Detailing help for a beginner

[J-Man]

Ok; so i waxed my truck the other day and loved how it looked... fell in love. I kinda would like to do a complete detail to all of our vehicles since i', sure they have never seen a full detail. i don't know what to use on the first day, such as i know there are products i can use in successive weeks as opposed to the day i do the detail. What do you recommend I use?

Things I already have:
- Bucket
- Pressure Washer
- MF Towels
- 1 Round MF applicator pad
- Natural Chamois
- Turtlewax car wash
- Eagle One Tire Gel
- Armor All Interior cleaner

What I'd like to get is some good wax, clay bar, polish, etc... Also what products should i use in successive weeks. thanks I appreciate it.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Might want to read over these to start... or at least the ones not about machines at first...

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle
Step 1 Wash
Step 2 Clean
Step 3 Polish
Step 4 Protect
Step 5 Maintain

Suggested Products for Taking Care of a New Car

What it Means to Remove a Scratch

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

How to remove a defect by hand with ScratchX

Rotary vs. PC vs. Regular Orbital Buffer

Recommended Products - G100a Dual Action Polisher

Using the G-100 to remove swirls with the Professional Line

1986 Ford Bronco II - Extreme Makeover

Each one, teach one... Ferrari Fiorano 355 F1 Spider

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

I read that a couple minutes ago. I get the concept, but for example, I can't do this every time i wash the car/truck. i think I can use the quick detailer or something like that for every successive car wash. In other words, first wash (complete detail) is the harder and longer one. The seconds, is a lot simpler.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Yes, you are exactly right. You would:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Clean
4. Polish
5. Wax
6. Wax
or:
1. Wash
2. Clay if needed
3. Cleaner/wax, ColorX
4. Wax

as your "complete" detail. Depending on your environment, time, etc, you might do that once a month, or 2 months, 3, etc. Once you do you full detail, kind of get a good look and feel for the paint, then when it starts to drop off, you just re-do one of the above processes.

Now, you might like to wash once a week or two weeks. After those washings and dryings, a great product to use is the new Ultimate Quick Detailer. Just mist and wipe it around like you would any quick detailer, and you will have a little shine, etc added back. When the QD type of products become a bit harder to apply, dont go on as easy, that is also a sign to re-detail the vehicle.

Mine is kind of like that now, with the last UQDing not being as easy to apply. But of course it is 15 degrees outside and snwoing, so I am not sure when I can do anything about it.

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Made a to buy list:
Clay:
Smooth Surface Clay Kit
Paint Cleaner
Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner
Scratches:
ScratchX
Car Polish:
Deep Crystal System Polish
Car Wax:
NXT Generation Tech Wax Paste
Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax
Car Maintenance
Ultimate Quik Detailer
Spray Wax
NXT Generation Tech Wax Spray
Odor Eliminator
Car Odor Eliminator
Metal Polish
NXT Generation All Metal Polysh
Clear Plastic
PlastiX
Trim
Gold Class Trim Detailer
Interior Parts
NXT Generation Tech Protect
Leather
Gold Class Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
Towels
Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel
Grit Gaurd


I guess I'll use the Quik detailer on normal washes. I guess it would be just a wash and a Quik detail right? maybe a spray wax in 4 weeks or whatever...

Tell me what you think of my plan...

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

I would get the Ultimate QD for after normal washes, and not worry as much about a spray wax. The UQD is only for after washes, not for claying, so you may want a 2nd bottle of regular QD as well.

Always can get more towels, SS and WM... Dont get Nxt Wax, get the Nxt Wax 2.0, #21, or #21 2.0 if you can at all. See if ADS has them available yet. '

You might also like the new Quick Interior Detailer, and of course any wheel and tire products. A jug of APC or APC+ is always a good idea. Glass cleaner. The list can go on and on.... And soap of course....

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

I would get the Ultimate QD for after normal washes, and not worry as much about a spray wax. The UQD is only for after washes, not for claying, so you may want a 2nd bottle of regular QD as well.

Always can get more towels, SS and WM... Dont get Nxt Wax, get the Nxt Wax 2.0, #21, or #21 2.0 if you can at all. See if ADS has them available yet. '

You might also like the new Quick Interior Detailer, and of course any wheel and tire products. A jug of APC or APC+ is always a good idea. Glass cleaner. The list can go on and on.... And soap of course....

I might get some of those other things, but i do have some supplies already....
thx man!

[Jeepster04]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Thats a good list but Im going to revise it alittle.

Made a to buy list:
-Clay:
Smooth Surface Clay Kit
-Paint Cleaner
Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner
-Scratches:
ScratchX
-Car Polish:
Deep Crystal System Polish
-Car Wax:
*NXT2.0. It can be gotten at ADS(he has a special going on right now.. $15).
*Gold Class Clear Coat Car Wax. You can get this if you want, but NXT2.0 should last longer and give a better look. Its a person preference though.
-Car Maintenance
*Ultimate Quik Detailer. Good choice. Good to use after each wash.
-*Spray Wax
NXT Generation Tech Wax Spray. Im not much on these. I have some and it gives a nice look and feel, but it takes as long to 'quik wax' as it does to lay down a new coat of wax.
-Odor Eliminator
Car Odor Eliminator
-Metal Polish
NXT Generation All Metal Polysh
-Clear Plastic
PlastiX
-*Trim
All Season dressing is a great product. I got the 32oz sample from ADS and its lasted me over a year. I use it on all exterior plastics and tires from time to time.
-*Interior Parts
NXT Generation Tech Protect. Ive heard this gives a high gloss finish. Natural shine is a great product for interiors.
-Leather
Gold Class Leather Cleaner and Conditioner
-*Towels
Megs WW are great but Ive found that the California towels from ADS are much better. They are softer and absorb much more water. They also dont streak at all.
-Grit Gaurd

Just some personal add ons.

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Just went shopping... kinda wish I had seen this
I got the NXT wax stuff... looked good... let me take a pic to show what i got... i can still return them... prob.

where is ADS?

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Here's the stuff I bought... I might have messed up on the cleaner/polish items, but the rest I think I did ok... however, mommy and daddy are gonna kill me!
I tried getting all meguiars, but as you can see only the majority is. If i didn't get it it's because I couldn't find it, and i went to like 4-5 stores...
sorry for the camera quality, it was dropped in water over the summer...

I think I'll be returning the cleaner wax and quick wax

[dietoremain]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Dude you got the idea! you got the QD perfect for claying and UQD is like crack for us car lovers haha.
Good choice on the hot shine tire spray i use that on my tires. its the best!
The cleaner wax isnt bad actually its good for a quick one step. I'd top it with another wax tho. NXT is great but the new one is even better!! I use pro line waxes and sealants mostly tho (21 and 26) check out ADS if you wanna try some smaller size pro line stuff its great. All Season Dressing (great for our bumpers plastic) and NXT metal polish is one of my faves. the hot rims is great too.
anyway have fun and post some pics dude!
Use plastx on your headlights and be amazed..
and make sure with any paint cleaner you are workin it in with some PASSION behind the pad.

[J-Man]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Dude you got the idea! you got the QD perfect for claying and UQD is like crack for us car lovers haha.
Good choice on the hot shine tire spray i use that on my tires. its the best!
The cleaner wax isnt bad actually its good for a quick one step. I'd top it with another wax tho. NXT is great but the new one is even better!! I use pro line waxes and sealants mostly tho (21 and 26) check out ADS if you wanna try some smaller size pro line stuff its great. All Season Dressing (great for our bumpers plastic) and NXT metal polish is one of my faves. the hot rims is great too.
anyway have fun and post some pics dude!
Use plastx on your headlights and be amazed..
and make sure with any paint cleaner you are workin it in with some PASSION behind the pad.

yea... I looked at some of those things, but decided to get consumer stuff and try it out. I might try the other stuff later on. I couldn't get the NXT 2.0, but no luck. What's ADS?
What about the Wax cleaner stuff?

BTW; I tried the plastX on some signal lights... what a difference! Are our headlight plastic or glass? Wait... I have a 4runner end... I'm confused now...

[Jeepster04]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

ads=Autodetailingsolutions.com

You did good with the paint cleaner and polish, but you dont need the cleaner wax. It takes #1, #2, a wax, and puts it all in one step.

I like to do #1 and #2 then top that with NXT. Cleaner wax is good but it doesnt last very long from my experience. Its good for a DD or something though.

Depends on the type of car you drive for the headlights. We have a Jeep with glass headlights and a Jeep with plastic, just depends.

[dietoremain]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Ours are all plastic.

[Murr1525]

Re: Detailing help for a beginner

Nothing wrong with having a cleaner/wax around, though you also get some in the Clay kit.

What is with the Turtle Wax chrome polish and sand paper? Those are a little scary....