tpg013

I'd be real careful using Dawn soap to wash the truck. I have heard some pretty nasty stories about using Dawn. You're probably better off using a Car Washing soap.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

The Dawn dish soap is to only be used before you wax. It strips off the old wax.
I have used it with no problems on mine at all.

Another good product to remove the old wax is "Paint Prep" sold by Griot's. I have some, but prefer the Dawn to strip off the old.
Corey

tpg013

OK, one last question. Do they sell a pad to remove the wax or do you do it by hand? I have a bad shoulder and if there is a good buffing disc out there it would help.

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Yes, Griot's does sell an item to remove the wax from your rig.
Info is in the wax section on my detail page.

I have one, but the time I tried it last year it just spun around and did not do much good.
I had put it right over a foam pad I think.

I gave up, and I think I called them up and it's suppose to be put on directly to their backing plate, and not over a foam pad.
I could be wrong, but I have not tried it since.

If you do try one though, you would still need to go back and do a final wipe off with a clean towel to get the left over residue if any is left.

I forgot to try it again in May when I last did my rig, but I will try and test it out again next time I wax.
Corey

SloMo

Corey:

When I called to order all my Griot's stuff, they told me that the wax off pad is supposed to be placed over the polishing pad. The guy said its works great that way. I dont know whether it makes a difference what pad you put it over but he told me to put it over the orange one.

Slo:pig:

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Cool. I had put it over one of the big yellow ones that I was still using from Meguiar's.
I have not used their pads for awhile, as I like the smaller height of Griot's pads way better.

I have an orange one laying around, and I might experiment with it in a bit.
Corey

UPDATE

Just shot a video of the wax removal pad. I slipped it over a Griot's orange polish pad, and when you turn it on, the pad grows.

I think it's going to work. I will try it for sure next time.
Here is the 1.3 MB video.

I shot it on medium quality, so it will play back full screen and look decent.

Arachnid

Hey guys, I always thought that using
a buffer type setup would hurt the paint on a
vehicle. I have always thought that waxing by
hand would not hurt the paint.Am I just behind
the times?I just bought a newer 4runner and I
was wanting to keep it cleaner than the 86 I have.
I could see that it would be easier and faster, but
i just assumed that a buffer type would do more
damage than good.Give me your opinions about this.
Kenneth

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Yes, a regular buffer in the hands of someone who has never used one before can leave swirl marks and burn the crap out of your paint.
But the Porter Cable is not really a buffer in a sense.
It is a random orbit sander. It's totally different from the type that can ruin your paint in the hands of an untrained person.
There really is no learning curve with the Porter Cable. Todd did hi rig after watching me use it to clay his rig. He then took over to apply the polish, and then the wax.

Take a look in my detail section in my sig file below and for one of the best movies on how the PC setup works, click on the Meguiar's link I have near the top of the "Waxing with the Porter Cable" page.

There you can watch a cool video of Mr. Meguiar explaining how easy it is to use the unit.
Then look near the bottom of my same page and you will see a video my youngest son shot of me last year.
I push down real hard on the unit. It's got a clutch or some system in it that when you bare down, it stops spinning. In fact when it is spinning, I can grab the pad in my hand and stop it totally.

Trust me, you won't burn your paint with this. And if you use the correct pads (Meguiar's or Griot's) the system also removes past swirl marks in your paint.
I have been doing this now for a couple of years, and my rig is my baby. I would not do anything to it that is going to harm the paint on it.

Also on my wax page near the bottom are two write-ups by forum members who have used the system. Read up on what they have to say about it too.

Arachnid

Hey Corey, I looked at both of the waxing pages,
Griots and Meguiars. I guess I am a little behind
the times. I may have to get one of the PC orbital
sanders and give it a try.Do you get the Griots
products online or do they sale them in certain
store chains.I am east coast, I have not found
Griots anywhere here yet. Thanks for the help.
Kenneth

data

I don't think that Griots can be bought in store anywhere, but I could be wrong. I order a ton of stuff from them last week. Really nice people

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Ken, if I am not in the mood to drive there, I order it.
But they are only 20 to 30 minutes away from me down the freeway, so I often just go there to pick up the stuff.

Yeah, no stores elsewhere. The warehouse they are in is where they even make all of their waxes and Speed Shine.

Last time I was there I got to meet the prez himself. When you get their catalogs you will see from time to time in there some pics of his mother in-law in a huge light blue beehive hairdo and a bathrobe.
I found out it's actually his brother, the vice prez

Keep an eye out for me too, as I'll be in the next few issues. I am on page 20 right next to the Porter Cable buffer of course.

Just make sure though that you get the sander elsewhere so you can save some bucks.
All the other stuff though I'd just get it form there, including their backing plate. It's only a few dollars more than the Meguiar's one like I have, and you will probably make up for it by not having to pay shipping to Meguiar's.

Their catalogs also have some very good tips in them such as using a leaf blower on your rig first to get a lot of the water out of the nooks & crannies before you wipe it down.
Mr. Griot also says to wax in the nude I'm not making this up, it's in the catalog. He likes to joke a lot.
Corey

tpg013

I don't see anywhere on the Griot's page where they offer the backing plate. Do i have to call them?

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Yes, it's not in their hand book.
Griot's part # is 10625C and is called a 6” backing plate.
Corey

data

how difficult is the backplate to install??? :beaver:

Corey

iTrader: (1)

The Porter Cable comes with a wrench. You just take off the stock plate that is used for sand paper, and put the new backing plate on.
Takes about one minute to do both.
Corey

data

sweeeet! sounds easy enough

data

The wax has finally arrived!!!! I will probalby start by taking off my roof rack later on this afternoon and start waxing, washing, ect in the morning. I'll try to take some before\after pics! Well wish me luck!!!

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Welcome to the Porter Cable Club


It takes a few minutes to get use to it, and if I remember right, you had the clay bar holder too right?
It's going to shake your arms a bit. Set it on speed # 3 for clay.

When you get one of the pads on there to then polish or wax, it won't vibrate you as much as it does with the clay bar holder.
Crank up the speed to # 4 for both of those.

Have fun, and report back your likes/dislikes using the setup.
Corey

data

Hey when polishing/waxing do you wax/polish the whole car and then wipe it off. Or do you just do sections at a time and wipe off while you go?

Corey

iTrader: (1)

Sections only.
The BOS wax and the Machine polishes dry fast.

You can do half of your hood in one shot.
When I do the doors, I do the whole door at once and go over it a few times with the unit.

Then what I do is move onto another section and wax it. Then I come back the prior one and wipe off the residue.
This works OK if you are not in direct sunlight or hot temps.

If either of the two apply, I'd wipe it off almost as soon as you buff it in with the PC.
Corey