Consumer => Professional

C

Cam

New member
I'm in the process of switching from Meguiar's consumer line-up to the professional stuff. I'll be hand-applying to a medium-green basecoat/clearcoat (pics below) and I'm looking for a three-step process (cleaner, polish, wax) using the professional products. The paint's in very good condition with some light swirling being the only problem. I wash weekly with either #00 or Soft Wash Gel.



Since I got the car a few years back, I've been using the Deep Crystal steps 1 & 2 then Gold Class wax to finish. The previous owner kept the car clean, but I don't think it was waxed. The first time through the three-step (with claybar to start) made it look like a different car! I've done some research and come this far, but I just need a bit of advice on my final choices:



CLEANER:

#9 or #83 - I'm leaning towards #9 because it's less abrasive and I'll be applying by hand. These are both described as 'cleaner/polishes' but I'm more interested in their cleaning and anti-swirl properties since I'll also be using...



POLISH:

#7 or #81 - Probably #81 based on what I've read about results vs ease-of-use, but this one's still up in the air. Followed by...



WAX:

#16 or #26 - I've read lots of good things about both of these, but for a darker car like mine I've heard that #26 may be the better choice. Athough I like what I hear about the durability of #16.





In summary, I'm looking for the thumbs-up that a #9, #81, #26 combo will do what I'm looking for when applied by hand on this car... anything I'm missing?





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Big thanks in advance! :D
 
Just my $0.02-



Step 1- I'd use either #82 SFP or #80 for the swirl removal. Probably the #80. Milder than #83, slightly stronger than #82, and easy to use by hand. BTW, you could consider #82 the "clearcoat friendlier" version of #9. The #80 is also designed for clearcoats and really impressed me (I'm usually not a big Meguiar's polish fan).



Step 2- #81. I really like #7 for single stage paint, but I'd go with the #81 for basecoat/clear. Again, the "80s" series stuff is more for clear coats.



Step 3- #26 will darken your finish, so if that's what you're after, go with that. That's why it's the usual recommendation for dark paint. But *I* don't think of your color as needing darkening. If *I* were doing that color, though, I'd go with #16. I think it would look "brighter" and bring out that color better (besides lasting longer). This one's gonna be a personal preference issue.



So *I* would go with #80, #81, #16. But hey, that's just my choice.
 
Thanks for the info guys, great stuff.



Accumulator said:
#26 will darken your finish, so if that's what you're after, go with that. That's why it's the usual recommendation for dark paint. But *I* don't think of your color as needing darkening. If *I* were doing that color, though, I'd go with #16. I think it would look "brighter" and bring out that color better (besides lasting longer)
Click to expand...



After you started me searching, I'm sold on #80 as a first step. It seems to fall right between the #9 and #83 and that's what I'm looking for. Is there any reason I couldn't put a layer of #16 on top of the #26? So that would get me #80, #81, #26 then 12 hrs later, #16. If not, I'll get both waxes and see which I prefer...
 
Cam said:
... Is there any reason I couldn't put a layer of #16 on top of the #26? So that would get me #80, #81, #26 then 12 hrs later, #16. If not, I'll get both waxes and see which I prefer...
Click to expand...



You got me there, I never tried layering the two waxes. It sounds like an interesting plan, though. People have been pleased with combinations of Souveran and P21S, and that's sorta the same idea.



It's all gonna be up to you anyhow. Note how Mike Phillips would use #26, even though he used #16 on customers' cars for years. I think you'll find one to be MUCH more to your liking than the other and wonder why anybody would prefer the other stuff :D
 
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