Badges? We don't need no stinking badges! (56K grab a snickers)
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From: Butler, PA
Badges? We don't need no stinking badges! (56K grab a snickers)
Well I just got done taking all the badges off my car, washing it, clay bared it, Meguire's Cleaner wax, and Meguire's NXT Generation Tech wax. The clay bar kit is the ****! removes most of the swirl marks and takes all the deep down dirt off1 the only draw back is that it's very time consuming. took me about 6 hours start to finish. Sorry the pics are a bit dark but I wanted to get some pics because it's supposed to rain tomorrow and I won't get a chance to get any pics with more light...
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If it didn't I would have gone ballistic LOL it was a **** load of work but the clay bar made the finish like glass. I was skeptical but damn I'm a believer now!
On a side notw has anyone taken their tail lights and reverse lights out and seen how much dirt collects behind then? Ugh it was nasty!
On a side notw has anyone taken their tail lights and reverse lights out and seen how much dirt collects behind then? Ugh it was nasty!
debadge looks good
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From: Butler, PA
No it was almost dark and when I used the flash it reflected back off the car and all you saw was a big white spot so I was stuck trying to get decent pictures with no flash in dim lighting and adjusting the exposure to try and brighten it...
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Need a lot of time for that first.
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Make sure you find a shady place so the car stays cool otherwise you'll be fighting it the whole time. I started in the sun and almost as soon as I sprayed the quick detailer that came with the kit on the car it evaporated I ended up moving under a tree where it was shady. You have to keep the surface wet for it to work...
your car looks great!
i just wanted to comment to clear up a few misconceptions in this thread.
first, a clay bar will not remove swirls. it's designed to pick up dirt and contaminants in the paint, and lift out overspray/hard water stains/etc. it will make your paint feel like glass, but only because it's getting pitted-in dirt out that normal washing won't. (it will also take off topcoats, like wax or sealant, etc)
second, it shouldn't take 6 hours to claybar - twenty or thirty minutes at most. if it took you that long, you were either pressing too hard or working areas too much, which doesn't net you any gain.
third, the only way to remove swirls is with a cutting compound, and most often this only works with a machine and a minimal amount of skill. i have no doubt the swirls on your car disappeared, but this is due to the cleaner wax filling in the tiny scratches. they will show back up - just don't freak out when it's only been like a week or two.
lastly, you are correct in saying that the car needs to be in a cool place. no good wax or polish or sealant will break down properly and actually adhere to the paint if the surface is hot to the touch. but don't get under the impression that the car needs to be drenched in order to use the claybar - a tiny bit of lubrication is required, just so you won't scratch the paint with picked up particles, but a lot is just overkill. and, FYI, you don't have to use quick detailer - save that stuff for when you want to get light dirt or dust off! just mix some water with a tiny bit of a surfactant, car wash concentrate will do, and you'll be fine.
anyway, nice looking car, and feel free to ask me any questions regarding detailing!
i just wanted to comment to clear up a few misconceptions in this thread.
first, a clay bar will not remove swirls. it's designed to pick up dirt and contaminants in the paint, and lift out overspray/hard water stains/etc. it will make your paint feel like glass, but only because it's getting pitted-in dirt out that normal washing won't. (it will also take off topcoats, like wax or sealant, etc)
second, it shouldn't take 6 hours to claybar - twenty or thirty minutes at most. if it took you that long, you were either pressing too hard or working areas too much, which doesn't net you any gain.
third, the only way to remove swirls is with a cutting compound, and most often this only works with a machine and a minimal amount of skill. i have no doubt the swirls on your car disappeared, but this is due to the cleaner wax filling in the tiny scratches. they will show back up - just don't freak out when it's only been like a week or two.
lastly, you are correct in saying that the car needs to be in a cool place. no good wax or polish or sealant will break down properly and actually adhere to the paint if the surface is hot to the touch. but don't get under the impression that the car needs to be drenched in order to use the claybar - a tiny bit of lubrication is required, just so you won't scratch the paint with picked up particles, but a lot is just overkill. and, FYI, you don't have to use quick detailer - save that stuff for when you want to get light dirt or dust off! just mix some water with a tiny bit of a surfactant, car wash concentrate will do, and you'll be fine.
anyway, nice looking car, and feel free to ask me any questions regarding detailing!
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your car looks great!
i just wanted to comment to clear up a few misconceptions in this thread.
first, a clay bar will not remove swirls. it's designed to pick up dirt and contaminants in the paint, and lift out overspray/hard water stains/etc. it will make your paint feel like glass, but only because it's getting pitted-in dirt out that normal washing won't. (it will also take off topcoats, like wax or sealant, etc)
second, it shouldn't take 6 hours to claybar - twenty or thirty minutes at most. if it took you that long, you were either pressing too hard or working areas too much, which doesn't net you any gain.
third, the only way to remove swirls is with a cutting compound, and most often this only works with a machine and a minimal amount of skill. i have no doubt the swirls on your car disappeared, but this is due to the cleaner wax filling in the tiny scratches. they will show back up - just don't freak out when it's only been like a week or two.
lastly, you are correct in saying that the car needs to be in a cool place. no good wax or polish or sealant will break down properly and actually adhere to the paint if the surface is hot to the touch. but don't get under the impression that the car needs to be drenched in order to use the claybar - a tiny bit of lubrication is required, just so you won't scratch the paint with picked up particles, but a lot is just overkill. and, FYI, you don't have to use quick detailer - save that stuff for when you want to get light dirt or dust off! just mix some water with a tiny bit of a surfactant, car wash concentrate will do, and you'll be fine.
anyway, nice looking car, and feel free to ask me any questions regarding detailing!
i just wanted to comment to clear up a few misconceptions in this thread.
first, a clay bar will not remove swirls. it's designed to pick up dirt and contaminants in the paint, and lift out overspray/hard water stains/etc. it will make your paint feel like glass, but only because it's getting pitted-in dirt out that normal washing won't. (it will also take off topcoats, like wax or sealant, etc)
second, it shouldn't take 6 hours to claybar - twenty or thirty minutes at most. if it took you that long, you were either pressing too hard or working areas too much, which doesn't net you any gain.
third, the only way to remove swirls is with a cutting compound, and most often this only works with a machine and a minimal amount of skill. i have no doubt the swirls on your car disappeared, but this is due to the cleaner wax filling in the tiny scratches. they will show back up - just don't freak out when it's only been like a week or two.
lastly, you are correct in saying that the car needs to be in a cool place. no good wax or polish or sealant will break down properly and actually adhere to the paint if the surface is hot to the touch. but don't get under the impression that the car needs to be drenched in order to use the claybar - a tiny bit of lubrication is required, just so you won't scratch the paint with picked up particles, but a lot is just overkill. and, FYI, you don't have to use quick detailer - save that stuff for when you want to get light dirt or dust off! just mix some water with a tiny bit of a surfactant, car wash concentrate will do, and you'll be fine.
anyway, nice looking car, and feel free to ask me any questions regarding detailing!
Do your like Steoreo Glaze #2 from ardex?
What would you reconmend after I buy my new 09 SS/TC. And yes I have a buffer, its the only way to keep my 11 year old paint respectiable
i have honestly never heard of that product.
i use a mix between Tropi-Care products (http://www.tropi-care.com) and some of Meguiar's pro line of product.
i will start out with a good foam gun, then wash, then clay, then (if needed) swirl cut with either TC-8 or one of Menzerna's polishes (i have had good results with 3m cutting compound as well), then i polish the paint with TC-3/XP Polish/Sealant and then add a few coats of Tropi-Care's liquidwax as a deep topcoat, but have also liked their solid yellow wax and Meg's pro line of liquid wax.
what kind of buffer do you have? i HIGHLY recommend a Porter Cable 7242, 7424 or equivalent random-orbital buffer for beginners - with these high-cut compounds you can severely damage your paint if you don't know what you're doing with an orbital buffer, or a buffer with inferior pads. (all of my pads come from Lake Country Mfg.)
i use a mix between Tropi-Care products (http://www.tropi-care.com) and some of Meguiar's pro line of product.
i will start out with a good foam gun, then wash, then clay, then (if needed) swirl cut with either TC-8 or one of Menzerna's polishes (i have had good results with 3m cutting compound as well), then i polish the paint with TC-3/XP Polish/Sealant and then add a few coats of Tropi-Care's liquidwax as a deep topcoat, but have also liked their solid yellow wax and Meg's pro line of liquid wax.
what kind of buffer do you have? i HIGHLY recommend a Porter Cable 7242, 7424 or equivalent random-orbital buffer for beginners - with these high-cut compounds you can severely damage your paint if you don't know what you're doing with an orbital buffer, or a buffer with inferior pads. (all of my pads come from Lake Country Mfg.)
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From: Butler, PA
It took me 6 hours to do everything from start to finish. I took the tail lights out and cleaned behind them, headlights out and cleaned behind them, cleaned the engine compartment, shampooed the carpets and the seats (I have the recaro's with the cloth inserts), removed the badges, washed the car, clay bar, cleaner wax, and Meguire's NXT Generation Tech Wax.
The clay bars are mildly abrasive so they will take out some light swirl marks. If you look around you can find clay bars that are more or less abrasive. I agree though that it's not the cure for scratches and deeper swirl marks.
The clay bars are mildly abrasive so they will take out some light swirl marks. If you look around you can find clay bars that are more or less abrasive. I agree though that it's not the cure for scratches and deeper swirl marks.
