What product and cloth type do you recommend for cleaning/shining the chrome areas on the g37 i.e. grill, mt. fuji badges? Thansk in advance for your help.

Anthony

 

Anthony, one option is to use an all in one product, which is a chemical cleaner but also leaves behind some protection. The product I turn to is Klasse All In One. This is what I would personally use as it makes future cleaning easier with the barrier of protection on the surface.

Another option is to use a metal specific polish, which P21S Finish Restorer is a great option. With either product, I'd recommend applying them with a foam applicator pad and removing with a quality microfiber towel.

George

 

Hey George,

Can you fill me in on what i'm missing here to clean my 1 1/2 month old IP?
I have been reading the Auto Detailing Guide and tried to follow everything, but im just not sure if i'm using the right stuff. Here's what i have so far:

Meguiars Deep Crystal, Mother's Claybar with Lube & Wax, Meguiars NXT Tech Wax 2.0, Meguiars QD, Eagle One Tire & Wheel Cleaner, Eagle One Glass Cleaner, 2 Sheepskin Washmitt, MF drying towels & MF All purpose towels.

I'm planning to buy this stuff from your website:

PB Bold N Bright, PB Wheel Sealant, 303 Aerospace, Lexol Cleaner & Conditioner, Grit Guards.

As for a wax or sealant to combine with my Meguiars NXT, i was thinking of P21S Carnauba Wax, or should i go with a different sealant like a Menzerna FMJ to get that nice glossy & wet look? And when do you think i should use a glaze & polish for my car?


Neil

 

Neil,

Thanks for the message. It looks as though you have the following ready to go:

Washing & Drying - Deep Crystal, Sheepskin mitts, Drying towels, Grit Guards
Clay Bar - Meg's clay bar and lube
Polish - none
Glaze - none
Sealant - none
Wax - NXT 2.0 Tech Wax

For a polish, your best bet is to look at your car under florescent lights or high powered halogen lights. This will help reveal your true clear coat and show you if there are swirls and imperfections in the paint. As you remove swirls and other imperfections in your paint, you improve the overall gloss and depth. This has a much bigger impact on your paints finish than trying to tweak what wax you use or don't use. Polishes are best applied with a quality buffer, such as the Porter Cable 7424 or Flex XC3401VRG. I'd recommend sticking with the Menzerna line of polishes if you are looking to polish your paint.

Using a glaze is optional, but it can help add a layer of depth and gloss, especially to lighter colored vehicles. Depending on which product you planned on using directly over the top of the glaze would vary my recommendation. If you are using only a wax on top without a sealant, I like to use ClearKote Red Moose Glaze. If you're applying a sealant over the glaze, I've been turning to the Chemical Guy's EZ-Creme Glaze. Glazes are designed to help fill in minor imperfections with oils and clay which helps give the appearance of a better finish.

Using a sealant is optional, just make sure you reapply your wax before the protection runs out. I'd recommend applying the wax at least once a month, sealants you can go more 3 - 4 months and still have protection. The end look of your paint comes from your last coat, so adding a sealant in the mix wouldn't increase your gloss and depth, simply add more durable protection.

The biggest step you could perform would be to properly polish your car.

Your interior and wheel and tire stuff looks great, you'll be pleased with the results. If you have any other questions on anything, please do not hesitate to ask.

Cheers,

George

 

Thanks George!

Just one more question. How often can i use the claybar and put wax on my car? I wash my car almost every week.

 

I usually clay 2 times a year, more if you know your paint needs it (test by feeling the paint, if it's rough to the touch, it can benefit from a clay bar). Wax as often as you like, but at least once a month to ensure proper protection year round.

George

 

Just placed a order for Klasse all in one and P21S Pure Carnuaba wax for my blueslate G37. I'm thinking that will be a good combo.

 

I applied a layer of FMJ two weeks ago, if I wash my car this weekend can I apply another layer of FMJ right after or would that not do anything?

 

Definitely. Should make for a great combo. Keep us posted on how things turn out.

You can certainly apply an additional layer of FMJ. Doing so will ensure full coverage of protection around the vehicle, perhaps slightly longer durability, restored surface slickness and bring back that initial depth and gloss gain.

Have a great weekend,

George

 

I have chrome I forged T-10s and I'm looking for a good product to use on them. Can you help me out?

 

Are you looking for a product to help you maintain your wheels? Like a wheel cleaner? Polish them to a brighter finish? If you're looking for a safe and effective wheel cleaner that won't oxidize the chrome finish, look into P21S Wheel Gel. The best part about this cleaner is it's gel based and clings well to vertical surfaces. It works best when you let it sit on the wheels for an extended period of time (pending on how bad the brake dust is) and agitate the wheels with a brush or microfiber towel, etc. For a deeper polishing to remove oxidation, I turn to P21S Finish Restorer along with a Microfiber Metal Polishing Towel. Afterwards, to make maintaining your wheels easier, I'd recommend applying a couple coats of Poorboy's World Wheel Sealant. This will help prevent brake dust and oxidation from accumulating and makes washing your wheels 10x easier with just soap and water.

That would be the ideal combination I'd use on iForged wheels.

George

 

Cool, thanks for all your help.

 

George,

I've been wanting to use menzerna polishing products but haven't had a chance...i am only looking for something to remove fine/light scratches..what would u recommend? i remember seeing a chart that shows which menzerna product does what but i can't find it...also, i know that blackfire uses menzerna in their stuff...any difference betweeen them?

 

You're welcome, let me know if there's anything else I can give you a hand with.

For minor imperfections, I usually turn to Menzerna PO106FF / PO106FA. These polishes usually have enough bite to remove minor imperfections. When you say fine/light scratches, do you mean swirl marks or literally light scratches? Can you catch it with your finger nail? If you can, I'd consider Menzerna Super Intensive Polish or Intensive Polish. The difference between the two is that SIP will finish down finer than IP, dusts less and has longer workability. Both polishes have about the same level of cut and benefit from finishing down with a finer polish to ensure no hazing, holograms and to achieve the maximum depth and gloss possible.

The Blackfire products are similar acting, but not exactly the same as the Menzerna polishes. Menzerna helped formulate them, so they are very high quality. The Blackfire Finishing Polish would be comparable to PO106FF/FA and the Blackfire Compound would be comparable to Super Intensive Polish. I haven't done a side by side comparison to directly compare the results, but I don't think you'll be disappointed either way you go, it should be an upgrade to the SSR's.

Let me know if there's anything else I can answer for you.

Cheers,

George

 

no, i can't catch the scratches with my fingernail..its very fine or very very light swirls and looks like a few scratches here and there...but very very light.
i think i'm gonna go with Menzerna PO106FF

u'll prolly be getting another order from me very soon..prolly get some new lake country pads too...i think i'm gonna work on my mom's camry soon

ure putting a hurtin in my wallet

thanks again George!