Method of process.

[logic_guy]

So I'm going to strip any protection thats on my car this weekend and steam clean it.

I'm going to clay it, polish it, wax and seal it (AG Deep Shine)

Is this the correct method...

1) Pre Wash
2) Wash
3) Dry
4) Clay
5) Wash
6) Dry
7) Polish (then buff off)
8) Colinite Wax on, wax off
9) FK 1000 wax on, wax off
10) AG Deep Shine (Seal it?)
11) Trims and exhaust detail.

What wax would you recommend for winter? I have a selection of 2.

Colinite 476's + Finish Kare 1000P Hi-Temp Sealant Wax.

Thanks

[Ashleyp]

wash wheels
wash
clay
wash
dry
polish
seal
wax
trims and shiz

FK wax on before the collinite, don't bother with that AG shit.

wax dulls the finish on a silver car, although, if you're after added protection for a few months, a more dull finish is a compromise for better protected paint.

[Jamie]

As above really.


Rinse top to bottom

Start on the wheels - hit them with your choice of product and rinse down

Foam the car if you have snow foam lance and add APC in to the mix
Rinse " " "
Wash via 2BM
Rinse " " "
Clay
Rinse " " "
Wash " "
Rinse " " "
Dry
Polish
Wash " "
Rinse " " "
Dry
Sealant
Wax

Add your final LSP the next day after a QD.

I'm abit long.com with all this shit but go hard or go home.

My normal washes aren't as hardcore as that.

[Viper]

There's no need to dry it before you clay it.

[logic_guy]

Thanks Ash. I'm at work and its stripped of any protection it had with this industrial de greaser. Wheels and under car were done with that. I didn't bother drying before clay but i'm about to polish. Should i leave the polish on over night then buff off in the morning?

[Viper]

No there's no need to do it for that long. I tend to leave polish for about 20 minutes - half an hour.

[Karlb1]

Jamie's method is spot on..well it's the same as mine anyway.

If you're going to snow foam then chuck some APC in as said, will help strip any under laying layers of polish that will stop you from protecting properly.

Don't bother drying before you clay, you won't get many dirty run marks if you've already washed it properly and any water on the car will help keep the clay lubed to stop marring.

Also as Viper said, no need to leave polish overnight..especially with the cold and damp weather we have now, it might make the finish haze slightly.
Most companies give a rough setting time for their polishes, for example, AG SRP says to leave for 30-40 mins to set properly IIRC

If you're going to use sealant, use it before the wax, otherwise i've heard it can strip some of the wax straight off of the car. So
Rinse (snow foam first if you're going to, if not i'd wash with APC)
Wash with 2BM
Rinse
Clay
Rinse
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Polish
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Sealant
Wax

May seem like a lot of washing steps involved but it all adds up to a better finish as well as prepping the paint ready for the nice new layers you're going to put on it, that way you don't have any polish residue effecting the finish from the sealant or the residue from the sealant stopping the wax bonding properly etc.

I may be slightly wrong in certain steps of the methods but i'm just starting to learn all of this properly, only been doing this routine for a few months, bt I'm sure Jamie, Viper and Ashley will be able to correct if i'm wrong.

[bosax]

Don't forget between rinse and clay to decontaminate with tar remover, then iron-x or other fallout remover (optional because you are going to clay) but tar removal is a must.