Confused about "middle" steps of detailing...

Photecs

Photecs

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Ok, so we have the wash/dry, clay, polish and wax/sealant steps....

My question is about all the possible "middle" or "in-between" steps that you "could" do when doing a solid detailing job.

I have a black 2013 Santa Fe, and with the harsh winters, it's going to need a good clean up come this spring. I've been doing plenty of reading and watching vids - gotta love AG!

Anyway... one of my main conerns/questions is what do to after claying, but before polishing. Is there something i'm missing? Is there where IPA comes in? I've read a couple articles on IPA - and while I understand what's it's doing, seems there is a little risk is not using it properly, and it possibly being too strong.
Also - when do you know when you're supposed to use IPA?

Is there other products to "prep" the surface between clay and polich that's not an IPA?

PART 2: The step between polich and wax... is there a step? Once you're complted a 2 step correction let's say, and you've used a good quality MF to buff it all - can you go right into a wax application?
 
No after you clay you can go straight to polishing.

However, before you clay you can decontaminate using Iron decon and Tar decon (if needed) products, rinse it off your car, then clay.

IPA wipe down is after you polish, but before you put on any wax or sealant on there. This gets all the polishing oil/residue up.

Instead of an IPA wipe down, I bought come CarPro Eraser.
 
There is no process needed between claying and polishing. Before you polish the vehicle you want to be sure it is free of dirt and other bonded contaminates. Washing and Claying remove these from the paint and therefore you are ready to polish once the paint is entirely clean.

IPA or other surface cleaners like CarPro Eraser are used after polishing, but before applying LSP. The purpose of these products is to remove any remaining oil and residue left by the polish. Even though you wipe away your spent product after each polishing section, there is still residue on the surface. This is not necessarily a big deal when applying traditional sealant or wax, however paint coatings require a surface that is free of any oils or polishing residue for best results.
 
Ah okay... that's nice and clear - thanks guys. I'll look into the CarPro Eraser, I think that's a safer/no chance of screwing it up way to go!
 
What's a good glaze to use? Anything you should do between glaze and LSP? I have a paint correction planned for my truck this spring and May need to put a glaze in there too. Should an IPA wipe down be done again before LSP?
 
the polish/compound oil makes it hard to apply wax or sealent as it might mess with your lsp or just make the finish look oily and "wrong" Ipa strips the oil out and then allows for your wax to bond better
 
Megs #7 is good. I've been using CG blacklight as a glaze and I really like it.
 
I've used #7 in the past. Should you still do an IPA wipe down after a glaze? Or will it undo everything you just did? Sorry for the threadjack.
 
JAF06SE said:
I've used #7 in the past. Should you still do an IPA wipe down after a glaze? Or will it undo everything you just did? Sorry for the threadjack.
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If you use an IPA wipe down after applying the glaze you'll remove it. You could use it prior to its application but not afterwards.
 
JAF06SE said:
I've used #7 in the past. Should you still do an IPA wipe down after a glaze? Or will it undo everything you just did? Sorry for the threadjack.
Click to expand...

Don't be sorry, i'm glad you're asking because I had the same questions...
It's funny... there's so much talk about polishes, waxes and sealants... but I don't see much about glazes. Really, until now, I didn't think I was going to do it.

What is the benefit of a glaze, and what are the "top 3" products for this step?
 
That's what I figured. I was just concerned about it because since you're supposed to do one after a polish because of the oils I figured the glaze was similar. I wasn't sure how we'll an LSP would bond on top of the glaze.
 
I would also wash the car after claying to assist in removing any silicon within clay lube which could hinder any polishing stage. This is sometimes noticeable with the like of Megs Last Touch being used a clay lube.
 
Photecs said:
Don't be sorry, i'm glad you're asking because I had the same questions...
It's funny... there's so much talk about polishes, waxes and sealants... but I don't see much about glazes. Really, until now, I didn't think I was going to do it.

What is the benefit of a glaze, and what are the "top 3" products for this step?
Click to expand...

Yeah there isn't. From my understanding, the glaze fills in what a compound and polish procedure doesn't take out. Taft could be wrong but I do know that the glaze is basically a filler, but it doesn't last very long. That was my concern with laying an LSP over a glaze is if it will bond properly.
 
PrismDetailing said:
I would also wash the car after claying to assist in removing any silicon within clay lube which could hinder any polishing stage. This is sometimes noticeable with the like of Megs Last Touch being used a clay lube.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I always wash after clay. I wash, clay wet (to save a towel cause there's no point in drying them getting the vehicle nasty again), re wash(usually a foam cannon and soak), dry then the finishing touches.
 
Photecs said:
Don't be sorry, i'm glad you're asking because I had the same questions...
It's funny... there's so much talk about polishes, waxes and sealants... but I don't see much about glazes. Really, until now, I didn't think I was going to do it.

What is the benefit of a glaze, and what are the "top 3" products for this step?
Click to expand...

I use Poorboys Blackhole Glaze..very easy to apply and even easier to remove...I LUV it!:dblthumb2:
But like a lot of us know; no matter what glaze you use, it is the PREP work that matters the most..there is no use "glazing" over a non-clayed/swirl/water spot filled surface...applied glaze after clay and polish...
Six months ago, I only used wax after clay and polish..the shine was there, but when I added the glaze between the polish and wax? BE STILL MY BEATING HEART, my paint "popped" with a capital "P"! Glazing definitely made a huge difference :wow:
 
Ya, that does look really nice... and blackhole is on my list - but the local Canadian retailer is out of stock - need it asap.
 
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