Polish before wax or not?

[pstock]

Ok got a silver CL500 and have treated myself and the car to some HARLY WAX however, do i wash/polish the car first and then wax, or wash and then just wax.

Thanks

 

[Sp!ke]

You need to make sure the paint is free from contaminants as possible before polishing it.

Depending on how keen you are and how clean the car is,this can be a multi stage process. Waxing is one of the last things to do.

Snow Foam
Rinse
Wash (2 bucket method)
Rinse
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Polish X 2 or 3 stages
Wax
Seal

Check out Detailing World forum or similar if you want to really learn the right way.

 

[tagnut]

You need to make sure the paint is free from contaminants as possible before polishing it.

Depending on how keen you are and how clean the car is,this can be a multi stage process. Waxing is one of the last things to do.

Snow Foam
Rinse
Wash (2 bucket method)
Rinse
Clay
Wash
Rinse
Dry
Polish X 2 or 3 stages
Wax
Seal

Check out Detailing World forum or similar if you want to really learn the right way.

I'd have to take a week off work to do all that!

 

[C43AMG]

That would be the correct way to bring your car up yo scratch, the only difference is i seal then wax.

 

[pstock]

I was under the impression that waxing was sealing !

so i'd auto glym (super resin polish) then wax ?

 

[cplnoonoo]

For someone who isnt too bothered about actually completely detailing their motor a few coats of autoglym SRP then a wax coat after would be sufficient for a good enough shine but obviously the more work you do the cleaner it will be.

 

[C43AMG]

I was under the impression that waxing was sealing !

so i'd auto glym (super resin polish) then wax ?

Yep

 

[gina2201]

Polish takes off?

Wax goes on?

Is that correct? So polish then wax! Not that I do much of that!

 

[Dieselman]

Polish takes off?

Wax goes on?

Is that correct? So polish then wax! Not that I do much of that!

You forgot about applying Glaze between polish and Wax stages, especially after a machine polish.

 

[tpwuk]

I SRP then FK1000P.

 

[pstock]

Couple of choices as far as the polish goes but mate recommends

Harly Wax Car Wax - Home - only from Woods Automotive, HarlyWax.co.uk

Got some raceglaze rimwax for my wheels,

 

[Dieselman]

Got some raceglaze rimwax for my wheels

Phew...glad you said wheels, there..

 

[chocolateobrian]

I've come over from owning mainly Subaru's and Peugeot's and if giving a thorough clean usually use the following method.

• Rinse with Karcher
• Spray wheels with wheel cleaner of choice
• Agitate then rinse with Karcher
• Rinse body
• Wash with shampoo of choice, lambswool wash mitt using 2-bucket method (very important)
• Rinse with Karcher
• Sheet water residue off with a watering can
• Dab car dry with a waffle weave
• Polish windows inside and out
• Treat exterior trims
• Hover interior and wipe down interior trims
• Polish by hand using clean applicator sponge/pad(haven't got the balls to try a rotary/duel polisher or the funds to purchase)
• Buff off
• Wax using same method
• Seal wheels with wax of choice and buff
• Crawl under car and polish exhaust backbox/buff
• Spray wheels with tyre dressing

The above on my old red Impreza would take around 10 hours but bloody hell the results were worth it

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h171/chocolate_o_brian/2-1.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h171/chocolate_o_brian/S6300051.jpg

Sorry for the post hijack

Planning on doing this with the Merc once I've got some stuff delivered off Polished Bliss, as the car has done amybe 900 miles since its previous MOT and has green stuff growing on exterior trims - eurgh

 

[Dieselman]

The above on my old red Impreza would take around 10 hours but bloody hell the results were worth it

Were they, It's still an Impreza...

 

[chocolateobrian]

Were they, It's still an Impreza...

Must... resist... bait...

 

[Chrishazle]

When you have the funds, don't be nervous about a DA polisher. My ladies bought me a Kestrel DAS6 and a set of 4 6" Sonus pads for Xmas, and I used the kit for the first time this past week - on my 968, which is Guards Red. First up, after washing and drying the car, I taped up the "seams" with 3M blue masking tape - essential!! I used the white mild cutting pad with AG Bodyshop 02B (2000 grit) thinned with water. As I was nervous, I kept the polisher at minimum speed, and it was fine. OK, I took my time - 2 afternoons to do the whole car - but the results were good, got rid of lots of small swirl type marks.

3 tips - use the D handle rather than the side handle, it's easier. Also stop the polisher before taking ot off the car - otherwise spatters can go everywhere! You need a light hand to allow the machine to rotate and oscillate - it's easy to "stall", so you have to watch the pad and try to make sure it keeps spinning.

 

[300CE]

When you have the funds, don't be nervous about a DA polisher. My ladies bought me a Kestrel DAS6 and a set of 4 6" Sonus pads for Xmas, and I used the kit for the first time this past week - on my 968, which is Guards Red. First up, after washing and drying the car, I taped up the "seams" with 3M blue masking tape - essential!! I used the white mild cutting pad with AG Bodyshop 02B (2000 grit) thinned with water. As I was nervous, I kept the polisher at minimum speed, and it was fine. OK, I took my time - 2 afternoons to do the whole car - but the results were good, got rid of lots of small swirl type marks.

3 tips - use the D handle rather than the side handle, it's easier. Also stop the polisher before taking ot off the car - otherwise spatters can go everywhere! You need a light hand to allow the machine to rotate and oscillate - it's easy to "stall", so you have to watch the pad and try to make sure it keeps spinning.

What type of wax/sealant did you use after the polish Chris?

 

[Chrishazle]

I usually use AG Bodyshop 01B hard polish followed by AG High Definition wax. Had a small demo of Swissvax cleaner oil and best in show wax at a "Show and Shine" 18 months ago, then saw a kit going cheap on eBay (cleaner oil plus Onyx wax, not the BIS £160 stuff!) so have tried that this time. OK, looks good, but at over twice the price of the AG products I'm not convinced the wax is worth the money. The cleaner oil seemed pretty good, so I'll continue to use the Swissvax on the Porsche and the AG on the C270. Nice not to have the white residue you get with AG SRP!

 

[chocolateobrian]

I usually use AG Bodyshop 01B hard polish followed by AG High Definition wax. Had a small demo of Swissvax cleaner oil and best in show wax at a "Show and Shine" 18 months ago, then saw a kit going cheap on eBay (cleaner oil plus Onyx wax, not the BIS £160 stuff!) so have tried that this time. OK, looks good, but at over twice the price of the AG products I'm not convinced the wax is worth the money. The cleaner oil seemed pretty good, so I'll continue to use the Swissvax on the Porsche and the AG on the C270. Nice not to have the white residue you get with AG SRP!

when I had my 205 GTi I wanted to give the graphite grey paintwork a lift. I applied Menzerna intensive polish by hand and buffed followed by a coat of HD wax. Looked lovely afterwards

Gonna use it on the Merc once my order from Polished Bliss arrives :bannana:

 

[300CE]

I've decided i'm going to purchase the following for when i eventually get round to doing mine:

1. Bilt Hamber Clay Bar for after washing:

http://www.bilthamber.com/pro-introduction.php?cname=Clays, Wax :: Polish&name=auto-clay regular

2. Then polish using the Menzerna Final Finish PO 85 RE 5.

3. Use Isopropanol alcohol (IPA) to wipe the car down after polishing

4. Then use Bilt Hamber Auto Balm:

http://www.bilthamber.com/pro-introduction.php?cname=Clays, Wax :: Polish&name=auto-balm

5. Then finish with R222 Carnauba Wax:

R222 Concours Look Carnauba Wax | Original Wax | FREE UK DELIVERY

Well, that's the plan anyway!