Meguiars vs Mothers vs Others

[funkymonkey]

try scratch X

[meshmesh]

Plexus, Plexus & Plexus.

I USE:

Interior - Plastics, Chromes, Timbers, Everything expect carpets & cloth seats: Plexus

Exterior - Everything, tyres, windows, rubbers, body panels (except the front windscreen): Plexus

Engine Bay - Rubbers, Plastic etc..: Plexus.

MY ORDER when washing the cars:

Enclosed area is a must eg: I use the garage

1. Vaccum interior, boot etc..

2. Hoist the car up, steam clean the under carriage, engine bay, then all the hard to get areas eg: door jams, boot jam.. etc

3. Wash with the stuff "forgot the name" but by it through a mate in bulk "for detailing"

4. Chamois dry

5. Can't find it anymore but the best "non cutting polish" is Fireglaze (make sure its the Petroleum base not the citrus - you can smell the difference) At the moment, I dont polish, and just wax. Maybe once every 6months to a year I use Maguires Polish Cleaner, it doesnt cut & just cleans the surface clear of any waxes, previous polishes & road grime, Only then will I use a polish. After polishing I let it cure for a day or at least 12 hours, then come back & wax. When I polish or wax, I by from the chemist cotton wool rolls for babies it's usally about $5 a roll & about 2metres in length. I tear the cotton wool in a hand size bunch, apply the polish/wax to the car in nice long strokes about 2feet at a time, working the polish/wax into the car body. I dont apply it in a circular motion like a buffer. The reason I use the cotton wool rolls, coz I haven't found anything softer & I dont think you will either.

After the polish has dried (i normally like to give it an hour or so - believeing the longer the better), I buff it "again in long strokes - not circular" with the cotton wool, getting as much as possible off, then I go over it one more time with another clean piece of cotton wool.

Then I repeat the whole process again the next day, applying the wax. (obviously I give the car a light wash). After the wax has cured I then apply the Plexus to the body panels, & full exterior.

Long but always worth it.

meshmesh

[tridentt150v]

I used the Meguirs Wet Look polish on my black skyline the other day [after washing off with Armourall heavy Duty green stuff. The Wet Look is very very very good.

My missus bought a heap of those ENJO gloves and reckoned they were crap, so I got 'em and use 'em to buff off with, they do a good job.

I use Windex on the glass, never heard of using it on the body work.

Heard of car yards using 'Mister Sheen' for that though, its common practise to use it and is a quick fix cleaner, and is even OK on the interior [but I don't use it]. A lot of show dudes use it for a quick go between days during a display.

Interiorwise I use Armourall occasionally[about every fourth time], normally just wipe down with a just damp cloth.

[sewid]

Ok I have discovered after browsing a few detailing forums that many professional detailers use clay bars to get a smooth finish after waxing.

So I did this:

Wash car

Any carwash will do here if you plan to wax/polish you dont need any fancy additives since you will be doing it yourself.

Waxed

I have tried mothers and meguirs gold class and wont use either again. The wax you want is Meguirs #26 its in a boring looking beige bottle with a big "26" on it at Autobarn. This is a decent easily available wax. It is by no means the best (apparently) but it will do.

Clay bar

A clay bar is a blob of silly putty really. You use it with a lubricant on the paint. The idea is the friction from the sticky clay adheres to the dirt. You can actually hear it lifting dirt. So you spray a lubricant (like a spray bottle of finisher) and wipe back and forth. This leaves the paint baby bum smooth.

Wax again

A final wax to add a protective layer to the paint. After this layer you get a fairly deep looking gloss which is so smooth to touch.

Takes a few hours but its worth it.

[unwritten law]

Thanks heaps for the feedback guys, i am definately gonna get some windex on the windows.

Meguiars make the clay bar. Use it with quick detailer and it strips everything off back to the clear coat, ready for a protective coat of wax.

[terry.m]

Autoglym polish all the way...swear by it. Expensive but bloody worth it.

[Genesis®]

agree with terry.m

its like 20++ a bottle... but worth every single cent...

[firebladejr]

I use meguires for everything except tyres...

The best tyre shine is the VIP tyre shine, it comes in can with a paint brush. I ditched the brush and use a bigger one from the local hardware. Just paint it on and the tyres look like they are wet for about a week!

[trbo32]

Hi guys, i use meguires, great stuff.

However, i heard that the 3m range are really good, better than meguires. Anyone use this before. You can't get them from the shops. Only panel beaters have them. i found a place on the internet that stock it though, but i can't remember the adress ;(

[INVRTD]

mmmmm, to bring up an old thread or not to.

Meguair's products are the bomb, the best quality clean out, check out their new range link is in the signiture block, ill be doing a write up on cleaning my line on saturday, pic's and all if people are interested, keep an eye open in the cosmetic section,

cheers

alex

[SLY-25T]

might aswell add to this. pretty old thread.

i use:

Meguiars NXT generation car wash

Meguiars Glass cleaner

Meguiars Ultimate Quick Detailer

Meguiars Scratch X to clean those yellowing headlights

i usually spray grimy parts of car with truck wash and let it soak in about half hour before i wash

cheapest and best tyre shine i use is.............. silicone spray. yep. cheap and effective. stays on for ages. and its waterproof so it doesnt wash off.

i use the lambswool mit with bug remover.

havent waxed or polished yet. wanna get it clayed back so everything looks new!

[babyskyline]

Yep i found the best tyre shine to use is also silicone spray. Cheap as, easy to spray on and it looks great for ages

[dori34]

going to have a crack at it this weekend.

fix some scratches a stupid cat left behind and also some tree sap..

going give it a good wash..

chamois it dry & let it cool down in the shade..

turtle colored wax to blend it in, scratch X on the scratches, clay bar the car & followed by some meguairs wet look wax to finish it off.

hope all turns out well

Edited September 18, 2008 by dori32

[Piggaz]

Wash car

Poorboys World "professional" polish

Poorboys World EX Sealent

Poorboys World "Natty's Paste Wax"

Mirror like finish!!!!

[INVRTD]

Well the weather was great today and theres no better way to procrastinate writing an economics assignment then washing your car,

spent a few hours out this morning pampering the 33, i shall be typing a nice little write up which will be up sunday night for all to have a read,

cheers

alex

[-Dukes-]

Autoglym Cleaners and protectants and CRC 'so easy' tyre shine, lasts for months expensive though like 25 bucks a litre

[(OO)SKYLINE(OO)]

^^ Yeah!

Autoglym polish all the way...swear by it. Expensive but bloody worth it.

AutoGlym FTW!

Bought 1 litre of it for $42 and already did the first coat of polish and it is very shiny and smooth.

Gona do another one soon.

[bozodos]

Autoglym, especially the Wheel Protectant stuff which comes in a spray can, their wheel cleaner is also more effective than Meguiars (used em at the same time)

The best polish I've ever used was some stuff a detailer mate had in bulk, don't know the brand, but so far I'm very impressed with the quality of the Autoglym products.

[hotchoc]

Well the weather was great today and theres no better way to procrastinate writing an economics assignment then washing your car,

spent a few hours out this morning pampering the 33, i shall be typing a nice little write up which will be up sunday night for all to have a read,

cheers

alex

waiting patiently : )

[INVRTD]

hotchoc, have a under the cosmetic area, for the meguairs next generation title

thats the write up i did, not the best but i am only starting,