I decided to do a better job on cleaning the cars in my family. I purchased a Porter Cable polisher and going to get some clay bar.

So i assume the process is:
1. Wash
2. Dry
3. Clay
4. Polish? Wax?

What's the different between polishing and waxing? I start to lose track from that point. Can anyone give a good explanation? What to recommend? I want my car to look nice, but doesn't need to be professional.

 

well first off polishing with a porter cable is a bit difficult as it can marr the clear coat, so you might want to take it slow the first couple of times. I'm not a detail guru but I might as well throw some info out as a first post. Polishing removes swirling and small imperfections in your clear coat while wax protects the paint by putting a layer over it that should be reapplied every 2-4 weeks depending on the wax.

 

A porter cable won't marr the clear, it's a relatively safe option to machine polishing. What I noted in bold is exactly correct.

Check out www.migliorewax.com for some quality waxes. We've been featured in The New York Times and there are some great reviews right on this forum.

Don

 

my apologies.. I have actually never attempted to polish my car myself, because I had heard that a polish is usually abrasive and can cause damage to the paint if not applied correctly. I guess I was wrong

 

Actually, you're right elayman. Polishing with the porter cable CAN leave slight abrasions in the clear coat either when you're compounding, if you dont break the polish down correctly, or if you're using cheap polishes that dont finish well. But, its very easy to fix and really isnt something to worry about.

 

i thought u clay, wax then polish ?

 

no....

 

i think its along those lines

i polished for the first time today

1)wash
2)dry
3)polish
4)wax
5)admire

 

okay, seems like polish is something that i don't want to do. Can I use the Porter Cable to apply wax instead of by hand? I already bought the machine, or should I just return the machine.

 

Just watch some pc 7424 videos on youtube. It will help alot.

 

You can use the PC to apply the wax, just make sure you are using the right type of pad. There are specific pads for polishing and waxing. A random orbital like the PC is the safest way to polish and wax your car versus a true orbital. There are quite a few online guides as to how to correctly apply polish or wax with a PC. Check out www.detailedimage.com and on the right side of the home page there is a section titled "Auto Detailing Guide."

I did my car for the first time with a random orbital and had no problems at all. The biggest thing is just making sure you are using the right product for the results you want and then applying it correctly. I did two polish steps to remove scratches and swirls, then glaze for shine, then sealant for protection and to keep the shine in, then finished with a hand-applied coat of wax for more shine.

Certainly I'm no detail expert like a lot of guys on here but with the right equipment and good advice from George at Detailed Image (where I bought most of my products) I'm pretty happy with the results. Since you already have the PC just jump in and go for it.

 

My process is found below:

1)wash (Super Slick & Suds by Poorboys)
2)claybar (Clay Magic)
3)polish (PC with Menzerna Products)
4)apply sealant base (Klasse AIO)
5)apply sealant (Poorboys EX-P)
6)wax (Nattys Blue)
7)admire

You can apply a glaze (after #3, but skip to #6 afterwards) if you want but many online places state to wax afterwards and not seal because sealants dont bond well to Glazes thus they cant really protect your paint.

 

Check out this post.

 

holy crap
that must've taken forever!

 

Keep the PC...play with it...you will be happy you did later...