Holy crap!!! you guys ARE out of control. Talk about obsessive/compulsive disorder. Dont you guys have jobs, or families or one of those things called um... oh yeah, A LIFE!! Just kidding guys, you are THE BEST. I've learned more about paint detailing from reading your posts than I can believe. So any way, just so I'm clear: Wash, Clay, Polish, then wax, right? I'm going to be limited to over the counter stuff. It sounds like most of you are pretty happy with the meguires products. Wish me luck guys (and gals) I'll let you know how it turns out.... that is, when I can use my arms again :)
Team MF Member #420 Posts: 14347
Joined: 7/24/2003 Status: offline
I'd hate to see you go through all that effort and use over the counter stuff!
What are you going to use for a polish? The clay bar is going to make all the existing scratches and swirls stand out a bit more, so the polish you use HAS to be good quality, otherwise you'll have tennis elbow for a month and you'll have spent so much time for a mediocre finish. What will you use to apply the polish?
There really is *NO* comparison between high quality detailing products & over the counter products. There just isn't. It'll be good to learn the ropes with cheaper OTC stuff, but don't be discouraged if it doesn't come out up to your standards.
Yes, I am crazy. But than again I also believe the people who spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle to not take care of it are crazy. I got more money for my 2006 F150 on trade in at the dealer than what I paid for it. Sure I had mods in it but they said because of the condition it was in that it added about $3,500 of value.
Posts: 1953
Joined: 9/24/2006 From: Wake Forest, NC Status: offline
I don't work on the weekends and my roommate does, and I also live a little out there and am single, so I usually end up sitting on my ass all weekend unless I give myself something to do. Washing cars is a perfect escape.
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^ Not my car, but what mine will look like 2008 BMW E92 335i - Waiting for a boat - Ordered 4/17/08 2003 Mustang Cobra - SOLD! 1997 Mustang GT
Posts: 3778
Joined: 3/31/2005 From: Indianapolis, IN Status: offline
While Megs does make some good OTC products, IMO Justins products are just as affordable and in my experience do a much better job for two BIG reasonse.......you will use a lot less product during the application, and the products do not dust up nearly as bad as OTC products.
Take my advice - I was once like you w/OTC products - save up $200-300 and buy a Porter Cable Kit and some of his compund, polish and wax along with a stash of Lake Country Pads.....you will NOT be disappointed, and your arms will thank you
I use to use over-the-counter products (which I'm not implying were bad) and applied often and always thought my vehicles looked really good (others did too). But until I started using a buffer (I got the Ultimate Detailer, almost same as the Porter Cable) and really good products (polishes and sealers), I didn't realize what I was missing. It has made a difference.... not to mention the wear and tear on my ebows. I now use the buffer to apply and remove by hand and there is a quite a difference in the results. So I now am a believer that "Quality products makes a difference".
Posts: 106
Joined: 4/25/2008 From: KS, USA Status: offline
The order is right and there's something about a perfectly clean Mustang... I moved to this town last year and didn't get a single comment on my car, then I detailed it and everything and several people said something to the effect of "Nice car!" Shiny is good.
Guys.....dont mean to jack the thread but since you guys seem real up on this stuff.........I used some 1000 grit sandpaper last night doing a wing delete. Ended up with like 100's of less than hair scratches in a small area but it looks like donk. I tried rubbing the hell out of it with both compound polish and Maguires scratch remover and it didnt do sh!t. But the scatches dont seem real deep at all??? Any home remedy for this???? Should I try 2000 wet snading paper???
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2005 Altima SE 238whp I/E/P/VAIS delete/Eibach/KYB ( old)
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You guys are out of control - 
