So for those of you who detail your truck, do you apply rubbing and polishing compound pre or post clay bar?

Logically clay bar first, but wouldn't you want to clay bar after the compounds to remove excess abrasive and polishing oils so there is a nice clean uniform surface for the top coat of yellow carnauba to bond too?

 

Polish after clay bar to remove any discoloration from what the clay bar removes.

 

Post clay bar.

I use a DA polisher so I don't leave much residue from the compounds. If there was excessive amonuts of abrasives and polishing oils I'd wash the truck or use a quick detailer to remove it before applying sealer/wax.

 

I always wash between stages. It takes more time, but the results are better.

 

Wash first with wax stripper than clay then polish

 

Alright, so I did not use ye old clay bar, instead just used some cleaner wax and a little polish as req'd. For some reason there is a dull patch above the driver side rear wheel... I think I brightened it up pretty good but may take it to a detail shop down the road to really get that spot fixed up. Anyhow, what do ya think? First Wax on this vehicle



And the close up

 

Looking pretty good!

Honestly that dull spot will need to be polished. Depending on how much swirling you have in your paint will dictate the method that needs to be used. Most of the time if you have light swirling a polishing compound will be sufficient. The way to check this is in direct sunlight...look at say your hood and if you see what appears to be spiderwebs across your paint...those are scratches in your clear coat.

As the others have stated you need to clay after a washing. The wash needs to strip the wax off the vehicle. I usually use Dawn dishwashing soap which works nicely to remove the wax.

You can use a plastic bag over your hand and lightly rub it over your paint (after you have washed your vehicle of course) which will let you feel the impurities on your paint. If you do that and you don't feel little bumps you do not need to clay.

Contrary to popular belief...waxing does nothing for your shine...it is merely a protectant. The shine from your paint comes from the polishing.

In the end as long as you are happy with the results then that is what matters!

 

Yeah, same here. I just did my truck over the holiday weekend. Here are my steps:
1. Wash with Dawn to get rid of any old wax or impurities
2. Clay it with soapy water while it's still wet from the wash
3. After drying, I give it a light buff with my Porter-Cable DA. By "light" I mean a finishing compound with a light foam pad.
4. Wash again with Dawn to get rid of any polish residue.
5. Apply whatever wax has caught my eye that particular time. This time I used Meguiar's Ultimate, but in the past I've used Collonite 845, Zaino, Meg's NXT, and several others.
6. Aerospace 303 on the tires, tonneau cover, and other exposed plastic and rubber.
7. Rain-X on the windows and sunroof.
8. Apply a quick detailing spray of some kind, this time I used Meg's Ultimate.

I do this once a year in the spring. Then, a couple more times during the summer and fall, I'll wash it with a wax-friendly car wash soap and apply another coat of wax.

 

Guys,
Bought my Ford F150 Screw December 2013. Just last weekend I cleaned up my truck. Washed it first, then I used the Meguiars three step process(cleaner, polish and wax). I've used this product on my previous vehicles as well with success. The part that is a real pain in the A... is the fact you have to put it on, let dry and wipe off. Three times...

Cleaner, wax on... wax off...
Polish, wax on... wax off...
Wax, wax on... wax off...

It does work well. Adios.

 

An orbital or DA really helps

 

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And the close up

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Since you have a black truck I thought id mention there are products made by 3M for black paint. the most overlooked and under used is the 3m Black foam pad for wax or polish. the compound to use is 3M perfect3000 it or 3m utrafine.
I have used those products on my past Black F150 and have owned a detail shop and have tried just about everything and the key is always matching the pad & compound then technique.

 

[QUOTE=royb;14386410]So question about that, I have the tuxedo black metallic. The only reason I didn't go for any of the black products was I was afraid they would hide the metal flake. Ever tried them on the metallics?

 

Strip wax with Dawn or other grease eating soap.
Claybar
Polish
Wash with Dawn again
2 Coats of wax

 

[quote=5.4L to Freedom;14386563]
hi, I have used the 3M products on metallic paint and even metal flake paint and it brings out the shine while getting rid of the swirl marks.
the 3m products are very different from the "black" products under another name.
If you use a 3m black foam pad on electric polisher with the 3m ultrafine and or perfectit 3000 you'll love how it will remove swirl marks.

Also the metallic is in your base coat not the clear coat that sits on top.

 

Yes it does!