doing thew meguiars 3 step tomorrow...

Eric85 · 09-25-2003, 02:38 AM

anyone have any pointers or maybe why i shouldnt do it. i have some pretty bad swirlage to my paint so hopefully this will get some out.

V6MaroFL · 09-25-2003, 02:58 AM

No reason not to, what color is your truck? You might also consider using clay bar before you start if time permits to get rid of spotting, old wax, etc.

You probably already know all this but... Wash the truck real good before you start.. use 100% cotton cloths and work in small areas. Try not to apply it in direct sunlight and wipe it off as soon as it hazes over. Your arm will hurt like hell towards the end but it'll be worth it. Oh and take some before/after pics for us.

Eric85 · 09-25-2003, 03:04 AM

truck is black and how long should i leave each step on? I plan on doing this in my garage after i wash it of course. I am going to wash it with dial soap before i do the 3 step. How long should i permit to do the 3 step with time to spare to take a shower before i go to work?

V6MaroFL · 09-25-2003, 04:11 AM

Dishsoap such as Dawn will work to strip the truck of its old wax before you start (because dishsoap is made to take grease and film off dishes), I'm not sure if dial soap will have the same effect but it might.

Don't leave any of the steps on long, usually around a minute tops. You will see it haze up, which means its time to wipe up. The haze will be especially visable on a black truck so you'll know. Like I said, try to apply in small 6 inch x 6 inch squares. This is time consuming and you'll be temped to do it in larger areas, but it seems to comes out best this way.

Not counting the initial wash, I usually plan on a healthy 3 hours (if not more) for something like the 3 step, hour per step roughly. Really depends on how fast you work and how thorough you are.

Eric85 · 09-25-2003, 04:32 AM

so it isnt a good idea to do the whol truck and then wipe it off? Or should i do it panel by panel? Like say do the hood then do the fenders and then the door?

scott750 · 09-25-2003, 05:36 AM

Never use dish soap to wash a truck. True it does strip wax of, but it can also take the "nutrients" out of the clear coat, therefore drying it, and possibly leading to cracking. So the meguiar's website said. Use a good car specific soap. I like Meguiar's gold class, the best. Also when I do a 3 stepper on my truck, the meguiar's as well, I apply the cleaner, polish, or wax to the whole truck, because it takes a little bit for it to haze up. Then I wipe it all off. If you have access to an orbital buffer, I use that to apply. My arm doesn't hurt as much at the end. Plus I can apply more evenly than if I applied by hand. Just a suggestion.

03 SS · 09-26-2003, 05:21 AM

I had swirls on my old black car. I dont use all three steps. I only have done it that way if the paint was way oxidized. If you dont want swirl marks just put a light coat of the number 2 (I think?), it should be the wet/gloss look buff. It takes out all the little swirls in the paint without creating buffing swirls. Of course you should be proficeint with a good buffer too. I did mine like that once a year. Mothers clay bar works wonders on paint too, so you might do that first.

g_visser1 · 09-26-2003, 03:52 PM

Buy a Orbital Buffer at walmart for $16 anyone can use it and it will help get rid of the swirls a little thats what I do for my xtreme.

97S10SS · 09-27-2003, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by V6MaroFL

Don't leave any of the steps on long, usually around a minute tops. You will see it haze up, which means its time to wipe up. The haze will be especially visable on a black truck so you'll know. Like I said, try to apply in small 6 inch x 6 inch squares. This is time consuming and you'll be temped to do it in larger areas, but it seems to comes out best this way.

Let the polish and wax sit for only a minute? No way, try 20 minutes. Leaving it on for a minute, its not even going to do anything, its not even dry by then.

V6MaroFL · 09-27-2003, 09:12 AM

I've used alot of different waxes and I've never come across anything that takes 20 minutes to dry. Maybe saying one minute was off, I never timed it, but here in this 900 degree heat, trust me the wax will be dry and hazed after 2-3 minutes. I promise.

03 SS · 10-01-2003, 03:35 AM

He's right. There is no reason to leave it on any longer than it takes to haze. That is usually a few minutes.

Eric85 · 10-01-2003, 04:22 AM

well i finally did it since i had to wait for my chip fracture in my knucle had time to feel better. In all honesty im dissapointed. for the work that i put into it yet it gave me a great shine but the smoothness is second to none to my Zaino. Im going to buy the zaion swirl remover and give that a whirl with the Zaino polish. The zaino wax did a better job with one coat then this stuff did through all 3 stages.

Eric85 · 10-01-2003, 04:59 AM

By the way here is my truck after a fresh wash with the 5 month old Zaino wax job still on it. The pictures dont even do my truck justice of how good it still looks but i thought i would give this stuff a try and will never touch any other wax besides Zaino.

Moses-10 · 10-02-2003, 07:18 PM

g-visor, you could have at least cleaned your extreme before posting it.

g_visser1 · 10-03-2003, 12:16 AM

Ya I should have done one more orbital one it huh?

Offthehook · 10-03-2003, 01:14 AM

lookin good

the buddman · 10-12-2003, 09:03 PM

www.zainobros.com

go there, read up.......zaino didnt really create a revolutionary wax, just a better way to wash a car.....i have seen damn good results from meguairs gold class applied using the zaino directions.

2k2Xon20s · 10-16-2003, 08:49 PM

so the three step sucks or what? i just bought it today. tell me about this orbital buffer... my black is starting to get swirls. g_visser that shiot looks good!

g_visser1 · 10-17-2003, 06:41 PM

The Orbital Buffer is like a 1000 chinese men hands doing the karate kid "wax on wax off" it sells for around $20 at walmart. You want to use 100% terry cloth pads, I believe a couple pads come with it and so do directions for maximum shine. I do the whole car with the orbital buffer then wipe of the wax for each step.

2k2Xon20s · 10-17-2003, 08:15 PM

Just finished Step 1. Looks like 2 and 3 will go tomorrow. No more sleeping til 1:00. I was always scared I might screw up with a buffer but I might give it a try if it's that easy.

g_visser1 · 10-18-2003, 01:25 AM

A 4yr old little kid can use a orbitil buffer... no matter what you do you can't mess it up. You are thinking of a high speed buffer-that can mess up your paint if you dont know what your doing. I hope your car is parked in a garage because if your going to to those two other steps in the morning and your car is parked outside you are going to scratch it hardcore. You need to do all three at once.

2k2Xon20s · 10-18-2003, 01:46 AM

It's in the garage and covered. Should be ok. I think I'm going to pick up an orbital buffer tomorrow to finish the other 2 steps. Step one surprised me and took a lot of the swirls out. I wish i would have clay barred first, but I didn't think I had that much shit on the paint til I got to tailgate and effects.

Offthehook · 10-18-2003, 02:24 AM

zaino is some expensive stuff

Eric85 · 10-18-2003, 04:23 AM

yea zaino is expensive but it works!! Hte best wax i have ever used hands down!

g_visser1 · 10-18-2003, 05:48 AM

When you say best wax ... are you refering to the smoothness of the paint or how well it gets rid of swirl marks?

hardlydangerous · 10-20-2003, 02:53 AM

I've used the first 2 steps then Zaino bros. for a finish on my bikes.
The Zaino brings out the wildest deep wet shine I have ever seen. it makes the paint look like it's 6" deep. great stuff (best I have used) and well worth the $$$

Eric85 · 10-20-2003, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by g_visser1
When you say best wax ... are you refering to the smoothness of the paint or how well it gets rid of swirl marks?

for just the regular wax Zainos sells it is the best wax i have used according to swril remover, deep finish, ANYTHING. How well it goes on and off is amazing. I am looking into buying some of their swirl remover and polisher. Then i will post pics but now a couple of weeks later all my swirls are back and i dont dry my truck with towels. it is either i wash and go down the highway at 80 or i wash and dry with a chamois. nothing else.

09-25-2003, 02:38 AM	#1
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	doing thew meguiars 3 step tomorrow... anyone have any pointers or maybe why i shouldnt do it. i have some pretty bad swirlage to my paint so hopefully this will get some out.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-25-2003, 02:58 AM	#2
V6MaroFL Make Way for the Bad Guy Age: 26 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 821 Location: Tallahassee, FL (FSU) User is: OffLine	No reason not to, what color is your truck? You might also consider using clay bar before you start if time permits to get rid of spotting, old wax, etc. You probably already know all this but... Wash the truck real good before you start.. use 100% cotton cloths and work in small areas. Try not to apply it in direct sunlight and wipe it off as soon as it hazes over. Your arm will hurt like hell towards the end but it'll be worth it. Oh and take some before/after pics for us. Last edited by V6MaroFL : 09-25-2003 at 03:01 AM.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-25-2003, 03:04 AM	#3
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	truck is black and how long should i leave each step on? I plan on doing this in my garage after i wash it of course. I am going to wash it with dial soap before i do the 3 step. How long should i permit to do the 3 step with time to spare to take a shower before i go to work?
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-25-2003, 04:11 AM	#4
V6MaroFL Make Way for the Bad Guy Age: 26 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 821 Location: Tallahassee, FL (FSU) User is: OffLine	Dishsoap such as Dawn will work to strip the truck of its old wax before you start (because dishsoap is made to take grease and film off dishes), I'm not sure if dial soap will have the same effect but it might. Don't leave any of the steps on long, usually around a minute tops. You will see it haze up, which means its time to wipe up. The haze will be especially visable on a black truck so you'll know. Like I said, try to apply in small 6 inch x 6 inch squares. This is time consuming and you'll be temped to do it in larger areas, but it seems to comes out best this way. Not counting the initial wash, I usually plan on a healthy 3 hours (if not more) for something like the 3 step, hour per step roughly. Really depends on how fast you work and how thorough you are.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-25-2003, 04:32 AM	#5
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	so it isnt a good idea to do the whol truck and then wipe it off? Or should i do it panel by panel? Like say do the hood then do the fenders and then the door?
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-25-2003, 05:36 AM	#6
scott750 Registered User Age: 31 Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,917 Location: Austin, TX User is: OffLine	Never use dish soap to wash a truck. True it does strip wax of, but it can also take the "nutrients" out of the clear coat, therefore drying it, and possibly leading to cracking. So the meguiar's website said. Use a good car specific soap. I like Meguiar's gold class, the best. Also when I do a 3 stepper on my truck, the meguiar's as well, I apply the cleaner, polish, or wax to the whole truck, because it takes a little bit for it to haze up. Then I wipe it all off. If you have access to an orbital buffer, I use that to apply. My arm doesn't hurt as much at the end. Plus I can apply more evenly than if I applied by hand. Just a suggestion.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-26-2003, 05:21 AM	#7
03 SS Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,380 Location: User is: OffLine	I had swirls on my old black car. I dont use all three steps. I only have done it that way if the paint was way oxidized. If you dont want swirl marks just put a light coat of the number 2 (I think?), it should be the wet/gloss look buff. It takes out all the little swirls in the paint without creating buffing swirls. Of course you should be proficeint with a good buffer too. I did mine like that once a year. Mothers clay bar works wonders on paint too, so you might do that first.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-27-2003, 03:10 AM	#9
97S10SS Black SS Age: 26 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5,787 Location: Seattle Washington User is: OffLine	Quote: Originally posted by V6MaroFL Don't leave any of the steps on long, usually around a minute tops. You will see it haze up, which means its time to wipe up. The haze will be especially visable on a black truck so you'll know. Like I said, try to apply in small 6 inch x 6 inch squares. This is time consuming and you'll be temped to do it in larger areas, but it seems to comes out best this way. Let the polish and wax sit for only a minute? No way, try 20 minutes. Leaving it on for a minute, its not even going to do anything, its not even dry by then.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-27-2003, 09:12 AM	#10
V6MaroFL Make Way for the Bad Guy Age: 26 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 821 Location: Tallahassee, FL (FSU) User is: OffLine	I've used alot of different waxes and I've never come across anything that takes 20 minutes to dry. Maybe saying one minute was off, I never timed it, but here in this 900 degree heat, trust me the wax will be dry and hazed after 2-3 minutes. I promise.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-01-2003, 03:35 AM	#11
03 SS Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,380 Location: User is: OffLine	He's right. There is no reason to leave it on any longer than it takes to haze. That is usually a few minutes.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-01-2003, 04:22 AM	#12
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	well i finally did it since i had to wait for my chip fracture in my knucle had time to feel better. In all honesty im dissapointed. for the work that i put into it yet it gave me a great shine but the smoothness is second to none to my Zaino. Im going to buy the zaion swirl remover and give that a whirl with the Zaino polish. The zaino wax did a better job with one coat then this stuff did through all 3 stages.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-02-2003, 07:18 PM	#14
Moses-10 Registered User Age: 25 Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 29 Location: Sacramento, CALI User is: OffLine	g-visor, you could have at least cleaned your extreme before posting it.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-03-2003, 12:16 AM	#15
g_visser1 Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: User is: OffLine	Ya I should have done one more orbital one it huh?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-03-2003, 01:14 AM	#16
Offthehook SVT Cobra Moderator Age: 22 Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 16,006 Location: LA california User is: OffLine	lookin good
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-12-2003, 09:03 PM	#17
the buddman Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 458 Location: Eglin AFB, FL User is: OffLine	www.zainobros.com go there, read up.......zaino didnt really create a revolutionary wax, just a better way to wash a car.....i have seen damn good results from meguairs gold class applied using the zaino directions.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-16-2003, 08:49 PM	#18
2k2Xon20s without the 20's... Age: 30 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504 Location: User is: OffLine	so the three step sucks or what? i just bought it today. tell me about this orbital buffer... my black is starting to get swirls. g_visser that shiot looks good!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-17-2003, 06:41 PM	#19
g_visser1 Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: User is: OffLine	The Orbital Buffer is like a 1000 chinese men hands doing the karate kid "wax on wax off" it sells for around $20 at walmart. You want to use 100% terry cloth pads, I believe a couple pads come with it and so do directions for maximum shine. I do the whole car with the orbital buffer then wipe of the wax for each step.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-17-2003, 08:15 PM	#20
2k2Xon20s without the 20's... Age: 30 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504 Location: User is: OffLine	Just finished Step 1. Looks like 2 and 3 will go tomorrow. No more sleeping til 1:00. I was always scared I might screw up with a buffer but I might give it a try if it's that easy.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2003, 01:25 AM	#21
g_visser1 Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: User is: OffLine	A 4yr old little kid can use a orbitil buffer... no matter what you do you can't mess it up. You are thinking of a high speed buffer-that can mess up your paint if you dont know what your doing. I hope your car is parked in a garage because if your going to to those two other steps in the morning and your car is parked outside you are going to scratch it hardcore. You need to do all three at once.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2003, 01:46 AM	#22
2k2Xon20s without the 20's... Age: 30 Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 504 Location: User is: OffLine	It's in the garage and covered. Should be ok. I think I'm going to pick up an orbital buffer tomorrow to finish the other 2 steps. Step one surprised me and took a lot of the swirls out. I wish i would have clay barred first, but I didn't think I had that much shit on the paint til I got to tailgate and effects.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2003, 02:24 AM	#23
Offthehook SVT Cobra Moderator Age: 22 Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 16,006 Location: LA california User is: OffLine	zaino is some expensive stuff
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2003, 04:23 AM	#24
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	yea zaino is expensive but it works!! Hte best wax i have ever used hands down!
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-18-2003, 05:48 AM	#25
g_visser1 Registered User Age: 27 Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 35 Location: User is: OffLine	When you say best wax ... are you refering to the smoothness of the paint or how well it gets rid of swirl marks?
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-20-2003, 02:53 AM	#26
hardlydangerous H-D motorsports Age: 34 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 654 Location: Ontario, Canada User is: OffLine	I've used the first 2 steps then Zaino bros. for a finish on my bikes. The Zaino brings out the wildest deep wet shine I have ever seen. it makes the paint look like it's 6" deep. great stuff (best I have used) and well worth the $$$
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-20-2003, 03:03 AM	#27
Eric85 Registered User Age: 24 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 2,090 Location: Illinois User is: OffLine	Quote: Originally posted by g_visser1 When you say best wax ... are you refering to the smoothness of the paint or how well it gets rid of swirl marks? for just the regular wax Zainos sells it is the best wax i have used according to swril remover, deep finish, ANYTHING. How well it goes on and off is amazing. I am looking into buying some of their swirl remover and polisher. Then i will post pics but now a couple of weeks later all my swirls are back and i dont dry my truck with towels. it is either i wash and go down the highway at 80 or i wash and dry with a chamois. nothing else.
	[Reply w/Quote]