Washing, drying, claying, detailing motion. Question?

Si00

New member
I am still a little confused on what motion i should use on car's paint surface. I can understand why i would use back and forth motions on the hood, roof, and trunk, but on the sides (doors, fenders, etc.) why should i go up and down..? Does it really matter which way i go, as long as it's in straight lines.



Someone mentioned to go in the way the wind travels on the car, but wouldn't it be easier to go left and right (squating in front of the doors, fenders, etc.) to get a longer range of motion..? Going up and down, the side moldings woud get in the way before i go all the way down. I own a 00 Civic.



Which way is the correct way of doing it..?? Oh BTW, i will be doing the product application/removal all by hand.
 
The wind moves along the sides of your car, not up and down. Your instinct is correct.



The place you may hear about using a vertical/up-&-down motion is related to Zaino; Zaino says that motion yields the best optics when applying/buffing their sealants.
 
I don't plan on using Zaino...my products will be Clay magic, Megs #9, Megs #7, topped with S100. I'm ordering waffle weaves from Ranney, for the drying. Thanks for your comment, does everyone else agree with this..?
 
4DSC said:
Here is a similar topic, with my thoughts on the issue near the end of the first page...



http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22299



WOW....:eek: , i read that thread and it seems like many people have their own technique and methods. I would like to know how or what Scottwax thinks about this issue. I have read many praises about his work, and just wonder whats his technique/method to my questions, since he works the products by hand..?



I personally feel the circular motion would be a little more risky, so i would like to stick to linear motions but i was just wondering which way the linear motions should go on the sides of my car...Anybody else have an more comments..?
 
Si00 - Opinions differ of this, so all the usual "just my $0.02" disclaimers apply to the following:



Going front to back is preferable because IF you somehow induce a "swirl/scratch", it will be less visible/obvious from the MOST COMMON viewing angles.



Again, there are differing views on this, but that's how I see it (uhm, pun not intended but acknowledged).
 
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