Good stuff in the FAQs here - I've always waxed/polished by hand.

Brave new world for me.

Car 1 - S2000 Garage kept - paint is glassy smooth


Car 2 - wifey's Lexus - outside 100% of the time. Needs claybar/polish


Car 3 - Company car - Black - not garaged either. Car is 18 months old and paint is in good but not great shape - needs clay too but I don't feel like it hehe... (I routinely use NXT on this one)


Looking forward to trying out the new toy soon.

Any tips on polishing granite? Countertop waxing is kind of a PITA - not nearly as fun as polishing cars...

 

lig- congrats on the new toy!
i promise you will love it-

so it sounds like car #1 and #2 will get to see pc action...

and actually, i have a strange tip for you-
i would do car #3 as a learning tool. not likely you will hurt it, but you can learn on it and avoid learning on a car that matters!
i would do a paint cleaner on that car. you will be surprised how it looks afterwards! if you decide to do it, you could even do a big no-no and put it through a car-wash first (dont let anyone know that i said this!!). i suggest this for a couple reasons- first you dont car about the car; second, the paint cleaner will fix what the car wash does to the car. dont bother with the clay, but hit it with nxt after the paint cleaner. use the machine for all steps. when you finish, you will be ready for the two cars that you really care about.
a few more tips:
keep the cord over your shoulder- no jewelry, belt buckles, etc. (i usually wear sweats, or shorts/ t-shirts depending on the weather). start the process early so you can stay out of the sun. really work the product- polishes are meant to be worked, unlike waxes and protective coatings. and finally, work small areas (i do about 2' x 2' "squares"- work the box... up and down, side to side, angle and always finish up down direction of air flow over the car), and top to bottom (top surfaces first, middle surfaces next and lower last). dedicate your pads to the car (dont use the co car pads on your car, for example). i use a marker and indicate the car on the back of the pad.

i would do the lexus next and your car last (different days, btw).

and get some before and aft pics for us!

 

Great advice, my friend. I knew I'd get some good info here.

You know I'll be snapping a few pics just for the fun of it.

 

Here is a great HOW TO use the PC article.How to use the PC 7424

 

Congrats! I ordered a PC just recently too... Should be in today or tomorrow, so I know how excited you must be!

 

hehe... this is a great forum you have here, wanabe!

Nice link - and yeah... as crazy as it sounds - I am excited. Calling places to order pads/bonnets etc... a new toy!

 

a few more thoughts-
first, thank-you for the wonderful compliment... i am sure you know that it is a community and we have lots of great folks here who make it such.

dont get too carried away with supplies yet... you will prob find that there will be certain pads that you use a lot and some you never use. one of my favs is the one i use for removal- i use a lambswool pad with a microfiber bonnet, so i would suggest that you get a few mf bonnets and the lambswool pad.

and yes, it absolutely is a grown-up toy!! (proof = your excitement in getting it- just wait til you get to play with it!)
i look forward to reading your report after your first use...

 

Came in the mail today!!! Can't wait til it stops raining so I can give my car a good wash/clay/polish/wax!!

Woohoo!