Just thought that I would toss in my here and share with you my experience with the new '06 RL we just recently acquired.

The first time I washed the car there wasn't any repelling action from the paint. So, I thought...time to get out the clay bar and wax. I have the 3M clay bar and a Pinnacle Fine clay bar to work with. So, I get out the detailing spray and start on one fender. Oh, the dirt I got off the paint was amazing! You could feel the grit coming off the paint as I rubbed with the clay bar. Soon, after liberally spraying and rubbing with the bar, the texture soon turned to very smooth.

I followed up with Meguires Tec-Wax and left a nice finish on the car. The next day I hadn't finished what I started and got going. The roof was not nearly as bad as some of the other upper surfaces. After I finished the car, I followed up by waxing over with Pinnacle Souveran wax, which is a 35% carnuba in a modern formulation. Wow! The car looks and feels like glass now. I had just enough Crystal Mist carnuba finish to go over the car lightly and does the car sparkle!

To dress up the tires, I use Formula 303 2-3 times until I get a nice semi-permanent finish.

If you want to see how to use a clay bar, just go over to YouTube and type in clay bar use and see what pops up. Very informative and will leave your car sparkly in the sun.

 

Thanks for sharing your story, many of us are true clay believers, and those that aren't, just have to feel the difference once and they're usually sold

 

I think claying the car before wax is a necessity. The only time you go straight to wax is when your finish is glass smooth already.

 

I trick to tell if clay bar is needed is by putting your hand in a plastic bag and touching the surface of the car. If it feels rough, clay is needed.

 

Before and After Photos?

Pinnacle Souveran wax is it really worth the cost?

 

+1. If you have never used a clay bar before it is the best way to prep the paint prior to waxing the car. If your paint is not smooth to the touch you are feeling the affects of industrial fallout, rail dust, tree sap, etc. Try it & you will be amazed on how smooth the paint is & then apply wax for a great looking finish. What is even more effective is that after you clay the car & prior to waxing, polish the car to achieve some sort of paint correction.

 

The paint on my parents SUV is in bad shape so I was planning to clay the car, but my question is...Would I use a paint cleaner after the clay bar? Then wax it after? Thank you for any help.

 

After you clay wash SUV again prior to waxing.

 

Depending up on the condition of the surface on the SUV, water spots especially you might have to have the surface hit with a buffer to cut the surface back close to what it was like new. I was blessed in that the car was always garaged, just that the owner never waxed the car. I didn't have water spots or hard areas that needed to be pre treated. I wore out an entire clay bar, but you can see the difference in the parking lot against other cars around it. The RL shines where all others are pale in comparison. The surface feels like glass to the touch. After you clay bar you MUST seal the surface with a wax. If you don't you have opened up the pores in the paint to the air. After you wax then you can hit it with a polish to put a gleam on the paint. You will be amazed at how your car will literally sparkle. There is a way to jewel your paint but that is another thread. I have yet to learn how to do that. It takes your paint to another whole level.

 

thanks for your help

 

thank you I greatly appreciate your input.

 

Don't you polish before you apply your LSP??? Why would you apply wax and then cut into the paint again?

 

What I was saying is that after the clay bar, to wax the car and then apply a hand liquid finish over the wax to make the car really shine. Does that make sense?

 

Post pics!

 

Glad to here your success, I'm sure pics will increase believers. I'd love to do my black car one day soon.

 

I will post pictures of the car tonight.

 

waiting.....

 

Still dont get what your saying? Are you referring to applying a sealant and then applying a nuba or poly wax?