Polishing and Waxing Advice

[8899]

Anyone have experience polishing and waxing a white car? If so, should the approach and products used be different than for darker paint? Of course, my questions apply to my E500 - a car with nice, but 20 year-old paint. Thx.

 

[need2speed]

Clay bar

 

[modzona]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Sqi1lAj1A&list=PL96D52AF54166C886&index=14

[youtube]X0Sqi1lAj1A[/youtube]

This guy is just fantastic.
Learned a lot from him. For such as you dont need a clay lube, just use the carsoap and water.

 

[gerryvz]

This guy is just fantastic. Learned a lot from him. For such as you dont need a clay lube, just use the carsoap and water.

Car care is a lot like oil changes ... there are hundreds if not thousands of philosophies when it comes to car care and detailing, just like everyone has their own oil / changing ritual that works for them.

However, using a clay bar is very important for getting fine contaminants that are adhering to the paint. Washing will NOT remove these fine/small pieces. If you don't believe me, try a clay bar after you wash and see the stuff that comes off the paint when you do this.

As long as it is lubricated properly with detailing fluid, claying the paint is absolutely NOT harmful to anything and provides huge benefits !!

Anyone have experience polishing and waxing a white car? If so, should the approach and products used be different than for darker paint? Of course, my questions apply to my E500 - a car with nice, but 20 year-old paint. Thx.

First of all, the car should be well washed and then clayed.

From there, with regard to a white car (or any car), it depends on the condition of the paint. If the paint is heavily oxidized and the car hasn't been waxed/polished in a while, then it requires the use of a polishing compound, or a series of progressively finer polishing compounds, to break through and remove the oxidization and reveal the fresh paint/clear coat below. Only then should the car be waxed, preferably with 2-3 coats of wax.

There are other solutions (such as wet sanding) but if you use a progressive series of polishes, you should be able to take care of most cloudy/faded paint issues.

Cheers,
Gerry

 

[gerryvz]

[youtube]8C7aVGSZ2W4[/youtube]

 

[KarlC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Sqi1lAj1A&list=PL96D52AF54166C886&index=14

This guy is just fantastic.
Learned a lot from him. For such as you dont need a clay lube, just use the carsoap and water.

He does love the clay tho .....

Clay: The Best Tool in Your Garage! - /DRIVE CLEAN

[youtube]PRwgnhCgwJE[/youtube]
.

 

[modzona]

Car care is a lot like oil changes ... there are hundreds if not thousands of philosophies when it comes to car care and detailing, just like everyone has their own oil / changing ritual that works for them.

However, using a clay bar is very important for getting fine contaminants that are adhering to the paint. Washing will NOT remove these fine/small pieces. If you don't believe me, try a clay bar after you wash and see the stuff that comes off the paint when you do this.

As long as it is lubricated properly with detailing fluid, claying the paint is absolutely NOT harmful to anything and provides huge benefits !!

My terminology in English is not the best. But what I meant is that instead of buying expensive claylube, (in Morepay is around 25-35$) you just take a new round of carwash and the clay the hole car with that.
To by a claybar set at a local store is quickly around 80$, and that will last for maybe 2-3 washing if the first is one is a car that is 1-2years since last good wash and clay round.
when it is much cheaper to bye just a claybar and use the carsoap. And some sparywax when you just need to take some small spots

 

[ClassicCarsAllDay]

Agree with what Gerry said!

Glen give me a call/text! Just finished detailing my fathers SEC for a birthday gift. I have a bunch of related tools (compressors, orbitals, ect) if you need to borrow some.

Results attached...hopefully up to your standards!

 

[ClassicCarsAllDay]

My terminology in English is not the best. But what I meant is that instead of buying expensive claylube, (in Morepay is around 25-35$) you just take a new round of carwash and the clay the hole car with that.
To by a claybar set at a local store is quickly around 80$, and that will last for maybe 2-3 washing if the first is one is a car that is 1-2years since last good wash and clay round.
when it is much cheaper to bye just a claybar and use the carwash. And some sparywax when you just need to take some small spots

woah! that is easy 3x more than the US. We might need to get a package shipped over there gerry to help out our norway friends!

 

[modzona]

woah! that is easy 3x more than the US. We might need to get a package shipped over there gerry to help out our norway friends!

Yes, its just insane!
So I am a good user of ebay. But everything i get shipped in to the country that has a value of over 30$. I have to pay 25% tax on. Just so I never can get away from the claws of Morepay

 

[ClassicCarsAllDay]

umm, that is insane!

I think i have an old price gun lying around. would it help if all products are labeled 99c ? :-D

 

[vatc5637]

Disclaimer: the following is a commercial site that I have no affiliation with and no endorsement is intended or implied. FWIW, I have found useful information there.

http://www.detailedimage.com/Auto-Detailing-Guide/