Newbie with a Scoob....grateful for help:)

J

jutjujt

New member
Hey all,

I'm new here, and new to auto detailing. I've got a 2003 subaru wrx wagon that i recently bought used...I'm not sure how it has been taken care of, but I know it could use some help. Here is my plan....my debate is, do I need to use clay? What polish do I get? What pads do I need, I already have the PC 7424.....here's the tentative plan:

-Gentle wash with Microfiber Mitt
-Microfiber hand dry
-Clay?????? I'm a grad student, so time is somewhat short and I know things will take me 2x long since I"m a newbie...but if it needs it, I'll put the time in.
-Polish - Optimum Polish or Menzerna IP with yellow (light cutting pad)
-2nd step Polish - Optimum Polish or Menzerna FP2 polishing pad
-Klasse All in One - polishing pad (using menzerna acrylic spray in app.)
-Klasse Sealant - finishing pad (using menzerna acrylic spray in the app.)

I already own the Klasse products, so hopefully they are useful....but I have to buy all the other products...so what are the recommendations...what steps are essential? What steps can I cut out of there? What steps do I need to add?


Thanks for any help,
Justin
 
Well first off welcome to Detail City. Your plan looks decent for a new commer. I would definitly clay the surface, it'll only take 1/2 hour tops. If you have a picture of your car that would be helpful to determine what polishes are going to be needed. Optimum, Menzerna and Poorboys are all great products. How much experience do you have with the PC and what pads do you have? IMO, Poorboys polishes are going to be the most user friendly especially with the PC. SSR 2.5 and SSR1 would be the two that I'd recommend, but pictures would help. The Klasse will be fine, just make sure you know that the SG can be a little tricky. Just search around a little about Poorboys (how to use 2.5), clay and the tricks to SG and you'll be good to go.
 
I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow, the paint has some very minor swirls in it, but it recently had a professional polish job done about 4 months ago from hard water spot incident so in general it has a good appearance. So i guess that means I have to be a little extra careful with my work. I have not yet used the porter cable and I actually don't have any pads except the one that came with it...not sure how to use that pad. But yeah, does this help? Grateful for any more help....what clay kit should I go for? The car is silver too forgot to add that.

Thanks again
 
If there are only light swirls then I'd probably just go with the FPII, Optimum Polish or SSR 1 (or 2) with a polishing pad. It depends if we both have the same definition of light swirls though. Any clay kit is good. I made a chart to help people out to know what comes with clay kits and pricing and such. http://www.detailcity.org/forums/de...t/17156-clay-bar-lube-pricing-comparison.html
Just one suggestion. After you apply the Klasse SG I'd recomend that you buy some Optimum Car Wax and apply that a day or two after the Klasse. This will make the silver look unbelievable.
 
Thanks so much!

So I will go poorboy's clay, poorboy's sr2 (with a white polishing pad), Klasse AIO with the polishing pad, and a thin coat of Klasse Sealant by hand with a microfiber foam pad combined with menzerna acrylic spray to make application easier. Then I will follow it up with the wax you suggested earlier a few days later. How does that sound (my only question is the clay to sr2 to AIO, do I need to add a step in there somewhere?)? Thanks again for all the help!

Justin
 
That looks like a plan to me. SSR2 is a good polish when you have light swirls and when you don't want an abrasive polish like SSR2.5. If the professional did a good job, you shouldn't need anything more than the 2.5.
I used Klasse SG and then the OCW (Optimum Car Wax) and it lasted for over 4 months in the NH winter. I applied some more OCW whenever I wash and the results are great. This pic. is about 4 months after the inital application of SG:
new_002.jpg
 
Wow that looks great for 4 months! I'm excited about the process. I looked at my subaru too and I did find one panel that has a few swirls that are relatively visible...the rest of the swirls are pretty hard to see. Do I need to buy SSR3 or something more powerful for that one panel, or do I have to do the whole car even if that is the only panel? Or could I get away with just going to the SSR2.5? Also, should I use just the polishing pad or should I go with a light cutting pad? And if I go with the SSR2.5, does it have to be an additional step or does it replace the SSR2 step in the process?

Thanks again
 
Welcome to DC! I hope you enjoy your stay. Your process looks pretty good to me. Make sure you take plenty of pics so we can look at your work.
 
Thanks so much guys,

Final plan is:
clay - PB 2.5 with orange pad - Klasse AIO with polishing pad -Klasse Sealant with finishing pad - Optimum Car Wax a couple of days later - and last but not least is post pics:)

I'm placing the order in the morning...so if you see a problem...let me know asap:) Thanks again for everyone's help and the welcome.

Justin
 
Steve from poorboys recomends that you use a polishing pad with the 2.5. If you use the cutting pad you may add swirls and hazing into the paint. Read this thread too:
http://www.detailcity.org/forums/po...red-forum/14287-ssr2-5-proper-amount-use.html
If you work it in long enough you can go straight to the Klasse AIO but you may want to pick up some SSR1 just incase to clean any swirls up after the 2.5. Another polishing pad for that too. SO get like 3 polishing pads, a finishing pad, and a cutting (just incase for other vehicles) and atleast 6-10 quality microfiber towels (any brands from the sponsors). So now you should be good to go! :bigups
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top