Newbie with some questions

[coondog64]

Hi all! I am new to the forum. A few months ago I purchased a 2006 NBP TSX. I have been washing regularly, and unfortunately have let the dealership wash and wax my car a few times.

I have decided to take things into my own hands mainly because of the dealer installed swirls, and after reading the past few weeks on this board and others I am excited to start detailing on my own.

I have jsut a quick question: after claying is it enough to wipe dry with a quality MF, or should I rewash the car and dry all over again?

All feed back is appreciated! Look forward to posting more

[coondog64]

So can anyone please tell me if I need to wash the car after claying, or can I simply use a MF to wipe up the clay lubricant? I plan on putting a polish on after if that makes a differece.

[scottinflorida]

Originally Posted by coondog64

So can anyone please tell me if I need to wash the car after claying, or can I simply use a MF to wipe up the clay lubricant? I plan on putting a polish on after if that makes a differece.

Every post I see here regarding clay says you need to wash after clay.

Personally, I clay using lubricant, then wash, then dry with MF, then apply some Klasse AIO, then buff with a clean MF.

S>

[killrwheels@autogeek]

I wash before clay (I dont want my clay bar imbedded with lots of unnecessary dirt) and I rewash after it (too remove any contaminents dislodged but sitting in the lubrication). It might not be necessary but avoiding swirls now means less to repair later.

[coondog64]

Thanks! Thats what I figured, but just wanted to check.

I jsut made a huge purchase from AG, and will be doing my first detail this weekend. I plan to wash, caly, wash, polish with SSR1 (by hand with the polishin pal, well see how painful that is), seal with EX-P, and put a top layer of nattys blue on.

I'll post pictures after I get everything done

[aceshigh73]

Welcome fellow brethren from the Northeast (NY'er here!)

Looks like you have the steps down.... I only caution about the polishin pal.. Thats a course I was going to go down.. but was talked out of it.... because of its difficulty..

After spenging alot of cash I didnt have a whole lot left for the Porter Cable/pads/polish kits....
So I bought it a step at a time.... With the recent sale I bought some pads and polish... next I will get the PC.. either locally by using a Lowes Movers coupon (they carry the 7336) or getting it from amazon....
There are ways to make great deals here at AG. Spend some time here and you will see how to do it..... (Waiting for sales, using Free shipping coupons, waiting for 10-15% off coupons, etc).... Most of the 10-15% coupons cancel out the savings of the free shipping offer (you can only use 1 coupon per order)....

If you purchase soley from pinnaclewax.com or wolfgangcarecare.com you get free shipping automatically at $75. combine that with a % off, and you got a very good deal in the works....

Good luck with the car

[coondog64]

I am concerned about the polishing pal as well. I beleive I read floridanative used this, and said it was a lot of work.

I am only using SSR1 , more as a pre wax c leaner and light swirl touch up, so I wont be going heavy duty (well see how long it takes for the SSR1 to break down by hand).

Hopefully all goes well!

[aceshigh73]

Originally Posted by coondog64

I am concerned about the polishing pal as well. I beleive I read floridanative used this, and said it was a lot of work.

I am only using SSR1 , more as a pre wax c leaner and light swirl touch up, so I wont be going heavy duty (well see how long it takes for the SSR1 to break down by hand).

Hopefully all goes well!

Right.... but it has to stop raining first..... and then we get remnants of Ernesto this weekend.... Ughhh!!!!

It went from super wet early summer to bone dry for most of July /Aug to SUPER wet again.... My grass was almost totally brown about a week ago... now its the greenest I've ever seen it...

[FloridaNative]

I'm curious to know what you were told about the polishing pal, Aceshigh?? I have one and used it before I got my PC and it was great!! It is alot more work to polish with the polishing pal instead of a PC, but so is anything when you have to do it all by hand. the polishing pal's shape is very ergonomic and comfortable for the hand. I couldn't have done the job I did by hand without the polishing pal. My fingers would have fallen off. But with the polishing pal it was more effective than using regular applicators since the foam is the same as the Lake Country pads for the DA, and the shape made me able to do the job without fatiguing my hands. It was my arms and shoulders that were aching! lol I don't recommend polishing an entire car by hand if a PC is in the near future as it is much more labor intensive and the results are not as good, but I have nothing but good things to say about the polishing pal. I'm the crazy one who chose to polish the entire car this way to see what the polishing pal could do and it exceeded my expectations. IMHO the polishing pal has a place among other tools in the detailing arsenal and is great for tight spaces or small areas. And you can even get the 3" backing plate and the adapter for the pc (it comes with the WG glass kit) and use your polishing pal pads as spot buffers!

If anyone is curious here is the detail I did with the polishing pal here is the thread, but again the pics will suck cause it's a 35mm camera. I know I know I'm saving for a digital!

Some reviews for you guys and gals :)

[aceshigh73]

Jen...

I think I mis-typed the email.. I was saying it "meaning manual polishing without a PC" was difficult.... not the PP, I dont have one....
The few times I did ask about polishing, everyone said dont bother by hand....