When we brought the Charger home, that's the fit thing I did. I just picked at the corner of the sticker and peeled it right off.

Truck looks good!!!

 

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?

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

in my honest opinion the best products out there as far as detailing vehicles is Zaino. Check them out at www.zainobros.com

 

I've used their "Best of Show" wax on all three of the King Ranches I've owned and been very satisfied with the results.

 

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

 

I've used the cleaner wax before (03 Mustang) but I feel for the amount of work you have to do. 3 coats...It would be better to clay bar it, then polish it, than wax it. The clay bar will help smooth the paint better than the cleaner wax.

Just my .02

Toohey

 

I have the same problem. So, the car gets a bath as early as possible, then it goes n the garage for clay bar, polish and wax. This way only the trunk sits in the sun.

 

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.

 

This stuff is awesome:

http://www.colliniteindustrial.com/#845

#845 insulator wax blows away paste wax IMHO.

 

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)

 

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

 

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