Sorry if this stuff has been asked but i need some help.

This weekend my sister wants me to wash/wax her Expedition. I don't have any of the crazy waxes/polishes you all have... i mainly only have Megs Gold Class Car wash, a clay bar, and NXT 2.0. The Expedition is a 98 and hasn't really been hand washed and/or waxed since my parents gave it to her in 2000. When it was washed it was taken to a fund raiser car wash or the ones at the gas station. Lately she has been neglecting it more... and the paint is badly oxidized and it has scratches all over. I was planning to buy Megs ColorX and ScratchX... would those to products be my best bet. I know I'm a noob to this whole detailing thing and i would probably help if i had access to more products but we are all a little tight on cash around here.:o

Again sorry for if all this is a repost... i need some help badly

Any advice would be appreciated

P.S. there is brake dust caked on the rims... what gets that off? Also is there anything else i can pick up locally like at AutoZone or Orielly's that would help?

 

pick up some wheel cleaner, brand doesnt really matter because the scrubbing you do is what gets most of it off, nxt 2.0 is a great wax, scratch-x is supposed to have great results with the proper application, just take your time and if the car hasnt been waxed in a while then i would do 2 thin coats of the wax

 

Pictures would help those with knowledge out a lot.

With what little knowledge I have, and no pictures, I'd say you've got a good start. Claying is a big part of it, as RR was nice enough to show me first hand. Since you already have it, I assume you know that already. You should also know you need a good QD (Quick Detailer) to use as lube for the clay. If you bought it in a kit, I'm sure it came with QD.

Since there's oxidation and probably ungodly swirls, you'll probably need some sort of polish to get it all out. A DA would help as well.

I'm a newbie, and I'm ranting, so I'm going to leave it to the pros.

 

Well you have a good wash soap - off to a good start.
You definitely will need to clay if it's been neglected like you say.
After that, if you're working by hand, your best bet might be ScratchX all the way around. [Your arms will be hurting BADLY. I have done this before and it is not fun. But since you're doing it all by hand, your arms will be sore anyway.] You could also try the Meg's Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner in combination with the ScratchX.
Once you get the problems taken care of, hit it with a pure polish like the Deep Crystal Polish or #7.
Then you're ready for 2 coats of NXT - this will be the easy part after everything else.

Good luck. Take some before and after pics and post them here. [It's the law.]

 

Thanks for the help guys!

Right now i don't have any pics because the car isn't at my house.

Should i get ColorX at all? Unfortunately i will be doing this by hand, I don't have any other choice...besides it should be a good workout to say the least. And yeah i have noticed a huge difference ever since i got a clay bar.

I'll try to get some before and after pics of the expedition on saturday.

 

Looks like you guys got this one covered.

Hard for me not say.......please read the detail sticky at the top of the care and detail section (is there an echo in here?)

And plant this in memory just like the sign (No Shirt, No Shoes, No dice)

A solid detail is taken from this base.

Wash
Clay
Polish (Which can be several steps, based on condition)
Seal
LSP (usually wax)

 

 

The wash/wax part is pretty much been covered but I will chime in on a perfect rim or all purpose metal cleaner. Its a product called Autosol. I buy it at my local NAPA store, its a metal cleaner made in Germany. Its and amazing product, you can put this stuff on 30yr old neglected junk yard metal rims and it will bring it back to a brilliant shine! I use this stuff on any tough stain, metal, chrome, plastic etc etc... Try it out, I guarantee you'll be sold!

 

Not trying to be an a-hole....honestly

 

A lot of questions would be answered if the sticky was read first.

I think I read every post on this forum when I first stumbled onto this website (this was before the sticky). Just doing that took me from someone who had always done stuff by hand to someone who felt educated enough about processes/products to purchase a DA and feel comfortable using it for the first time.

 

I know.. I'm with ya... Got a pic to add to a previous post. Stay tuned!

 

If you are doing it by hand, I'm thinking ColorX might be the best single step product to use between the clay and the NXT. I debated on mine between ColorX and Deep Crystal step 2 polish, I chose the DC because mine wasn't too bad and I kinda regret it. The DC polish is hard to work with by hand, it comes off real hard, especially if it dries. What the ColorX can't get through, use ScratchX on those areas.

I'm very impressed with NXT 2.0, you have to let it set up for 12 hours before applying additional coats. Get some Ultimate Quick Detailer, it's great for a quick wipedown after a wash job to help preserve the NXT.

Megs All Wheel Cleaner and an old wash mitt should take care of the brake dust. You will probably have to hit them twice.

 

So your sister never took care of her car and now expects you to do it? I would send her to a detail shop and be done with it.I dont mean to be mean but she should take better care of her stuff.

 

Ok i read the sticky and here is what i was thinking...input please

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Megs ColorX
4. Megs ScratchX
5. Megs Meg's Deep Crystal (debating)
6. 2 coats of NXT

My question is, is there set up time i have to wait for ColorX and/or ScratchX before i apply the other stuff? And the sticky said not to let ScratchX dry, what about ColorX?




Lol well the thing is she covers for me with my parents when i go out. Plus she has offered to buy some of the supplies, so i get to keep what i don't use. So i really don't mind doing it.

 

Go ahead and let your sister's vehicle be your test vehicle, then you can learn from the process and improve on it with yours! Plus, you will be able to go to Mexico and back now!!!