Paint Cleaner question

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UncleV

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I heard that this should be used after polsihing to make sure that the wax or sealant bonds properly to the paint. It's suppose to remove all lubricants left over by polishing compounds.

What is your experience with this type of procedure?:
Wash
Clay
Poilsh
Paint Cleaner
Sealant

Seems to make sense.
If you use them, what brands do you prefer?
 
That's what I do.

More often than not, I use KAIO as my cleaner to prep the surface for wax or sealant. I've also used the WG offering (paintwork polish enhancer) before using the WG DGPS and found that I liked the Klasse better (better cleaning abilities in my opinion).
 
makdaddy626 said:
That's what I do.

More often than not, I use KAIO as my cleaner to prep the surface for wax or sealant. I've also used the WG offering (paintwork polish enhancer) before using the WG DGPS and found that I liked the Klasse better (better cleaning abilities in my opinion).
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:iagree: same here and also the Pinnacle paintwork cleansing lotion.
 
I find a paint cleanser is usually only need for a proper finish INSTEAD of polishing. If you polish, you have clean paint. Maybe a quick wipe down ISO style would help bonding of any wax or sealant.
 
My process varies from yours:

Wash|Clay|Paint Cleaner|Polish|LSP

In my opinion, if you polish, then clean paint, you're removing some of the benefit of the polish. I could be wrong though...I'm an amateur.
 
And as far as THEM is concerned, I use the following Meguiars products:

=ScratchX - gets out fine swirls, contaminants that couldn't be removed by clay

=Deep Crystal 1 - more mild than ScratchX

I do this by hand, and haven't accessed any other products besides these OTC products
 
Before a sealant i would use Klasse AIO , not only to asure bonding but IMHO it also adds some depth.
 
aabablusaan said:
My process varies from yours:

Wash|Clay|Paint Cleaner|Polish|LSP

In my opinion, if you polish, then clean paint, you're removing some of the benefit of the polish. I could be wrong though...I'm an amateur.
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I find a paint cleanser is usually only need for a proper finish INSTEAD of polishing. If you polish, you have clean paint. Maybe a quick wipe down ISO style would help bonding of any wax or sealant.(Quote from Killr, which I agree with)
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
I find a paint cleanser is usually only need for a proper finish INSTEAD of polishing. If you polish, you have clean paint. Maybe a quick wipe down ISO style would help bonding of any wax or sealant.
Click to expand...

Killr can tell me what ratio of ipa to water you sugjest or do you use it staight from the bottle. Sorry if it's a dumb question.
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
I find a paint cleanser is usually only need for a proper finish INSTEAD of polishing. If you polish, you have clean paint.
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In Meguiar's 5-step paint care cycle cleaning comes before polishing. Aleggedly purpose is to assure best possible result when polishing.
 
ZoranC said:
In Meguiar's 5-step paint care cycle cleaning comes before polishing. Aleggedly purpose is to assure best possible result when polishing.
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Perhaps a marketing scheme?
 
Rsurfer said:
Perhaps a marketing scheme?
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I would not know for sure as I am not a car care chemical expert that knows ingredients in cleaner type of products and what they do to clear/paint. However it is worthwhile noting quite a number of car care product companies advise same and that quite a number of professionals does exactly same. To me as a layman what they say sounds logical. Purpose of paint cleaners is to take out "dirt" that washing and claying can not address, dirt from pores that is very obvious on severely neglected vehicles. Polishing can not address that as polishing can not reach them, it addresses the tops of "mountains" while dirt is in the "valleys". Even if polishing could "suck it out" you don't want that "polluting" your pad while you are trying to make your paint perfect. Hence "take the filth out then level the paint" makes sense to me and I envision everything else is either not touching that filth or is grinding it into the paint.
 
Pre-polishing - for a pristine paint film surface- after the application of detailer’s clay use a paint cleaner (Zaino ZPC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner – (http//: www.zainostore.com/ or Klasse All-In-One (http//:www.autogeek.com) to ensure the surface is clean and the sub-surface is free of any grease or other residue, ensuring a clean surface will also avoid pad becoming contaminated and / or clogged prior to polishing The paint cleaners suggested above can sometimes be used instead of detailers clay if the ‘bag test’ doesn't reveal contaminates but the surface looks ‘soiled’ use a chemical surface cleaner (especially on light colored paint)

Paint cleaners contain a mild abrasive (Kaolin or Fullers earth) and a light solvent to remove any oil or other debris from the paint surface

After polishing you should carry out a surface wipe-down to ensure any oils/silicone and / or fillers are removed to allow an assessment of the surface and ensure all surface marring has been removed
 
Very interesting, thanks for everyone's input. I guess I've been doing things backwards (Polish, then Klasse)... I think my confusion may have originated in part from the Pinnacle videos, where the polishing video shows the use of Paintwork Cleansing Lotion at the end. I went back and watched it again and now realize that it might have been meant as an alternative to the other polishes, rather than as the 3rd step in polishing.
 
This is great info. I will be using Klasse AIO after polishing this weekend. THANKS!
 
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A paint cleaner can/should be used when you aren't polishing, before polishing, after polishing, or both before and after.

No polishing- Obviously if you are doing a detail and are not polishing, you'll want to remove any old protection or grime left of the paint after a wash to ensure a clean surface for your LSP to adhere to.

Before- The same reason as above, but instead of having a clean surface for your LSP, it is a clean surface for the polish to work on. This is also a good idea to use a paint cleaner before polishing to remove any oxidation that could hinder the performance of the upcomming polishing steps.

After- Using a paint cleaner or cleanser after polishing is also a good idea to remove and left over oils or solvents left by polishes. This will leave a clean surface for your LSP to bond to. Also using a product like KAIO or P21S GEPC before their respected counterparts (KSG & P21s carnauba) may result in enhanced looks and durability, since they were designed to work with each other. Another thing- check out this thread: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...0962-example-why-paint-cleaner-important.html. Beyond popular belief, polishes do not clean paint like a paint cleaner.

Both- As stated above, using a paint cleaner before and after polishing has its benefits. Doing it before polishing will allow your polishes to work better. Using a paint cleaner after, will ensure LSP adhesion and may enchance looks and durability, if using a 2 step system (KAIO, P21s GEPC & wax). This may not be possible on all details however. A 50/50 alcohol or prep sol wipedown could be used after polishing to remove any residues but it won't enhance durability or looks when using a 2 step system.
 
mixxer said:
Before a sealant i would use Klasse AIO , not only to asure bonding but IMHO it also adds some depth.
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:iagree: and I like to add that #501 or #101 dose the same as Klasse AIO.....All of them are cleaner/sealant product....
 
Budman = 100% spot on.

Like sparkie, I use 501 post polish.

DG 501 has some incredible cleaning power! I use 501 after menzerna and get black pads...
 
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