SchoenFX413

I love driving a clean and shiny truck. Not to say that I don't take my FX4 off-road from time to time. Over the past several weeks I performed a 3 step freshen-up detail on Darth.

Step 1: Application of a polish then cleaner wax using a Porter Cable random orbital polisher with a white pad.
Step 2: Application of a carnauba wax using the PC with a grey finishing pad.
Step 3: Application of a synthetic polymer sealant by hand.

nickstradamus

Which products? I usually apply a wax over a sealant to maximize the cross-link. Your way can work but is product dependent. With that stated, pull a Mike P and find what you like and use it often. Appears to have worked!

Regardless...LOVE the rig. Suh-weeeeet.

SchoenFX413

Thanks!

Since I focus on technique rather than products I didn't post them originally but here goes,

1) Cleaner polish/wax combo from Hi-Temp available at TopoftheLine.com
2) Bahama Mama carnuba wax also from Hi-Temp.
3) 3M Performance synthetic sealant.

Thanks again.

shazam

Can't complain about the looks, but I'm kind of leery about putting abrasives on my truck unless its absolutely necessary. You only have so much clear coat.

I always put the sealant/wax down before any carnauba wax, on the assumption that for protection purposes there should be nothing getting in the way of the bond between the sealant/wax and the surface. Evidently I'm in the minority. Anyway, I've just about given up on the carnauba wax. The middle-class stuff I buy doesn't look any better than the good sealant/wax underneath it. I apply a shiny spray wax on top of the sealant/wax and call it a day.

nickstradamus

I would say the majority do what you do and have the wax as a LSP for the reasons you state.

I wouldn't really consider a cleaner wax a real threat to your clear coat. Fully agree 4-ish mils isn't much but it isn't a stout polish or compound.

SchoenFX413

Cleaner waxes generally only have fillers in them to level out scratches, swirls, etcetera as opposed to real polishes and compounds which have a lot of abrasives in them.

But yes, I also don't apply heavy polishes on a regular basis. The wash and detailing techniques I follow keeps swirls and scratches down to a very bare minimum if there are any at all.

Russ103

One of the best looking FX4's I've seen on this site for my personal taste. Absolutely gorgeous!

SchoenFX413

Here is a better shot taken which shows how glossy the paint is. Taken today after I had the Westin nerf bar steps installed.

natural gasser

Beautiful truck.

When my tuck was a week old clay bar'd it, followed by a poly-coat paint sealant then a coat of Collinite insulator wax. Holding up well this winter.

Fink132

Wow nice truck man. Nice work