First full detail..

7

71chevelle

New member
Well i have a car show saturday, today is tuesday, and i plan on doing a full detail thursday and friday. First off my car is a 71 chevelle with a non-original paint- clear coated dark green, almost black. I have purchased some mild products, mainly the 3 step system from meguires. I plan on dawn washing, Claying while washing, dry, use the paint cleaner in the kit, the polish in the kit , and the wax. I borrowed an orbital buffer from a freind to keep from getting tired. I have a few questions tho.



1.Will the buffer do just like hand but not as tiresome?

2.How do i apply the cleaner,polish, and wax?

3.How do i Remove the cleaner,polish,and wax?

4.Should i just do one panel at a time?



Thanks,

Phillip
 
Hey Phillip,



Sounds like you have a very cool car!!!



I can only speak for myself and not all of Autopia.



I apply all products by hand, and for waxes and polishes, I apply them as THIN AS POSSIBLE.



I also remove them by hand with MF towels.



Only when I am finished removing product by hand do I apply my orbital buffer.



If you're not used to using a buffer, be careful.



Personally, I am using the buffer less and less.



Just remember, your paint is 32 years old, so put plenty of protective layers on it.



Also, I don't do mine by panels, I apply product to the entire car, the remove product all at once.



Good luck and have fun!



(Bring home some hardware from that show! Judges love 70's muscle cars!)
 
So i should just apply all of these things by hand?? And either way how long do I let them sit or do I? What do you mean only when your finished doing product by hand?? You lost me... And on the paint, i misrepresented, its not original- it is dark green with a slight clear coat. And do you use the same deep crystal 3 step system??
 
Honestly, what you should do is download the Autopia E Book. It will have pretty much everything you need to know included in it.
 
If you have the buffer anyway, it couldn't hurt to try it IMO. You may be able to get more friction out of hand polishing actually, but the only abrasive stuff in the DC system (the pre-cleaner) isn't strong at all anyway. The other 2 products you just lay on the paint in a thin coat.



PS: Please avoid bumping threads. 1.33 hours isn't really that long of a time - be patient. ;)
 
71chevelle said:
[B I was wondering how long i let the 3 different products stay on there? [/B]
Click to expand...



I haven't used the Meg's 3-step system, so I don't know if it's wax, polish or sealant process. (or all 3)



Sealants last the longest, and carnuba waxes yield the best shine, but don't last long.



If your car sits outside in the elements, carnuba wax will only last a month, where a sealant will last 3-6 months.



If your car is garaged, the longevity of all products is dramatically increased.
 
The meguires 3 step is cleaner,polish, and a carnuba wax. I have GC and #26 so i was wondering could i replace the last step with one of those. Also i have scratch-x and was wondering where in between those steps would i use it? I also have mothers cleaner wax. So what do you suggest? It sits outside all of the time, but i usually wash and QD it two to three times a week and wax it once or twice a month.
 
71chevelle said:
The meguires 3 step is cleaner,polish, and a carnuba wax. I have GC and #26 so i was wondering could i replace the last step with one of those. Also i have scratch-x and was wondering where in between those steps would i use it? I also have mothers cleaner wax. So what do you suggest? It sits outside all of the time, but i usually wash and QD it two to three times a week and wax it once or twice a month.
Click to expand...



Without actually seeing your car, it is pretty much impossible for anyone here to tell you the exact steps you need to take to get the best results. I'd use #26 instead of the wax that comes with the 3 step system. Follow the directions for each product exactly as on the bottle for best results.
 
Before you use any of your polishes and waxes, check for surface contamination. Your car may need to be clayed.



Use scratch-x for spot-removal of any surface imperfections (not the entire car). Work the product into the paint till surface is nearly clear, then gently remove residue with an MF towel. Depending on the scratch, you might need to do this 2-3 times on a single area.



Then do Meguiars step 1. Do small sections at a time (2'x2'), work the product in till there's very little left...wipe with an MF. Then go on to the next section. This will go much easier with your random orbital machine.



Meguiars Step 2. Apply a VERY thin, even coat to entire car, then gently buff out with an MF towel.



Step 3. Apply a thin, even coat to entire car, wait 10-15 mins, then gently buff out with an MF.



Now I think I'm going to take a nap. :)
 
Gee, you have too many waxes and not enough prep products. ;) If you have more problems you actually could use Scratch-X on larger areas if you want. I tried using it on an area (instead of a spot) not long ago and was surprised to find it felt similar to using 3M SMR. I used to think it was a lot grippier and harder to use for some reason... :nixweiss JMO



I'd also use the #26 instead.
 
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