Hi from Mich., looking for help and to learn detailing

[2012LEGACY]

Hi everyone, i always thought i took good care of my cars but but recently discovered i absolutely have NOT. i have been researching, watching and reading here and youtube via thechemicalguys, junkman2000 and a few others. i have my first Subaru which has soft paint and intend to FIX what damage i have (clay on up) and seal once i have it right (and properly wash). so i am here to research and ask questions until i can implement proper care this spring. i dont want to detail for a living but want the tools and knowledge to do it RIGHT for myself to keep it 'like new' for the next 200,000+ miles.

i was in a wreck in December and have half brand new paint and half sealed bad paint. i got some good advise from junkman2000, but want as much input as possible before i dive into this. (i know not to do anything to the new paint except wash/seal) - what i would like is someone with experience with ''liquid glass'' sealant. i have have/had 3 layers as of late spring/early summer of 2014, and unless at work it is usually in a dark carport. i believe it was still beading well when i got in the wreck. (still dont have the car back yet.)

i know dish soap will strip wax but what about a SEALANT like LiquidGlass? i have both ChemGuys medium clay, and Meguires light clay kit. i plan on using a light compound and a polish and probably a glaze before a sealant..... should i use at least the glaze (i know NO compound) or a finishing polish on the new paint?

i am thinking seal the new first in case anything gets on the new while working on the old - or should i complete the old first and then try to match that new panels to the final outcome of the old panels?

Feed back please either here or recommend a different thread. THANKS!!!

 

[dlc95]

First of all - welcome, from a fellow MI resident!

Second, in my experiences with Liquid Glass, I've never had it last for longer than about six months. As such, the implies three layers of Liquid Glass may not be there in it's entire three layers, at all, or any in between. I personally avoid the dish soap, and prefer to clay/polish to remove old waxes and sealants.

From what I understand about resprays, the general advice is to wait for 90 days to do anything as far as sealing / waxing.

 

[AZ Mike]

Welcome to Autogeek. I had the same experience. I thought I took pretty good care of my cars until I started reading this forum. There are a lot of great people and information here that will help you.

 

[2012LEGACY]

thanks for the welcome guys. and thank you 'dlc95' for your advise on LG, that does make me feel better. i saw the car today in the shop, it is almost white from the dust in there. they said they are going to "bake" the panels and will be in this order: 2-stage paint, clear coat, and a 'glaze'. so i will definitely be glazing the rest of it when the time comes. they are saying i just need to wait 30 days to apply something (they said it still needs to ''breathe'' and if i seal it too soon it may cause bubbles.) it is still pretty cold here so i dont expect to be able to apply anything for AT LEAST 60 days. never know with michigan weather though....

if the new paint needs to '' breathe'', then should i use a wax that is supposed have breathing properties? or does wax not really breathe and choke the paint the same as a sealant?

also, any thoughts about the order i should finish car? new panels first or last?