Prep for Black Wax

[spoiledred94]

Hey. I am gearing up to strip the wax from my car and black waxing to hide scratches. I was going to Dawn dish soap wash (once or twice?) and was wondering how you prep the paint from there (e.g.. Do I want to wash with Meguairs after the dish detergent)?

[crash93ssei]

Wash, clay bar, wash, dry, wax.

[spoiledred94]

No advice about the dish soap or the black wax? don't know how the clay bar would go. It was a big deal to clay bar all of 94 Bonney. Added another hour.

[crash93ssei]

No advice really needed about the wash, just a normal wash with Dawn to strip any previous wax. Clay bar will take an hour or so to do right, make sure to use plenty of quick detailer / lube for the clay. As for the wax I have never used it but basically the directions should cover the process.

[spoiledred94]

Thanks again Ryan. When the time and weather clear up I'll do it and pic post. Burgandy is a great color for your car!

[gweg_b]

When I did mine last year, I did the exact process Ryan listed. The only thing I would add would be a sealant if you could. That black wax lasted maybe 4-5 weeks. It's good stuff when first applied, but without something to seal it in, you'll be doing it over again a few times during the summer (not that I would really mind, love spending the time to wax my car).

[00Beast]

When I wash a car to clean all the old wax, etc off I still add regular car wash soap, helps keep you from doing too much to the paint at once, the car wash soaps have things in them to keep you from hurting the paint.

[spoiledred94]

When I did mine last year, I did the exact process Ryan listed. The only thing I would add would be a sealant if you could. That black wax lasted maybe 4-5 weeks. It's good stuff when first applied, but without something to seal it in, you'll be doing it over again a few times during the summer (not that I would really mind, love spending the time to wax my car).

Hey Greg, I looked into the sealant and saw 1 or two choices. The link below is for an Oreilly's Wizard Brand Sealant...

Wizard paint protectant and sealant Is this right?

If there's a Meguiars or Mothers or something? These items border on too rich for me. I'd love to spend and work on my car all day like you. It's just not going to happen for the time being. If you're saying I would not be disappointed to use it I'll go buy some sealant. It's not that much. Again I need the clay bar kit again. $10 for the black wax. $20for the towels and applicators, $20? Clay Bar kit, I forget what that cost a few years ago. $10 for the wash, $15 for the sealant.

When I wash a car to clean all the old wax, etc off I still add regular car wash soap, helps keep you from doing too much to the paint at once, the car wash soaps have things in them to keep you from hurting the paint.

The doping of the dawn wash with car wash seems reasonable to me and beside it 'll give me something more to talk about

[95SLE]

^^^^^ Look at Megs 21 for an affordable sealant.

[spoiledred94]

Just dreaming Ryan...Does Intense make a performance kit for the L67? And I want to tell you again how beautiful your car is. It's like exactly what I would want If I couldn't have the ferrari. I was trying to tell Linda a while ago about tintcoat. I didn't know what that was called then. When I get down to painting Betty I'll be looking for your paint.

[crash93ssei]

^^^^^ Look at Megs 21 for an affordable sealant.

Agreed, I use 21 all the time and love it, great product for the price. You can also check out Meguiars NXT 2.0 which is basically a sealant as well and gets quite a bit of love on detailing forums despite being an over the counter product.

As for washing with Dawn... ask three different people and you will get four different opinions on it, yet nobody has done any actual long term testing / studies on it. Here is my thought on it, I was with Meguiars Gold Class 95% of the time, but when I do a first time detail on a vehicle or really want to strip the paint, I load up with Dawn and I have never seen any negative results. I could see maybe if a car was washed three times a week with an ultra strong concentration and was basically dried on the paint before rinsing then after years and years it might have an effect.... might.

[gweg_b]

Yeah, trust me, I don't have a whole lot of time to spend on my car anymore, but when I know I'm going to be detailing it, I will usually set aside a good Saturday for it. Spending the time washing and waxing my car is therapeutic for me - it allows me to listen to music and let me peacefully think. I work long hours during the week, so I almost never have time to work on my car after work, but I do when I can. I need to dig out the black wax again, as it did wonders on hiding the road rash on the back doors (adding a sealant should help keep it that way). I should pick up some Meguiar's 21 here soon.

Ryan and Tom already know this, but I am just now learning the cost of really making a car look nice. The work those 2 did on my hood back in '09 has changed my perspective om car detailing forever! But, as I mentioned, with a good washing, claying, and using that Black Box wax, you can get an amazing look on the black paint.

If you haven't seen it, this is what mine looked like after I did the Black Box (last Memorial Day):


Now, it still had many scratches and swirls visible, but that is pretty much what the car looked like at about 5 feet away. I was impressed, just didn't last long.

But, you guys don't want to see it now!

[spoiledred94]

That's a really beautiful 01. Ill wait until I can get sealant and clay and detailer. It looks worth it.

Where can you get the Meg's 21? None of the stores in my area (except maybe independents) have it.

[crash93ssei]

O'riellys has it here, other auto parts stores may as well.

[spoiledred94]

Wash, clay bar, wash, dry, wax.

Ryan, I'm going to do this today. the weather is going to be just right and I have everything I need if the clay bar I have left is enough.

So there is 1 thing you could clear up for me... Is the second wash you list above to be a dawn wash or reg megs?

Spoiledred94

[crash93ssei]

Megs is fine for the second wash, you are basically just removing any residue from the clay and lube.

[spoiledred94]

It took 4 hours and a lot of work. My car looks great though. I couldn't find Megs 21 so I was going to use Megs Ultimate protectant until I realized it was for trim and NOT paint. So I still need to do that. Otherwise it went real well. There are water spots on her that will not come out. They're like under a layer of sealant that the dawn won't touch. Same as last year.The black Wax did fill in a lot of the scratches.

[crash93ssei]

Looks great!

The water spots are likely etching from bird poo or minerals in the water, probably need some polishing to remove.

[1oldman]

That is one beautiful automobile!

I had great success with Turtle Wax Black Box on a car that needed moderate help. It was fairly fast and straight forward. I know it's not as good as what Ryan uses or Megs, but it was very effective on the paint and easy on the pocket book. - BC

[spoiledred94]

That is one beautiful automobile!

I had great success with Turtle Wax Black Box on a car that needed moderate help. It was fairly fast and straight forward. I know it's not as good as what Ryan uses or Megs, but it was very effective on the paint and easy on the pocket book. - BC

Sadly it rained all night thoroughly and hailed all day. The upper surfaces...hood, bonnet, trunk were glossy. The sides on the other hand were dull and spotty.

I think I need to buff it it as soon as it warms up. And maybe after that another wash and wax?