New guy, need help with polishing spread out over a week or more

SamRothstein

SamRothstein

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So I've been hitting the Youtube videos for AGO, CG and Junkman and my order of hexlogic pads came in today so I think I'm ready to jump in this weekend. After watching the entire 2 hour video from Junkman, and several others, it's apparent I won't likely be able to fully polish, and maybe compound a couple of spots on my 2010 Corolla in one day or weekend. My time is very limited with work and a toddler. So my question is if I get one or two panels done per weekend, how should I go about this? I'll obviously wash and clay, but should I just wash and clay the panel I plan on working on, or do the entire car? After I get a panel polished to my satisfaction should I wax it, and leave the rest of the car unwaxed until I get to that spot and then when all the panels are complete, go back and strip everything and apply a new even coat of wax over the entire thing?

Products I'll be using: (remember I'm new to this, and started buying before fully researching things!)
Megs Ultimate Wash & Wax
Megs Clay & quick detail spray
Habor Freight DA with CG 5" plate
Megs Ultimate Compound with CG 5.5" Orange Hex
Megs Ultimate Polish with CG 5.5" White Hex
Megs NXT 2.0 Wax with CG 5.5" Red or Black Hex

Am I even thinking about this the right way?
 
What I do due to lack of energy is break car down into sections like you said. I will onr the whole car and maybe do hood nose and 2 fenders but 100% from ironx to c845. Next rinseless say 4 doors only take those through same process until entire car is done, It works for me.
 
Do the car in stages, wash the whole thing every time. You'd be amazed at what you could accidentally rub against if only part of the car is clean. Clay only the panels you intend to buff out for time's sake. Wax the finished panels.

When you get to the last panels, go over the entire car with the wax/sealant of your choice.
 
DogRescuer said:
What I do due to lack of energy is break car down into sections like you said. I will onr the whole car and maybe do hood nose and 2 fenders but 100% from ironx to c845. Next rinseless say 4 doors only take those through same process until entire car is done, It works for me.
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:iagree:

This is what I was going to suggest. Start with one or two panels (one if it's the hood or roof) and do that panel from wash to final wax. I suggest working from the roof, to the hood, to the trunk lid, then the sides. The roof is usually the hardest because you have to keep walking around from one side of the car to the other and you have to stretch to reach the center on some taller cars and most all trucks and SUVs.
 
Thanks for the help guys! Now to decide between Jetseal or Collinite as a sealant!
 
Don M said:
:iagree:

This is what I was going to suggest. Start with one or two panels (one if it's the hood or roof) and do that panel from wash to final wax. I suggest working from the roof, to the hood, to the trunk lid, then the sides. The roof is usually the hardest because you have to keep walking around from one side of the car to the other and you have to stretch to reach the center on some taller cars and most all trucks and SUVs.
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That roof down idea is good
 
aim4squirrels said:
Do the car in stages, wash the whole thing every time. You'd be amazed at what you could accidentally rub against if only part of the car is clean. Clay only the panels you intend to buff out for time's sake. Wax the finished panels.

When you get to the last panels, go over the entire car with the wax/sealant of your choice.
Click to expand...

I am nearing the end of my first detailing experience and am proceeding as you have suggested. I did test spots comparing Wolfgang Uber AIO process to the 3.0 TSR/3.0 FG twins process (including wash, clay, TSR then FG) -- and decided on the 3.0 process which has just blown me away far beyond my anticipated results as a newbie! The AIO process left a few more swirls then did the TSR/FG process.

Since I don't have a garage or canopy the 12 hour wait for WG Deep Gloss Sealant is out of the question. Therefore, I do a panel or two whenever possible and then top it with Fuzion after completing each panel. I am now down to the rear quarter panels and the area around the back and under the trunk, so am hoping 2-3 sessions and it will be complete.

My question now is --- since I have used Fuzion as the LSP for the first ever detailing go-round --- do I have to, in the future, remove what is left of the Fuzion coverage before using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Liquid Sealant (which I discovered after I was halfway through my first time detail) and its 45 minute cure time? To be followed by another application of Fusion.

I would greatly appreciate any advice.


.
 
Funny you post this I recently had the same issue when deciding to do a full orange peel removal on my car (I also watch Junkman’s videos).

As this might be your first time compounding/polishing I recommend starting with one panel (the trunk or the hood). I recommend these panels for a few reasons, they are replicable, and they are flat and easy to work on. You don’t need to even wash the whole car (you can if you want but as you said you’re limited on time). You also only need to clay the one panel you’re working on. As I was in the same situation (work 2 job’s and have two young boy’s my time was very limited).

Always apply some form of protection after compounding or polishing, unless you don’t plan to drive the car until you complete the next step (compound one day, polish the next, and wax/sealant on the third day).

Note: there’s no need to go back and strip the wax/sealant if the panel is corrected to your satisfaction, just wait for the LSP to start wearing off and reapply as wanted/needed

What I did:
• One panel at a time (per-session/per-day/per-weekend)
• Washed just the one panel
• Clay just the one panel
• Compound the one panel (in sections)
• Polish the one panel (in sections)
• Wipe down the one panel with IPA (diluted rubbing alcohol)
• Apply LSP (wax or sealant) to protect your work

Once you get the hang of it you can step up to two panels, I eventually stepped up two completing a two-step (compound and polish) in 2 days (taking 6-10 hours per day). Like Junkman says you need to get a technique down before you can start doing an entire car in one day, and I found one panel at a time is a good way to start building technique without rushing yourself or taking on more than you can do in one session/day.
 
evspencer44 said:
I am nearing the end of my first detailing experience and am proceeding as you have suggested. I did test spots comparing Wolfgang Uber AIO process to the 3.0 TSR/3.0 FG twins process (including wash, clay, TSR then FG) -- and decided on the 3.0 process which has just blown me away far beyond my anticipated results as a newbie! The AIO process left a few more swirls then did the TSR/FG process.

Since I don't have a garage or canopy the 12 hour wait for WG Deep Gloss Sealant is out of the question. Therefore, I do a panel or two whenever possible and then top it with Fuzion after completing each panel. I am now down to the rear quarter panels and the area around the back and under the trunk, so am hoping 2-3 sessions and it will be complete.

My question now is --- since I have used Fuzion as the LSP for the first ever detailing go-round --- do I have to, in the future, remove what is left of the Fuzion coverage before using Wolfgang Deep Gloss Liquid Sealant (which I discovered after I was halfway through my first time detail) and its 45 minute cure time? To be followed by another application of Fusion.

I would greatly appreciate any advice.


.
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I definitely wouldn't say WGDGPS is out of the question. I would just time it up for the morning after the fog/dew/etc on a day it's not going to rain. The Fuzion and spray sealant need time to cross link in dry conditions as well and it may be the same 12 hours recommended, even though they may be more forgiving on the time. Remember Fuzion is a Hybrid.

Also from what I have heard much of the work linking up in that 12 hour window is done in the 1st 2 hours. So if it's not perfect it shouldn't be the end of the world. If anything a second coat of WGDGPS if you have time or top w/spray or Fuzion which is what a lot of us on the forum do.

Hope this helps and encourages you.
 
Rod73 said:
I definitely wouldn't say WGDGPS is out of the question. I would just time it up for the morning after the fog/dew/etc on a day it's not going to rain. The Fuzion and spray sealant need time to cross link in dry conditions as well and it may be the same 12 hours recommended, even though they may be more forgiving on the time. Remember Fuzion is a Hybrid.
Click to expand...
Rod73 said:
Also from what I have heard much of the work linking up in that 12 hour window is done in the 1st 2 hours. So if it's not perfect it shouldn't be the end of the world. If anything a second coat of WGDGPS if you have time or top w/spray or Fuzion which is what a lot of us on the forum do.

Hope this helps and encourages you.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice -- been stalled on finishing up the DD because of weather - but looks good for the next five days. Hopefully will finish by weeks end --- then will consider waiting for a great day, then going with WGDGPS followed by Fuzion as so many have stated in other forum posts. Just a little nervous having Fuzion as LSP on my very first go-round - then once complete topping with sealant and another coat of Fuzion.

Can't believe how much learning and fun I am enjoying on this forum --- and simply enamored with the results based on the help of so many on/at AG.

Thank you all!
 
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