars that I work on have years of this abuse, and they come out just fine....Because you are under such tight time restrictions look at time saver products...AIO, Klasse, cleaner waxes...those would be my thoughts....lastly as Charles said....you need to realign your calendar, if you can't find one afternoon or 4 hours to yourself to get this job done all at once, something is not right....the work and the family will be there when you get done...trust me!
 
Beemerboy said:
I have a different approach to this.... to me doing just a panel at a time, the job gets done in stages from start to finish...an example is that the front of the car that is now done, is a week / weeks older than the back that was just finished....If you keep up with this as a maintenance program in that order then I see no problem....other than parts of the car are going to look better than others.

My suggestion is to wash and clay the entire car at once....the next two hours that you have, S&W the car and polish with a good AIO or cleaner type product...then for next two hour period S&W the car and lay down a sealant or paste wax...at least the car is even in its processes....also leaving the car unprotected for a week without any thing I see no issues....some of the cars that I work on have years of this abuse, and they come out just fine....Because you are under such tight time restrictions look at time saver products...AIO, Klasse, cleaner waxes...those would be my thoughts....lastly as Charles said....you need to realign your calendar, if you can't find one afternoon or 4 hours to yourself to get this job done all at once, something is not right....the work and the family will be there when you get done...trust me!
Click to expand...


this sounds like a good plan :bigups
NO DISH SOAP

wash and clay and try not to do too much driving or you might have wasted some of your precious time Tony. Leaving a car without a wax or sealant is no big deal, but try not to park under trees and if possible put the car in a garage overnight or get a cheap car cover. The SSRs will remove all the old wax , clay does not remove it all ;)
I often tell people to do it in sections as people who do not do detailing on a regular basis often tend to tire and only parts of the vehicle come out as desired. :)
 
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