Detailing advice

[Bunga]

My girlfriend got me some pretty decent detailing supplies for christmas. All meguire's gold class products. Interior brush, interior cleaner, tire brush, gold class wax, gold class wash, wheel cleaner, wheel shine, and a 6" orbital. So i detailed my car a couple of weeks ago and noticed that it turned out looking pretty good. I was walking through my local auto parts store and noticed a meguires 3 step detailing ordeal. You have to purchase the paint cleaner which is step 1. Step 2 is the polish and step 3 was the wax. I guess my question is does this 3 step process make any bigger difference then the gold class wax i got. And what would be a good applicator pad for my orbital. Or if there is anything better out there what would you all recommend? For some reason i have a feeling that Hung is gonna be all over this.

[CleanGSR]

Well, first off, the 6" orbital that you got (unless it's a Meguiars G100) is not going to do anything put make application easier. Don't expect any defect removal with it. Step 1 and 2 will make a nice clean finish and it's what I used before I got into serious detailing. I also used a orbital like the one you have at first. They are all good beginner products while you get the hang of things.

 

Step 3 on the 3 step is no better (if as good) as your Gold Class. Gold Class, however is not good as some of the other products available over the counter. NXT will give a nicier shine and reflection than GC and Meguiars #26 will give more depth and wetness than GC. Depending on which look your after, try NXT or 26.

[Bunga]

I'm looking for that real deep wet look. The type that when you drive by a shopping plaza at night it just looks like glass.

[CleanGSR]

To me looking like glass and being deep are opposites. Glass means highly reflective. Deep means it looks like you're looking in a pool of water. So which do you perfer, Looking in a deep pool of water or looking in a mirror?

[Bunga]

Oh......well in that case i would have to say the glass look. I like shiney objects and i know that would be a good way to catch people's eyes.

[CleanGSR]

 

 

 

Is that the look you're after?

 

The final look will only be as good as the prep. If you have swirls in the paint, it will never look like that. As far as my sealant wax in those...That's with Meguiars 21 x2 and one coat of Meguiars 26. You can achieve a similar look to that with 2 coats of NXT topped with 1 coat of 26 (both available at Autozone), but it won't last as long as with 21. These pictures are the best combo I've found to get a somewhat combined look of reflective and deepness/wet. If you want M21, you'll have to order it. You could also pick up a bottle of Meguiars #9 to remove some minor defects. Work it until it's almost dry/gone with your 6" orbital w/ terry cloth applicator pad and remove with orbital and microfiber bonnet or a microfiber cloth.

 

Do

#9 by orbital

2 coats of NXT or M21

1 coat of M26

 

and you'll be happy.

 

BTW, this is all assuming you have a black or dark colored car....on a silver car I'd drop the 26 all together and just use 2 coats of NXT or M21.

[Bunga]

That is pretty much the finish that i want mine to look like. My car is the stock Si electron blue. But rock the F on. I'll go scope it out this weekend. If the weather up here in shotty WA permits it i'll do a before and after to show the difference. I'm stoked now!!!

[CleanGSR]

Well. When you apply the NXT or 21, you'll need to leave at least 12 hours between coats. After your second coat, see if you're happy with it....if you want it to look a little wetter at that point, then add a coat of 26 (12 hours after the second coat of NXT/21 of course). Also make sure to Quick Detail the car or wash it before each coat.

 

Another note: 21 and NXT will make the pearl pop in your finish. The final coat of 26 will make the paint a little deeper and wetter, but tends to mask the pearl a little bit in my experiences. This is what it did on my Black car with pearl at least.

[Bunga]

Do you only use the #9 on blotchy spots or run a whole coat across?

[CleanGSR]

Do it on the entire car. Move the buffer really slow with moderate pressure and work it in until it almost dissapears.

[Bunga]

Gotcha. Now i got a boner and can't wait to get started!!!!!!

[Bunga]

picked up some NXT and #26 last night. I'm trying to track down some #9. I saw a #4 (i think) last night and i almost picked that up but i wanted to run it by you first to see if there was an alternative to the 9, i'm gonna check out a couple of other places tomorrow and see if i can't find it.

[Unpredictableacts]

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Silieck? I had no idea that Magnum drove a teggy.

[Ben.]

That's no Acura paint job! That's a goddamn Ferrari in disguise!

[CleanGSR]

I wouldn't bother with #4. If you're looking for something than #9, then #80 would work. Number 80 is actually my favorite but it breaks down slower than number 80 so actually works better by machine. #9 is your best bet by hand. #80 by machine.

[Ben.]

I just used that bastard ass meguiars three step crap.. Good GOD did that take a while. Truck looks like a million bucks though..

 

..Aside from seven years worth of body knicks, scratches and dings and whatnot from Florida life.

[Bunga]

i was gonna buy that 3 step but i'm gonna try using the 9, 26, and NXT ordeal and see how that turns out. I'm pretty stoked about it. I'll be off the next couple of days so if the weather permits it i'll be gettin on that for sheeezzzeeeee.

[airjordan223]

Number 80 is actually my favorite but it breaks down slower than number 80 so actually works better by machine.

who jigga wha?

[Ben.]

I don't see myself using it again..the swirls have become VERY VERY VEEEERY mild.. I might need a stronger blend of something else to completely eliminate them.. I think Pinnacle XMT has something of that sort..

 

I'll definitely be doing something else next time.

[CleanGSR]

who jigga wha?

 

#9 and #80 both have diminshing abrasive's that break down to help remove swirl marks. #80 takes longer for the abrasives to break down and longer to remove the sirls by hand. Much better by machine, since the machine will break them down faster than by hand.

 

To whoever is using the 3 step....it's pretty good stuff, but any swirls that dissapear are merely being hidden/filled, not removed. The 3 step has no abbrasives and cannot remove swirls, but they will fill them some and make it look better. Give it a couple months and those swirls will show back up.

[Ben.]

#9 and #80 both have diminshing abrasive's that break down to help remove swirl marks. #80 takes longer for the abrasives to break down and longer to remove the sirls by hand. Much better by machine, since the machine will break them down faster than by hand.

 

To whoever is using the 3 step....it's pretty good stuff, but any swirls that dissapear are merely being hidden/filled, not removed. The 3 step has no abbrasives and cannot remove swirls, but they will fill them some and make it look better. Give it a couple months and those swirls will show back up.

 

Oh I know, you can still see them..however they're now vague and a lot harder to spot than they used to be..

 

Like I said, I'm gonna' get some different stuff and try something else the next time.

[Pyrorocketeer]

 

not to be mean or anything, hung, but it looks like you still have some orange peel on there.....

[Ben.]

If it's factory paint..then it's not too bad.

[Pyrorocketeer]

but still, as much work as he puts into his detailing, should get rid of that sh!tty orange peel, before you make it look like a show car.

[CleanGSR]

That is the only picture of my car that shows that orange peel. You honestly can not find it in real life, the picture just showed it in the reflection. I'm not going to wetsand my car for something that shows up only in pictures and pictures 6" or closer to the car. Look at all the other reflections that are about a foot away.....no sight of orange peel.