hey guys i am gonna detail my car tommrow, its black just so you know, right now i have a claybar, i got maguriers step 1 paint cleaner, glaze, and paste wax, does anyone have any tips for me? anything anyone can add to help me out? last time i just used the glaze and the wax, and it came out kinda crappy, with all the swirls in there and stuff, i also have maguriers scratch x, but from what i heard i shouldnt be using it, anything anyone can add wouldbe appriciated. thanks

 

ScratchX is a pain in the rear to get off. Are you using a DA polisher? Like the Porter Cable PC7224 or 7336? You can always apply the cleaner by hand, again a real pain, but it can be done. If your planning on using a generic buffer for the cleaner I would think again. Not enough speed or TQ to get the job done without leaving more swirls then when you started. Applying wxes or sealants is fine with a generic buffer.

 

im doing it all by hand, do you think this will be a big problem? i was planning on washing with dawn or some type of dishsoap, claybarring it, washing again, doing the paint cleaner, doing the glaze, then the wax, then washing again and drying

 

Just use regular car wash. Hit your trim with a vinyl protectant before you clay. I don't see a need to wash again before you clean/polish/wax.

Use foam or microfiber applicator pads with light pressure, work in 2'x2' areas, don't use too much and don't let the product dry (just haze) before removing with microfiber.

If this approach isn't working for you, next time try something like Mothers Reflections Car Wax followed by Top Coat -- or even their FX. These synthetics and synthetic blends are so easy to use it's not even funny, and excellent if you don't require a lot of defect removal.