2012 Focus waxing

[Jomax]

I just bought a 2012 focus with the Tri coat pearl white. Paint for cars in AZ get tested, what's steps should I take with the new paint? It's got minor swirl marks I want to remove, most likely going to use #205. For ultimate protection I was thinking #21 Meguairs paint sealant. Kind've new to all this so all opinions are welcome, I plan to keep this car for a long time. Thanks
( trying searching for a thread like this with no luck)


Sent from my iPhone using
TapTalk
2000 Black DRW F-350
2012 pearl white Focus

[shoeless89]

M205 might not remove all the swirls since its a finishing polish. If not I would bump it up to a medium polish like Menzerna Power Finish or Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Hopefully that's not needed though since its a new car. If you want the best protection possible IMO I would Opti-coat it. Are you doing all this by hand or machine?

[Jomax]

I was going to buy a flexDA for my truck since its so big, but now that I have the car I'm going to buy a porter cable 7424xp and later on get the flex wen money allows and I think it's good to have two machines anyways. Maybe I shouldn't really say swirl marks more like being washed my a brush at the dealer kind of scratches. So optium is better then Meguiars I posted above?

[Jomax]

M205 might not remove all the swirls since its a finishing polish. If not I would bump it up to a medium polish like Menzerna Power Finish or Meguiar's Ultimate Compound. Hopefully that's not needed though since its a new car. If you want the best protection possible IMO I would Opti-coat it. Are you doing all this by hand or machine?

Just read about opti coat. It's permanent??

[shoeless89]

Optimum and Meguiar's are both fantastic companies. Opinions about who's polish, compound, etc. is beter will differ widely. But M21 is a sealant and Optimum Opti-coat is a coating. One of the newest type of products to the detailing world. It last for ~2 years vs M21's ~6months. It also protects better against swirls, bird droppings, etc. Search the form for it and you'll find a wealth of knowledge about it.

[shoeless89]

Just read about opti coat. It's permanent??

It's more of semi-permanent. If you use a polish you'll remove it and it will eventually wear off.

[Jomax]

Only thing I worry about is how to prepare the surface. So for two years I do nothing but wash and no scratches?

[embolism]

it can still be scratched if you do not wash/dry properly

[Jomax]

I two bucket wash my truck with a MF sponge and dry with an absorber. Before washing I rinse really good and areas where it's dirty are washed last. Sounds like a good technique???

[duck_commander]

i follow the same method you do... however, i've gotten away from the "Absorber" and now use Waffle Weave MF towels... i purchased the largest one they make, and the medium sized one as well... They are more than enough to dry my Super Crew F150...

[mwoolfso]

It's more of semi-permanent. If you use a polish you'll remove it and it will eventually wear off.

With all due respect by that definition then clear coat is semi-permanent. I have always considered Opti-coat as permanent a layer as clear-coat; whereas a product like CQuartz due to its long durability arguably would be considered semi-permanent.

[Danube]

I'd like to try opti coat asap .. looks promising.