I need help!
07-14-2009, 03:08 PM
#1
3rd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Posts: 743
I need help!
Well, here's my situation, my best friend from out of town is coming to stay with us for a week or two, and I wanted to have the pony looking great for him, so I bought some wash, wax, and a clay bar kit, all from meguiars. My problem is, I live in Texas, and it's hot as hell here for most of the day. I washed it with Meguairs' gold class yesterday, used the two-bucket method, dried it, and I lost daylight so I couldn't continue. Only problem is, when I was supposed to clay it this morning, it's covered with a few sun spots and random dust particles, and I guess I have to wash it again, huh? I just have a few questions.
When washing it, HOW THE HELL DO I DRY IT? My one dry microfiber mit certainly doesn't do the job.
Second, I need some advice on the whole process, washing, claying, waxing, if anyone can help that'd be much appreciated.
When washing it, HOW THE HELL DO I DRY IT? My one dry microfiber mit certainly doesn't do the job.
Second, I need some advice on the whole process, washing, claying, waxing, if anyone can help that'd be much appreciated.
07-14-2009, 03:30 PM
#2
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 361
I did mine about a month ago and this is was i did
Took each wheel off and cleaned the insides of the wheel and wheel well. Its a little bit more work, but WAY worth it when your done to have clean wheels esp the inside thats hard to get to w/o taking the wheels off
Washed twice w/o drying the car under shade the whole time
Blew the car off with a leaf blower and towel tried what was left, works way better and faster
Clayed the car small sections at a time
Washed and dried again
Hit the bad areas with some running compound
Sealed the car with some black paint sealer my grandpop had
waxed with yellow tech wax ( i think what its called)
Took me 2 days, day one was wheels it took about 4 hours to do because they must have never been taken off and cleaned. Alot of grime on the inside but was worth it. Day two was the car it took me about 10 hours, I was taking my time and in no rush.
I used some old car soap i had i wanted to use up and a genuine lambs wool mit with the 2BM to wash the car. I used small cotton towels to apply wax,sealer and compound. Finish buffing i used microfiber cloths.
Water still beads off the car even when its dirty and just a wash and dry and it looks great all over again.
Took each wheel off and cleaned the insides of the wheel and wheel well. Its a little bit more work, but WAY worth it when your done to have clean wheels esp the inside thats hard to get to w/o taking the wheels off
Washed twice w/o drying the car under shade the whole time
Blew the car off with a leaf blower and towel tried what was left, works way better and faster
Clayed the car small sections at a time
Washed and dried again
Hit the bad areas with some running compound
Sealed the car with some black paint sealer my grandpop had
waxed with yellow tech wax ( i think what its called)
Took me 2 days, day one was wheels it took about 4 hours to do because they must have never been taken off and cleaned. Alot of grime on the inside but was worth it. Day two was the car it took me about 10 hours, I was taking my time and in no rush.
I used some old car soap i had i wanted to use up and a genuine lambs wool mit with the 2BM to wash the car. I used small cotton towels to apply wax,sealer and compound. Finish buffing i used microfiber cloths.
Water still beads off the car even when its dirty and just a wash and dry and it looks great all over again.
07-14-2009, 04:20 PM
#3
1st Gear Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 99
07-14-2009, 09:11 PM
#5
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 2,211
1. Wash the car using Dawn or Joy dishwashing soap
3. Lightly run your hand over the surface of the car
at no point should you ever just wash the car and let it "AIR DRY"...then you get Water Spots. Damn things are a major PITA to remove. I finally found a product that works, but it is super corrosive.
The stuff above is just a tiny tiny list. You should see what some guys do...wow
This will strip the wax off the paint
2. Dry using a Squeegie or microfiber3. Lightly run your hand over the surface of the car
if you feel a "grit", then you need to claybar
if it is nice and smooth...no need to claybar
4. To Clay Barif it is nice and smooth...no need to claybar
You need the clay...and most times it comes with a spray bottle of some stuff specifically for Clay
Work in small 1x1 ft squares. It takes a while
5. Get a good Paint Sealant/Preservant.Work in small 1x1 ft squares. It takes a while
wet the area lightly to be clayed with the spray, then LIGHTLY run the Claybar over the paint...similar to a Pencil Eraser. You may have to occasionally knead the clay.
If it appears dirty, knead it until the dirt is worked into the interior, and fresh clay is showing
Clay is amazing stuff. With just LIGHT HAND PRESSURE you will remove 99% of the that "grit" feeling
after you do a section, do the touch test again. Should be smooth as a babies butt If it appears dirty, knead it until the dirt is worked into the interior, and fresh clay is showing
Clay is amazing stuff. With just LIGHT HAND PRESSURE you will remove 99% of the that "grit" feeling
Meguirs actually has a 3 step process. I suggest you grab that up as well. It almost negates the need to clay bar.
The 2nd step is a Paint Deepener...looks awesome, and you can tell instantly which areas have been treated
6. WAXThe 2nd step is a Paint Deepener...looks awesome, and you can tell instantly which areas have been treated
just follow the directions.
I'm lazy, so I usually only do 1 coat...but I also do a full detail more often than most people...so I can get away with just that
I'm lazy, so I usually only do 1 coat...but I also do a full detail more often than most people...so I can get away with just that
at no point should you ever just wash the car and let it "AIR DRY"...then you get Water Spots. Damn things are a major PITA to remove. I finally found a product that works, but it is super corrosive.
The stuff above is just a tiny tiny list. You should see what some guys do...wow
07-14-2009, 09:24 PM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 361
I herd bad things about the water blades if there is still grit on the car. The idea that your rubbing what ever was left behind from washing in to you paint your trying to make look new just doesn't seem like a good idea. I also i have black so maybe it just a bad thing to use if your black. But i wont use one but thats just me
07-14-2009, 09:37 PM
#7
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 2,211
good points about the water blade
My Expedition is black...and I'm trying to avoid the damn swirls
but to be honest, if you do a good job washing and keep up with the paint, a Wiper Blade will never do that sort of damage to your paint.
My Expedition is black...and I'm trying to avoid the damn swirls
but to be honest, if you do a good job washing and keep up with the paint, a Wiper Blade will never do that sort of damage to your paint.
07-15-2009, 10:03 AM
#8
The Paranoid One
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,320
Buy a Mr. Clean Autodry System.
Cost about 20 something bucks.
When I bought mine they were close to 50 and I did it thinking it was gonna turn out to be a sham, but it was'nt.
It has a built in water filter and you can rinse the car off after washing and NOT HAVE TO DRY IT. I have a black car....the hardest to get dry without spots/swirls, and two words.
IT WORKS.
Cost about 20 something bucks.
When I bought mine they were close to 50 and I did it thinking it was gonna turn out to be a sham, but it was'nt.
It has a built in water filter and you can rinse the car off after washing and NOT HAVE TO DRY IT. I have a black car....the hardest to get dry without spots/swirls, and two words.
IT WORKS.
07-15-2009, 12:02 PM
#9
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 361
Buy a Mr. Clean Autodry System.
Cost about 20 something bucks.
When I bought mine they were close to 50 and I did it thinking it was gonna turn out to be a sham, but it was'nt.
It has a built in water filter and you can rinse the car off after washing and NOT HAVE TO DRY IT. I have a black car....the hardest to get dry without spots/swirls, and two words.
IT WORKS.
Cost about 20 something bucks.
When I bought mine they were close to 50 and I did it thinking it was gonna turn out to be a sham, but it was'nt.
It has a built in water filter and you can rinse the car off after washing and NOT HAVE TO DRY IT. I have a black car....the hardest to get dry without spots/swirls, and two words.
IT WORKS.
I never used it on my mustang but when i had my blazer it did exactly what i was intended to do. Just when using the auto dry setting do your best to displace the "dirty/unfiltered" water with the "clean water" for it to work the best. I got about 3 car washes out of one filter but again it was my blazer, so im sure id get more out of it with my mustang since its a little smaller
