I just picked up the 3 step system from Meguiurs, sp?.. Anyway I just wanted to know if anyone had any tips on how to go about doing it.

I have seen the claybar kits, even the new synthetic ICE system, I thought about doing that first, I doubt my car has been polished/waxed in years, so it's going to take some effort to get it shiny again, but I am going to paint it soon enough, so I don't want to throw down a ton of effort before I get around to doing that.

Anyway, I bought a 10" polisher, some microfiber and terry bonnets, and some microfiber and terry towels. I was planning on washing it a few times, then doing the paint cleaner, polish, and follow up by the carnuba wax.

I am reading all these threads a little at a time to try and figure out the best way to do it, but I stay busy, so it's hard to get time to research them all. Any quick tips I can soak up for a semi-decent clean/polish/wax job next week? I.E. Don't rub in circles, rub in circles, clay bar-no clay bar, etc?

If you know what I am talking about, the 3 step kit, you will probably have used it before, I hear alot of good things about Meg's products, I had some of their wheel cleaner a while back when i had chrome rims, it worked like magic.

Thanks in advance, and don't waste too much time on me, I am sure all the info I need is researchable in the old threads anyway.

 

its a good idea to clean ur car very well before a new paint job, its part of the painting process. im no expert and i havnt used meguiars3 step(just use their clay kit) but heres my lil process.

-rinse car real well with hi pressure hose.
-drop a couple oz. of wash in clean bucket and mix well with water till it over flows with foam.
-use a large car wash brush and clean car from top to bottom and every panel thoroughly with very foamy water/soap.
-rinse suds off with hi pressure hose.
-repeat process again(brush car with foamy water and rinse off).
-dry off with a clean shammy.
- get w/e dirt that still may be on paint off with clay kit.
-polish car with a polisher one panel at a time. wait until hazy then i wipe off(not rotate/buff) area.
-clean windows/side moldings(incase i get any window cleaner or molding cleaner on paint i can buff of with wax)
-use wheel/tire cleaners(same reason if it gets on paint)
-wax each panel at a time with buffer. wait until hazy then wipe off(not rotate/buff) area.

i never have troubles with swirl marks or residue from wax. always use clean microfiber/terry cloth. usually it'll take me about 3 hours from start to finish...

 

^^^ eeverything he said is good, do that. The only thing i had a problem with was the "brush" lol i would never touch my paint with a "brush" , id reccomend one of those felt washing gloves, they are soft, wont leave marks and work excellent. Buy 2 if you get the chance because they work even better on wheels, they almost magnetically attract crap on the wheels that you dont even see, its magical lol

 

the brush i use has very soft bistles. the reason i use a brush is because the bristles can get small particles of dirt off and it is a bit rougher than the hand towels u mentioned which makes getting off dirt easier/better. i think its better to scrub any dirt/grime of other than just wipe over it with a soft towel.the one i use is made for washing cars, its soft and has a hose adaptor for if i wanted to spray water while scrubing. whenever i used a hand towel, it'd always wipe some of the suds off. scrubing with the brush actually creats more suds.

 

oh ok thats cool too, ive never seen those , lol alls i could picture when u said brush was those plastic things with bristles on em that you clean a shower with.....lol i was like NOOOO!!!!

 

so then the buffer isn't really much help, I am guessing?

I was hoping it could cut down my buffing time somewhat. But I don't want it to cause more of those damn swirl marks.

 

sounds like a nice kit to me, how much was it?

 

I just bought 3 bottles, they sit right next to eachother on the rack at most stores. One is a cleaner, one a polisher, and 1 a carnuba to keep the water off that sucka.

I just cleaned and skipped the polish and went straight to the carnuba. I used a terry bonnet to apply them both and a microfiber bonnet to take em off after they dried. My paint has never looked so good, but its still crappy. I can deal with it until i get a new paint job and the body kit I have had my eye on for a while.

Daddy needs some money :-)

 

sounds like daddys got some drugs to sell..lol jk good luck though man sounds like you got some good goals set for you and your civ

 

post some pics after you get this done stu.....