Process and Products ... need advice.

[FIREdawg]

Greetings all. I recently gotten a car I wish to take care of, a metallic black 2007 VW GTI. After years of having third and fourth hand trucks whose paint jobs were, well lucky to have paint at all; I want this one to look good and have the paint job last. I have read and will adhere to the 5 step process. Scared out of my mind I will mess up the paint job on this I have reluctantly held off on doing anything about it but, it is time. I have watched the how to videos religiously in hopes that I will suddenly have the epiphany of a master detailer (sadly nothing yet) however, it is time to bite the bullet and just do it.

There are light swirl patterns in paint. Overall feel of paint is slick to the touch, except first 1/4 of the hood. Lots of nicks from debris and I suppose rocks tossed on the road, some to where metal are exposed (no huge gaping holes, just several minuscule nicks). Seeing how this will happen, as it is now my daily driver, I'm not going to have it repainted every time I get a rock tossed on it... What are the other options? Touch up paint from manufacturer?

Working by hand (for now until I gain confidence in my abilities) I know I need to do the following:

Wash / Dry
Claying
(here's where I'm scared I will mess up the paint)
Swirl-X for the patterns (small areas)
Scratch X for more persistent nicks and scratches (even smaller areas)

But here is where I get jumbled up by all the options for polish, polish/cleaner, cleaner/wax, and wax. I know I want it to look amazingly awesome (as much as it can for a 4 year old used car and a daily driver). I'm not afraid of the amount of time it will take to do it by hand (lots of free time at the firehouse after hours). What's the best mix / match for polish, wax, cleaners, etc?

Thanks for any and all help.

FD

[Murr1525]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

There are light swirl patterns in paint. Overall feel of paint is slick to the touch, except first 1/4 of the hood. Lots of nicks from debris and I suppose rocks tossed on the road, some to where metal are exposed (no huge gaping holes, just several minuscule nicks). Seeing how this will happen, as it is now my daily driver, I'm not going to have it repainted every time I get a rock tossed on it... What are the other options? Touch up paint from manufacturer?

Unless you want to get into wet sanding and sanding mark removal ( I doubt you do), you'll just want to use the manufacturer touch up paint. Dont glob it on, just a tooth pick making small thin coats, building up until somewhat even.

Working by hand (for now until I gain confidence in my abilities) I know I need to do the following:

Wash / Dry
Claying
(here's where I'm scared I will mess up the paint)
Swirl-X for the patterns (small areas)
Scratch X for more persistent nicks and scratches (even smaller areas)

Here's the thing... if nervous, just keep it simple.

Wash
Clay
Clean/Polish - SwirlX or Ult. Polish
Wax - Ult. Wax or Nxt 2.0
Wax - 2 thin coats are best

Dont worry about swirl removal... just shine it up and make sure the products go on/off ok for you. Can get the stronger paint cleaners for the next detail in a month or two when you feel like it.

But here is where I get jumbled up by all the options for polish, polish/cleaner, cleaner/wax, and wax. I know I want it to look amazingly awesome (as much as it can for a 4 year old used car and a daily driver). I'm not afraid of the amount of time it will take to do it by hand (lots of free time at the firehouse after hours). What's the best mix / match for polish, wax, cleaners, etc?

It sounds like you will need to use a stronger cleaner like Ultimate Compound to have a chance of removing the swirls, but dont have to rush it. So in the end, you would have something like this:

1. Wash - Gold Class soap, 2 buckets, Grit Guards, good quality towels, etc.
2. Clay - Smooth Surface Clay kit
3. Clean - Ult. Polish or SwirlX for you mild, regular cleaner. Ult. Compound for your stronger cleaner to remove the swirls when you feel like it.
4. Wax - Nxt 2.0 or Ult. Wax
5. Wax

6. Maintain - Ult. Quick Wax for use after future washes, before next detail

-----

I also keep a cleaner/wax on hand for faster details, when not as much time. You wont have as much defect removal, but goes quicker.

1. Wash
2. Clay - if needed
3. ColorX
4. Wax

5. Maintain

------

So I guess you can just run down the products listed there, and the couple different detailing step options, and do which you feel like.

[FIREdawg]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Thanks for the advice. I but how do I discern between which wax to use? Carnuaba or NXT or Ultimate? I know Gold Class leaves a bit of flakes, and on a black car looks more akin to dandruff, so that's out. But still between NXT or Ultimate, liquid or paste?

[Murr1525]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

The Gold Class wont leave flakes any more so that other products... That sounds like you or someone applied a wax to heavy, and got a lot of dusting. That could happen with any product.

As far as which one... just personal preference. Ult. Wax is most durable, Nxt 2.0 second best. The Nxt applies more like a traditional wax, the Ult. Wax is a bit different, so people are still learning to use it. But if you are new, I guess you have no old habits to change...

Whichever you feel like, and we'll help out...

[FIREdawg]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Not really new, at the firehouse the adage goes "If a little is good, more is better." Sadly its a pain to buff the trucks clean when they glob on the Gold Class.

[Murr1525]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Buying lots of Gold Class for fire trucks seems like an expensive way of doing things... and yeah, more doesnt help. Of course the prep work (I would doubt clay, paint cleaners are used on the trucks), also makes applying, removing easier.

[FIREdawg]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Everyone was asked to purchase a tin for special event / parade truck.

[Murr1525]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

That would be a fun project to work on.

We'll get you all learned up, and you'll be teaching how to do the truck next time.

[FIREdawg]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Which I would love to do. Seems that exterior care is a bit lax ... washing the rigs once every two weeks seems counter-intuitive at my new station. Seems it swings where I go. Have been on a strict plan of washing after every call, to no washing due to water restrictions during the drought, to whenever the chief tells us. Hard water stains are horrible on them.

[Murr1525]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Well, if you already have the Gold Class laying around, you can try that out for the first detail, if you were going to take it easy the first time like mentioned above.

Just be sure to have some good applicators, towels, etc.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

We certainly understand you're trepidation here, and your desire to keep this car looking as good as possible for as long as possible. Mat has given you some great advice here (as he usually does!) so follow it!

You'll never become a great detailer just by watching videos - eventually you need to get out there and start working on a car. But geez, when it comes to waxing that whole idea of "more is better" is just plain wrong. No matter how heavy you apply a wax or sealant, only so much is going to be left behind on the paint. A heavy coat just takes longer to dry, is much harder to wipe off, and simply wastes product.

[TrapK80]

Re: Process and Products ... need advice.

Thanks for the advice. I but how do I discern between which wax to use? Carnuaba or NXT or Ultimate? I know Gold Class leaves a bit of flakes, and on a black car looks more akin to dandruff, so that's out. But still between NXT or Ultimate, liquid or paste?

If I had a black car I would use either Gold Class or NXT and if you are worried about the "dandruff" on the black finish I would do a quick wash off and use UQD after drying it and you would definitely have the best looking black car in the county.....or at least at the fire district.