Car Paint Maintenance, and cleaning.

cageceo · 08-09-2007, 05:43 AM

Another cleaner option is called Scratch-X

With this product, you want to make sure that you use an applicator pad.

you will put a decent amount of scratch-x onto the applicator pad and then rub it into your paint. Again you want to pick a small section of your car to do this. Maybe a 3' x 1' section. You will rub with a good amount of force. You can use a circular motion for this application, but can also use side to side and back and forth motions. I feel the circular is a bit more effective though. After it has been applied and worked into the car, try not to let it dry. Take a clean micro fiber cloth and in circles wipe the scratch-x off the car. Make sure all the scratch-x residue is off, and switch to a clean cloth whenever you feel necessary. This will take a long time again, but will be WELL worth it if you have ANY tiny scratches in your car. This product truly begins to show its benefit after 2-3 applications. Trust Me :-D

Also, Feel free to use both the clay bar kit AND the scratch-x one after another. They both clean you paint, but also have different benefits, so if you have the time, use both. Use the clay bar and THEN the scratch x if you use both, you can use scratch X by itself w/o using the clay bar at all

The Scratch-x essentially takes off a MINISCULE (Extremely small) layer to get rid of the scratches. It is not bad for your paint and is also better than those other scratch products because all those do are fill in the scratches where scratch-x will permanently get rid of them (provided you wash your car properly)

The clay bar you can do once/twice a year depending on how much you drive and how often you wash your car. Scratch-x you can use to your discretion. If you have no more scratches there is no more point to the scratch x, so switch to this other paint -cleaner.

Again, do the clay bar before the scratch-x. But both don't have to be used on every wash. You will want to eventually switch to the regular paint cleaner.
Ok, so we've covered the basic wash and clean so far. I have been recommending Meguiars products but I hate to sound like a broken record and if you have a product that you like better or that you want to try, by all means try it. Some paint will LOOOVE one product and other paint will only get so/so benefits from it. Meguiars is all around pretty good for most paint so that’s another reason why I keep using it.

Ok, so onto the polish.

We are going to be polishing by hand to start out with. After some experience I would recommend going out and purchasing a polisher. You will get a MUCH better polish with an orbital polisher, but don't worry. you will still get a Nice clean finish by hand as long as you do things right.

Don't just jump to a polish after you wash your car. Its easy to be impatient (believe me, I was) and just itching to get that paint shiny and glossy. you have to make sure your paint is clean. That’s why we go through the first two steps before polishing.

This is the polish I use

Now, with this it is recommended that you get a slightly different applicator

It is a little gentler and will apply the polish very well. You can use a regular applicator pad with this product if you want though. It won't be the difference between a good job and a shitty job, but you will be able to tell a slight difference.

It's going to be the same old story with this, put some polish on the applicator pad and start with a section of your car. You want this stuff to sit for just a little bit. Maybe a few minutes after you are done applying it to the paint. there is no need to work it in super hard, the polish will come when you buff it out with your micro fiber cloths. So to reiterate, apply the polish on an area and let it sit for about a minute. Take your micro fiber cloth and buff out the area that you applied the polish. Go in circles with your cloth and you can press somewhat hard if you want. The polish is also designed to reduce the look of scratches so you don't run the risk of scratching your paint with a little too much force. Don't go Conan the barbarian on it though.

Polish the rest of the car. If you so desire do it again, right after the first run through. at this step you can see the end of the tunnel so its hard for me to polish again, but if you want picture perfect don't skip the second run-through.

Wax

You're ALMOST DONE!!!!

I think this is the easiest step. Use a regular applicator pad and twist it around in the wax. Apply it to your car. Its hard to describe the amount that you want on your car. You will just get used to it by doing. the first time I applied wax it looked good. Then after it dried and I tried to buff it off I discovered it was WAY ! too much and was really hard to buff out. again this will be a learn-by-doing step, but don't get intimidated because you can't screw it up, its just that if it is too thick, it will be hard to buff out.

you will be waxing your entire car at one time. the wax is supposed to dry. hopefully your car is still in the shade or in your garage. Apply and even coat of wax to your entire car. don't worry if you get it on the trim and stuff it won't hurt it, and you can clean it off later. I have had times where I get wax on parts of the car and its a PAIN to get off, but it has always come off in the end. after you apply wax to the whole car, make sure it has dried and come back with a clean micro fiber cloth and buff off the wax. after a little while all the wax will be off, then you should wax again (especially if you haven’t waxed in a while).

You don't have to wax your car every time you wash it. Maybe once a month or every 6 weeks depending on how anal you are about it.

Almost done now.
After the wax is off, go over your car with another set of eyes to see if you missed anything. There will definitely be a spot here and a spot there that you didn't wipe off or that has a smudge or two on it. your windows by this time will be all smudged up from you putting your weight on it so you don't have to touch your car with your hands. Just get a good glass cleaner for the way end and clean off your glass. I like stoners in the aerosol can:

Some of the glass cleaner will prob. get on your paint, so just keep a clean cloth handy to wipe it off.

Tires: Any tire shine is fine. The gel stuff will last the longest.

Congrats! your car is damn pretty.

Written By D_train
Edited By Alex (cageceo)

P.S. for pic's and orginal Text, please click on this link below
http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...ead.php?t=9224

08-09-2007, 05:43 AM	#2
cageceo Intake Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Delete Profile Posts: 48	part Two Another cleaner option is called Scratch-X With this product, you want to make sure that you use an applicator pad. you will put a decent amount of scratch-x onto the applicator pad and then rub it into your paint. Again you want to pick a small section of your car to do this. Maybe a 3' x 1' section. You will rub with a good amount of force. You can use a circular motion for this application, but can also use side to side and back and forth motions. I feel the circular is a bit more effective though. After it has been applied and worked into the car, try not to let it dry. Take a clean micro fiber cloth and in circles wipe the scratch-x off the car. Make sure all the scratch-x residue is off, and switch to a clean cloth whenever you feel necessary. This will take a long time again, but will be WELL worth it if you have ANY tiny scratches in your car. This product truly begins to show its benefit after 2-3 applications. Trust Me :-D Also, Feel free to use both the clay bar kit AND the scratch-x one after another. They both clean you paint, but also have different benefits, so if you have the time, use both. Use the clay bar and THEN the scratch x if you use both, you can use scratch X by itself w/o using the clay bar at all The Scratch-x essentially takes off a MINISCULE (Extremely small) layer to get rid of the scratches. It is not bad for your paint and is also better than those other scratch products because all those do are fill in the scratches where scratch-x will permanently get rid of them (provided you wash your car properly) The clay bar you can do once/twice a year depending on how much you drive and how often you wash your car. Scratch-x you can use to your discretion. If you have no more scratches there is no more point to the scratch x, so switch to this other paint -cleaner. Again, do the clay bar before the scratch-x. But both don't have to be used on every wash. You will want to eventually switch to the regular paint cleaner. Ok, so we've covered the basic wash and clean so far. I have been recommending Meguiars products but I hate to sound like a broken record and if you have a product that you like better or that you want to try, by all means try it. Some paint will LOOOVE one product and other paint will only get so/so benefits from it. Meguiars is all around pretty good for most paint so that’s another reason why I keep using it. Ok, so onto the polish. We are going to be polishing by hand to start out with. After some experience I would recommend going out and purchasing a polisher. You will get a MUCH better polish with an orbital polisher, but don't worry. you will still get a Nice clean finish by hand as long as you do things right. Don't just jump to a polish after you wash your car. Its easy to be impatient (believe me, I was) and just itching to get that paint shiny and glossy. you have to make sure your paint is clean. That’s why we go through the first two steps before polishing. This is the polish I use Now, with this it is recommended that you get a slightly different applicator It is a little gentler and will apply the polish very well. You can use a regular applicator pad with this product if you want though. It won't be the difference between a good job and a shitty job, but you will be able to tell a slight difference. It's going to be the same old story with this, put some polish on the applicator pad and start with a section of your car. You want this stuff to sit for just a little bit. Maybe a few minutes after you are done applying it to the paint. there is no need to work it in super hard, the polish will come when you buff it out with your micro fiber cloths. So to reiterate, apply the polish on an area and let it sit for about a minute. Take your micro fiber cloth and buff out the area that you applied the polish. Go in circles with your cloth and you can press somewhat hard if you want. The polish is also designed to reduce the look of scratches so you don't run the risk of scratching your paint with a little too much force. Don't go Conan the barbarian on it though. Polish the rest of the car. If you so desire do it again, right after the first run through. at this step you can see the end of the tunnel so its hard for me to polish again, but if you want picture perfect don't skip the second run-through. Wax You're ALMOST DONE!!!! I think this is the easiest step. Use a regular applicator pad and twist it around in the wax. Apply it to your car. Its hard to describe the amount that you want on your car. You will just get used to it by doing. the first time I applied wax it looked good. Then after it dried and I tried to buff it off I discovered it was WAY ! too much and was really hard to buff out. again this will be a learn-by-doing step, but don't get intimidated because you can't screw it up, its just that if it is too thick, it will be hard to buff out. you will be waxing your entire car at one time. the wax is supposed to dry. hopefully your car is still in the shade or in your garage. Apply and even coat of wax to your entire car. don't worry if you get it on the trim and stuff it won't hurt it, and you can clean it off later. I have had times where I get wax on parts of the car and its a PAIN to get off, but it has always come off in the end. after you apply wax to the whole car, make sure it has dried and come back with a clean micro fiber cloth and buff off the wax. after a little while all the wax will be off, then you should wax again (especially if you haven’t waxed in a while). You don't have to wax your car every time you wash it. Maybe once a month or every 6 weeks depending on how anal you are about it. Almost done now. After the wax is off, go over your car with another set of eyes to see if you missed anything. There will definitely be a spot here and a spot there that you didn't wipe off or that has a smudge or two on it. your windows by this time will be all smudged up from you putting your weight on it so you don't have to touch your car with your hands. Just get a good glass cleaner for the way end and clean off your glass. I like stoners in the aerosol can: Some of the glass cleaner will prob. get on your paint, so just keep a clean cloth handy to wipe it off. Tires: Any tire shine is fine. The gel stuff will last the longest. Congrats! your car is damn pretty. Written By D_train Edited By Alex (cageceo) P.S. for pic's and orginal Text, please click on this link below http://www.toyota-supra.info/forums/...ead.php?t=9224 __________________ Delete Profile Last edited by cageceo; 09-02-2007 at 08:32 AM. Reason: removed Pic's