crazy question

I have a ton of 3M on my truck ie the complete front end, mirrors and down the complete sides of the truck. Now the question like me is there anyone else that polishes/waxes/clays the 3M

Not crazy, we are addicted. We do what is necessary and fun to keep our vehicles looking best as possible

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Look at every car that has that 3M 5 years down the road. You can tell who has it, or at least out here in Arizona. It has turned a bit yellow and sticks out like the rest of the car.

I don't know of any way to clean that oxidation off other than buffing it.

I've done a few buffing job of people who've taken it off cause it's yellow, then come to find out that their front of their car is not as oxidized as the rest. But with work, can fix..

07MegaCabRam said:

Look at every car that has that 3M 5 years down the road. You can tell who has it, or at least out here in Arizona. It has turned a bit yellow and sticks out like the rest of the car.

I don't know of any way to clean that oxidation off other than buffing it.

I've done a few buffing job of people who've taken it off cause it's yellow, then come to find out that their front of their car is not as oxidized as the rest. But with work, can fix..

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I am north of the 49th so we do not get the high heat you receive. When I polish/wax my vehicles I do the 3M so I am guessing it will not turn yellow. I should say it has never happened to me but truthfully I rarely keep a vehicle more than 2 years and have unloaded a vehicle with a mere 2400 miles.

I don't know if I would clay bar it, but I would wax it with the rest of the truck if I had it on my truck

IMHO---You just need to realize that you are polishing and waxing the 3M and not the painted surface of your truck therefore the polish and wax is not bonding to your paint. The depth and shine of your truck comes from the way it looked prior to installing the 3M. You are looking through the 3M into the surface of your truck. I think that the polish and the wax will protect the 3M and help reduce the ultra-violet rays that would damage your trucks finish.
Jay

Pull Ya said:

IMHO---You just need to realize that you are polishing and waxing the 3M and not the painted surface of your truck therefore the polish and wax is not bonding to your paint. The depth and shine of your truck comes from the way it looked prior to installing the 3M. You are looking through the 3M into the surface of your truck. I think that the polish and the wax will protect the 3M and help reduce the ultra-violet rays that would damage your trucks finish.
Jay

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the 3M was installed on a brand new truck so I am thinking the paint was at least decent as the rest of the truck seems to have zero flaws. I know I should not say this but in the 1 1/2 years I have owned the truck not so much as a scratch never mind dents/rust etc. I take it out on average once a week and head to the big city se of me which puts 60 miles on her. I have a handicap placard which has it obvious benefits such as much wider parking stalls.

I usually go for a slow walk and park beside a church on a unusually wide 2 lane street. I put her within 6 inches of the curb and tuck the mirrors in and all is well. As far as the untreated areas believe me they see way more than their share of polish/wax etc.

Pull Ya said:

IMHO---You just need to realize that you are polishing and waxing the 3M and not the painted surface of your truck therefore the polish and wax is not bonding to your paint. The depth and shine of your truck comes from the way it looked prior to installing the 3M. You are looking through the 3M into the surface of your truck. I think that the polish and the wax will protect the 3M and help reduce the ultra-violet rays that would damage your trucks finish.
Jay

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looks like I will get at least 8 coats out of the Angel bottle which makes it semi affordable ie it works out to just under 20.00 per coat as I had to pay American/duties/taxes yada yada. I love how easy the product is to use as you know just apply and wipe off

I've been more than impressed with it, although I still think I am putting to much on on. I'm trying to do better, but time will tell. I'm using it now only for special occasions or right before a car show. I can't afford to use it once or twice a month regularly.
Jay

Pull Ya said:

I've been more than impressed with it, although I still think I am putting to much on on. I'm trying to do better, but time will tell. I'm using it now only for special occasions or right before a car show. I can't afford to use it once or twice a month regularly.
Jay

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great call on the car show idea as I can complete the on/off in 1/2 hour give or take. I will save the remaining product (4-5 coats worth for the best shows on this years schedule) as like I mentioned it's 20.00 a pop. How many coats are you expecting out of your 500ml bottle.

As I have easily gone overboard over the years in the polishing/waxing department maybeI can share how I apply the Angel polish. I use four squirts for the hood and this is in straight lines. I use the small microfibers and wipe in straight lines, the right front fender gets two squirts, the passenger door gets 4 as well as the left rear fender. The tailgate gets3 squirts and the same amount of product is applied to the left side of the truck. Lastly I use 3 for the roof and as the micro is now quite wet I do the front of the truck and even can squeeze in the rims.

The key is to have an absolutely spotless truck before starting and if you have a garage that is the place to start and finish this whole process. Good luck with your remaining product

A little side story on 3M protective film that has me impressed. I put a small strip of it between the top of my tailgate and the tailgate latch on my truck. I was OCD and didn't want scratches in the paint from rings while opening and closing my tailgate.

This past weekend I was hauling stuff around on a car dolly and had to leave the tailgate down to fit some stuff in the bed. I thought I had ample clearance from the trailer jack handle and my tailgate. After the move was done and I was dropping the trailer, I realized the handle had been under my tailgate and making contact with it. The 3M tape was all chewed up and chunked off in places. I was pissed because I was sure the paint was too.

I pulled off all the 3M and adhesive residual to find not a single scratch in the paint. I was impressed! I cleaned it up and put on another strip of 3M. My tailgate would have been gouged without it.