Can I use amigo, epic, and then a sealant? Or would I be better off stripping the Hydro and starting from scratch?

 

I'm not sure why you would need a sealant over Epic?? To go back to basics you would have to wash with Dawn, Clay,Re-Wash, Hydro, Amigo, then Epic. A sealant can be used for Winter Protection in your Late Fall Detail because it lasts longer. And I Uhhh...think Spring is right around the corner!! Not according to our weather forcast, but it's coming I just know it!!

 

Dawn will remove carnauba...won't help if the current wax is a synthetic.

 

Right... Dawn is not going to do squat for these synthetic products. Use PS-21 to strip off the wax.

Now, to address the question, Hydro does not last that long on your car. So if that's all you have on there, and if it's been on longer than about two weeks, no need to strip it off, it's already gone.

And the normal order of products is PS-21, Swirl, Amigo, Finish (you can skip this one if you want, Amigo will do the job), Epic, and then you can maintain with Banana Gloss and/or Hydro.

RJ, I'm not sure why you would want to apply Hydro before you use the polish and the long-term wax.

 

I'm also a little unclear about the Hydro going on before the polish, and Epic?
I use alcohol, mixed 50/50 with water to remove synthetic waxes.

Mark

 

If I've used Hydro after I've washed Molly, if I'm going to Polish/Wax I do that on top of the Hydro. Where am I going wrong??

Ok, so correct what I'm doing wrong?? My 1st Detail on Molly was the afore mentioned process. I've not done another Full Detail yet, will wait for warmer weather, if it ever comes. So you're saying I should use 50/50 solution Alcohol/Water to get down to then clearcoat, then wash, Clay, Re-Wash...I would normally use Hydro at this point, your saying skip Hydro all together, then Amigo and Epic. And use Hydro when??

 

Think of Hydro as a booster to Epic. Use it in between your major detailing (which most of us OCDetailers do twice a year). Every time you do a simple wash, spritz it with Hydro and dry it off as usual.

There's no need to include Hydro in your major detailing process. In fact, let the Epic cure for at least 24 hours before you put ANYthing on it.

 

OK...got it!! It's been awhile since I did my first/last Detail that I may not have added Hydro, I can't remember!!

I may have a road trip coming up, WA to AZ, I won't have time to do a detail job on Molly before we leave, so I will just have to pack a Car Care Kit for her while we're down there.

 

Huh? Why Finish *after* Amigo? I would think if you were going to use Finish, you'd use it after swirl and before Amigo... otherwise all Finish is gonna do is strip off the mojo filler/glaze effect of the Amigo.... Amigo should be the last thing you do before Epic.... or I'm missing something... and I'm the ken of Amigo...

 

You could be right, Paul. I don't use Finish since I found the joys of Amigo.

But if I were to use them both, I would think Amigo then Finish since Finish seems to be a finer polish. Besides, why the hell would they name it "FINISH" if it's not the last one ??

 

"Finish" is the finest of Prima's pure polishes (Cut/Swirl/Finish), while Amigo is more of a paint glaze/filler with a tiny bit of polish in it. Prima's "Abrasiveness" rating for Cut/Swirl/Finish/Amigo goes "High", "Moderate", "Low" and "Very Low", respectively. If you were to use both Finish and Amigo on the same job, I'm pretty sure Finish should come before Amigo.

 

K... makes sense.

Glad I stopped using Finish when I started using Amigo.

 

Absolutely correct.

And the great thing for me is that I find I can use Swirl with yellow and orange pads as well as white pads instead of switching to Cut. Or I can use Swirl with a white pad instead of using Finish, and go directly to Amigo with a White pad.

I.e., Swirl is flexible enough to span from moderately aggressive to "finish" quality with the appropriate pad and tool combination.

For me, Cut and Finish are used in extreme cases where the above isn't effective. That would be like Swirl 90% of the time!

Remember that Amigo makes dark colors EVEN richer and darker--so for best results it's a MUST on dark colors before going to wax plus it makes the paint EVEN slicker.

Richard

 

And I thought my Brain Hurt before I even got the Detailing Bug!!

 

OK Richard, once more with clarity for us newbs. Just got my PC but haven't used it yet. Have the full complement of pads and the DP Polish bundle. If I'm just looking to freshen up the car, I assume that Swirl followed by Amigo followed by Epic is the right way to go. That said, what pads go with each? (I bought your DVD but haven't had the time to watch it yet...in fact, I have to find it )

 

Although this doesn't fully answer all the questions, I find this decent reference:
http://www.detailersparadise.com/_System/_CMS/?Page=FAQ

It would be nice if 'Prima" provided better instructions and guides for using their products. This forum is helpful, but some of the repeated questions could be covered on their website, me thinks.

 

I'm not Richard, but I play him on TV.

For a "freshen up" on fairly well cared for paint with only light to moderate swirls:
Wash well.
If your paint isn't smooth to the touch (use the "baggie test" on clean paint) then clay first.
Prima Swirl with orange pad - one or more passes, until swirls are gone
Prima Amigo with white pad - to yield a mirror-like finish
Prima Epic, either hand applied or applied with PC and black pad

 

I might even try Swirl on a white pad first just to be sure that isn't enough.

 

True...

 

Thanks Paul!

 

I always start with white first before going to Orange. No sense in starting out more aggressive than needed.

Richard

 

Makes sense.

If OctaneGuy is the MacGyver of detailing, that makes me MacGruber.

 

One other problem with newbie PC users...make sure that you are using good technique in order to determine whether you should change pad/chemicals.

That means, appropriate amount of polish, not too much or too little.
Keep arm movement slow and even and keep the pad spinning, not too much pressure--just a bit more than the weight of the machine.

Don't drag the power cord across the paint, throw it over your shoulder. Wipe the polish once it's turned clear and now broken down with the best microfiber towels and repeat.

Review my DVD if you have forgotten.

Richard