Wax Brand Recommendations

It goes like this:

• Wash
• Rinse
• Clay
• Dry
• Polish/Compound
• Sealant
• Wax
• Admire!

Here's a write-up on paint correcting a Tacoma - will be similar steps for your truck though probably not as extensive: Toyota Tacoma - Paint Correction by Mr. Sparkle Detailing - Long Island, NY

roastpuff said:

It goes like this:

• Wash
• Rinse
• Clay
• Dry
• Polish/Compound
• Sealant
• Wax
• Admire!

Here's a write-up on paint correcting a Tacoma - will be similar steps for your truck though probably not as extensive: Toyota Tacoma - Paint Correction by Mr. Sparkle Detailing - Long Island, NY

Click to expand...

You forget the beer drinking step

Adams Polishes!! www.adamspolishes.com They have a cleaning product for every part of your vehicle. Interior, exterior, soaps, protectants, clay bars, sealants, swirl removal, orbitals, orbital pads, etc. etc. etc. It will give your vehicle a professional show room quality shine. You can't get their stuff from the auto parts store and they have a 110% satisfaction guarantee. I've had professional detailers ask me who does my car, and I said myself! Hands down the best products I've ever used!!

Thanks everyone. Just youtubed how to use the clay bar and that seems pretty straight forward. All i need is some nice weather and free time and it should come out nice! Obviously I'm a first timer lol but I want to do this the right way!

Side note: can I use that polish on the wheels? I know they looked nice and glossy when i drove it off the lot from the dealer. I'd like to get them looking like that again.

Should i clay bar it everytime as well or would i be able to get away with a polish, sealant and wax?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

After you wash and dry your truck, take a zip lock baggie and put your hand in it, rub the surface of your truck lightly--if it feels like sandpaper then you know the surface is not clean and you need to clay bar it. I prefer to use a Nano towel instead of a clay bar, they last longer, their easier to use and when you need to clean it you just rinse it out in the sink. A clay bar and/or a Nano towel MAY leave small scratches in the surface and this is why you should polish before applying a sealant. The polish is what "corrects" the paint by removing the swirls and small scratches. You can polish your wheels and then apply a good sealant and then a wax if you like. It makes the wheels look a lot better and they are a lot easier to clean. Depending on where you park and if you park outside all the time will determine how often you have to clay bar. Just use the "baggie" test and that should be a guide for you. I know there have been lots of suggestions on products, as I told you there would be, but my favorites are Wolfgang 3.0 sealant and Collinite 845 wax. As a weekly detailer I like to use Opti Spray Car Wax after every wash.
Jay

Gotcha. Thanks again!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Adams for sure

Pull Ya said:

After you wash and dry your truck, take a zip lock baggie and put your hand in it, rub the surface of your truck lightly--if it feels like sandpaper then you know the surface is not clean and you need to clay bar it.

Click to expand...

Actually just washed it today and tried the plastic bag method. I can feel some very fine bumps so I'm going to use the clay bar when it comes time to detail.

I've been reading about the clay bar and it says to try and keep in moistened? So should I wait until I'm ready to detail the truck before i buy the clay bar kit? Will it go bad if i let it sit in the packaging before use and/or in between use for weeks/months at a time?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Usually packaged in a plastic bag and in a sealed container so it shouldn't "go bad". Never left one out in the open for any length of time just sitting on the work bench, so I really don't know. Read about the Nano towels on autogeek and see what you think of them.
Jay

Will do. I wouldn't leave the clay bar out either, just in the original packaging and stored somewhere out of sunlight. I'll look into the Nano towel as well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Like Pull Ya mentioned about the nano towels a lot of brands are coming out with alternatives to clay bars like pads/mitts etc. haven't tried these personally yet but plan to soon.

I have tried the nano pads but always found some spots that they could not quite get always had to go back over with clay. However the nano towels are soooooo much faster that even with using them and then going back to some spots with clay will save you more than half the time. Make sure you use lube with the clay. Also you might want to consider a product like Iron-X before you clay. It will pull out the brake dust and rail dust that may be in your paint. If you're going to take the time to polish and seal then it is worth it IMO. Take a look at the thread about my truck I got new and did pretty much all that you're planning on. I went a little overboard on the coatings but I love the wet look and beading that they provide. Every surface on my truck has a coating. Rims, fender wells, glass, trim, paint, headlights, chrome, etc.

2016 Ram 1500 Detailed with McKee's 37 Products & Coated with CSL & EXO

Can anyone recommend an affordable/reliable polisher/buffer or should i just go with the meguiar's DA polishing system? Looking for one that's around 6" in diameter. I think I have most of the other products all picked out.

I have a 6" and 3" Griots garage polisher. In their price range they're going to be your best option.

02Steve15 said:

Can anyone recommend an affordable/reliable polisher/buffer or should i just go with the meguiar's DA polishing system? Looking for one that's around 6" in diameter. I think I have most of the other products all picked out.

Click to expand...

Meguiar's DA, Porter Cable 7424XP, Griot's 6" polisher - pretty much the same across the board, they're all good and will serve your purposes.

The Flex/Makita other stuff are non-DA, which requires a bit more care and skill to work with. I'd stick with a DA for the hassle-free use and better pad selection.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/ask-mike-phillips-your-detailing-questions/74864-best-dual-action-polisher-rupes-griots-porter-cable-meguiars.html

I use a Porter Cable--they made it idiot proof, just for me----
Jay

I like Zymol Cleaner wax every 3 months and claybar every 6 months

So I'm going to go with the Meguiar's DA power system. From the looks of it, it comes with a polishing pad, so I am going to get their wax pads. I don't see any specific pads for applying the sealant, would I just use one of the polishing pads for that? or just use a microfiber towel?

I always use a foam applicator or pad to apply sealant/wax.
Jay