^ Or use the Mr. Clean bucket-less system to wash, as I do. :)

I'm not sure Huey, is Mr. Clean made by Meguiar's? :rolleyes:

Actually I did try that once. Just found it to be a bit expensive if you're washing your car regularly (I've come to prefer Optimum No Rinse, sshhh, it's not Meguiar's either). And if you're not washing your car regularly you'll need a two bucket method with lots of suds!

ok guys...
recently i've decided to wax my car rather than paying $99 for a not so full detailing job.
I've went through this thread and couple others, and some on autopia
and now i've got this :D
https://www.rx8club.com/rx-8-multimedia-photo-gallery-6/behold-another-mazdaspeed-rx-8-coming-189411/page3/
Post #58

For all of those looking to pick up some Meguiars products, amazon has some great deals.

Meguiars Car Clean Kit
Meguiars Clay Bar Kit

If you find any better prices online let me know. Shipping is free too.

First time claying this past week. Im assuming most of you guys use the clay bar once and then throw it out?

No need to throw out the clay unless you find you're picking up major league contaminants, which you really shouldn't post-wash.

Be sure to liberally lubricate with detailing spray as you use it (and store it) .

In most cases, a package of clay (clay "bar") is large enough for you to cut it in half and use. It can be used repeatedly until you find it visually contains contaminents that won't go away while refolding to find a fresh surface.

One situation that's up for debate is if you should throw away the whole clay bar you're using when you drop it on the ground (which always happens once in your life). My vote goes with where you drop it. If it's a gravel driveway, toss it. If it's within you clean garage and the floor is painted and spotless, save it. Then there's all the other surfaces in between these two examples, you decide.

I plan on buying two buckets, one for rinse water and with wash water.

I'm going to buy NXT generation car wash, a bottle of SwirlX, Smooth surface Clay Kit and NXT Generation® Tech Wax® 2.0, although not sure if i should get the paste or the spray wax?
I am going to buy Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel for the washing/drying and Supreme Shine Microfiber Towel for the spray wax if i buy that.
A little confused since im new to detailing, I polish before i apply wax correct, so should i use seperate towels for each? Also, if i bought the ultimate quick detailer, that would be applied last correct? I'm kind of following the guidelines in the first post being in order
1. Washing (nxt)
2. Cleaning (clay kit and swirlx?)
3. Polishing and Waxing (deep crystal system polish? and either the tech wax 2.0 or spray wax
4. Maintaining- ultimate Quick detailer

for interior, i want to buy the quick interior detailer. I think this is used for the dash, center console and side panels.

do i have the right idea/order of how to do things? thanks guys


holy crap thanks dude you saved me some money lol, my total came out to be 85 dollars for everything. I got a rim brush, hot rims all wheel cleaner, interior detailing cleaner, glass cleaner, swirlx, clay kit, wash and wax kit, the drying towel and the supreme shine microfiber towels. Now hopefully our new mazda 6 will stay very clean for the rest of its life :]

Sounds like you're on the right track Alpha. I'll make a few clarifications that may help:

1. Wash
2. Clay kit (this removes tree sap, road debris, rail dust, bug guts) You may need to do the whole car or it may just be certian areas where you get that sand paper feel after washing.
3. SwirlX (this removes your spiderwebbing swirls and light scratches) Again, maybe the whole car, maybe just the areas full of swirls. This is your toughest process but it brings about your best results later. Take your time here.
4. Polish (technically the SwirlX is your polishing step. Did you have another polish?) Often a second polishing step is added to help clear up the cleaning marks a product like SwirlX can leave behind. If your finish looks crystal clear after SwirlX you can go directly to the Tech Wax.
5. Tech Wax 2.0 (Always your last step. Polishing w/the above items does not leave a wax protection).
6. Ultimate Quik Detailer (this is an EXTRA protection step, not necessary for your full detail. It's better used a day or two later to take off the pollen.) It is however up to you. If you want to add another glossy step to the wax it won't hurt.

Try to keep your microfiber towels fresh and turn them often. When you feel like it's tougher to wipe off some of the product, change your towel. If you have six towels, use them all!

Thanks for the tip guys.

alright thanks for the clarification

What do you guys think about presta? I use the compund and the 1500 chroma polish. I think i might use zymol wax.

what do you guys use for asphalt marks? i had a couple on the side near the tires and i was using the quick detailer to lubricate the spot then using the clay bar (as it said on the box it came in) but it took forever to get the spots out and it ruined the clay bar. It was white at first and it was grey at the end with a couple of black marks. Is there any easier way? This was my first time claying

Amazingly enough, one of the best products I've used for bug and tar is Turtle Wax Bug & Tar Remover. You can find it at your local Advance Auto or Auto Zone. Meguiar's has a Body Solvent that works well too but it only comes in gallon containers under their professional line.

I'm doing a Meguiare's cut polish on a friends car, followed by a complete Meguiare's product application.

I'm using Meguiare's NXT Tech Wax as the final stage. My friend only uses Zaino, and prefers to continue using Zaino.... Ok... here's the question...

Has anyone put Meguiare wax on a car and then followed up later with Zaino?

What I'm interested in, is knowing if there is a chemical reaction between the two products.

For example, FYI, I've confirmed a chemical reaction between Meguiare's Deep Crystal Step 3 Polish and NuFinish. The end result is a chemical reaction on the surface that causes the car to perspire... not sweat, but a powdery substance. It always looks dusty.

I want to ensure Meguiare's and Zaino are compatible. Before going ahead.

NXT is a synthetic sealant so something else CAN be layered on top of it. I wouldnt waste the Zaino sealants on top of NXT because I find Zaino to be on a superior level. You can layer NXT over NXT though :) .

An example of a natural WAX (not sealant) is Meguairs #26 Yellow Carnauba Wax. It cannot be layered. You can layer #26 on top of a sealant such as NXT though.

Why not just use your friends Zaino and save your NXT? I've never noticed and increase in beauty by "layering", could just be me.

I use Meguair's over Zaino, purely for cost value. This is the budget I'm given. Besides, between a cut polish, NuFinish and then NXT on top.... (side by side to a car with Zaino) I can't help but notice that NuFinish and Meguairs NXT work synergistically. They pull off a fantastic finish.

This is my 72 vehicle I have worked on. So far, the results are amazing.... and thankfully, cheap.

However, my friend will always use Zaino. So, as time progresses, he will be using it overtop of NXT.

Speaking of finishes and polishing. Has anyone given rotaries a try. Orbitals and the like?

I have one of each, what would you like to know.

If you know how to use them, rotaries.

Honestly, I don't know how to use it. But I've never been the one to be scared of skipping the easy stages and diving headfirst into the hardest.

I've been collectively reading different forums, reading posts, discussions, watching "how to" videos and all that wonderful research so I feel up to the task.

My ex told me that I try to polish her at night with my hands.

Just be careful with terminology. If you meant you are polishing your car's finish, be sure you watch tutorials on how to use a electric polisher, it is very easy to damage the cars finish.

If you meant "waxing" your car... that's different.

Polishing is the work of removing scratches.
Waxing, is the work of covering scratches.

If you're ready to start polishing your ride, the best advice I can give you is to buy a random orbital. Two great choices are from Meguiar's and Griot's Garage. The best place to learn how to use it, unless you can get private lesson's from a local detailer, is www.autogeek.net.

Yes, Polishing. I spent last night trying to polish the clear coat with those 26 dollar random orbitals from Autozone, after I complained that they gave me a sander to try to polish my car with...

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...%7CGRP2006____
http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/wcs...6_pri_detl.jpg

Its a 3,500 so it doesn't have as much power as I was hoping. It sucks.

after reading all the information and watching videos over the week - i've reclayed my car using the palm technique (gave me that smooth feeling), tried to polish out the swirls, and placed tech wax 2.0 ontop. Detailing my car gives me a good high :) Maybe I should get a job doing this.