Continue my education

[steve wc]

I am a new member but have been lurking here for a little while. I am 55 yrs. old have only washed and waxed my cars.



I have a bunch of products on my shelves collecting dust and I would like to give them a try. I plan to experiment on the Blackberry Saturn, then move to the Solara and Santa Fe.



The first steps I am sure about:



Wash and Clay



Next step Polish (this is the part I find confusing), than



Seal and wax.



The products I have Are:



Turtle wax rubbing compound



Meguires paint cleaner and Polish (berg. bottles Steps one and two)



Clay magic clay bar with large Megs detailer for lube



Mother reflections wax and Top Coat



After wash and clay what should be used when? I will be working by hand. I have lots of applicators a mf and Terry towels.



Thanks for your input,



Steve wc

 

[imported_steveo3002]

rubbing compound ???? we dont have talk like that in here lol



how are you for swirls? do you desire the perfect 100% swirl free finish ot just better?



maybe try megs cleaner wax or color x



so that would be ...wash, clay, cleaner wax, wax if you want 100% swirl free or close to it, you will need to consider a machine polisher like a porter cable

 

[Accumulator]

steve wc- Welcome to Autopia!



The stuff you have will get you off to a good, if very gentle, start.



But yeah, I'd absolutely skip the TW Rubbing Compound. There are products like this that are perfectly safe to use, but IMO that isn't one of them. IF you need something with real marring-removal ability, you might look into Meguiar's Scratch-X.



The two Deep Crystal products you have come after the claying. The Step #1 is a *VERY* mildly abrasive paint cleaner. Don't expect much swirl-removal ability, but it should still clean and shine the paint. Using it more than once might be beneficial. The Step #2 is a nonabrasive glaze (what Meguiar's calls a "pure polish" in their weirdly-worded parlance). It should increase the shine a bit over what the Step #1 leaves and one application is sufficient. With both of these products, follow the label directions and remove them before they dry all the way.



You can put your Mother's waxes over top of the Step #2. I'm not familiar with them so I don't know if there's any point in using both as opposed to just one (nor do I know which one is "better").



Make sure your towels are soft enough that they won't mar the finish.



Try your current stuff on the Saturn and see how it turns out. Do one section at a time and inspect your work in good light. That way, if something *does* go wrong, you can ask questions and learn how to correct it before it becomes a big deal. You don't want to do the whole car and *then* discover something didn't go well

 

[steve wc]

I don't think I can get 100% swirl free by hand, so I have to say I'm just looking for better.



I don't get along well with machines.



In a way I'm glad that most of the stuff is "gentle". :nervous2:





Attached photo is after Wash, Mother's Reflections and Top coat only. Trying to improve on this!

 

[Accumulator]

Heh heh, improving on that in a way that'll show on internet pics might be a challenge



"Perfectly swirl free" is something that most people oughta not worry about IMO



Ah, working by hand huh? OK, then I'd recommend 1z brand polishes from PakShak. Easiest I've ever used by hand. If you want something longer-lasting than the Mother's you could look into Collinite, but I dunno if you're gonna make a difference with regard to looks.

 

[steve wc]

Looks good, but feels bumpy. Also big sap snot balls, slight swirls and some water marks.

 

[imported_steveo3002]

ive recently been very pleased with a coat of megs#7 show car glaze and then nxt wax...gives a really wet look to the paint. not sure that it will last ,but sure looks good