I've also had good luck with Griot's products
Car Wax
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by restore54
Now for the question of the day, how do you remove the dealer sticker?I've finished advertising until the next vehicle purchase.
Truck looks good!!!
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
I bought my 03 KR f150 used. The dealer provided documents that the vehicle was Simonized. I must say when I wash it the water runs like it is headed to the desert. Will any of the techniques mentioned earlier, IE: clay bar, polish, wax, etc. affect the Simonized process?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
Interesting long thread. I was hoping that someone had invented a "magic pill" for waxing. I swore that I would never own another black vehicle after I sold my '86 Mustang GT. So what did I do - I went out and bought about the biggest hunk of black steel I could find - an F350 Lariat Crew Cab that stands about 7' tall and 21 or so feet long. I've always used the Mequires professional stuff, so it looks like I need to get a fresh batch and go to work. Sigh
Dave
Dave
New User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Clifton Forge, Va
My 05 F150 is Dark Shadow Gray. What is the best wax/polish to bring out a really deep shine and really show off the metallic look
Kenny
Kenny
Last edited by cruisinken; Jul 5, 2007 at 05:37 PM. Reason: Corect spelling
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
dafireman; Irelands child; cruisinken
Gentlemen. Nice to speak with you all.
1. dafireman: Most of the aftermarket "treatments" are hard polymer coatings that can be treated like any clear coat. You can keep them up by just applying a glaze and a wax. You should be pleased with the result. CAUTON: Don't believe, for a minute, that those treatments don't need care. Just avoid abrasives if at all possible. Clay bars will do great. If they oxidize, they're no long functional.
2. Irelands child: I'll be more than happy to stock you up with the latest Meguiars goodies.
3. cruisinken: I believe that the best polish/wax available today is the Meguiars NXT Polymer Sealant (P/N M127). It will build a thin polymer layer over your paint giving you exceptional depth, brilliance and longevity. The ultimate product however is a little known improvement to the NXT that Meguiars has put in their professional Mirror Glaze line. It's called 21 (P/N M21) and comes in 16 oz & 64 oz sizes. It's being tauted as "NXT on steriods". It's actually a concentrated version of NXT.
Hope these aswers help.
As always ... God bless.
Gentlemen. Nice to speak with you all.
1. dafireman: Most of the aftermarket "treatments" are hard polymer coatings that can be treated like any clear coat. You can keep them up by just applying a glaze and a wax. You should be pleased with the result. CAUTON: Don't believe, for a minute, that those treatments don't need care. Just avoid abrasives if at all possible. Clay bars will do great. If they oxidize, they're no long functional.
2. Irelands child: I'll be more than happy to stock you up with the latest Meguiars goodies.
3. cruisinken: I believe that the best polish/wax available today is the Meguiars NXT Polymer Sealant (P/N M127). It will build a thin polymer layer over your paint giving you exceptional depth, brilliance and longevity. The ultimate product however is a little known improvement to the NXT that Meguiars has put in their professional Mirror Glaze line. It's called 21 (P/N M21) and comes in 16 oz & 64 oz sizes. It's being tauted as "NXT on steriods". It's actually a concentrated version of NXT.
Hope these aswers help.
As always ... God bless.
New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
in my honest opinion the best products out there as far as detailing vehicles is Zaino. Check them out at www.zainobros.com
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Katy Texas
Anybody used Meguires cleaner wax in the red bottle? will it hurt clear coat? My problem is I only have shade in my driveway very early in the morning and I really dont want to be applying a 3 step process at 7am on a Saturday morning
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Macungie, PA
Originally Posted by SLAYER1
Anybody used Meguires cleaner wax in the red bottle? will it hurt clear coat? My problem is I only have shade in my driveway very early in the morning and I really dont want to be applying a 3 step process at 7am on a Saturday morning
Just my .02
Toohey
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by SLAYER1
Anybody used Meguires cleaner wax in the red bottle? will it hurt clear coat? My problem is I only have shade in my driveway very early in the morning and I really dont want to be applying a 3 step process at 7am on a Saturday morning
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Slayer1
You are right to question the NEED for a Cleaner/Wax if your paint is not flawed. The "Cleaner" listed in the title is an abrasive and although very mild in the Consumer line (red bottles) it will still abrade your paint a small amount. If your paint doesn't need it you should avoid it.
If there is no oxidation and no scratches or swirl marks that you want to remove yet the surface feels rough ... bring out the clay bar and clean it up. A polish ("glaze") is the next best step followed by a protectant, whether wax or polymer.
If you don't have the time then your only choice (doing it yourself) is the cleaner wax. If this is the case you won't do any harm it's just a question of whether or not the paint can be cared for without the use of any abrasive or not.
Another thing to think about is that the entire process does not have to be done all at once. If you clay bar the first morning, mist and wipe (Meguiars M34 Final Inspection) before you polish/glaze the next morning and mist and wipe (Meguiars M34 Final Inspection) before wax the third morning. Shade won't be as big an issue because you'll have the time to do one step at a time.
Remember the the "clear coat" is really paint but without pigment (a colorant).
Hope this helps.
You are right to question the NEED for a Cleaner/Wax if your paint is not flawed. The "Cleaner" listed in the title is an abrasive and although very mild in the Consumer line (red bottles) it will still abrade your paint a small amount. If your paint doesn't need it you should avoid it.
If there is no oxidation and no scratches or swirl marks that you want to remove yet the surface feels rough ... bring out the clay bar and clean it up. A polish ("glaze") is the next best step followed by a protectant, whether wax or polymer.
If you don't have the time then your only choice (doing it yourself) is the cleaner wax. If this is the case you won't do any harm it's just a question of whether or not the paint can be cared for without the use of any abrasive or not.
Another thing to think about is that the entire process does not have to be done all at once. If you clay bar the first morning, mist and wipe (Meguiars M34 Final Inspection) before you polish/glaze the next morning and mist and wipe (Meguiars M34 Final Inspection) before wax the third morning. Shade won't be as big an issue because you'll have the time to do one step at a time.
Remember the the "clear coat" is really paint but without pigment (a colorant).
Hope this helps.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
This stuff is awesome:
http://www.colliniteindustrial.com/#845
#845 insulator wax blows away paste wax IMHO.
http://www.colliniteindustrial.com/#845
#845 insulator wax blows away paste wax IMHO.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 12
From: Upstate NY
I just clay barred and polished the nose and tailgate of my truck. For polish I used Meguiar's NXT. It is actually a black truck, not a deep gray. That NXT is great, now I just hope it holds up under the acid rain we get from the Midwest as well as our high calcium water.
Not sure I can get the rest of it today but I'll do the aircraft carrier sized top of this crew cab F350 (at least it has a sun roof to reduce the size of the painted surface)
Not sure I can get the rest of it today but I'll do the aircraft carrier sized top of this crew cab F350 (at least it has a sun roof to reduce the size of the painted surface)
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Katy Texas
Hey Doc and everyone else, here's what I did last weekend. washed one panel, claybarred,washed panel again, move on to next panel. finished entire truck and the sun came out so I quit.I was worn out out at this point anyhow. next morning i put a coat of meguires cleaner wax followed by a coat of NXT.Took me about 9 hrs total. Could not believe how beautiful the truck came out considering i neglect it pretty good. I only wash it 2-3 time a year and have waxed it once in the 6 yrs I've owned it.99 F350 CC LB
Junior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
anyone ever use adams wax and detailing stuff, an older hot rod guy was polishing a 34 ford 3 window, and he swore by it ,and it REALLY looked good, i look @the site and they got alot of products but really pricey, i have had good results with wax shop products on my black 2004 stx