Ok- so I got my mustang painted several weeks ago and its time to wax it. I wanted to get people opinions on how I should go about doing it. I was just going to polish and wax, but was told that I should start off with compound, then polish then wax. I'm sure some of you guys are experts so please feel free to chime in.

Thanks

 

Depends...is it singe stage or base/clear, and how did the finish turn out?

 

There are a number of things you could do, it all depends on what has already been done. I'm assuming that since you said, "I got my mustang painted several weeks ago," this means you had a shop or someone else paint it. Did they shot the car in single stage, or base/clear? Did they color sand and polish already?

 

If it was just painted, and your painter either wetsanded or buffed the car after painting, don't compound it. Compunds contain abrasives to remove oxidation. You don't have that problem. Don't use a "cleaner wax", as it has abrasives as well. Polish is all you need, or even just glaze. Remember to make sure it is not a cleaner/wax! Also, anothe rpoint my painter shared with me that i couldn't beleive, but it's true. Don't use terry cloth..beleive it or not, the loops in the towel will scratch the paint, the tiny ones that look like spider web swirls...I know you've seen them...Use an old bed sheet, or t-shirt. Make sure the t-shirt has no printing or embroidery on it......Also, be careful what you use to wash it with too...same issues....use a genuine car wash detergent, and a wool type mit....Geez...I am exposing my quirks....

 

For wax I prefer the Meguire's 3-step wax system, although you can probably skip the first (cleaner)and maybe even the second (polish) step and go straight to the non-cleaner carnuba wax.

 

It was single stage. I did go out and but the Meguiars polish and Canauba wax.

 

If the car was painted with a base/clear, and has only been painted for a couple of weeks, waxing it is not a good idea. Depending on the clear used, we generally tell our customers they need to wait 60-90 days before waxing can be done. It takes this long for the clear to fully cure. If you need to clean the car just wash it with a quality car wash and then use a polish like a swirl remover.

 

a good rule of thumb is 30 day min. some paints can be more like stated above basically dont wax till the water stops beeding up by itself

 

Thanks for all of the great info.

 

Afew weeks is too short - let it cure for at least 90 days.