What polish/wax??

[Fastra mk2]

Hi all!

The time has come to lay my GTE up for 6 months so its having the full works as when it was painted it was never flatted and buffed as I wanted to build it up and scuff it before it got finished off.

Right so I have a full box of brand new GM platics for it once done the plan is...

1500

2000

G3

finishing compound

clay bar

then seal the paintwork with some decent wax ive just bought a bottle of zymol canuba wax im thinking 2 coats.

please speculate on my plans!!

may post pics, cheers guys!!

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Why would you claybar after flatting and polishing?
Otherwise looks good.

[Fastra mk2]

Why would you claybar after flatting and polishing?
Otherwise looks good.

My logic for doing that is the paintwork is still exposed after compound so clay would pull any crap out of the paint before it gets sealed with wax.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Exposing unpolished/flatted paint? Surely paint won't be smooth and flat this way?
Only clayed before flatting and polishing personally, maybe others do it differently.

[Fastra mk2]

hmm, well thats why I posted because im open to suggestions, well i suppose claying before hand will cut down in grit being flatted and buffed into the paint.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

I'm a bit out of touch now I've a battered old Audi, but always the way I've done it and seen it done

[Fastra mk2]

that way it is then! there's gonna be two of us on it and expecting to take around 3 days white has to look great even doing the engine bay.

[Jamie_Watret]

I always clay before machine polishing as some clay bars mar the paint.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

I forgot that bit!
Never experienced it myself, but only used mild stuff.
Amazing things, people turn their noses up at them, then eyes widen when they feel how smooth the paint is...
I reckon 99% of cars would benefit from having windscreen clayed (going off topic I know!).

[Benn]

How long ago was it painted? As you might have probs flatting and polishing it as it will be very hard. (flats off ok, hard to polish up nicely)

As said, wash and clay the car before you flat, then you wont be rubbing anything in that stuck in the surface.

After compounding get a good polish on it to remove fine swirl marks on the surface. Then wax well.

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

Sounds like it's flat paint so shouldn't be too hard.
If it's anything like old VAG paint, then you're in for a lot of long days with the rotary lmao

[Ardenblueroy]

I forgot that bit!
Never experienced it myself, but only used mild stuff.
Amazing things, people turn their noses up at them, then eyes widen when they feel how smooth the paint is...
I reckon 99% of cars would benefit from having windscreen clayed (going off topic I know!).

That's a good point mate.....I've clayed my windows and headlight glass.....and it works a treat.

[Benn]

If you get smery front screen, try claying it. It fixes it 9/10 cases. Clay everything..lol

[JustinAudiA4tdi]

We had some grinding at work, fcuked loads of cars.
In heavy rain I could see more without using the wipers, they were in ****state, more lines than cleared screen!
Might have to do the lorry, it's on it's 3rd set of blades and second screen, and is only a year old, and doesn't clear well at all....

[Fastra mk2]

ooh! clay the windows! i'll do that! the car was painted in 2007 its 10L Glacier white hope it goes well! Ive stripped bits of the engine out so I can compound and wax the bay! should look sweet!

[Benn]

That will be as hard as. Have fun, at least it's white.. That doesn't show swirl makes as bad.

[Fastra mk2]

Yeah I know matey! think my fingers will rub through before the paint does. lol.

[couped]

Slight chance the paint would mar if clayed after cutting mate, so as said clay before anything!.. second a pre wax cleaner before the zymol especialy if its the liquid version!