Best polish for hand application?

[Buck91]

So looks like both my '96 an the gf's '02 will need a good waxing this spring (especially after she took the foaming brush to hers... without my knowing!). Anyways since mine will be a pre-sale detail I'm thinking a good paint cleaner or polish is in order, the problem is I'm not about to by a buffer for this.

What polish would you recommend as the quickest/easiest for a hand application? Not looking for the end-all-be-all showroom/showcar shine, just want to spruce them up a bit more than a basic wash -> wax.

[Murr1525]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Well,

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. SwirlX
4. Wax - 2 thin coats

would be a deeper cleaning. Could look at a stronger cleaner if you wanted to work on swirls, etc, but SwirlX will be a start.

[Buck91]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

SwirlX is between UC and Deep Crystal Cleaner as far as aggressiveness? Fairly easy to apply by hand with foam applicator over the entire vehicle? Last year I just used the cleaner wax for the first few jobs of the summer and everything looked pretty good, but the longevity wasn't there, so I figured I'd try to find something to take that place and just use my NXT2.0 right off the bat.

[Murr1525]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Yeah, you'd be looking at a list like:

MILD: Cleaner/Wax; DC1; Ultimate Polish; SwirlX; ScratchX 2.0; UC : STRONG

Yeah, SwirlX is pretty straightforward. I dont know if I would want to remove swirls over an entire vehicle by hand with it... But for general cleaning of dirt, etc it will be good.

Ultimate Polish is also an option, just a hair milder. Probably better looks from UP, better cleaning from SwirlX, at least by hand. Either way.

The better the surface is prepped, the better everything will last. And maintaining afterwards helps as well of course.

[Buck91]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Just a little feedback. Did a wash with UWW, as usual, today but I finished up by trying out the sample of UC I got with NXT2.0 in a few spots. Now I was only applying by hand using a microfiber to apply and another to remove but I gotta say, if this is considered course, then I'm not sure I want to go much milder. The finish it left was fantastic, and soo smooth. A quick cleaner/wax on top for basic protection (and because thats what was near by) and those spots look great. Seriously considering doing a quick job over the entire car with this between claying and waxing when I have time.

Should I expect different or more aggressive action using a foam applicator? I just used a little bit of the microfinber rag, but I know those tend to hold product more while the foam will release it.

[Murr1525]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

You'll probably get a more even application using the foam. It is easy to only use your finger tips with a rag, and that can lead to an uneven finish.

[Markus Kleis]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Just a little feedback. Did a wash with UWW, as usual, today but I finished up by trying out the sample of UC I got with NXT2.0 in a few spots. Now I was only applying by hand using a microfiber to apply and another to remove but I gotta say, if this is considered course, then I'm not sure I want to go much milder. The finish it left was fantastic, and soo smooth. A quick cleaner/wax on top for basic protection (and because thats what was near by) and those spots look great. Seriously considering doing a quick job over the entire car with this between claying and waxing when I have time.

Should I expect different or more aggressive action using a foam applicator? I just used a little bit of the microfinber rag, but I know those tend to hold product more while the foam will release it.

Microfiber should be a little bit more aggressive than foam. Just make sure to check your work in the sun before doing the whole car and verify the results are what you are after.

If so, then I think repeating the process with UC is your best bet. I personally would follow that with a cleaner wax like ColorX for slight refinement and then seal it with a final coat of NXT 2.0.

[captlwr]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Just some "input" - I use a number of Meguiar's products - Ultimate Detailer, Claybar, ScratchEx, PlastX, ColorX..........

have an 07 Galant Ralliart in black - live in Fort Lauderdale and car sits outside - no garage. Have owned the car since new - now 3.5 yrs old w/38,000 miles.

Just tried the Cleaner Wax after a good wash - read many positive comments about it on here. Have to say that it DID go "on&off" easy - and DID improve the shine and deepness of the color - BUT - it did NOT remove contaminants from the paint surface the way I had read it would. I did NOT get the "glass smooth" surface I do when I claybar the car.

Wondering what others have noted??

Larry Reimer

[Murr1525]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Well, the Cleaner/Wax isnt a clay, and isnt a strong cleaner... so one wouldnt expect the same results compared to clay or a stronger cleaner.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Best polish for hand application?

Just some "input" - I use a number of Meguiar's products - Ultimate Detailer, Claybar, ScratchEx, PlastX, ColorX..........

have an 07 Galant Ralliart in black - live in Fort Lauderdale and car sits outside - no garage. Have owned the car since new - now 3.5 yrs old w/38,000 miles.

Just tried the Cleaner Wax after a good wash - read many positive comments about it on here. Have to say that it DID go "on&off" easy - and DID improve the shine and deepness of the color - BUT - it did NOT remove contaminants from the paint surface the way I had read it would. I did NOT get the "glass smooth" surface I do when I claybar the car.

Wondering what others have noted??

Larry Reimer

Paint cleaners, even the very mild sort found in cleaner waxes, are not designed to remove above surface bonded contaminants, which is what clay does exceptionally well. True, if you use a fairly aggressive paint cleaner with a buffer you can remove a good deal of these bonded contaminants, but you're essentially picking them up and working them back against the paint using this method. You're also compromising a paint cleaner's ability to do it's intended job - removing below surface defects. So if you have both above and below defects, using a two step process of claying and paint cleaning (or cleaner wax) is the quickest, safest, and most effective way of addressing both issues.