the perfect shine

hey all, what products make the perfect shine? And what steps do you use them? Any special washes, waxes, finishers, or any special brands? thanx.
(can you tell i'm not really the expert at the whole perfect wash thing?)

1. wash
2. clay
3. wash
4. dry
5. machine polish- could involve three separate compound/polishes and pads
6. Seal
7. wax or /Wet Paint 24 hours later, sealant has to cure & bond to paint (optional)

There are thousands of products, many of the better ones can be found online at places like Autogeek. Meguiars also makes good products that can be bought over the counter. Prep is 90% of the work.

thanx for the info. Any recommended brands? 

a great product to use is called wet paint (search the forum for examples of what people here have done with it).... RTexasF got people onto it and it appears to be a great product..

I have used Rejex with good results...very nice shine and easy application.

quote:

ORIGINAL: noboundaries6289

thanx for the info. Any recommended brands? 

 
Do you have or intend to machine polish or will all be done by hand?

quote:

ORIGINAL: millpond

I have used Rejex with good results...very nice shine and easy application.

 
I haven't used it but Rejex seems to have a strong following.

RTexasF if you were my neighbor I would pay you like 20 bucks to wax my car all the time just because the wax/paint guru you are.

i intend to wash it by hand. I've been using some autozone 3.00 car wash stuff and maguires wax. I used mothers california clay bar kit on my last car, but not this one. Should I clay bar this vehicle? and am i using the right stuff so far? thanx

quote:

ORIGINAL: noboundaries6289

i intend to wash it by hand. I've been using some autozone 3.00 car wash stuff and maguires wax. I used mothers california clay bar kit on my last car, but not this one. Should I clay bar this vehicle? and am i using the right stuff so far? thanx

 
Thank you for your confidence in me. In truth you would have to cough up a bit more.

quote:

ORIGINAL: noboundaries6289

i intend to wash it by hand. I've been using some autozone 3.00 car wash stuff and maguires wax. I used mothers california clay bar kit on my last car, but not this one. Should I clay bar this vehicle? and am i using the right stuff so far? thanx

 
YES, the clay bar is worth every minute you spend using it. Just remember that, even after all that work, you STILL must apply protection. The clay is only a cleaner.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RTexasF

Thank you for your confidence in me. In truth you would have to cough up a bit more.

 
Yeah all im saying is I would pay you alot of money

this wax from safety kleen makes a car look so good but you have to be very good at buffing cause if not it will leave swirl marks. 

You shouldn't need to use a buffer to apply and remove wax, it's usually done by hand. This looks like a commercial product for dealers or detailers that move a lot a cars through. There's nothing wrong with that of course but for us little guys I think there are better products available in smaller quantities.

quote:

ORIGINAL: RTexasF

You shouldn't need to use a buffer to apply and remove wax, it's usually done by hand. This looks like a commercial product for dealers or detailers that move a lot a cars through. There's nothing wrong with that of course but for us little guys I think there are better products available in smaller quantities.

 
speaking from experience, you need a buffer to use this stuff, you might be able to get by on a lighter colored car,  but on a dark colored car fugitaboutit heh.   was able to buy it in smaller quantities back in the day, i dunno if they sale it in smaller amounts now.  the wax is kinda like an oily type wax and it last forever.  but anyhow, the question i answered was, what gives the perfect shine and how is it applied, not who can afford it.

That's interesting. I'm guessing that due to the oily feel it has fillers in it that help hide minor imperfections in the paint. Using a buffer heats it up and helps it adhere. Trying to remove it by hand would be tough.

I just got some Maguires Step 2 paint cleaner. It works like magic. It gets rid of most swirls on my car. I also got some PlastX polish, that works well too. Just went shopping a little today.

does anyone have any expierence with the 3-step crystal cleaner system from maguires?

I used it once a while back. It does pretty well for an over the counter product assuming you're going to use it by hand. If you are going to use a buffer there are better choices out there.

ya i do.....   1.cleaner wax  2. polish  3.carbu wax  4.show car glaze
 
i usually claybar first and only use the cleaner wax only a few times a year....if i want to strip my wax off i will wash my car in joy dishwashing liquid(less abrasive than most on mkt).  the polish will really give your car a nice deep finish, while the wax is just a protectant layer.  finally i will top it off by usuing meguiars show car glaze, it really gives your car a wet shiny look....
 
i have worked on many show cars, 100k+ corvette z06's, etc and this is the best combo for best overall shine and protection.  ask for any detailing tips or send me a pm.

Actually it shoud be polish, glaze, then wax for the best and longest lasting outcome.

has anyone tried the NXT Generation Tech Protect? I saw it on the site but none of the stores around here carry it. Is it any good and should I buy it online?

From the reviews I have read it provides a brilliant shine but lasts only a short time. Great look but poor duration.

anyone know of a product that makes rubber hoses in the engine compartment shine? Instead of just replacing all hoses. Sort of like the product mentioned above, except with a longer duration. thanx

Stoner's More Shine is what I use.....great stuff. You can get it at Pep Boys or order direct from Stoner. I buy it by the case since this one product works on engine compartments, wheel wells, tires, dark trim, air dams, and more.

http://www.mslt4tires.com/