DoinitWright
02-16-2018, 06:07 PM
This is my first post, so thanks in advance for your patience. Sorry it's so long, but theres alot of info that I need to supply in order to ask my questions. I want to also say thank you to the great number of folks on here who are so helpful and willing to share and help out. I've been a fan of the whole franchise for many years, so I feel like part of the family.
I own a 2015 Durango R/T. It's never been clayed, or anything else other than washed. At times its been neglected and not washed for months, but usually washed once a month. I intend to finally do right by it, so I began reading those internets (mainly here) and running up my Amazon bill. Basically, I want to tell you guys what i've put together and pose the question: "is there anything else I NEED (or have absolutely purchased the worst version of, and should return and get the right one while it's still new and unopened, and I can?).
First a quick bit more about the condition of the car. It is WHITE. It has never seen the inside of a garage, but always washed with a two bucket system, and rag company micro chenille mitts, and megs brand car wash soap. I can hardly see ANY swirls at all, and I have to look real hard. NO scratches. It also, surprisingly, NEARLY passes the baggie test in most spots after a good wash. So ... Not a bonded contaminate mess with paint that needs much correcting. On the contrary, it is pretty good off and doesn't need compounding or heavy cut style polishing. Not sure if this points to a hard clear coat to have stood up so well, or not? Can't find much about the hardness of this vehicles paint like you can a Toyota or Nissan on the boards. So maybe someone can answer that for me too?
Second a little about me. I am not an idiot ( that should save you all SOME time ;-) ). I have never washed my car with dawn, and a dirty dish rag cuz I was in a pinch. I have been a mechanic for many years and respect, and understand tools. And I have never let the INTERIOR of this vehicle look anything other than completely clean and vacuumed with every plastic surface detailed, and every crack and crevice clean ... for more than a few days before fixing it. Sometimes I have spent days detailing the inside of my car, so the point is ... I have patience.
So.. without further ado ... with the intent here to be that I believe it to only need a wash, clay, light polish, and wax .... I have put together the following. I have tried to group them somewhat.
WASH:
2 chemical guys cyclone dirt traps different colors
2 grit guards color coded to match the cyclones so they always get used together in sets in my 2 buckets.(sorry ... OCD)
-I have heard stacking these gets best results.
My usual rag company micro chenille mitts (1 for dirtier areas. The other: cleaner)
10 Rag company 365 GSM MF towels for whatever
CLAY:
Meguire's c2000 Clay Bar
Meguires M34 mirror glaze detailing spray
Rag company 800 GSM MF towels for wiping excess spray
MACHINE:
Porter Cable 7424xp
Lake country 5 inch velcro backing plate
POLISH:
Meguire's ultimate polish
Lake country White CCS pad
Lake country Black CCS pad
-(because Ive read that the UP will cut less or more by using white or black, so I'll be able to adjust as needed)
Rag company 1100 GSM MF towels for washing after polish so as not to introduce any swirls.
WAX:
Meguire's Ultimate Liquid Wax
Lake country Red CCS pad
6 inch lambs wool leveling pad
Microfiber high shine buffing bonnets
I figured the 1100 GSM towels might come in handy here also for any hand buffing needed.
Well ... that's it. A whole lot of writing and room taken up to supply info so that i could ask 3 simple questions:
1. Have I really gone with a bad choice anywhere?
2. Have i forgotten anything essential?
3. Will what I have put together do the very light correction, and nice shine that im after?
Also ... one additional question... I also purchased some Meguires Mirror Glaze #7 after reading about how much it can enhance shine. But then after (of course) I came across the posts saying that it's too oily, hard to work with, pointless on a white car ... etc. I had planned on slipping a glaze in in between the polish i planned to do and the wax ... But I'd like some opinions. Is it really not worth the effort on a white car?, and is there any trick to using it?, or is it actually horrible to work with?
Thank you very much in advance to all of those who will spend time reading this, and answering my 3 questions. (plus the one about the hardness of that vehicles paint, plus the opinion on the glaze) ;-) Sorry for the lengthy post, especially for my first time.
I own a 2015 Durango R/T. It's never been clayed, or anything else other than washed. At times its been neglected and not washed for months, but usually washed once a month. I intend to finally do right by it, so I began reading those internets (mainly here) and running up my Amazon bill. Basically, I want to tell you guys what i've put together and pose the question: "is there anything else I NEED (or have absolutely purchased the worst version of, and should return and get the right one while it's still new and unopened, and I can?).
First a quick bit more about the condition of the car. It is WHITE. It has never seen the inside of a garage, but always washed with a two bucket system, and rag company micro chenille mitts, and megs brand car wash soap. I can hardly see ANY swirls at all, and I have to look real hard. NO scratches. It also, surprisingly, NEARLY passes the baggie test in most spots after a good wash. So ... Not a bonded contaminate mess with paint that needs much correcting. On the contrary, it is pretty good off and doesn't need compounding or heavy cut style polishing. Not sure if this points to a hard clear coat to have stood up so well, or not? Can't find much about the hardness of this vehicles paint like you can a Toyota or Nissan on the boards. So maybe someone can answer that for me too?
Second a little about me. I am not an idiot ( that should save you all SOME time ;-) ). I have never washed my car with dawn, and a dirty dish rag cuz I was in a pinch. I have been a mechanic for many years and respect, and understand tools. And I have never let the INTERIOR of this vehicle look anything other than completely clean and vacuumed with every plastic surface detailed, and every crack and crevice clean ... for more than a few days before fixing it. Sometimes I have spent days detailing the inside of my car, so the point is ... I have patience.
So.. without further ado ... with the intent here to be that I believe it to only need a wash, clay, light polish, and wax .... I have put together the following. I have tried to group them somewhat.
WASH:
2 chemical guys cyclone dirt traps different colors
2 grit guards color coded to match the cyclones so they always get used together in sets in my 2 buckets.(sorry ... OCD)
-I have heard stacking these gets best results.
My usual rag company micro chenille mitts (1 for dirtier areas. The other: cleaner)
10 Rag company 365 GSM MF towels for whatever
CLAY:
Meguire's c2000 Clay Bar
Meguires M34 mirror glaze detailing spray
Rag company 800 GSM MF towels for wiping excess spray
MACHINE:
Porter Cable 7424xp
Lake country 5 inch velcro backing plate
POLISH:
Meguire's ultimate polish
Lake country White CCS pad
Lake country Black CCS pad
-(because Ive read that the UP will cut less or more by using white or black, so I'll be able to adjust as needed)
Rag company 1100 GSM MF towels for washing after polish so as not to introduce any swirls.
WAX:
Meguire's Ultimate Liquid Wax
Lake country Red CCS pad
6 inch lambs wool leveling pad
Microfiber high shine buffing bonnets
I figured the 1100 GSM towels might come in handy here also for any hand buffing needed.
Well ... that's it. A whole lot of writing and room taken up to supply info so that i could ask 3 simple questions:
1. Have I really gone with a bad choice anywhere?
2. Have i forgotten anything essential?
3. Will what I have put together do the very light correction, and nice shine that im after?
Also ... one additional question... I also purchased some Meguires Mirror Glaze #7 after reading about how much it can enhance shine. But then after (of course) I came across the posts saying that it's too oily, hard to work with, pointless on a white car ... etc. I had planned on slipping a glaze in in between the polish i planned to do and the wax ... But I'd like some opinions. Is it really not worth the effort on a white car?, and is there any trick to using it?, or is it actually horrible to work with?
Thank you very much in advance to all of those who will spend time reading this, and answering my 3 questions. (plus the one about the hardness of that vehicles paint, plus the opinion on the glaze) ;-) Sorry for the lengthy post, especially for my first time.