recommendations for OTC products?

S

sumptimwong

New member
hey guys, first post here. excellent forum, have found man threads to be very informative, and many rides here are unbelievably... well, shiny.



in my own defense, i must first sya that i HAVE searched, but have not found any definitive results. so please help me out here with your expert opinions (and please keep in mind that i am still relatively new to this).



i have a 2005 accord, with the "graphite gray pearl" color, which looks liek this:

0108062jv.jpg




i like to wash my car as frequently as possible (2-3 weeks), and i usually wax once a month or so. i have been using mother's california gold for a while, per recommendation of a friend. i am looking for a wax that is available OTC and will work well with my paint color and regimen.



my question is, what would be the best OTC wax for my car? i have read that meguiar's nxt tech wax is a great option, though it does not last very long? im also seeing the name 'liquid glass,' but many here say that it has too high of a solvent content. who makes liquid glass? also, i'm seeing "s100" pop up, and people say that it can be found in Harley shops.



can you experts give a few recommendations that are easily accessible, and works well for my situation? THANKS!
 
NXT would be a great choice for your car. NXT gives a nice flake pop so for your color, it would look awesome. and about that durability, 1-2 months is about what your going to get. But you already wax more often than that so... the durability isnt that much of a problem.

I'd pick up some clay while your at the auto store. While your at it, look for some ColorX. That's also a nice product to have around.

Gold class or NXT car wash soap are nice OTC soaps.

Eurow brand sheepskin wash mitts from walmart are what I use on my own car.

Picking up some Meg's Deep Crystal would fill the paint cleaner slot.

Stoner Invisible glass is good, but hasnt gotten off some waterspots that I thought a regular glass cleaner should be able to get off.
 
Neothin said:
NXT would be a great choice for your car. NXT gives a nice flake pop so for your color, it would look awesome. and about that durability, 1-2 months is about what your going to get. But you already wax more often than that so... the durability isnt that much of a problem.

I'd pick up some clay while your at the auto store. While your at it, look for some ColorX. That's also a nice product to have around.

Gold class or NXT car wash soap are nice OTC soaps.

Eurow brand sheepskin wash mitts from walmart are what I use on my own car.

Picking up some Meg's Deep Crystal would fill the paint cleaner slot.

Stoner Invisible glass is good, but hasnt gotten off some waterspots that I thought a regular glass cleaner should be able to get off.
Click to expand...



I big thumbs up to what he said - although I would recommend NXT glass cleaner instead of Stoner's IG.
 
yup, ive got a lump of nearly used-up mothers clay, and a new lump of meguiars clay. i have been using meg's QD for the lube. tried the soap method and that didnt work out too well for me.



im in the middle of a jug of turtle wax suds, is that alright? all i care about is that it doesnt totally undo my previous wax job, and i mainly care about a good value.



thanks so much for all the quick replies.



i should add that ive been using a diluted degreased called "oil eater" from costco on the windshield to get bug remnants off. in the rainy seasons i rainx every other wash.
 
I'd go with claying, ColorX and NXT the first time then maintain every couple of months with a fresh coat of NXT. Can't get much easier than that.
 
does Mother's Reflections compared to NXT in terms of shine/depth? if so, wouldn't this be a better choice because of its superior durability?
 
IMO it has equal to or better reflective qualities, and much superior durability......Ive been switching back and forth with it and UPP......And the smell is addiciting! lol
 
Thanks a lot for your help, Patrick!



However, after another round of searches, I've found that Mother's FX is also a competitor for NXT and Reflections. But does it last as long? If so, I think I would prefer the FX because it supposedly has a higher shine, although it gives less depth.
 
I have and use both Fx and Reflections on a regular basis. Reflections is Mothers top of the line. Both are great. FX does have more shine. The FX spray wax is excellent between regular coats. I sometimes feel the FX is a little too shiny on my silver car and hides the flakes. The Reflections looks warmer with more visible flakes. Both are extremely easy to apply and remove.
 
so i bought the NXT because it was the only one of the three available at walmart. i have my eyes on the Reflections, and that will be the next thing i try.



i tried the NXT today, and it really does give a great shine. doesn't flake like my Mother's CA Gold did, which is nice. the one BAD thing is that i got these dark streaks from the wax. I could totally see the circular strokes I made while applying. can this be prevented using a different application or removal method? i even tried removing the streaks with a wet chamois, but that didnt help much. its not TOO noticable, but still does bother me. i never had this problem with my carnauba.



im using a 4" round terry applicator, which i wash after each use. for wax removal, im currently using terry, but will upgrade to mf when i see a good deal.



any advise/opinions? again, thanks a lot. this site has been very helpful to me
 
I've never used NXT, but usually streaking is from applying too much. It could also be from letting it sit too long. I saw a page on Meg's site that states that their waxes are ready to remove when they haze and wipe clean. If you let them sit too long, they will streak.



HTH.
 
a) If your removal towel gets too loaded with product it can cause streaking. Use MF, and lots of them.



b) Have you clayed in the recent past? Bonded contaminants can interfere with application/removal and cause streaking.



c) A good light polish or pre-wax cleaner would help create a better base for future applications.



d) Two light applications will look better and last longer than one. It will also prevent streaking.



e) When you finished your NXT, try Reflections and Top Coat...you'll be impressed by the look and ease of use.
 
okay.. so, (1) lighter coats and (2) dont let it sit as long.



your advise really hits home, because i generally wax the whole car (sedan) before i remove. thanks again.



i have recently clayed though. i actually even clayed just the hood and front fenders before i started waxing. hood appeared no different than the other panels, so i'm guessing it had more to do with me letting the wax sit too long.
 
I've used NXT with great results..haven't tried the Mothers yet though, I'm not a not a Mother's fan anyhow. I think its the name, or the packaging. I'll use the shampoo thats about it.
 
Wash - NXT

Clay - Mothers claybar kit

Clean/polish - ColorX

Seal/Wax - NXT (i recommend paste version if applyiing by hand), SynWax is good too
 
Oh.. and how can i forget ScratchX for defect/swirls removal!!!



As for the NXT streaking... make sure it is is completely cured before you remove it. And follow Alfisti's recommendation
 
Hey, is the any reason you recommend paste over the liquid? I've always opted for the liquid because of ease of application. I've tried a paste before, and didn't notice any difference in results.



Update on my NXT experience: it's raining like CRAZY here! The rain allowed me to see the beading protection offered by the NXT, and I must say I am EXTREMELY impressed. This stuff beads like nothing I've ever seen before. There is no way carnauba can even compare to this polymer stuff. I love it =) Thanks for the recommendations.
 
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