Thanks for all the tips everyone. Also thanks for the 'where to buy' tips. I got all my supplies at local stores, and am planning to give this a shot on Sat. morning / afternoon. I am actually excited about it!

---UPDATE---
3.5 hours after starting. Wash, dry, clay.wash.dry.scratchX.wax(2cts), tch protect. I am done!

She looks so good, better than we picked her up at the dealer. Thanks for all the tips and advise.Made the job a lot of hard work (so tired) but pretty easy.

 

Today I decided to try a product from the Meguiar's professional line, and I'm pretty much sold on it. It's glossier/slicker than NXT, super easy to apply and remove, and doesn't need to be layered like Zaino. One coat was all it took--15 minutes of drying, and even easier to wipe off. It's supposed to last longer than Tech Wax. I couldn't stop touching it--it felt soooo good. I applied it over my last coat of NXT Tech Wax which was applied 1 week ago.

It's called #21 or M21 Synthetic Sealant
http://www.meguiars.com/?pro-liquid-...thetic-Sealant

 

How did you apply it?

 

looks fantastic..
octane - did u wash, clay, polish,wax, +m21 ur car in that picture?

 

Anyone know of a local store (chain) to by the Meguiars Synthetic Sealant (M21)? I looked at my local auto store (who cares some Meguiars products) and no go. I'd like to save some $$ and avoid shipping if possible. Also any stores you know carry 303 Aerospace Protectant as well? (The shopping list places were right on before!)

I am real happy with the NXT tech wax finish - I also could not stop touching the car at first. So I can only image how shiny and pretty Minerva will be after getting a coat of M21.

thanks!

 

Sorry for the delay guys. I'm not receiving email notifications of my posts any more---long story. Answers below:

By hand. I used a foam applicator pad like this:
http://www.meguiars.com/?specialized...Applicator-Pad

Squirted about a pea sized amount into the pad, and wiped it on. I made sure I had completely even coverage, overlapping in all directions. I let it dry for 15 minutes. I worked on a Chili Red MCS yesterday and I applied M21 with the PC and a soft finishing pad--results were the same with a bit less effort. The trick is to make sure it's fully dry. If not, it'll still be a bit sticky and hard to remove--true of any liquid wax!


I had washed, clayed using water from soap water bucket, waxed with tech wax--didn't use polish--one week prior. I had an event with a MINI dealer so I did a quick wax job. I applied M21 a week later--I just used NXT Speed Detailer & Microfiber towel to wipe off dust, then wiped on M21.



Because M21 is a Professional product, you will need to buy it either directly from Meguiars, an online company like AutoDetailingSolutions.com, or from a local PB&E that supplies paint/body shop supplies to your local body shops. Just call up a body shop and ask where they buy their products and they should be able to refer you to a local supplier.

http://www.autodetailingsolutions.co...20Products.htm

Here's a few pics from a car I worked on yesterday. Car had never been waxed since it was picked up from the dealer 4 months ago. Less than 5,000 miles, and lives outdoors. I washed, clayed, paint cleaned/polished using M83 & M80, then topped with M21. All applied with a PC, no rotary work involved.

 

thanks for the details octane guy!! loving those pictures!

 

Those pictures make me salivate...

 

You guys are funny!! Thank you!!!

 

To the original question: you will def. need more than one coat of NXT if you want it to last more than 1 month of winter weather.

Since this thread seems to be dominated by Meguires products, I'll suggest some others for durability and shine through the winter:
- Zaino (mentioned already)
- Klasse (mentioned)
- One Grand Blitz wax - natural carnuba wax which will last longer than NXT
- Collinite Insulator Wax
- Collinite Fleet wax (paste)

Based on some (not all) of the opinions on the following sites, all of the above products outlast NXT: www.autopia.org
www.detailtersclub.com

Octaneguy: Anymore info/experiences with the M21 - that looks great on CR!

mb

 

What does PC stand for?

 

just washed, clayed and waxed with Meguiar's NXT Tech Wax over the weekend and my car looks AWESOME. planning on washing it and putting anohter coat on next weekend to keep it looking shiny. Wow, Chili Red looks soooooooo goood....

 

Brand Name

 

PC is the industry term for the Porter Cable Dual Action Polisher. No matter the brand of orbital polisher you choose, this tool is known as the PC. This is in contrast to a direct drive rotary polisher, known simply as a rotary.

The rotary is often a Makita or DeWalt, but still known as the rotary.

A PC is a safe finishing tool. Gets out scratches, and is very fast for applying and removing wax, and you can't burn through the paint.

The rotary is a very fast tool that cuts through your paint. Its used by pro detailers to remove defects (scratches, etchings, etc...). You can use it to apply wax as well, but in practice you always want to finish with the PC because no matter how careful you are, a rotary tends to leave holograms or buffer swirls.

Find a nice, shiny black car that's obviously been detailed---look at it from many angles in the sunlight. You can always tell a rotary job by the trails in the shine. If the detailer had finished it with a PC, those trails wouldn't be there, unless he was really incompetent and made them really deep. Many detailers don't bother with the PC because it's too slow.

But it's the perfect tool for the beginner to effectively buff out his car faster and easier without potential for damage.

Richard

 

Every web forum has a preferred product angle. Detailersclub is notoriously anti Meguiars--strong Zaino bent, check out the Free Zaino contest--- and IMO isn't a source for unbiased information.

Despite what these forums say, it comes down to the user and what they feel are the best compromises in terms of look and durability as well as ease of use.

Check out Meguiarsonline.com and ask the users what they think about NXT's durability and you will find they love it. Whether you ask Professionals or just enthusiasts.

As for M21, I just started using it. That CR was the 2nd car I've used the product with, with my Indi Blue being the first.

 

Agreed - it is almost sickening how much Zaino is worshipped in some places. But I suppose if it gets the results people want, it is valid to them. Although I find a lot of people on those sites who try different things and report objectively about them, it's the internet, who can tell?

Let us know how the M21 holds up after a month with regard to beading and slickness. Thanks!

mb

 

Here is the car in the shop after a NXT treatment. Notice the reflection of the Beemer in the bumper. I am quite satisfied with NXT.

 

Sorry to hi jack but..

Octane guy (mr detailing guru) - say u spent 3-4 hours detaling ur car one day (wash, clay, poslih, wax etc ), and ur car is looking shhhhmick !

then 3 days later .. it rains.. now ur car is all dusty etc.. what do u do then? re-wash? or hose down the car, then quick detail?

 

Good question!

This is what I do:

1.) I keep my paint relatively dust free through daily wipe downs with a microfiber towel and Quik Detailer/Speed Detailer.

2.) After driving in the rain and pulling into my garage for the night, I use a small bug sprayer filled with clean water and hose down any muddy areas. Especially useful on the wheels! I use an Absorber towel to dry the entire car--rain water and all.

3.) As long as you wipe/dry the car while it's still wet, and isn't caked with dried mud and grit--that's why I keep my car as dust free as possible to prevent that buildup--you won't be hurting your finish.

Should there be any spots left over, you can QD it, but usually isn't necessary.

So by tomorrow, my car will be all clean, and ready to either get wet again, or will be the cleanest car out on the road while everyone is still muddy from the night before!

Richard

 

Thanks so much!
i guess for my next question: " is ur car ever dirty?" lol

 

Shhhhhhhhhh
Yes it gets dirty quite often, but for the last 2 years since I've owned my MINI, I've been pretty good to not let it get dusty for more than 2 days. When it rains, I question if its really necessary to go out, or maybe can get away with taking the wifes car. LOL

I tend to keep my clients cars cleaner than my own. The trick is to get it real clean, take some good pix to immortalize it on NAM, then pretend its always clean. =)

Though people that know me do say my MINI is always shiny. =)

Richard

 

octaneguy..

I thought I was the only one to wipe down my Mini after driving in the rain . I ususally get a bucket of warm water and lightly wipe down the Mini with a MF towel then dry with a MF absorber. If necessary use some QD after. I also wipe down the car every few days with a California Duster.

 

Seoul Korea???? Wow, I guess it just proves there are atleast TWO lunatic MINI owners in this small world of ours!!!

Definitely wiping it down after the rain is a smart way to keep your MINI shiny when it's wet out there, just be sure you aren't wiping grit, or mud into the paint! We're removing water--not pushing grit around! That comment actually isn't for you--I know you already realize that--that's for anyone else that's thinking about joining our insanity!!

Richard

 

just another silly question by me..

i find that after one week from detailing the car (wash,clay,polish,wax) using megs .. the car isnt so glossy .. is this normal that the wax only lasts about a week? i mean the car is still shiny clean after the 2nd wash, but no more 'glossy' look. is this what everyone complians about nxtgen wax not lasting too long>?

(ps i dont quick detail the car during the week,, but it has rained cats and dogs between the 2 car washes)

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "glossy". Is this something you determine by feel or look? Some people swear that NXT is gone by the next day after application because they put it on, and the next day, the super slick feeling isn't there anymore, thus assuming the wax is gone which is incorrect.

Quick Detailing using Speed Detailer or Quik Detailer is an important step to keeping your car looking good and feeling slick from day to day. Some people swear by the NXT Booster Wax (Spray Wax), but I rarely use it. I just apply wax, use Speed Detailer every other day or everytime I'm going to wipe down the car, then 6 weeks later when I have time to buff out my car again, apply wax again.

I judge the protection based on feel. When I wipe down my car with Speed Detailer, over time, the microfiber towel drags more as the wax breaks down. This can happen in a couple weeks or longer--depending on how often I'm rubbing the paint. If I don't have time to apply wax, Spray Wax comes to the rescue.

Some people like to use Spray Wax as a Quick Detailer and IMO, is completely unnecessary. It wasn't designed for this purpose. The Meguiar's products should be used as intended. To wipe off daily dust, use a MF towel and Quik or Speed Detailer. To apply more wax without a full waxing use NXT Spray Wax. For full protection use NXT Tech Wax. For a bit more protection and gloss go with M21.

Richard