Newbie waxing question - Page 2

2004 fx4 level II · #16 06-26-2011, 06:24 PM

nice job!! what did you use first compound or clay bar?

Munki · #17 06-26-2011, 07:21 PM

You better watch it rango lol Thanks guys. I went with the bar first but I will be honest after the cab I stopped using the bar, I was running out of time. I plan on doing it completely next time. took me almost 5 hours anyway lol

JGiddy · #18 06-27-2011, 03:22 PM

I use the clay bar first because my goal when cleaning the paint is to eliminate the "taller", more obvious contaminants first. And then I follow up with paint cleaner and buff out the deeper/more engrained stuff. The last time I used a claybar it worked pretty good but it wasn't doing anything to the really tough water spots I had.

In my experience, the paint cleaner and elbow grease gets the most crap off the paint and makes the biggest difference in the entire detailing process

Munki · #19 06-27-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gts007

I use the clay bar first because my goal when cleaning the paint is to eliminate the "taller", more obvious contaminants first. And then I follow up with paint cleaner and buff out the deeper/more engrained stuff. The last time I used a claybar it worked pretty good but it wasn't doing anything to the really tough water spots I had.

In my experience, the paint cleaner and elbow grease gets the most crap off the paint and makes the biggest difference in the entire detailing process

I noticed the same thing honestly, but I just thought I may have been using the clay bar wrong lol

miller · #20 07-13-2011, 10:29 PM

On the side I do auto detailing frequently doing full paint corrections the correct process to use is clay bar first because it is possible to produce swirling and marring in this step then compound then polish followed by wax.

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by gts007

I use the clay bar first because my goal when cleaning the paint is to eliminate the "taller", more obvious contaminants first. And then I follow up with paint cleaner and buff out the deeper/more engrained stuff. The last time I used a claybar it worked pretty good but it wasn't doing anything to the really tough water spots I had.

In my experience, the paint cleaner and elbow grease gets the most crap off the paint and makes the biggest difference in the entire detailing process

Clay bars are not to designed to remove water spots it is the polishing process that will remove any blemishes such as water spots, clay bars only remove surface contaminants ie. road tar and tree sap.

oldcarfart · #21 07-14-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munki

And he did lol he shot me a quick reply from work.

Thanks a lot for the help man and I will give it a try next time. I have only heard good things.

Its all good man I still say uber myself lol And this is a great write up and thats what sucks. Now I have contradicting methods lol you two both have me going compound first then clay bar and so on where as dixie suggests clay bar first then compound. and I am not saying either way is wrong just still torn between which way to go lol

I always clay bar as last step before wax on a maintained surface, a neglected surface may even need a 2000 wet sand first, then compound. It will not shine if it is not perfectly smooth.

dixie_boysles · #22 07-14-2011, 10:18 AM

the reason I clay first is because if you go on Meguiar's online forum, and you look through, EVERY professional detailer always clays right after washing. I follow their route:

wash>dry>clay>cleaner or compound>polish>wax

of course compound is rarely used unless your paint is swirled, etched, etc....