Oh what a difference clay makes!

[Silver Snake]

I have been reading the Meguires NXT thread and decided it was time to go beyond washing. After all I have never waxed/polished this car and I have owned it for 9 months now.

I wash the car once a week and I am always very happy with the way it comes out. Shiny and clean, etc. Well, as I said, I went out and bought the Meguires Clay Bar and Quick Mist detailer kit, a bottle of Dawn and the Meguires NXT Tech Wax. Then I began the process. After the Dawn washing, I did not know if I should dry the car and then clay or just start claying the car while still wet. Well, I bought the Clay kit that contained a bottle of Quick Mist detailer so I decided to dry the car first. Next I went over the entire car with that clay bar and detailer. Geez what a chore. The first thing I noticed was the towel that I was using to dry the detailer off would not stay in one spot. I kept sliding right off the car!!! I could not believe how smooth the surface was. Much more, I could not believe how "rough" the surface was while I was quite content with the way my car looked. Even my wife was impressed and noticed the difference in the hood. She had no real idea what I was doing, but when I clayed half the hood and brought her out, she knew immediately which side had been clayed! Looks like her car is next.

I could have stopped right there and I would have been happy (so would my arm), but I pushed forward. After the Tech Wax, the car just looked amazing! I could not believe the amount of reflectivity on the surface of the car. Some of the trees in my front yard reflected on the car's surface as clear as a mirror!

This was the most satisfying thing I have done to my car. Next time I am going to invest in an orbital buffer.

Mark

 

[Gerald Levin]

Here is a good deal on a Porter Cable which is probably the most popular buffer recommended here:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/pr7424.htm?L+coastest+zjqp7856ff73c273+1083826793

 

[RavenFan_94]

Pics Pics Pics!

 

[Silver Snake]

Here is a good deal on a Porter Cable which is probably the most popular buffer recommended here:
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/a/port/pr7424.htm?L+coastest+zjqp7856ff73c273+1083826793

Crap! That is a good deal. I will likely place an order with them. Thanks!

Pics Pics Pics!

I will try to get some, but I don't have a digital camera. Also, I am not sure how good the pics will turn out from my 35mm. I took some anyway and I will try to post them soon.

Mark

 

[ViperJoe]

I have never washed my car, just use plenty of quick detailer then polish then wax. Is there something wrong with me? LOL!!!!

 

[GTSPOWERED]

My wife bought me a Meguires battery buffer and I have put 3 coats of polish and 2 coats of wax on in the last 2 weeks. The batteries last around 1.5 hours each this is enough time to do the hole car 2 time. I can see the reflection of everything in the paint. My friends think that I am crazy because I love to wax my car almost as much as driving it.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

My wife bought me a Meguires battery buffer and I have put 3 coats of polish and 2 coats of wax on in the last 2 weeks. The batteries last around 1.5 hours each this is enough time to do the hole car 2 time. I can see the reflection of everything in the paint. My friends think that I am crazy because I love to wax my car almost as much as driving it.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

My wife bought me a Meguires battery buffer and I have put 3 coats of polish and 2 coats of wax on in the last 2 weeks. The batteries last around 1.5 hours each this is enough time to do the hole car 2 time. I can see the reflection of everything in the paint. My friends think that I am crazy because I love to wax my car almost as much as driving it.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

My wife bought me a Meguires battery buffer and I have put 3 coats of polish and 2 coats of wax on in the last 2 weeks. The batteries last around 1.5 hours each this is enough time to do the hole car 2 time. I can see the reflection of everything in the paint. My friends think that I am crazy because I love to wax my car almost as much as driving it.

 

[GTSPOWERED]

Wow somthing screw up or did I studer.

 

[GR8_ASP]

I don't know if you studered but it did seem like you stuttered.

 

[newredrt10]

Max H. just went through the system

 

[1TONY1]

Your wife must reeeeeally love you What pads etc. should be ordered with the Porter cable ? Why is it better than the $29 parts store orbitals ?

 

[FE+ACR]

I got a PC 7424 from these guys....114.99 with free shipping:
http://www.toolmarts.com/pc_7424.html

 

[97fatboy]

The Porter Cable is $109 here.

http://www.northwestpowertools.com/polish/polish.htm

 

[Toby]

Meguires NXT Tech Wax RULES!

It shines like NOTHING else I have ever tried.

 

[Newport Viper]

Go here for a great deal on a PC.

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=461&perpage=15&pagenumber=1

 

[AviP]

I have never washed my car, just use plenty of quick detailer then polish then wax. Is there something wrong with me? LOL!!!!

Yeah! You need to drive it first to get it dirty! So how many miles are on it? 12000?

 

[Yellow Fever]

Is it risky to use one of those Orbital buffer's?? Can you burn/damage the Paint ?

 

[JWVIPER]

Is it risky to use one of those Orbital buffer's?? Can you burn/damage the Paint ?

Scares the heck out of me , has anyone screwed up or are these low rpm's where you can't into too much trouble ?

 

[2000GTS]

I used to own a full service car wash and detail center a few years back. If theres one thing I know, its how to detail a car.

Let me start by saying that clay is great! It's the best way to remove surface contaminants (this is what makes paint feel rough)because it doesn't remove any paint.

As for buffers and polishers, you have to be careful, if you don't use the right one, at the right speed, with the right compound, and the right procedure you will damage your paint.

If you don't know what your doing , get advice first. If anyone needs help, just PM me.

Bill

 

[onerareviper]

An orbital buffer (sometimes called a polisher) can not burn your paint. Period. It does not generate heat. As others have stated, the Porter Cable is one of the best.

A rotary buffer can burn your paint, if not used properly.

 

[MichaelP]

An orbital buffer (sometimes called a polisher) can not burn your paint. Period. It does not generate heat. As others have stated, the Porter Cable is one of the best.

A rotary buffer can burn your paint, if not used properly.

Agreed about the Porter Cable buffer.

I have one and if you push down hard all that happens is the buffer actually stops rotating so no way it can 'burn' off the clear coat. Sometimes while using it I almost think that it isn't strong enough because it stops spinning, but I guess better to be a little weaker than to cause damage.

 

[Newport Viper]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Porter Cable Random Orbital Polisher is here: http://www.autopia.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14421

 

[Gerald]

Claying a car is the best thing you can do to a car. It makes a cheap wax shine like a an expensive one..

G

 

[Russ Oasis]

Don't you guys worry about swirl marks with a polisher? How do you avoid it?

 

[Hisserman]

Russ --

An orbital buffer gives a random swirl, unlike a power drill or sanding machine. If you use a foam pad there won't be any swirl marks (with most waxes -- NXT never).

 

[Newport Viper]

Russ,
Here is a how to, with the polisher.
http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=24

 

[MichaelP]

Don't you guys worry about swirl marks with a polisher? How do you avoid it?

I have a Porter Cable buffer and if you push down hard all that happens is the buffer actually stops rotating so no way it can 'burn' off the clear coat or cause swirls if you are using the sponge pads they sell with it. Sometimes while pushing down, I almost think that the buffer doesn't have enough power because it stops spinning, but I guess better to be a little weaker than to cause damage.

 

[MannyC]

Any good mobile detailers here in San Diego? I don't have time to wax my car right now-- besides, I need to wax 3 of them, and I would rather pay somebody to come out and get my cars ready. I found one guy, but he wanted a ridiculous amount of money to detail my Viper (several hundred $.)

-M