Looking for suggestions: Car comin outta storage

motorCITY

motorCITY

New member
Hi everyone ~

I have about 25 days before I bring my beast outta hiberation. It's been a long, cold winter up here and I would like to know if you have any professional tips that may help me out.

Would you recommend stip all wax/sealants off from last year?
Wash & Claybar, and reapply sealants & waxes?

Before putting it in storage, I used PoorBoys's EX sealant & p21s wax - which seemed to work really well. Great shine & reflection, yet I noticed I could feel tiny speckles in certain areas. Perhaps I didn't clean it as well as I thought prior the sealant/wax. I'm not sure.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I can hardly wait to get this dang car outta storage!! I'm so sick of drivin' my winter beater. :)
 
I'd drive it!

Then I"m pretty sure that the memory of those slightly "gritty" areas would bug me to the point where I"d have to start from scratch again. I'll bet that's what will happen to you....or...maybe you'll have to do it right away?!:bigups
 
Give it a good cleaning and then go from there....your detailing instincts will kick in again and then you can make a decision:D
 
motorCity,

Well, if it's been sitting in storage all winter, I wouldn't strip everything, and start over. Unless, you feel that you didn't to a good enough prep job before.

If it were me, I would wash, or S & W, and then try a light claying (probably on horizontal surfaces only), and see how it feels/looks! Even in storage there are airborne contaminates that can bond to the surface. However, they shouldn't be too serious. You might find that a light claying will remove them, and then you can go right to your favorite wax/sealant again. Or, if you still feel a little unsure after the light claying, you could apply another coat of the EX, as it has light cleaning ability, and may remove any remaining contaminates.

Keep in mind, that I said "light claying". If you do a full, and thorough claying, you may need to polish again, as claying can introduce very fine swirls.

Hope this helps.
 
"Light claying".....

I"m confused. How does one clay lightly? Light pressure? I thought clay was always to be used with light pressure and I also had the impression that clay lifted all wax/sealants etc from the surface. I'm pretty new to all this so please set me straight here. I figured that any amount of claying lifted the protectant layer and amounted to starting all over? Help.
 
Thanks for the fast feedback guys.

Jim -- Oh . . .I'm gonna drive that sucker! I've been drivin' my winter beater since Nov., getting laughed at, pointed at and rev'd by Neons and Escorts! :rolleyes:

Poorboy -- my "detaling instincts" are very limited. Remember, it was only last year I discovered there was more then "Turtle Wax" has an option. :) I will say, my Poorboy's S&W is my favorite tool in my arsenal. I've got quite of few friends using it too!

Boss -- I think my prep wasn't as good as it could have been. In all honesty, I was just so dang excited to get that stuff on there for sealant & shine, I may have cut corners a little bit. Since I've never clayed before, please forgive this stupid question . . . but do you just drag the clump of clay (lightly) over the areas?

Thanks again.
 
Using a lubricant...Spray & Wipe is very good for this, you wipe the clay over the surface folding it whenever it gets embedded with grit. Instructions will come with it and you learn by doing. It's easy and it's very effective. I can clay my full sized pu truck in 1/2 hour or so. It picks up all the nasty stuff and leaves the surface extremely smooth. Check with Steve.
 
motorCITY said:

Boss -- I think my prep wasn't as good as it could have been. In all honesty, I was just so dang excited to get that stuff on there for sealant & shine, I may have cut corners a little bit. Since I've never clayed before, please forgive this stupid question . . . but do you just drag the clump of clay (lightly) over the areas?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

motorCity,

First, there are no stupid questions.......... so don't hesitate to ask!

I hear ya................ you were excited to try the new stuff! :D Anyhow, you've already learned that the prep is the key, if you feel that you didn't prep well enough........... think about it! :bigups

You can go a couple ways with the clay. I refer to a "light claying", as clay with car wash suds as the lube, and just doing the horizontal surfaces. A more thorough claying involves using a QD, and claying the entire vehicle. Depending on the protective coating you are using, and it's condition, the clay may, or may not remove the protective coating. With a thorough claying, on a vehicle with little or no protective coating, I always recommend using at least a light polish to clean up any possible micro marring from the clay/claying process. Plus, the light polish will insure a super clean paint surface. Then, you can evaluate the paint, to see if it needs a more aggressive polish to remove any swirls/scratches.

As for the clay.................. get a good sized bar, cut it up into 2 or more pieces, and make flat patties out of each one. As you use each piece, constantly check it for contaminates. If it looks "iffy", knead it until it looks clean. If you can't knead it to clean surface, throw it away, and grab a new piece. Of course, if you drop a piece on the ground, throw it away. Through the entire process, use plenty of lubricant!

Hope that helps.
 
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