*Official* Ask A Detailer Thread

What exactly is a paint sealer?

 

A paint sealer is a polymer liquid that when applied chemically bonds with the surface of the paint. The sealer locks in the polishing of the paint and protects the surface from acid rain, bird bombs, etc. Sealers are very diverse from a lot of different manufactures. Some sealers have the ability to fill very minor surface imperfections, scratches, so that they are less noticeable. Most sealers offer 6 months of protection for the paint surface in comparison to most waxes which only last a week to 2 months.

In the last 6 to 7 years it has become the norm to top a sealer with a wax to give your finish the best of both worlds, protection and dripping wet look.

There are some hybrid sealers that contain a synthetic wax. These are usually a paste and not a liquid.

This is a very brief description of a sealer.

I use a product manufactured by Zaino for a sealer and top it with Pinnacle Souveran in the summer or Wolfgang Fuzion for the winter. I have not found any reason to change products but I occasionally try a new wax.

 

So the process would be:
1) Wash
2) Clay bar
3) Sealer
4) Wax

???

 

Thank you! Very helpful. Why is this not more popular? also, vv

This ^^

 

Yeah then quick wax to maintain that wax and then new wax after a few months and clay and sealer after 6 or 8 months I guess

 

You might want to wash and polish after the clay bar. Otherwise you are on the right path.

 

By polish do you mean wax...? Wash after clay bar? Do you mean wash twice or clay bar a dirty truck?

List please... Lol

 

1. Wash Tacoma
2. Claybar
3. If applying a sealant now wash car 2nd time to remove clay residue.
4. If polishing car there is no need to wash car a second time. Polishing will remove the residue.
5. If you polished the car you will need to wipe down the car with a 50/50 mix of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water.
6. If polished apply sealant now.
7. Apply second coat of sealant. The second coat takes less than an hour to apply.
8. Apply wax
9. If desired wait 24 hours to apply a second cot of wax. The first coat of wax needs time to set up and cure on to the sealant.

 

Polishing and waxing are not the same thing. Polishing removes all of the light to moderate scratches in the paint. Once the polishing is done, then you wax. Wax is just the finishing touch.

 

Dude, you left out steps for beer!


Thanks for the detailed instructions. Don't know if I'll ever have enough energy to get through the entire thing, but we'll see.

 

Head is spinning. Is it detrimental to only wash and wax or wash, claybar, and wax?

Same question as I had above, and thank you both for the great info

 

To determine if you want to Claybar, after washing and drying the surface of the vehicle, the paint needs t be dry for this test. Place your hand in a baggie and wipe it across the paint surface. If you feel a lot of bumps through the baggie you should clay or polish the vehicle.

Washing and waxing is better than not doing anything. At least you are keeping the paint surface protected until you have more time to wash/claybar/etc.

 

LOL You at your age should know that pounding down a few beers is a given.

 

Detrimental?.....no. I wash, claybar, polish, wax just once a year. The rest of the year, I wash and detail. I will apply wax twice a year, sometimes three and maybe clay bar once more. If you live in harsh climate, i.e lots of winter road salt and chemicals then you might want to do it more. I am no expert at detailing, but a clay bar treatment twice a year works great for my paint. I use a detailing spray from Chemical Guys that has clay in it and it seems to keep my paint mostly containment free between my full, all out once a year details.

 

So I could...
Wash, claybar, wax at the beginning of a cycle/year (if you will)
Wash and detail spray the next few washes
Wash, claybar, and wax halfway through the cycle/year
Restart cycle?

Sorry for the way I'm putting things, I'm at work and scheduling maintenance cycles is all I'm dealing with today >.<

 

Yep....sounds good to me.

 

What spray is this? Use this with a clay bar or put on and buff out?

 

Check out this link with the "Go With the Flow" chart. This should give you an idea on what to do

 

Also curious

Thank you guys for bearing with me. Will read that