Tips for Vivid Black Paint
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25
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Tips for Vivid Black Paint
If your Vivid Black paint is in nice shape here's a tip to keep it looking its best. Take a wet microfiber cloth and rinse the surface well. Dry using a super clean microfiber cloth. Apply Meguiars Swirl X to the surface you're working on with a super clean microfiber applicator pad. Hand rub the paint surface using lengthwise strokes wherever possible (i.e. not circular motions.) Then apply Mequires Show Car Glaze and again hand rub the paint surface in the same manner using a fresh clean applicator pad and wiping cloth. As a final step I seal and protect the paint with a synthetic vs. carnauba wax. Carnauba wax(or yellow wax) has traditionally been
used to hide minor paint flaws and light scratches in black paint. I live in Florida and the sun oxidizes carnuaba wax quickly which clouds your black
paint finish. Not knocking carnauba wax, it does a good job sealing and protecting paint and it would probably be my choice in a cooler or even cold climate...but not under a hot sun like here.
Once you've performed these steps to your paint, on future cleaning sessions you can remove the Swirl X from the procedure and just use the Show Car Glaze followed by a sealer until the next time your paint finish looks like it could use some deep cleaning.
I must sound like a Mequiars pimp and I'm not. These are are just the products I use and trust to provide me with the results I'm looking for.
Harley-Davidson (in my opinion) has some of the best quality paint finishes out there straight from the factory, and you can keep your paint looking showroom new if you're willing to do your part.
used to hide minor paint flaws and light scratches in black paint. I live in Florida and the sun oxidizes carnuaba wax quickly which clouds your black
paint finish. Not knocking carnauba wax, it does a good job sealing and protecting paint and it would probably be my choice in a cooler or even cold climate...but not under a hot sun like here.
Once you've performed these steps to your paint, on future cleaning sessions you can remove the Swirl X from the procedure and just use the Show Car Glaze followed by a sealer until the next time your paint finish looks like it could use some deep cleaning.
I must sound like a Mequiars pimp and I'm not. These are are just the products I use and trust to provide me with the results I'm looking for.
Harley-Davidson (in my opinion) has some of the best quality paint finishes out there straight from the factory, and you can keep your paint looking showroom new if you're willing to do your part.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 261
Likes: 25
From: Mims, FL
The BOM
I use THE BOM for general washing and cleaning. Leaves no swirl marks in the paint. After the bike is good and dry I put on Pledge to give it an ultra shine.... Works great/last a long time.
Works really well for the Love Bugs too. Take'm right off.
Works really well for the Love Bugs too. Take'm right off.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 443
Likes: 2
From: Pittsburgh, PA
When you say Pledge are you talking about furniture polish?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25
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Tips for Vivid Black Paint
HarleyGoodies - No, you read it right Swirl X.......Scratch X is far more abrasive and remember I said "paint in good shape." The light flaws I was referring to would be better called "spider webbing" and not swirl marks that would be left behind from a buffer/dirty wash mitt/ or drying towel.
If you have actual "Swirl Marks" then you're right, you'll have to move on to a product with more cutting ability.
F.Y.I. - I owned a successful professional detailing business in the past for many years. Believe me, when I read someone suggest using Pledge on their paint my eyes roll. HELLO? we're talking about paint here, not furniture. If you tell me that you're lazy and that you're ok with furniture polish on your paint.....then I get it....... but if you ACTUALLY believe that your paint is benefiting in some way from spraying Pledge on it then by all means, skip and disregard my thread. I know where you are.....but I can't reach you. If Pledge works cleaning bugs off your windshield then use it..... but please, use a paint product on your paint. If you don't believe what I'm saying, go up to a guy displaying his $100,000 show car and say, "Hey Dude, what do you use on your paint?....... Pledge?"
Oh.... and be sure to duck.
If you have actual "Swirl Marks" then you're right, you'll have to move on to a product with more cutting ability.
F.Y.I. - I owned a successful professional detailing business in the past for many years. Believe me, when I read someone suggest using Pledge on their paint my eyes roll. HELLO? we're talking about paint here, not furniture. If you tell me that you're lazy and that you're ok with furniture polish on your paint.....then I get it....... but if you ACTUALLY believe that your paint is benefiting in some way from spraying Pledge on it then by all means, skip and disregard my thread. I know where you are.....but I can't reach you. If Pledge works cleaning bugs off your windshield then use it..... but please, use a paint product on your paint. If you don't believe what I'm saying, go up to a guy displaying his $100,000 show car and say, "Hey Dude, what do you use on your paint?....... Pledge?"
Oh.... and be sure to duck.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: H Town
HarleyGoodies - No, you read it right Swirl X.......Scratch X is far more abrasive and remember I said "paint in good shape." The light flaws I was referring to would be better called "spider webbing" and not swirl marks that would be left behind from a buffer/dirty wash mitt/ or drying towel.
If you have actual "Swirl Marks" then you're right, you'll have to move on to a product with more cutting ability.
F.Y.I. - I owned a successful professional detailing business in the past for many years. Believe me, when I read someone suggest using Pledge on their paint my eyes roll. HELLO? we're talking about paint here, not furniture. If you tell me that you're lazy and that you're ok with furniture polish on your paint.....then I get it....... but if you ACTUALLY believe that your paint is benefiting in some way from spraying Pledge on it then by all means, skip and disregard my thread. I know where you are.....but I can't reach you. If Pledge works cleaning bugs off your windshield then use it..... but please, use a paint product on your paint. If you don't believe what I'm saying, go up to a guy displaying his $100,000 show car and say, "Hey Dude, what do you use on your paint?....... Pledge?"
Oh.... and be sure to duck.
If you have actual "Swirl Marks" then you're right, you'll have to move on to a product with more cutting ability.
F.Y.I. - I owned a successful professional detailing business in the past for many years. Believe me, when I read someone suggest using Pledge on their paint my eyes roll. HELLO? we're talking about paint here, not furniture. If you tell me that you're lazy and that you're ok with furniture polish on your paint.....then I get it....... but if you ACTUALLY believe that your paint is benefiting in some way from spraying Pledge on it then by all means, skip and disregard my thread. I know where you are.....but I can't reach you. If Pledge works cleaning bugs off your windshield then use it..... but please, use a paint product on your paint. If you don't believe what I'm saying, go up to a guy displaying his $100,000 show car and say, "Hey Dude, what do you use on your paint?....... Pledge?"
Oh.... and be sure to duck.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164
Likes: 2
From:
I always use Mequires #17 clear plastic cleaner to remove minute scratches, swirls etc from paint for years. It is so fine that it takes a lot of elbow grease. I have been using pledge for 40 years and it works better that anything I can think of. I have read that Pledge is the biggest kept secret of the car shows. Hey what do I know I'm only 62 yrs old. Right, some people never learn.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,846
Likes: 173
From: Simi Valley, CA
I've been a Meguiar's guy for years ever since I used to paint cars/bikes. I don't do painting any longer but I still use Meguiar's products. On the most recent detailing of my black bike I used Meguiars ScratchX, followed by Meguiar's SwirlX, and finally Meguiar's Ultimate Wax (a synthetic wax), and the bike has never looked so good.
The Ultimate Wax is absolutely the most reflective wax I have ever used.
Many of the waxes I have used over the years actually seem to dull the finish slightly from the "glazing" step (SwirlX in this case), but that is not the case with the Ultimate Wax.
The Ultimate Wax is absolutely the most reflective wax I have ever used.
Many of the waxes I have used over the years actually seem to dull the finish slightly from the "glazing" step (SwirlX in this case), but that is not the case with the Ultimate Wax.