how long do you take? (clay, polish, wax)

[magna_power]

Hi Guys,

I'm just starting here and was wondering how long it takes you guys to do certain tasks, so I have some idea of how I'm going. I clayed the bonnet of my car (yes, just one pannel) and it seemed to be a slow process, but I was much faster by the end of the pannel ;)

So, how long does it normally take to clay a family sedan? Also, how long for a swirl remover? And also for a wax.

can't wait until my DA polisher arrives :D

[bmwgalore]

I always IronX the paint while washing, so the claying process takes me 20 minutes for the entire car (a full size sedan).

To apply wax with a PC-xp and a blue lake country pad, it takes me about 30 minutes going slow (I also wax/seal under the hood, door jambs, suspension components that are exposed and stuff). Then I let it cure according to instructions and do a second layer.

As for swirl removal, it really depends on the tool (DA, forced DA, rotary) and technique... No two guys works the same way.

[rider9195]

It all depends on the vehicle size of course. For a mid-size sedan,
Wash- 1 hour
Clay- 30 min
Polish- 2-3 hours
Wax- 20 min

[BobbyG]

Using a machine to polish & wax.

Wash - 1 hour
Clay - 30 minutes
Polish - 3 hours
Seal - 1 hour
Wax - 1 hour

[glen e]

Wash - 30 min- using dawn dish washing soap
Clay - 30 minutes
Polish - 45 min, using blackfire total polish- using gg6 and green pad
Seal - 20 min, Blackfire CS, two times an hour apart
Wax - zero-I don't wax, seal good enuf for me


Wolfgang spray after weekly wash of chem guys glossworkz -20min

[Buckskincolt]

Using a machine to polish & my old model PC (no xp) to wax and seal

Wash & Dry - 1 hour
Clay - 30 minutesinformal, up to 1 hour for cars less cared for
Polish - 2-3 hours depending on what is needed.
Seal - 30 minutes
Wax - 30 minutes
Treat Trim 30 minutes
Seal wheels and polish exhaust tips 30 minutes

[TornadoRed]

Wash - 1 hour
Clay - 1 to 2 hours
Polish - all day
Wax - 1 hour

[rider9195]

Wash - 1 hour
Clay - 1 to 2 hours
Polish - all day
Wax - 1 hour

Sometimes I feel like I am polishing all day...because I usually am. Lol!!

[Mc'lovin]

Do the times all of you specified include taping the trim?
For someone inexperienced (like me) it sure can add a decent amount of time to the process...

[kronos]

Some of you guys are fast!!


Wash: 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Clay: 1 to 2 hours.
Polish: 3 hours to a long time.
Wax: 15 minutes.

[Bunky]

Wash: 1 hr (wheel condition and pre-cleaning affects time)
Clay: 45 min
Polish: 3 to 4 hrs (slow)
wax/seal: 45 min

[rustytruck]

Why is it taking hrs and hrs to polish??
Wash dry Onr 45mins
clay 20-30 mins
polish/wax AIO 45mins
Find a quality AIO with diminishing abrasives that won't turn trim white and save yourself a bunch of time.

[RhetoricMixes]

wash - 45 min to 1 hour
clay - usually an hour
polish with PC - usually 3-5 hours
seal - 30 is using PC, up to 1 hour if by hand

[magna_power]

Thanks everyone for the replies! I'm starting to feel a little better about how long things are taking me as a noob.

As for polishing in less than an hour, if you do a 2x2foot square at a time, make 6 passes nice and slow, wont you have to spend more time than 45min? I've never used a DA before and i foresee this taking some time ><

So long as I don't totally stuff it up it will all be worth while :)

[fahoumh]

Wow, this thread makes me feel really slow. I spent 2 hours claying my car but that's likely due to the fact that I've been negligent on doing that (around 5 years).


How many pads are you guys typically going through in a polishing step?