How much polish / wax is too much?

J

JUNNIEIV

New member
Sorry if this has been addressed multiple times, but I did do searches and read the chapters in the eBook, but neither really mentioned specifics... I recently washed (Meguair's Gold Class Wash I think) /clayed (Claymagic blue bar)/polished (Meguair's Show Car Glaze #7)/waxed (S100) my car in one exhausting 15 hour go, and the result wasn't as shiny as the previous time I did all that (minus claying). I was aware of putting more polish than I had before, using about a dime-nickel sized dab for about a square 3/4 foot space. it just seemed that anything less would barely be polishing it... and I put enough wax that I could see its swirls at an angle very clearly 2-3 feet away...was that too much wax? I got anxious about the paint's condition due to the claybar and applied both more generously than I would have done otherwise... but seeing the result I think I erred.



This is my 2nd time washing a car period, so I don't have much experience (didn't bother washing the 89 tercel beater I was driving for 4 years)...could polishing/waxing (very light layers) in a couple weeks allow me to reach that shine I previously saw? Or would I have to do something else (clay, etc) to deal with the excess?
 
There is no simple answer to this. Learning how much product to use at any given time comes from the experience of using mutliple products to get the results you want. There is only so much "book learnin'" you can do; ultimatly you have to learn by doing.



Most of the experienced detailers here learned by trial and error. The information resources you have used simply did not exist when we started. So you are already way ahead on the learning curve.



The goal with most products is to apply them as thin as possible, where you can barely see them up close. If you can see them from 3 feet away then, yeah, you prolly used too much. But the end result is just more work for you. The shine should be the same.



Keep working at it, try different techniques and styles. Getting you car to look its best takes time. Good luck.
 
Thanks, yeah, I already learned a lot since the last time I washed. As for making it so thin as to barely be visible..how do you tell what areas you already polished (in the same part of the car)? That was my main problem...wasn't sure if I missed a spot or not so I made sure I layered each area beyond a doubt. Of course I did this in the garage at night with pathetic lighting...
 
It's hard to assess shine/gloss, especially if lighting is inconsistent and you know how your imagination can play tricks on you. This is why I don't often judge these kind of qualities when comparing things - I just don't trust myself to do it.



That said, how long ago did you polish and wax the car before? Maybe the finish has dulled a bit since then and you'll need a paint cleaner (pre-wax cleaner) to bring the shine back.



Also, remember that glazes like #7 aren't really "polishes" and only Meguiar's (in their little universe) calls that "polishing". :rolleyes: Most hand glazes don't do very much polishing or cleaning at all and only make the paint glossy and fill in imperfections. If you really want to polish it lightly, try #9.
 
Last time I washed/polished/waxed was around the beginning of Sept. I think I will need a paint cleaner (I was thinking of getting the S100 Paint Cleanser) the next time I wash, along with a swirl remover (unless they're two in the same). I was just told on another forum though, that Meguiar's 7 would be good enough. I was told that 7 is actually a polish despite its name by Scottwax, but in any case, I think I'm going to get a swirl remover + s100 paint cleanser (which is what he was recommending a month or so after that when he posted about S100). The car does look nice, I think maybe the fact that it looks so incredibly clean now is what made me think I did something wrong.
 
definetly get the paint cleaner. It makes the paint look very glossy. Get the #9 if you think you have swirls you need to remove, otherwise the paint cleaner will do the same thing as #9 with 1/2 the work.



Whenever I start fresh I always apply the paint cleaner prior to wax, even if I have used a swirl remover(polish).
 
Ah, didn't realize that the cleanser == more gloss. Good to know. Looks like my next wash will be wash+swirl remover+paint cleanser+wax... wonder how I'll manage to do that in winter though (live in Toledo, about 1-2 hours away from Detroit and Canada).
 
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