New Paint + General Car Care Tips

[coupe]

Originally Posted by Ajaxus

ive never actually used a microfiber glove, been a fan of the wool mitt myself. something about using that mitt is just...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm



anyways, car should be looking great.

I have a Vroom microfiber mit but i dont use it as a mit. I *normaly* dont preffer mf wash mits/media but vroom is sooooo plush and holds a crazy amount of suds its hard to not use it to wash. The best to use is sheeps wool wash mits.

WHat i wouldnt give for a Gimor Foam Gun! I will have one by spring or so help me god....

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Ive been meaning to claybar my car after reading previous threads about you and your insaneness Coupe. This thread has convinced me and I may get into it this sunday I think... full open day... and garage to use.

I know what ya mean, when you get the opportunity you gotta jump on it.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Do you recommend microfiber towels for drying too? Ive noticed it tends to move water alot but not actually get anywhere, and then I have lovely lovely water spots (read: black car... 3 for 4 on that color choice, when its clean I love it when its dirty I hate it)

MF for drying all the way!! BUT use a waffle weave mf drying towel. Non WF MF just pushes the water around like you said and you dont really get anywhere. meguires makes the ABSORBER, 9/10 people on autopia.org LOVE it and use it religously.
Since its black you should pick up some quick detailer like meguires QD (maroon bottle). Then after drying go back over the paint with a few MF towels and the QD to ensure you got all the water spots plus the QD puts a real nice shine back on your paint.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

I use a meguires wash mit, Megs Gold class carwash, turtle wax bug remover (although it appears the claybar will work well as well) adn then turtle wax black color wax, and some vroom applicator pads, usually turns out very very nice.

The clay bar is totaly different than bug and tar remover. Claybar lifts/pulls contamanents out of your paint. Put your finger in a sandwhich bag and run your finger down all your panels. You will feel what feels like rough sandpaper. Thats the stuff the claybar removes. You cant see it with your eyes.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

But then from reading, it looks like that is 100% the worst way to go about it... and actually I am realizing this my paint has gotten worse since I first began... I used the methods I used on the GA which was a sponge, and terry towels, which oddly on the GA worked fine, but Im convinced the clear on the tC is either sh*t or non existant.

Its not the worste way to do it but you will not end up with stunning results and when you work that hard and you end up with less than stunning its a real downer, lets face it, this is ALOT of work and physicaly demanding.

Whats probably happening is you arent claying which means you have contamanents in your paint. Then you are waxing and trapping them in. Then after awhile you have even more contamanents then your waxing over them again until you have layer upon layer of dirt in your paint and wax and that is probably what is killing your shine.
Or
You might have single stage paint. I know Mazda is going back to SS paint so its possible your scion might be ss paint. The problem with SS paint is it oxidizes stupid fast so you need to really clean the paint and keep a good amount of wax on it at all times. The way to test if its SS paint is pick up a bottle of colorx, put some on a MF or terry cloth and work the colorx in a small spot the size of a half dollar (put some muscle into it). If you get paint transfer onto your towel then you know its SS paint for sure.

Whether its SS or CC paint maintaning it is the same.
I cant stress it enough, CLEAN YOUR PAINT (ie: claybar AND cleaner wax or dedicated paint cleaner) before you wax.

[5-lO]

Is the yellow 26 a cleaner wax? or is that the colorx?Judging by the amount of chips and blemishes, and the fact that the tC is a cheap car (low in cost i mean) Im pretty sure its a single stage paint. I dont want to make the paint anyworse, so should I avoid the colorx?

Edit: Also I have a very metallic paint that contains blue and green flake in the coat, is there a wax I should use to optimize that?

[coupe]

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Is the yellow 26 a cleaner wax? or is that the colorx?Judging by the amount of chips and blemishes, and the fact that the tC is a cheap car (low in cost i mean) Im pretty sure its a single stage paint. I dont want to make the paint anyworse, so should I avoid the colorx?

#26 is a pure carnuaba wax with a tad bit of polymers in it. Its not a cleaner wax at all.
If it is SS paint colorx will be your best freind! You definately wanna use it!
Read through this thread and look at the pics.
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...=bronco+colorx

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Edit: Also I have a very metallic paint that contains blue and green flake in the coat, is there a wax I should use to optimize that?

Wax is opticaly clear so there really isnt a wax that will make it pop out better. Whats gonna make that flake really pop is your prep before the wax (clay and cleaner wax).

[5-lO]

Originally Posted by coupe

#26 is a pure carnuaba wax with a tad bit of polymers in it. Its not a cleaner wax at all.
If it is SS paint colorx will be your best freind! You definately wanna use it!
Read through this thread and look at the pics.
http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...=bronco+colorx




Wax is opticaly clear so there really isnt a wax that will make it pop out better. Whats gonna make that flake really pop is your prep before the wax (clay and cleaner wax).

Well as long as this will make my paint better, not worse, im in. I am amazed at the pictures of that bronco II, wow!

Priced it out, looks like its gonna run me roughly $60 for everything, stuffs a bit expensive around here.

Also, after you use a MF towel, do you have to throw out or is there a proper way to clean?

And I use the absorber to dry my car, is that acceptable as far as being damage free to the paint?

[99GTCoupe]

Yeah, I know I need the claybar and applicators, but forgot to post that
I'll swap my large MF drying towel for a MF weave one from Murray's later
As for the meguires QD, what's the best way to apply that?

Oh, and what applicators do you reccomend?

[coupe]

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Well as long as this will make my paint better, not worse, im in. I am amazed at the pictures of that bronco II, wow!

I wouldnt recomend anything that could potentialy damage your paint.
All my suggestions are idiot proof, you cant mess this up if you tried.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Priced it out, looks like its gonna run me roughly $60 for everything, stuffs a bit expensive around here.

Its seems expensive at first.
The clay bar you should be able to use 5-10 times.
The colorx you should be able to do your car 12+ times.
The #26 you can get at least 30 uses out of 1 tin/bottle.
You get alot of uses out of it so no worries.
So you could easily get 3 summers out of what you buy.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

Also, after you use a MF towel, do you have to throw out or is there a proper way to clean?

No you can wash them. They are to expensive to throw out
Wash with a little laundry detergant on cold/cold or warm/cold.
Run the load through again with NO detergant (to garantee all soap is out of the towels).
Dry on low-medium, do NOT dry on hi temp setting.

Originally Posted by 5-lO

And I use the absorber to dry my car, is that acceptable as far as being damage free to the paint?

Yes its totaly safe and many people love it on autopia.org.

[coupe]

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

Yeah, I know I need the claybar and applicators, but forgot to post that
I'll swap my large MF drying towel for a MF weave one from Murray's later
As for the meguires QD, what's the best way to apply that?

Oh, and what applicators do you reccomend?

The QD, just spray it on the paint and wipe it off with a MF.
I recomend meguires hi-tech applicators.

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

damnit coupe, reply

Sorry, im AWOL on weekends.

[99GTCoupe]

no prob man, just messin

With the QD, just a light mist all over basically?
As for the rest, I was just gonna ask how much use you should get from them. I take it even though the bottles are small, the actual product is thick and adheres to the saying "A little bit goes a long way?"

Also, if I ran into the problem of getting to the point of washing the first time, then claybaring, and then ran out of time due to an emergency or unexpected weather (damn MI) or something (or even got to the second wash and had to stop), could I just pick it up the following week? I know IU would probably have to do a light wash and then a light claybar, then maybe light wash and the rest, though, right? Or what would you do? Take for granted that the first time, I did a good first wash and good work-over with claybar, and then either another good wash or just had to stop

PS - lemme go over the steps as I understand (more for my benefit, writing things down helps me remember )

1) Good washing
2) Good claybaring
3) Another good wash
4) Color X, work it in with plenty of elbow grease (damnit, I need to go get some from Murray's :P), afterwards let haze then wipe off
5) #26, apply evenly and let haze, then wipe off

Ta-da! Also, apply with Meg's high-tech applicators and do your wipe off with the MF cloths? I still gotta go and exchange the towel for the weave one Target has ^.^

[coupe]

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

no prob man, just messin

With the QD, just a light mist all over basically?
As for the rest, I was just gonna ask how much use you should get from them. I take it even though the bottles are small, the actual product is thick and adheres to the saying "A little bit goes a long way?"

Mist 1 panel, then wipe it off, move to the next panel and do the same. 1 panel at a time.
You should be able to wipe down your whole car 10 times with 1 bottle. 1 bottle should last you a whole summer.

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

Also, if I ran into the problem of getting to the point of washing the first time, then claybaring, and then ran out of time due to an emergency or unexpected weather (damn MI) or something (or even got to the second wash and had to stop), could I just pick it up the following week? I know IU would probably have to do a light wash and then a light claybar, then maybe light wash and the rest, though, right? Or what would you do? Take for granted that the first time, I did a good first wash and good work-over with claybar, and then either another good wash or just had to stop

If thats a concern just do a few panels everyday or half the car one week and the other half the next week.

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

PS - lemme go over the steps as I understand (more for my benefit, writing things down helps me remember )

1) Good washing
2) Good claybaring
3) Another good wash
4) Color X, work it in with plenty of elbow grease (damnit, I need to go get some from Murray's :P), afterwards let haze then wipe off
5) #26, apply evenly and let haze, then wipe off

Ta-da! Also, apply with Meg's high-tech applicators and do your wipe off with the MF cloths? I still gotta go and exchange the towel for the weave one Target has ^.^

Yup you got it.
Now its time to get it done!

[99GTCoupe]

Awesome. I wish that today's weather would hold out until Thursday >< argh! I was gonna do some tomorrow and then finish Thursday, but hell no with a 80% T-Storm chance on Wed >< farking MI weather :P

Ah well, good point on doing things in sections, coupe ^.^
So I guess the best thing to do is wash it all, then go through and claybar everything, wash again, and then do the rest one section at a time? Also when do you do the QD? Before or after Color X?

Oh, and w00t!ness on the stickyness!!!!!

[coupe]

Your kinda making this harder than it is

As far as doing it in pieces you can do it however you need to. *I* would do it literaly in pieces. Like wash, clay, colorx and then #26 the front fenders, front facia and hood in 1 day. Then the next day or week do the doors, side mirrors and roof. Then the next day or week do the rear fenders, rear facia, trunk and wing.

Or you could wash the whole car and clay one day. Then the next day or week you can re-wash the whole car then use colorx. Then the next day or week you can re-wash the whole car and use #26.
Doing it the second way is kinda a pain in the ass becuase you will have to rewash the whole car before everystep.

QD is used for cleaning up light dust, bird crap, bug guts, water spots and restoring the shine after each wash. So use it when you feel you need to.

[99GTCoupe]

Just trying to make sure I do it as best as possible. My baby deserves the best!

Just to clarify what you just posted, you mean you would wash, clay, wash, color x (all over), and then start the #26 with the front and work your way down. That does sound better, that way you're not wasting a ton of soap and water

I'll probably do it that way, cause it makes sense and sounds better. That way if I have to stop, I'll at least have most of it done already ^.^

[coupe]

Heads up!!

Beautiful weekend coming for Michigan!!

Get those GA's ready for winter!!!

[Ajaxus]

indiana too

[99GTCoupe]

Yeah, but I farking work on weekends! ><

I was so damn pissed when I was driving to work today and it was so nice!! But I hope to at least wash and claybar my car tomorrow (wash at the min) before work, and then on Sunday either rinse, clay, and light wash, or light wash and color-x it.

I farking pissed cause it was supposed to be decent on Wed/Thurs next week, and now it's supposed to RAIN!!!!!!!!!! >< Those are my days off and that really grinds my gears

[lone_wolf025]

Coupe you must have the patience of a saint to keep answering these questions over and over and over again...

[Phuxed]

Originally Posted by 99GTCoupe

Those are my days off and that really grinds my gears

You know what really grinds my gears? Lindsay Lohan...
/PeterGriffen

sorry, couldn't resist Never heard that phrase outside of that movie.

[99GTCoupe]

rofl, I was hoping someone would reference that!

Peter Griffin: Another thing that grinds my gears is when I can't find the droids I'm looking for.
Stormtrooper: Yeah, me too. What gives with that?

[99GTCoupe]

damnit, I hate MI weather. Supposed to snow on Friday!!!! ><

Also, I wanted to ask when you use the applicators to apply the color x and the #26, do you use the MF towels to wipe it off, or the other side of the applicators, or what? I figured use the towels, but wanted to make sure

[Ajaxus]

mf