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rockrash

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I would like to say Hi and get some Tips. Just joined forum last week. Lurking and trying to learn, great forum. For years i washed & waxed my cars but without any knowledge and quality. Wax,clay,seal, its all new to me. I ordered a 2012 jeep grand Cherokee Overland and want to do it right. My question what is the first thing i should do to new paint? I want to do the right thing from the start. If anyone has any tips & must haves to help me.Thanks for any help.:xyxthumbs:
 
Welcome! A big welcome to a fellow jeeper. You'll get various responses to upkeep from the practical to the ridiculous obsessive compulsive. I'm practical. I have 7 year old vehicles that look brand new so I must be doing something right.

Start by proper washing techniques. Two bucket method for sure. Don't use terry cloth. Use a wool mitt, microfiber cloth or grout sponge from home depot. Invest in a clay bar and give it a good clay treatment right out of the gate. Even though it's new it still had to be shipped here. It has contaminants on it. Clay them off after a good wash to start. Invest in a good sealant or wax and apply. How long does it last? Depends on how much you wash you vehicle. Where it's kept etc. when you hose it off and the water stops beading up or just sits there on the paint Its time to wax again.
43bef9d8-d767-53a8.jpg

I taped off a square and waxed it. See how the water reacts to waxed and unwaxed paint? There you go. There's way more to it than all that but that's a quick run down.
 
:welcome: To Autogeek Online!

Congratulations on your new purchase!! :props:

You might not think so but even new cars need some finish care to keep them looking in better than new condition.

Basic steps in order are:

  • Wash
  • Clay
  • Paint Correction & Polish
  • Seal
  • Wax
Make detailing enjoyable and practice. Take your time and do not become overwhelmed. Just because there are a thousand product doesn't mean you have to use them all.


  • Wash with a quality car wash.
  • Clay each panel to remove any embedded particulates that didn't come off during the wash
  • Polish the finish with a dual action polisher and foam pad to remove minor swirls and surface defects. You can use a 1-step product or something like Menzerna Super Finish PO106 FA
  • Apply a quality sealant to protect the newly polished and prepped surface
  • Apply a quality wax to add warmth and depth to the finish.
If you don't already own a dual action polisher. These machines ensure uniformity when polishing, sealing, and waxing...

Dual Action Polisher

1. - Working with a dual action polisher

2. - My Porter Cable 7424, backing plate, and pads

Sealants


Wax


How to maintain a freshly waxed car
 
With a new GC paint should i use a finish wax & a sealer with no cleaner in them is this correct? Is their a special wax for Gray color?
 
rockrash said:
With a new GC paint should i use a finish wax & a sealer with no cleaner in them is this correct? Is their a special wax for Gray color?
Click to expand...

All finishes, even new, should receive the same attention and steps in order to achieve the bests results. You'd be surprised at just how contaminated even a new finish can become just getting to the customer.

Prepping

At the very minimum it's advisable to use a paint cleaner or a 1-step product prior to applying a sealant or wax.

Wax

Collinite 845 is a nice wax as a last step product to keep the finish protected and shinny.
 
BobbyG said:
All finishes, even new, should receive the same attention and steps in order to achieve the bests results. You'd be surprised at just how contaminated even a new finish can become just getting to the customer.

Prepping

At the very minimum it's advisable to use a paint cleaner or a 1-step product prior to applying a sealant or wax.

Wax

Collinite 845 is a nice wax as a last step product to keep the finish protected and shinny.
Click to expand...
I'm so used to washing and then waxing just two step for years now i know that was wrong.I should two pail wash,Clay,Wax then seal?Can i go over a wax with a sealer or i will be working backwards? Thanks
 
rockrash said:
I'm so used to washing and then waxing just two step for years now i know that was wrong.I should two pail wash,Clay,Wax then seal?Can i go over a wax with a sealer or i will be working backwards? Thanks
Click to expand...

Ahhh, you weren't wrong it was the only way most of us knew and like the rest of us we learned there was a better way of doing things. :props:

Two pails are better than one but if you don't have two one will get the job done nicely and having a grit guard in the bottom helps trap dirt and particles keeping them away from your wash mitt.

Take a look at the information I posted in #3 of this thread. There's a lot of information there and the proper steps and their order.
 
What would be the best starter kit for me with the Porter Cable 7424 XP.
 
Welcome dude! Enjoy your new GC and read read read
Here is my 2012 GC Overland Summit in Brilliant Black.
Collinite #915 for winter and P21S in Summer
 
rockrash said:
My question what is the first thing i should do to new paint? I want to do the right thing from the start. If anyone has any tips & must haves to help me.Thanks for any help.:xyxthumbs:
Click to expand...


I actually cover everything you want to do starting with washing, then inspecting both visually and physically, and then taking the results from your visual and physical inpsection all the way through the the final wipe and everything in-between in my how-to book.



Paperback



IF you get a PC "style" tool then get this too... (Griot's, Meguiar's or PC DA Polishers, they're all the same "type" of tool)

How to Properly Use the Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher Updated!
PorterCableDVD.jpg




:)
 
Should i get 5.5'' pads or 6.5'' with a PC starter kit? What is the difference other than 1''? LOL.
 
rockrash said:
Should i get 5.5'' pads or 6.5'' with a PC starter kit? What is the difference other than 1''? LOL.
Click to expand...

Let's talk size!!

The 6 1/2" diameter pads a Porter Cable 7424 in my opinion pushes the limit of the machine and this could be part of the problem.

I have the same machine and found a world of difference when I decided to try Lake Country 5 1/2 diameter pads.

The Porter Cable 7424 style dual action polisher should come standard with 5 1/2 inch pads and corresponding backing plate.

Pads & Friction

The size or surface area does not directly affect the frictional force between two surfaces until downward force or pressure is applied. Reducing the pad size will only improve the mechanical efficiency of the machine.

The motor of your polisher produces some amount of power. The larger the pad surface area the harder the motor must work. Now, most will say "it's only 1 extra inch", but when it comes to surface area and friction your really talking about an additional 10 square inches. Now take a look at the difference between the 5 1/2", 6 1/2" and 7" pad...........Size does matter!

Surface Area - 5 1/2 pad = 23.75 in²

Surface Area - 6 1/2 pad = 33.18 in²

Surface Area - 7 pad = 38.484 in²

There is a direct relationship between the pad surface area and the polishers ability to transfer adequate power to the pad improving it's overall performance.

Go back to my post above and click in the pad link I provided...:props:
 
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