What to use to prep the paint for waxing?

Z

zimmerDN

New member
Like the title says. I have a blue car and wants the deep and wet look. I've choosen Mother's Reflection Advanced Car Wax.



What else do I need? What should I choose to prep the paint? This is a 1 year old car never been waxed. I will clay bar the car after the wax.



Which topper should I use to make it look deeper and wetter?
 
No. You will clay-bar after washing. If you are polishing, that comes after the clay-bar step.



It sounds like you are starting out on this madness. Why don't you try Meg's ColorX before waxing (and after polishing!) Better yet, read the Mayor's guide to detailing. Then run searches to answer any remaining specific questions you may have.
 
Since you said the car has never been waxed there probably is no protection left on the car. I would suggest first inspecting the car for light scratches and swirls you would want to remove. Also claying should be done before waxing otherwise it will remove the wax. I do not have experience with Mother's Reflections Car wax :nixweiss but I know it is a cleaner wax therefore layering it will remove previous layers. Mother's Reflections line has a Top Coat which can be used as a topper for their wax which gives a glossier deeper look. There are dozens of products out there which will give you a deep wet look but it truly depends on how well you prep you paint. You might also want to consider adding a sealant for added protection and durability. However some sealants are very picky about bonding and must have a clean surface (no wax). A great product for prepping paint for a sealant is Klasse AIO (All in One). They also make a very good sealant (SG). A good topper for a sealant would be a pure carnuba wax with no cleaner which will really bring out deepness.
 
Evaluate the paint first. For example does it have any swirls or other damage. Then you need to choose some products to fix whatever problems you have. Concentrate on the evaluation and prep of the paint and the rest is easy.



I would not clay after waxing, make claying one of the first tasks after washing.
 
Heh, I meant to write... clay bar the car after the washing... not after waxing...;) :p



I know my paint is in good condition except for a few spots. I've taken good care of it since I bought it last year. It has not many scratches or swirl marks but I'll inspect that again at my next wash.



However, I do have a few spots where it was dinged by other cars and I tried to remove the paint from the other cars by excessively clay barring that spot. Now those spots are white like a faded color. WHY???:nixweiss



How can I fix it?
 
Might be clay residue. Post pics if you can, it'll give us a better idea of whats wrong with it. Personally, I'd wash, clay, polish with Meg's #9 by hand or Meg's ColorX, then goto Reflections.
 
Ok after washing and inspecting the paint I found that the paint is generally in good condition. There are some very fine scratch lines in some areas from washing and dry. Also there are still those paint from other cars dinging my door (but why are they all white marks?) Some smear spots (white clouldy spots) where I used the clay bar excessively without lubbing it (I didn't know better.)



So AIO will work Mothers Reflection? Or is it not compatible? Should I use #80 (or something else I have no clue) instead to prep the paint before applying Reflection.
 
Since it doesn't sound like you have a buffer but you have time to things over and over again, try Meguiar's ScratchX and use that to rub the marks left by the dry clay or paint residue from the other cars. Rub it in with an applicator pad with a good amount of pressure and you may have to do it 2-3 times to get the marks out. You can use ScratchX to remove very minor swirls but you have to take your time and work it in well. Then if you want a good prewax glaze before waxing, use Meg's #7 Show Car glaze and then the wax you ware using, that will give you a deep car shine. I use it on my kid's blue Mustang and the metalic flakes really pop out at you.
 
Zimmer most of the stuff suggested here like #9 and #80 works best with a buffer. You can use them by hand, but it will be hard to remove the swrils. However it will dramatically improve the shine in the paint. I would not use a glaze as it is a wasted step with Reflections as Reflections has cleaners in it. AIO cleans the paint very well, but has no swril mark removing ability. As far as topping refection do it after 12 hours and use any nice carnuba like S100 or #26. Try Reflections top Coat.
 
Yes I'll be doing everything by hand. Would scratchX be too much cutting power to start with? I can see using it for the white paint on the dings. But is this proper for fixing the damage I caused with my clay bar (the cloudy white spots). What about a few hairline scratches? I have mostly very very fine scratches from washing, you can only see them when cleaned and under the sun in close observation.



So if I do use ScratchX, then I should use AIO and Reflection and then a topper. Wow this will take forever because I am doing it all by hand.



I read that the AIO leaves a arcylic (sp??) layer behind. Is that ok? I want deep wet look, no shine is fine. I think it's the shine that makes my car look more purple then it should be blue. :bounce
 
Scratch X is about the same agressiveness as #80 so its not that harsh. Yes since you're doing it by hand it will take a long time. You can do the whole car with Scratch X and skip AIO or just do the spots you need to with Scratch X and do the rest of the car with AIO. AIO leaves behind an arcylic protection that you can just top with a topper. Make sure to allow it to set up for 12 hours before your topper, or you just can wait for next week wash then top it. You can do the same with Reflection and wait a week for topping. There are so many ways to do it.
 
zimmerDN said:
Yes I'll be doing everything by hand...So if I do use ScratchX, then I should use AIO and Reflection and then a topper. Wow this will take forever ..

I read that the AIO leaves a arcylic (sp??) layer behind...
Click to expand...



The protection that AIO leaves behind has never impressed me much, doesn't last long for most people.



If *I* were doing this by hand, I'd use products from 1Z. I like #80, but even that would be a job of work to do by hand. And the idea of using *four* products by hand...no way. I'd use 1Z Paint Polish, which leaves wax behind. Then the next time I washed the car I'd add a topper, probably something like Collinite that'd last a long time.
 
I didn't think 1Z PP left protection, only MP did.



I wouldn't use AIO if you're trying to minimize defects...its a great cleaner, but the acrylic finish it leaves accentuates defects.



I'd use 1ZPP by hand (rubbed in well until it feels smooth and clear) then top it with the Reflections duo.



It should look amazing. :bigups
 
Alfisti said:
I didn't think 1Z PP left protection, only MP did.



I wouldn't use AIO if you're trying to minimize defects...its a great cleaner, but the acrylic finish it leaves accentuates defects.
Click to expand...



Absolutely agree about the AIO and defects. I'd rather use Autoglym's SRP if I want something like that on an imperfect finish (SRP protects better too).



1Z PP/MP polishes and what they leave behind: The PP leaves wax behind, enough to last a few weeks. The MP (pink, consumer stuff, rectangular can) leaves more and better wax behind; the "Pro" MP (round 1-liter can) leaves *very* little (synthetic, IIRC) wax behind.
 
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