How can I simplify my process?

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groundzero2121

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I just did my wife's 2013 c300 and it turned out pretty decent but took forever. I'm wondering if there are any steps I could skip for future

pressure wash loose dirt
foam and wash car
foam again and nanoskin
still felt contaminants so I foamed again and simoniz clay bar
Rinse and dried with guzzler waffle weave
M83 on whole car with orange lake country CCS 6.5"
M80 with white pad
M7 with black pad
NXT hand applied


this took like 15 hours and I was pretty happy with it except I still notice some what I think are RIDS on trunklid and hood. Maybe I should go over those 2 again with ultimate compound and yellow pad?? I'm using the original porter cable 7424. Does the new flex perform much better?
 
All I can say is that's a lot of steps, that thing should be "competition ready" after all those steps.

I would have done a wash, one step with HD Adapt or FG400 topped it with an LSP and called it a day, 5 hours or so.

PS:

:postpics:
 
Try 5.5 inch pads. A nanoskin pad, maybe a Flex or long throw, and just doing it a few times. That will help get your time down. Maybe different polishes/compound.
 
Your process seems pretty straight forward.Maybe HD speed might of knocked some time off with one pad.a pc has limitations on rids.a more powerful machine with the right products makes a difference in time and deeper scratches.15 hrs is along time without a interior,and maybe I would of topped it off with a better product other than nxt.The flex and rupes are great machines thanks for sharing your process.
 
custmsprty said:
All I can say is that's a lot of steps, that thing should be "competition ready" after all those steps.

I would have done a wash, one step with HD Adapt or FG400 topped it with an LSP and called it a day, 5 hours or so.

PS:

:postpics:
Click to expand...
Totally agree with this. If its a daily driver I'd do a full paint correction, add a coating, and just wash for the next couple years ( or however long the coating you choose lasts)
 
House of Wax said:
Totally agree with this. If its a daily driver I'd do a full paint correction, add a coating, and just wash for the next couple years ( or however long the coating you choose lasts)
Click to expand...

Not to mention it's white, like my dd.
 
I think your right in using the Ultimate Twins over M83/M80. Maybe going to 5.5" pads too. The Meguiar's DAMF system might also shave some time off the process. I would take the D300 correction compound, and cutting disc from that system, and pair it with your favorite polish/pad combo.

With that set up (7424 original), I typically use Ultimate Compound on a green Buff and Shine pad, although I've been using Menzerna FG400 the past couple days. The 7424 isn't a power house compared to some of the other polishers out there, but it does the job. I like how small and compact it is. Seems a bit lighter and smoother than the xp.

Another thing I do when I can is do a rinseless wash. After I wipe the dirt off, I clay the area, then dry. Huge time saver. My rinse less wash bucket gets put on the cart, which gets wheeled around the vehicle.

My polishing set up gets put on the cart after the wash/clay process.
 
15 hours is not out of the question at all

If you are going for 95% defect correction


This Testarossa took 12 hours...rinseless wash, M100 w DAMF on FLEX 3401, CarPro Reflect w White LC Hybrid, Essence w White LC Hybrid as LSP

Top of rear fender. Single Stage Paint

image208.jpg
 
One step you could have skipped was the M7. Typically the newer polishes and compounds from Meguiar's (like the Ultimate Twins) has plenty of the "polishing oils" in them. Combine that with BC/CC paint and the #7, in these cases, is not necessary. IMHO
 
custmsprty said:
All I can say is that's a lot of steps, that thing should be "competition ready" after all those steps.

I would have done a wash, one step with HD Adapt or FG400 topped it with an LSP and called it a day, 5 hours or so.

PS:

:postpics:
Click to expand...

Agree, keeping it simple would have probably achieved the same or better results. I think HD Speed on an Orange LC or Green BnS would have achieved the same results in one simple step.
 
Zubair said:
Agree, keeping it simple would have probably achieved the same or better results. I think HD Speed on an Orange LC or Green BnS would have achieved the same results in one simple step.
Click to expand...

Bold Statement!


Do you have any 50/50 photos of your results with HD SPEED?

I bout it months ago but everyone I talk to chooses a two-step polishing process.
 
Use the Speed. When I finally watch Mike P's vid on how to pics I'll post some 50/50. It's very, very good.
 
Wow, us detail guys sure have a way of over complicating things... could have made that a lot quicker/easier

ONR or 2 bucket wash
Clay
HD Adapt
Opti-seal
Done in half the time.
 
I agree with the polishing. Adapt or speed , done in one polishing.
 
What I laugh about this whole process and I've been holding back for long time but can't any more is the ocd-ness of this whole thing. How many average people are going to come up to your shiny car and bust out a baggie and say, hmm feels contaminated, did you clay this, nanoskin, ironx?

The show and shines I've posted since being a member here, not one has ever been clayed. Not one has been iron x'd. Not one happy satisfied customer has ever complained to me that their car wasn't perfect in their eyes. I did baggie test them and after polishing they always had major improvements as far as particle bumps felt. I can't recall the polishes not working or the lsp's not bonding. I do know I've saved the added expenses of not using those additional products or having to charge for the additional steps.
 
Agoatemywallet-I will post soon but point is people over complicate things. Am not comparing a full on compound step to Speed but responded based on the steps the op mentioned.
 
custmsprty said:
What I laugh about this whole process and I've been holding back for long time but can't any more is the ocd-ness of this whole thing. How many average people are going to come up to your shiny car and bust out a baggie and say, hmm feels contaminated, did you clay this, nanoskin, ironx?

The show and shines I've posted since being a member here, not one has ever been clayed. Not one has been iron x'd. Not one happy satisfied customer has ever complained to me that their car wasn't perfect in their eyes. I did baggie test them and after polishing they always had major improvements as far as particle bumps felt. I can't recall the polishes not working or the lsp's not bonding. I do know I've saved the added expenses of not using those additional products or having to charge for the additional steps.
Click to expand...

My truck was in the body shop recently and the owner has a brand new f550 wrecker that was just washed. It has custom alum rims on it, pin striping like no tomorrow ect.

I ran my hand on the hood and said, you could use some clay on it.

boom, his mind was blown.
 
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