Polishing question

[J. Huber]

This is kind of a Chicken and Egg thing. Whenever I wax my car -- generally about now each year -- I first use a Polish (Meguires 7) followed by a wax (usually #26). Yesterday, however, I polished it and thought man does it look nice. So I haven't waxed it yet. Then I started thinking about car shows -- do folks always wax after polishing or does anyone just polish, period?

James
63 230SL

[Vince Canepa]

#7 is a glaze, so it has fillers and wax properties.  It will leave a very nice shine but doesn't last long.  Before a show, I polish with #9, then glaze with #7, then wax with Harly Wax (no affiliation with the motorcycles).  I only glaze when I want the paint to really pop.  Also, it works best with dark colors and reds.

On my other cars I go straight from #9 to Harly Wax.

Vince Canepa
1967 250SL
113.043-10-001543
568H Signal Red
116 Caviar MB-Tex

[ja17]

Hello,

Yes I know what you mean about #7 looking great but not lasting long, but it goes on easy and fast.
Polish cleans the paint nicely but leaves no protection. Good wax protects against harmful ultraviolet rays, bugs, tree saps, and scratching.

A well waxed car should wash up nicely with cold water and no detergent. Hot water sofens the paint and wax causing scratches during washings. Detergents strip the protective wax.

I hand wash my SL with a wool mitt, cold water and  with no detergent. Not possible for everyone, I am sure, but makes your paint and wax last a long time.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[J. Huber]

Well, I decided to enjoy the polish for a day -- then finished off with wax. But thanks for the input. Joe, my usual car wash is kind of strange but not that different from yours. Each time I wash my wife's tahoe (she likes it clean), I take the wet towel from drying and wipe down my car. Between these days I hit it with Quick detail and a duster. The car doesn't really have a chance to get dirty -- and hasn't seen rain in 10 years.

James
63 230SL

[Bob G ✝︎]

Good old MG 7 was a show car polish developed back in the 1960's very oily. the new stuff is more dried out because there is no place for the oils to go since the clear coates have a denser and not as porous skin.  #26 is high tech yellow wax easy on and off.
Does you paint have  a clear  coat or is it single stage ?

Bob Geco

[J. Huber]

Hi Bob. I believe its a clearcoat. The paint receipt says catalyzed urethane with "sunshield UV and sealant." I am guessing that would be a clearcoat but set me straight if I am wrong...

James
63 230SL