Black paint detail

**98maro** · 11-15-2011, 11:25 PM

hi guys, i need some help from you who knows about this stuff,
i want to detail my car but, i dont know much bout this...my car is black and is very hard to keep it clean
the car has a couple of deep scratches, that i know it will not come off.. also has so many light scratches that could come off with sand paper.
im gonna be using meguiars product.. but can some one tell me the steps and what i need to get it done?i dont have a polisher but im thinking about buying one.. or my last option is by hand
i know i have to wash the car
clay bar after that..but whats next?
polish? then wax?
also want to use swirl removal bc on black paint is a must!
do i need scratch removal also?

any info i need to know pls feel free to add on this thread..
also if i should use any other product besides meguiars.
i was thinking on the turtle black box... but i dont know.. what you guys recommend?

thanks in advance

**BIGGDADDYWIGGS** · 11-16-2011, 12:03 AM

I too have a black car. You almost have to wash and dry at the same time. I too use Meguires cleaner wax, I likke the way it helps the water bead up so I can dry it better. I also use Black Ice clear liquid wax from Autozone, you can put it on the car when the car is hot it still comes off easily. You mentioned about a swirl remover, wat is that? I have swirl trouble on my trunk mostly. I also keep a black touch up pen in the car . thanx, I'll subscribe to this post.

**Nowhereman** · 11-16-2011, 05:45 AM

Wash the car with Dawn liquid dish soap.
Dry then use Mequiars detailer with their clay bar kit going over all the areas on the car with special time on the areas that seem to drag.
It most likely will be your back side of your car, lower rear panels.
Follow the instructions and don't drop the clay onto the ground.
After that, use their polish and if possible use an orbital buffer; (don't press hard)
Review the paint to see what your work did then move onto the swirl remover only on the spots that show swirl marks.
Break out your touch up pen and apply to where it is too deep to recover.
Let the car sit in a garage for 24 hours or more.
Go back to the touch up areas and re polish them with the buffer.
Any swirl, use the swirl remover again.
Now your ready for the wax.
I use their tech wax and apply 2 coats minimum to the paint using micro fiber cloths, changing them out regularly.
You should have a shit hot paint job now but, most likely you'll see some scratching from years of use that will make you pull your hair out because the rest of the car looks perfect.
There was a time that I refused to take my WS6 to anywhere where I had to park and leave it because of the assholes who try to key your car or shopping carts pushed into it. (thank God I didn't carry a gun then)
After that, use the detailer for light cleanups followed up by tech wax to keep her nice.
Use their car wash when you have to and only use Dawn dish washing liquid when you want to strip the car down again.

**98maro** · 11-17-2011, 05:21 PM

thanks alot for the help & tips..
so the wax is the last step right?
how about if u want to use the scratch removal? do i use it after the clay bar before the polish?
also i want to get rid of the light scratches using 1500 grit sand paper, so when the scratch is gone the paint wont shin no more.. how do i make it look shinny again? just polishing? thanks for the help!

yeah man i kinda dont like to take the car to some one else. you never know what someone else can do to your car...
i hope i can get this done my self and i dont have to take it to the shop!

**98maro** · 11-17-2011, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by BIGGDADDYWIGGS

I too have a black car. You almost have to wash and dry at the same time. I too use Meguires cleaner wax, I likke the way it helps the water bead up so I can dry it better. I also use Black Ice clear liquid wax from Autozone, you can put it on the car when the car is hot it still comes off easily. You mentioned about a swirl remover, wat is that? I have swirl trouble on my trunk mostly. I also keep a black touch up pen in the car . thanx, I'll subscribe to this post.

swirl removal you can find it at autozone, meguiar's i seen videos of that seems that it does a good job!

**Nowhereman** · 11-17-2011, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by 98maro

thanks alot for the help & tips..
so the wax is the last step right?
how about if u want to use the scratch removal? do i use it after the clay bar before the polish?
also i want to get rid of the light scratches using 1500 grit sand paper, so when the scratch is gone the paint wont shin no more.. how do i make it look shinny again? just polishing? thanks for the help!
yeah man i kinda dont like to take the car to some one else. you never know what someone else can do to your car...
i hope i can get this done my self and i dont have to take it to the shop!

Whoa, hold on a minute.
Don't even bring sandpaper into this discussion at all.
You will totally F up your paint.
Leave that stuff to the pros.
Any type of scratch removal process; (don't say sandpaper) should be done during the polish process.
The polish process should remove the small stuff.
If you have gouges going into the primer, you won't take them out.
You just need to touch em up or go to a shop for a paint job if they bug you that much.
Clay first, polish second, swirl remover third, wax last.

**98maro** · 11-17-2011, 07:40 PM

thanks!
i am kinda afraid to do the that with the sand paper lol..
it has 2 deep scratches like 3 inches long each of them... but it has very long scratches that are not 2 deep.. you can tell the scratches are there, but i dont know if the scratch removal will take them off..

i could post pics of the scratches in the AM!

**98maro** · 11-17-2011, 11:14 PM

one more thing....my car had the front end painted few months ago..
it has some clear over spray on the mirrors and doors... with the clay bar and polish you guys think this will come off?

**Nowhereman** · 11-18-2011, 04:26 AM

Originally Posted by 98maro

one more thing....my car had the front end painted few months ago..
it has some clear over spray on the mirrors and doors... with the clay bar and polish you guys think this will come off?

Tough one here, I don't think the clay will help that.
You might have to go to a multiple step polishing process.
If your not comfortable on doing that, take it to a good body shop.

**GoldenFlame** · 11-18-2011, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by 98maro

one more thing....my car had the front end painted few months ago..
it has some clear over spray on the mirrors and doors... with the clay bar and polish you guys think this will come off?

It may..... The only reason I say that is my brother wrecked his Camaro and had a LOT of work done to it.. After the front end was fixed he claybared the entire car and a ton of blue came off the back and onto the clay.. I figured from overspray, so who knows!

**BIGGDADDYWIGGS** · 11-20-2011, 05:55 AM

I've seen the clay bars in stores but don't know how you use them, do you use the bar on the car or do you run the buffer on it the get the buffer pad to have clay on it then buff car or what?

**Nowhereman** · 11-20-2011, 09:30 AM

Pretty self explanatory.
Read the instructions completely and............DO NOT DROP THE CLAY BAR ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR.

**02fbody35th** · 11-23-2011, 04:04 PM

The clay is used directly on the car with detail spray used as a lubricant

**INMY01TA** · 12-07-2011, 05:52 PM

If your serious about keeping your black car looking good I suggest you get on a detailing forum like Autogeek.net. I use Menzerna polishes with a Flex 3401 dual action polisher. (claybar too occasionally) check out Youtube also, videos on there for claybar instruction, polishing, etc.

**matt evans** · 12-07-2011, 08:13 PM

ive been detailing my car with some carwash soap from autozone then immedietly drying it with a towel(remember Hitchikers Guide You cant be without your towel) then I use Royal Blue. alot of people like it and some dont but its done good for me.

**lt1 sport** · 12-21-2011, 04:37 PM

Dawn wash, clay, Zaino Z-5.

**98maro** · 12-25-2011, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by lt1 sport

Dawn wash, clay, Zaino Z-5.

that looks good!! did you do it by hand? how many hours did it take?

thanks guys for the help!

**JayTA98** · 12-27-2011, 04:58 AM

Originally Posted by 98maro

one more thing....my car had the front end painted few months ago..
it has some clear over spray on the mirrors and doors... with the clay bar and polish you guys think this will come off?

maro you can try using some polishing compound or scratch x. I used it before and got good results with over spray but it was a pain by hand. I agree with other stay away from sand paper, use some polishing compound 1st and see if you get good results. it will be better than using sand paper. Just go easy on it.

I use clay bar, scratch X , Deep gloss and tech wax when I want to get a deep gloss finish. I do this 3 times a year. Regular wax once a month and finishing detailer spray after every wash. The deep gloss I apply it with a buffing pad at low speed with my orbital sander. the scratch X and wax i do by hand. after im done I let the car sit on the sun for some time.