does colored applicator mean abrasive product?

J

JustinR32

New member
Red M1 Miatas are non-clearcoat cars. I stripped mine with Ivory liquid (it works as well as dawn), and polished it with the PC7424 and ScratchX, using a foam pad (this worked very well, btw). I then applied NuFinish, using the PC, and I removed the residue with MF towels.



A local detail supplier gave me a product to try (unnamed; a "bathtub brew") that is supposed to be wax only, carnauba and others along with softeners, with NO abrasives in it; my intention was to try for the shine of the sealant, and the depth of the carnauba; however, upon application, my pad turned red!



Frankly, the product doesn't feel abrasive, it feels like Simoniz used to. But my eyes tell me different. And, IMO, the shine was better with the NuFinish alone. I only did the hood and trunk.



First question: am I correct in assuming that a true "wax" product would not turn my applicator pad red? It is redder than one might assume it would be from removing leftover residue from the previous application of NuFinish.



Second question: My disappointment in the depth of shine notwithstanding (it still looks pretty doggone good), did the assumed abrasive remove the NuFinish? I kind of liked the idea of that hard NuFinish coat, going into winter.



This place is great, but like someone said over on Miataforum, "... it's like drinking out of a fire hose!" Thanks to all of you here who take the time to share.





Mosca
 
If you are getting red paint pigment on your applicator pad, then what ever that product is, it removed the NuFinish you just applied.



When I had my Red 1986 Mazda B2000, it was a non clearcoat finish. Twice a year I would use the three step process of the Meguiar’s burgundy products. It would always leave red residue on my applicator pads for the cleaner and the polish but not when I applied the final wax coat.



Sounds like that bathtub brew is some kind of cleaner/wax which would remove paint pigment during the application.
 
Just curious Mosca, how much colour did you pull with the NuFinish by PC?



Oh yes also, a product doesn't have to "feel" abrasive. This home-brew wax could have micro-fine abrasives that the maker considers "non-abrasive" (like Meguiar's does).
 
I had a similar experience with a non-clearcoated '89 F250. Used Meguiars Body Scrub, followed by #7 and #26, all by hand. There was some color on the foam applicator with the #26. Nothing like a cleaner wax would pick up, but it was there. I also assumed that it was leftover residue from the cleaner.
 
4DSC said:
Just curious Mosca, how much colour did you pull with the NuFinish by PC?
Click to expand...



Some, but not a lot; more than I did with the wax product, less than I would with a typical "cleaner wax".



I'm pretty new to the detail game. I still remember entire weekends spent with compound and Simoniz around my Dad's '64 Buick LeSabre wagon, his '64 Olds 98, etc; products today go on so much easier! And, of course, a Miata has less square footage to cover, even with a hardtop.



The previous owner of my car must have felt that the hood and trunk were the PERFECT place for the kids to play with that sand art kit they got for Christmas. I'm trying to avoid a wet sand or a re-paint. If I have to do the re-paint, it's going to be clearcoat.



Right now, I'm enjoying the learning process. Working with tools and materials is a very satisfying thing to do in this uncertain world.





Mosca
 
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