I was obviously overdoing it with the frequency of claying.

now another OCD question- How often do you wax, polish etc...
I imagine its possible to have too many coats of NXT.

 

I believe applying too many coats of wax is just a waste as there's diminishing returns. For every coat you apply there's less void space to apply the wax into. From my "research" and trying to pick up as much as I can from these forums I have not seen anyone apply more than two coats of wax. There are some that top off their wax such as NXT with some sort of carnauba wax, but that's merely for added looks.

I don't know how often the experienced detailers polish, wax, etc but I, a novice, go around 3 months or so before reapplying. It all depends on the weather you have, environment that surrounds you, and if you put countess miles on the vehicle - at least that what's I gather.

 

The 'layering' thing is debated frequently in the detailing circus. My personal opinion is very similar to what Val mentioned... there's a law of diminishing returns. That means that you can only stack so many layers up before you're simply removing the layer on top with the new layer that you're putting on...

Some Zaino guys will swear that 800 coats are better than 8 (some other synthetic users will say this too)... I just don't buy it.

Like Val mentioned, a couple of coats is really all that you're going to get to 'stay' in place for protection. After that, in my opinion, you're beginning to simply waste the product.

-RP-

 

I dont layer more than 2 coats, after that its a waste, especially if using pricier waxes.

 

how many times can you work on buffing out minor scratches or swirls marks. Even with the mildest product, at some point I would think you need to learn to live with them or risk damage to the paint.

I do my best to minimize their reoccurance, but I use my truck as a truck to haul mulch, stone, top soil etc. Also just melting snow and ice sliding off the paint seems to add to them

 

There really is no need for anything more then two coats of wax. I do three but the last one is megs 16 on top of two coats of nxt 2.0 I do it stricktly for looks.

 

I should clarify- I meant that I only put on two coats of NXT (allowing 24hr between coats as I read that Thump and other suggested) a few weeks ago

What I meant was, washing my truck every Saturday, infrequent driving and garaging it as its not my daily driver. Would you again full detail and NXT the vehicle at the end of the summer? Any sooner and I would be wasting product

so my question is about overdoing it in a maintenance sense

 

It's really personal preference. I would detail every 3-4 months. Some people go as long as 6 months. I like to do it when I notice my LSP is beginning to marr excessively in a few places.

 

I would do it at the end of summer reguardless and then again right before winter as I dont want all that road salt on my paint. But thats me I think if you are not doing paint correction everytime then you cant really over do it. I would say go for it, I would only be a little more hesitant if you are planing on major paint correction all over again if it does not need it. If that makes sense....

 

Here's my suggestion if you use NXT 2.0 as your LSP:

1. Use UQD to help boost the polymers after every wash job.
2. Rewax when it starts feeling or looking like it needs it. This is going to be quite subjective on your part. NXT 2.0 has enough cleaners and fillers where it will be fine without spending a lot of time on a full detail.
3. Claying and doing corrections (i.e. full detail) once a year should be sufficient unless you are OCD. Spring is a good time to do it, winters can be rougher than summers on vehicles.

 

I guess this was a stupid topic to post. Reason I did post this is because I realized I was claying very frequently, then waxing every few washes. Really going OCD crazy. And I have done this procedure (minus the claying) for years and years. Hell, I park this truck all week in my garage and take it out on weekends to joy ride, check out a few car shows, pick up some materials for the yard etc...Its babied and probably over detailed

 

If you like the results - great! You may wanna pick up a paint thickness meter, or go to a body shop and make sure you have a good amount of clear left. If you're claying every other weekend, there's a good chance you've removed a decent amount of clear coat.

I could be wrong though.

 

I stopped by a place last night thats right near the gym I go to. Its a custom car body shop. I had them check the truck over and they said that everything was fine and they were suprised at how mint the paint looked.

I guess I will just tone it down a little

 

I disagree.

If proper lubrication is being used, you're not going to be 'removing clear coat' by claying. While claying is an abrasive methodology utilized to properly prepare a painted surface before polishing/waxing, it's not going to be removing significant film build from a paint standpoint.

If he was compounding every weekend, I'd be worried.

 

OK, I AM GOING TO COME CLEAN ON THIS. I hadn't been using QD as a lube to clay with. Before I really got into reading this section and seeing all the discussions about how you guys do things, I was getting clay and claying before the kits came out with the quick detailer in them for lubrication. I would wash the whole truck. Rinse the whole truck. Then I would again wash the truck with a new pail of soap/water, while it was soaped up and slick- I would use the slippery lubrication of the wash product on the paint to clay with. Its actually much slicker than using detailer as sold in the megs kits. So maybe, thats what saved my clearcoat?

Now I follow the procedure that you all do- lube with qd then clay