Car Polishing & waxing tips

[K.o.N.o.S]

Guys I am planning to polish & wax my car & this will be a first time for me to perform such a task. Hence if you could give me any advice,any tips/experience you had in the past, that would be really helpful to me. I love these DIY jobs and I will be using autoglym products. Also I would like to know whether polishing & waxing prevent small scratches or not.Just want to protect the clearcoat. Thanks.

[Twin Turbo]

All body panels should be cool - to stop wax baking.  wash and dry in a shady ,well ventilated aria.

start with a small area at a time.

keep all plastics + beading clear as the drying wax will make them white.

[K.o.N.o.S]

  On 4/3/2018 at 12:35 PM, Twin Turbo said:

All body panels should be cool - to stop wax baking.  wash and dry in a shady ,well ventilated aria.

start with a small area at a time.

keep all plastics + beading clear as the drying wax will make them white.

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After applying How long should I wait before buffing the wax? 5-10 min?

[Hyaenidae]

double post

Edited April 3, 2018 by Hyaenidae
double post

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/3/2018 at 3:12 PM, K.o.N.o.S said:

After applying How long should I wait before buffing the wax? 5-10 min?

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Or you could use spray wax. No buffing or streaking. Works just as fine as paste wax, you'll have to wax a tad bit more frequently though.

 

[Muditha420]

Spray waxes dont last as long as paste, its good if ur at a car meet n want that quick shine...again this would be a bad idea as u just drove ur car n fine dust can scratch the paint work. use the two bucket wash method to prep the car for polishing n wax. like mentioned above by @Twin Turbo how long it should be  will be according to the wax brand or type u use, mostly few minutes n buff it off.

Commonly we are used to applying wax and removing in circular motion but, i would suggest a up n down movement to avoid any fine swirl marks (also apply's to washing n soap)

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/4/2018 at 4:07 AM, Muditha420 said:

Spray waxes dont last as long as paste, its good if ur at a car meet n want that quick shine...again this would be a bad idea as u just drove ur car n fine dust can scratch the paint work. use the two bucket wash method to prep the car for polishing n wax. like mentioned above by @Twin Turbo how long it should be  will be according to the wax brand or type u use, mostly few minutes n buff it off.

Commonly we are used to applying wax and removing in circular motion but, i would suggest a up n down movement to avoid any fine swirl marks (also apply's to washing n soap)

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7

 

I use eagle one nano wax spray, the manufacturer says its max durability is 6 months. I always put a new coat on once every month (after prepping the car), and it retains the shine and the water beading for the whole month. 

 

Edited April 4, 2018 by Hyaenidae

[RWD]

  On 4/4/2018 at 4:28 AM, Hyaenidae said:

 

I use eagle one nano wax spray, the manufacturer says its max durability is 6 months. I always put a new coat on once every month (after prepping the car), and it retains the shine and the water beading for the whole month. 

 

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Is Nano Wax Spray available in SL?

[Muditha420]

  On 4/4/2018 at 4:28 AM, Hyaenidae said:

 

I use eagle one nano wax spray, the manufacturer says its max durability is 6 months. I always put a new coat on once every month (after prepping the car), and it retains the shine and the water beading for the whole month. 

 

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@Hyaenidaeguess u are one of the lucky chaps mate, unfortunately i hv tried Turtle Ice, Eagle one both turned out to be in the same boat. As your car is new chances are ur paint work offers the shine rather than the wax doing it, Yes the water beading retains as u said on both roughly a month but a paste wax last longer.

On the paste front i hv tried 99Soft, AutoGlym, Maguiers & finally Chemical Guys of which the last one did it for me.

Last 3 products are a bit expensive BUT if you do the prep work and follow certain procedures not only applying wax like claying as well, these 3 products will give a longer deeper colour and will last far longer

99Soft remarkably does a very good job (not the crap one i read somewhere) water beading a depth of shine also works well.

@K.o.N.o.SIF your car is an old one with the paint on a dull colour, i would suggest a cut & polish from a good place and then get the car home, choose a good product and get the job done.

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/4/2018 at 10:31 AM, RWD said:

Is Nano Wax Spray available in SL?

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Yes, 994/-

Edited April 4, 2018 by Hyaenidae

[RWD]

  On 4/4/2018 at 12:03 PM, Hyaenidae said:

Yes, 994/-

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where from please?

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/5/2018 at 4:10 AM, RWD said:

where from please?

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Unit#d Mot#rs

[K.o.N.o.S]

  On 4/4/2018 at 11:11 AM, Muditha420 said:

@Hyaenidaeguess u are one of the lucky chaps mate, unfortunately i hv tried Turtle Ice, Eagle one both turned out to be in the same boat. As your car is new chances are ur paint work offers the shine rather than the wax doing it, Yes the water beading retains as u said on both roughly a month but a paste wax last longer.

On the paste front i hv tried 99Soft, AutoGlym, Maguiers & finally Chemical Guys of which the last one did it for me.

Last 3 products are a bit expensive BUT if you do the prep work and follow certain procedures not only applying wax like claying as well, these 3 products will give a longer deeper colour and will last far longer

99Soft remarkably does a very good job (not the crap one i read somewhere) water beading a depth of shine also works well.

@K.o.N.o.SIF your car is an old one with the paint on a dull colour, i would suggest a cut & polish from a good place and then get the car home, choose a good product and get the job done.

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Muditha thanks for your advice.Fyi.car is Mazda demio 2009- Dark grey 

[K.o.N.o.S]

Is Nano wax spray as good as as it sounds? Btw how much will be the original 99soft? I am tempted to use autoglym products but the price tag keeps pushing me back...?

[NRA95]

Unit#d Mot#rs has some offers these days. When you buy 2 nano waxes, you get one free. So the average cost comes to about Rs.662 per bottle.

Or you get 25% off on Eagle One & Simoniz products if you have a HNB credit card. (Valid till the 30th of April) 

[K.o.N.o.S]

  On 4/5/2018 at 1:25 PM, NRA95 said:

Unit#d Mot#rs has some offers these days. When you buy 2 nano waxes, you get one free. So the average cost comes to about Rs.662 per bottle.

Or you get 25% off on Eagle One & Simoniz products if you have a HNB credit card. (Valid till the 30th of April) 

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Thanks for the tip. Will definitely check it out

[Muditha420]

  On 4/5/2018 at 1:00 PM, K.o.N.o.S said:

Is Nano wax spray as good as as it sounds? Btw how much will be the original 99soft? I am tempted to use autoglym products but the price tag keeps pushing me back...?

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Autoglym is a good product with good result. since its a darker shade do a cut n polish n then use a good product. will bring out the shine much better. IF under sunlight ur getting too much of scratches n swirl marks best to do what i mentioned above coz even if u do buy a very expensive product it wont do any good. I hv done enough of research to empty my wallet in pursuit of happiness LOL 

First 2 images are about the swirl marks i mentioned before, one side done n the other without (swirl mark remover - 3M Swirl mark remover) and the Final result. (no machine used here just elbow grease & that 3M stuff is very strong)

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/6/2018 at 1:51 AM, Muditha420 said:

 

 

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Debadged? 

She looks stunning btw... 

Edited April 6, 2018 by Hyaenidae

[Muditha420]

LOL Debadged?

IF you mean the number plates my usual wax n polish goes to an extreme of taking the plates off n doing the work... 

Thanks btw...

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/6/2018 at 3:10 AM, Muditha420 said:

LOL Debadged?

IF you mean the number plates my usual wax n polish goes to an extreme of taking the plates off n doing the work... 

Thanks btw...

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No, no, Shouldn't there be a Subaru badge on the front grille ?

And how much swirl marks is the right time to do a polish ? How many times would I be able to polish the car before I take the clearcoat off ?

Edited April 6, 2018 by Hyaenidae

[iRage]

Please do not polish it more than once or so a year ! You will be thinning out everything from the clear coat to the paint right until the metal is barely covered.

How long it will take for you to get swirl marks depends on how you use and take care of the car. The protectans help to a certain degree but at the end of the day you have to do everything from wash and wipe the car properly to being careful about things like leaning against the car to pets rubbing and running all over it to things along the road.

[Muditha420]

NO mate... the front grill is a RFRB grill sort of an option that came with the Legacy B4 trim. there are several types of grills one with the badge as well.

okay two questions which is a bit hard to explain but will try to

"And how much swirl marks is the right time to do a polish"

you can limit the swirl marks by using the two bucket wash method and using several micro fiber towels for

1. lower parts of the car (below the door handle & continue around the car)
2. upper part of the car and
3. for the windows

so that's 3 micro fiber towels and a wheel brush n towel for the rims (DO NOT use this same towel on the body work, brake dust will damage it). Loads of foam (soap) will help to loosen up the tough mud spray and road grim there by reducing the pressure you need to use to wipe it off and again reduce the scratches. 

there are small equipment's to measure the reflection of the paint work and there by doing the polish n waxing but i prefer to visually check (that's cheaper) and if the marks are bit more than my liking I'll start the work.

Hope that answers your Q.

 

"How many times would I be able to polish the car before I take the clear-coat off ?"

this defers from car manufacturer as far as i read n understood mate, German car have a tougher coating so it will last several cuts with a machine, American cars have a better clear coat level than the German rivals and finally the Japs hv a thin layer compared with the 2 above.

so for your question best to maintain what you have now in good condition with good products. i would say IF u hv to do a cut n polish with a machine 3 times would be Max BUT will depend on the clear-coat level and the person who does the cutting since if he's a bit too harsh will take the clear-coat or else the paint off (that's why best to take it to a reputed place when doing such things).

 

I usually do a waxing once a month depending on if it rained or not, water beading level and the feel of the paint work (if its soft ur good, if not and feels rough a bit, time for a wax) sadly these days didn't hv anytime with house work n all but should start soon.

[Supra_Natural]

I have no idea where you gents find the time these days to spend hours waxing your car. For me, I just run it to a good detailing place every so often and get the job done. 

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/6/2018 at 4:07 AM, Muditha420 said:

NO mate... the front grill is a RFRB grill sort of an option that came with the Legacy B4 trim. there are several types of grills one with the badge as well.

okay two questions which is a bit hard to explain but will try to

"And how much swirl marks is the right time to do a polish"

you can limit the swirl marks by using the two bucket wash method and using several micro fiber towels for

1. lower parts of the car (below the door handle & continue around the car)
2. upper part of the car and
3. for the windows

so that's 3 micro fiber towels and a wheel brush n towel for the rims (DO NOT use this same towel on the body work, brake dust will damage it). Loads of foam (soap) will help to loosen up the tough mud spray and road grim there by reducing the pressure you need to use to wipe it off and again reduce the scratches. 

there are small equipment's to measure the reflection of the paint work and there by doing the polish n waxing but i prefer to visually check (that's cheaper) and if the marks are bit more than my liking I'll start the work.

Hope that answers your Q.

 

"How many times would I be able to polish the car before I take the clear-coat off ?"

this defers from car manufacturer as far as i read n understood mate, German car have a tougher coating so it will last several cuts with a machine, American cars have a better clear coat level than the German rivals and finally the Japs hv a thin layer compared with the 2 above.

so for your question best to maintain what you have now in good condition with good products. i would say IF u hv to do a cut n polish with a machine 3 times would be Max BUT will depend on the clear-coat level and the person who does the cutting since if he's a bit too harsh will take the clear-coat or else the paint off (that's why best to take it to a reputed place when doing such things).

 

I usually do a waxing once a month depending on if it rained or not, water beading level and the feel of the paint work (if its soft ur good, if not and feels rough a bit, time for a wax) sadly these days didn't hv anytime with house work n all but should start soon.

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Thanks for your detailed answer @Muditha420 !!!

[Hyaenidae]

  On 4/6/2018 at 11:27 AM, Supra_Natural said:

I have no idea where you gents find the time these days to spend hours waxing your car. For me, I just run it to a good detailing place every so often and get the job done. 

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It takes about 30-40 mins max as I use a spray wax. So far I'm satisfied with the shine and the water beading