Cleaner then clay or clay then cleaner???

M

michal101

New member
Joined
Dec 26, 2009
Messages
16
Reaction score
0
Hi All,

I have a 2000 Acura with decent white paint and I used a clay bar 2 months ago and really liked how it cleaned the painted surface and made the white really pop. Now my question; if I want to really clean my paint job do I use a cleaner like Meguiar's #1 and then use the clay bar or vice versa? Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Mike
 
clay then cleaner. The idea here is to use the clay to lift embedded contaminents and grime off the paint before you apply a chemical/abrasive cleaner. The clay will remove things from the paint surface that could otherwise further damage the paint as you go buffing away with the paint cleaner/polish.
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Ditto

First you remove the contaminants off the top of the surface and then you go for the below surface defects.

:)
Click to expand...


Thanks everybody for your answers!!! This is my first post and I accidentally came across this website about a week ago and it has been a great resource.

Thanks again and Happy Holidays, Mike
 
HighEndDetail said:
:iagree:


Will you be machine polishing also.
Click to expand...


Not right now...do not own any machine polishers yet. I am somewhat new to this and am not really sure what machine polishing can bring to the table without incurring a decent amount of money for the machine, pads different polishes etc!

Thanks though and why do you ask?
 
clay then cleaner. The idea here is to use the clay to lift embedded contaminents and grime off the paint before you apply a chemical/abrasive cleaner. The clay will remove things from the paint surface that could otherwise further damage the paint as you go buffing away with the paint cleaner/polish.
Click to expand...

Took the words right out of my mouth. Clay is for surface contaminates, Pre-cleaner gets down into the micro-pores. If you reverse this your just gonna spread the surface contaminates all over the paint. OUCH :)
 
Clay first. The Clay will remove any thing that is contaminating your paint, like tree sap or fallout.

Where you looking to finish with Megs #1? Because Megs #1 is not a Paint Cleaner you can finish with. Most Paint Cleaners polish the vehicle remove minor imperfections and wax they vehicle at the same time.

Megs #1 is not a paint cleaner but a compound that finishes like a polish. So it is a 1-Step product that you will have to finish with an LSP.
 
sullysdetailing said:
Clay first. The Clay will remove any thing that is contaminating your paint, like tree sap or fallout.

Where you looking to finish with Megs #1? Because Megs #1 is not a Paint Cleaner you can finish with. Most Paint Cleaners polish the vehicle remove minor imperfections and wax they vehicle at the same time.

Megs #1 is not a paint cleaner but a compound that finishes like a polish. So it is a 1-Step product that you will have to finish with an LSP.
Click to expand...

Actually starting with Megs #1 then Megs #2 and then Megs # 16 or Megs Gold class or Megs Carnauba Wax. This method has been good to me over the years. What are your suggestions? I am willing to learn and I am all ears!!!

Also, am I missing something on machine polishing my car? Does it really make your car shine more or is it just less work and elbow grease? Right now I think that I need the cardio workout...LOL

Mike
 
michal101 said:
Actually starting with Megs #1 then Megs #2 and then Megs # 16 or Megs Gold class or Megs Carnauba Wax. This method has been good to me over the years. What are your suggestions? I am willing to learn and I am all ears!!!

Also, am I missing something on machine polishing my car? Does it really make your car shine more or is it just less work and elbow grease? Right now I think that I need the cardio workout...LOL

Mike
Click to expand...
Yes it will make your car shine more (a lot more) and yes it will be less elbow grease ( a lot less). You can get your cardio workout at the gym. If your happy with the results you are getting as stated above, by all means stick with it. However, if you are looking for the maximum shine and protection of your paint...then you need to get into machine polishing. Yes there is an expense, but what hobby doesn't. The end results are very rewarding. Who knows you might become an AutoGeek. Welcome to the forum.
 
sullysdetailing said:
Clay first. The Clay will remove any thing that is contaminating your paint, like tree sap or fallout.

Where you looking to finish with Megs #1? Because Megs #1 is not a Paint Cleaner you can finish with. Most Paint Cleaners polish the vehicle remove minor imperfections and wax they vehicle at the same time.

Megs #1 is not a paint cleaner but a compound that finishes like a polish. So it is a 1-Step product that you will have to finish with an LSP.
Click to expand...

The only thing that you have correctly stated here is that clay will remove contaminates.

Megs #1 is a compound and does not finish down like a polish at all. It is not a one step polish. The stuff is like clay with sand in it.

Paint cleaners do not remove defects but fill them if they were not taken out from polishing the paint. Also paint cleaners do not wax either. How can something that is cleaning the paint add wax at the sametime?

I understand you are trying to help but giving someone incorrect information hurts even more. I would suggest researching said products and actually use them for a little bit to get to know them before commenting on them. Just a piece of advice so you do not look foolish on the forums when trying to give someone advice about a product.

Back to the op, trichard and RSurfer gave you the best advice so far.
 
Rsurfer said:
Yes it will make your car shine more (a lot more) and yes it will be less elbow grease ( a lot less). You can get your cardio workout at the gym. If your happy with the results you are getting as stated above, by all means stick with it. However, if you are looking for the maximum shine and protection of your paint...then you need to get into machine polishing. Yes there is an expense, but what hobby doesn't. The end results are very rewarding. Who knows you might become an AutoGeek. Welcome to the forum.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the info and that would be my next line of questioning...what machine polisher, pads, other waxs, polishes and etc for machine waxing will I need? A good beginner laundry list of items that I won't outgrow in the next couple of years.

Thanks, Mike
 
A pc with Megs 105/205 with some 5.5 inch pads. I would suggest atleast 3-5 of the orange, white, and blue pads. As far as wax goes, if the vehicles sit outside I would suggest a sealant like Wolfgang. Souveran, Poorboys Natty's Blue and Dodo would be a nice choice of waxes to try. One thing to remember is that wax or sealant do not add anything to the finish since that is done in your polishing, but they are there to protect all your hard work.
 
ASPHALT ROCKET said:
A pc with Megs 105/205 with some 5.5 inch pads. I would suggest atleast 3-5 of the orange, white, and blue pads. As far as wax goes, if the vehicles sit outside I would suggest a sealant like Wolfgang. Souveran, Poorboys Natty's Blue and Dodo would be a nice choice of waxes to try. One thing to remember is that wax or sealant do not add anything to the finish since that is done in your polishing, but they are there to protect all your hard work.
Click to expand...


Hey Asphalt,

I appreciate the info very much!!! Anybody else have suggestions as well?

Mike
 
michal101 said:
Actually starting with Megs #1 then Megs #2 and then Megs # 16 or Megs Gold class or Megs Carnauba Wax.

Mike
Click to expand...

Hey Mike,

Can you clarify what you mean by #1 and #2?

Meguiar's makes products for the Professional Line with numbers on the bottle and they also offered a Consumer Line in Maroon bottles with a Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 system.

Are you talking about Professional Line products in tan bottles or Consumer Line products in Maroon bottles?



ASPHALT ROCKET said:
Paint cleaners do not remove defects but fill them if they were not taken out from polishing the paint.
Click to expand...

Meguiar's M016, M0216 and M0416 area all referred to as Paint Cleaners and they all contain diminishing abrasives and they all have the ability to remove below surface defects.


So far, we don't know exactly which products the forum member Mike aka michal101 is referring to either. In the below post it reads like he's using Consumer products as he says he's working by hand and M01 is for use with a rotary buffer only.

michal101 said:
Actually starting with Megs #1 then Megs #2 and then Megs # 16 or Megs Gold class or Megs Carnauba Wax. This method has been good to me over the years.
Click to expand...


It reads to me like he's using,

Step 1 Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner - This is a light paint cleaner, contains diminishing abrasives to remove defects.

Step 2 Deep Crystal Polish - This is a non-abrasive, pure polish


michal101 said:
Anybody else have suggestions as well?

Mike
Click to expand...

Maybe decide upon which polisher you want to get and then describe what kind of defects you want to remove and then others can make more qualified product and pad recommendations.

:)
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Hey Mike,

Can you clarify what you mean by #1 and #2?

Meguiar's makes products for the Professional Line with numbers on the bottle and they also offered a Consumer Line in Maroon bottles with a Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 system.

Are you talking about Professional Line products in tan bottles or Consumer Line products in Maroon bottles?





Meguiar's M016, M0216 and M0416 area all referred to as Paint Cleaners and they all contain diminishing abrasives and they all have the ability to remove below surface defects.


So far, we don't know exactly which products the forum member Mike aka michal101 is referring to either. In the below post it reads like he's using Consumer products as he says he's working by hand and M01 is for use with a rotary buffer only.




It reads to me like he's using,

Step 1 Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner - This is a light paint cleaner, contains diminishing abrasives to remove defects.

Step 2 Deep Crystal Polish - This is a non-abrasive, pure polish




Maybe decide upon which polisher you want to get and then describe what kind of defects you want to remove and then others can make more qualified product and pad recommendations.

:)
Click to expand...

They are the maroon bottles and what I think asphalt was referring to is IF I decided to purchase a machine polisher then I would use Megs 105/205.

Mike
 
Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
Hey Mike,

Can you clarify what you mean by #1 and #2?

Meguiar's makes products for the Professional Line with numbers on the bottle and they also offered a Consumer Line in Maroon bottles with a Step 1, Step 2 and Step 3 system.

Are you talking about Professional Line products in tan bottles or Consumer Line products in Maroon bottles?





Meguiar's M016, M0216 and M0416 area all referred to as Paint Cleaners and they all contain diminishing abrasives and they all have the ability to remove below surface defects.


So far, we don't know exactly which products the forum member Mike aka michal101 is referring to either. In the below post it reads like he's using Consumer products as he says he's working by hand and M01 is for use with a rotary buffer only.




It reads to me like he's using,

Step 1 Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner - This is a light paint cleaner, contains diminishing abrasives to remove defects.

Step 2 Deep Crystal Polish - This is a non-abrasive, pure polish




Maybe decide upon which polisher you want to get and then describe what kind of defects you want to remove and then others can make more qualified product and pad recommendations.

:)
Click to expand...

This was posted in a thread by Meghan back in July of 2006.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...0-product-abbreviation-chart-cheat-sheet.html

MDC Meguiar's Deep Crystal Products
Meguiar's #00 Hi-Tech Wash
Meguiar's #1 Medium-Cut Cleaner
Meguiar's #2 Fine-Cut Cleaner
Meguiar's #3 Machine Glaze
Meguiar's #4 Heavy-Cut Cleaner
Meguiar's #5 New Car Glaze
Meguiar's #6 Cleaner/Wax
Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze
Meguiar's #9 Swirl remover 2.0
Meguiar's #10 Clear Plastic Polish
Meguiar's#16 Professional Paste Wax
Meguiar's#17 Clear Plastic Cleaner
Meguiar's#18 Clear Plastic Detailer
Meguiar's #20 Polymer Sealant
Meguiar's #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax
Meguiar's #34 Final Inspection quick detailer spray
Meguiar's #36 Hi-Tech Cleaner
Meguiar's #39 Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner
Meguiar's #40 Vinyl & Rubber Cleaner/Conditioner
Meguiar's #62 Car Wash Shampoo and Conditioner
Meguiar's #66 Quick Detailer
Meguiar's #80 MSG Speed Glaze
Meguiar's #81 HP Body Shop Professional Hand Polish
Meguiar's #82 SFP Body Shop Professional Swirl Free Polish
Meguiar's #83 DACP Dual Action Cleaner/Polish
Meguiar's #84 Compound Power Cleaner
Meguiar's #85 Diamond Cut Compound
Meguiar's #96 Medallion Premium Leather Cleaner
Meguiar's #97 MPPC Medallion Premium Paint Cleaner
Meguiar's #98 MPPP Medallion Premium Paint Protection
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top