1st Use: Megs HCW

[Don M]

I went ahead and took advantage of today's heat wave (48*) and picked up a bottle of Meguiar's Hybrid Ceramic Wax at Advance Auto ($14.99 + tax with a $5.00 online rebate).

The car was in dire need of a good wash since it hasn't been touched in months and was a bit crusty with salt.
Using a fairly strong wash mix ... 3 oz of Hyperwash to 5 gallons of water, I hosed off as much of the crusted salt as I could, then did an involved two bucket wash.

Once the car was clean and still wet, I started with the HCW. Between the directions and what I've seen on the internet, I decided to spray it on and wipe it in. I have the strong feeling that I used too much. It IS thick and comes out of the bottle in a heavy spray.

I sprayed it on and wiped it in, the mf quickly became soaked and I probably made a mistake by not wringing it out, but I kept wiping it in until I went over the whole car.

The HCW was on the paint THICK and I didn't see it coming off easily so I decided to try the hose off method. Apparently my hose doesn't have enough pressure to work the HCW off the car, so after getting the car totally soaked again, I began with a fresh microfiber and began drying the car - wringing the towel out this time and it did fairly well removing the haze of the HCW. Once I had dried the whole car, It looked similar to after applying Ultimate Fast Finish, but before wiping off the residue.

So as a final wipe, I took a second fresh, slightly damp cloth and lightly went over the car. This did a fantastic job of removing the 'high spots' that remained.

Once finished, I used the back of my hand and felt the finish. It felt very similar to UFF using my hand, but not quite as slick when wiped with a mf.

It's supposed to rain tonight and maybe tomorrow, so if it does, perhaps I'll take the car out and check out the beading.
I know it didn't happen unless there are pics, so here they are. The car actually looks better in person, my phone's camera has been acting up.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/tn_HCW_1.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/tn_HCW_2.jpg

[Don M]

Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I tried a second, dry application a few hours later. Taking a clean, dry mf I sprayed it once with the HCW (for each panel) and going panel by panel, I wiped it on, then buffed it off with a new dry mf and buffed the panel.

It flashed pretty well and only left a few ... smears? high spots? that needed buffed off. The exterior glass came out crystal clear.

Time and probably some more experimentation will tell if it is worth the $11 (after rebate).

[FUNX650]

Between the directions and what I've seen
on the internet, I decided to spray it on and
wipe it in.

I sprayed it on and wiped it in, the mf quickly
became soaked and I probably made a mistake
by not wringing it out, but I kept wiping it in
until I went over the whole car.

The HCW was on the paint THICK and I didn't
see it coming off easily


Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone, so
I tried a second, dry application a few hours later.

•I know this may not be a popular idea;
-but, IMO, in order to achieve the optimum
results, then: it’s usually best to follow the
manufacturers’ recommended directions
when using their products.

-Are there exceptions? Of course!
{However: not in this particular case, IMHO.}


•But, after all, it was your initial usage/learning
stage of this particular Meguiar’s product.
-Remember: No matter what has happened in
the past, it doesn’t have the ability to keep you
from having excellent results in the future.



Bob

[Don M]

No argument from me. It's just that my garden hose/nozzle doesn't seem to have enough pressure to work the HCW properly, hence the variation on the application methods.

[FUNX650]

No argument from me.
It's just that my garden hose/nozzle doesn't
seem to have enough pressure to work the
HCW properly, hence the variation on the
application methods.

•Until the pressure of the available water source
has been increased to a suitable level for HCW
usage, I know that I would stay away from using
HCW, and other similar products. That’s just me...


Bob

[392hemi]

Of course I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I tried a second, dry application a few hours later. Taking a clean, dry mf I sprayed it once with the HCW (for each panel) and going panel by panel, I wiped it on, then buffed it off with a new dry mf and buffed the panel.

It flashed pretty well and only left a few ... smears? high spots? that needed buffed off. The exterior glass came out crystal clear.

Time and probably some more experimentation will tell if it is worth the $11 (after rebate).

I personally havent used it, but have read/seen on YouTube using a wet MF towel thats wrung out to apply it.

Also appears to need more pressure than some of the spray and rinse type products I've seen. Keep in mind once again based on videos I've seen.

I've thought about buying HCW to mix with some Ech2o for my final wipedown after a rinseless wash.

[Don M]

As I mentioned, I can't leave well enough alone ...

39* with a 29* windchill

Getting the car out of the garage, even with the heavy cloud cover, I could see numerous smears/high spots so I took it to the coin-op this afternoon before the race and just using the high pressure rinse, I went over the car. After a few passes, I started getting the water beading/sheeting that I've seen in all the UTube videos.

After 5 minutes of rinsing, I pulled it to the vacuums to dry it off. Even in the cooler temps, it dried off like a dream. Absolutely no signs of smearing and the finish looked awesome. Granted, this isn't a full sun viewing, but still, it looks good.

My question now is was the high-pressure rinse necessary or would the hydrophobic properties have come out on their own after a day or two of rain or a few regular washes?

[Don M]

Second application. Washed car & left wet. Then, starting at the top and going a panel at a time MISTED the HCW on the surface and then dried the panel completely. It went much easier and faster this time. Once done with the whole car, I took a clean, moderately damp mf cloth and wiped down the car again, removing what few, slight smears remained.

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/tn_HCW_3.jpg

http://archive.meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/tn_HCW_4.jpg