The Basics of Exterior Detailing

The Beginning

Sometimes it can be hard to know where to start. There are many places you can choose to begin when detailing your VW. The method we prefer is the straight forward idea of tackling the paint first. Before you even start with any product, take a walk around your VW and inspect it for any and all blemishes. You need to know what you’re getting into before you dive in. Having a flashlight is always helpful (L.E.D works the best). When inspecting the paint, shine the line directly down on it to spot any fine swirl marks or scratches.

Now that you know where your blemishes are, it’s time to determine just how much work may be required. Oxidation, water spots and swirl marks are typically nothing to fret about. Your biggest headaches will usually come from scratches. When you come across a scratch, looks can sometimes be deceiving. Some scratches may look rather nasty, but there is a simple way to know if it’s serious. Run your hand across the scratch; if you can’t feel any depth to the scratch, you’re looking at a very easy fix. However, if you can noticeably feel the scratch, this usually means the damage is all the way through the clear coat, you have to repaint the affected area.

The Prep Stage

Now that you have inspected your paint, it’s time to make sure that it is ready to be perfected. Removing as many surface contaminants as possible is a necessary stage to ensure that all of your hard work will truly be worthwhile. Before taking any polish to your paint, there are two methods you can use to clean your paint.

Method 1: The quicker of the two methods; do a waterless car wash by cleaning your paint with our MWorks Fast Detail. Simply spray the solution on to your paint and wipe it clean by using our microfiber towels. Fast Detail is a great way to quickly rid your VW of contaminants and is also a great maintenance tool when your work is done. We explore that more in the comprehensive guide.

Method 2: This method takes a bit longer, but can be enjoyable and thorough. A full bucket wash using our MWorks Car Wash certainly proves to be enjoyable on a sunny day and ensures that no spots are missed. Once the washing is done, thoroughly dry your VW’s surface with one of our ultra absorbent microfiber towels.

Now, for the adventurous, detail oriented types, there is an optional method 3. This method is simply a combination of the two listed above. Start with the full bucket wash of method 2 and once that is done and your VW is dry, use Fast Detail on your paint to truly ensure that any left over grime or water marks are eliminated.

Let's Chat About Polish

Alright, so we’ve inspected and prepped our paint, now what? Now is the fun part! You are now ready to rid your VW of those unsightly blemishes and revive your paint. There are many (and we mean many!) different ways to handle polishing. Each time you polish, there will typically be multiple types of blemishes you will have to work with; this will alter how you will handle polishing.

How do I know how many applications I need?

This is a common question with polish and the answer is simple: “As many as you need.” There’s no right or wrong number of applications. Once the initial coat of polish has been applied, cured and removed, you will be able to judge if you need another pass at it or not. If the scratch or swirl mark is still there, another application of Liquid Polish followed up by Fine Scratch Remover will usually do the trick! On average, it may take 2-3 passes before most imperfections are corrected.

Let’s Get To Waxing

Working with Paste Wax really could not be easier! With some waxes, proper curing may require having the wax sit on the vehicle for hours at a time, Paste Wax will cure in minutes! It may sound like Paste Wax will be inferior to others with such a quick cure time, but the result speaks for itself. Paste Wax cures in roughly twenty minutes and is then ready to be buffed off at any time. You can leave it on the paint for as long as you’d like with no repercussions other than difficulty in removal, but we have a trick for that!

Applying the wax is simple and enjoyable. Paste Wax comes with your foam applicator already included; take the applicator pad and apply a light amount of wax onto it. Remember that with Paste Wax, a little bit goes a long way. When applying the wax, it is best to work in no more than a square foot section at a time and continue using the crosshatch technique (up and down, side to side) to ensure you are applying maximum coverage. Make sure to make 3 or 4 passes in each direction of the crosshatch to completely cover the square foot workspace.

This method will help you get the ultimate shine and protection from your wax. Start with the hood and work around the vehicle, making sure to cover every inch of the VW’s paint. By the time you are done with the hood, fender and door, the hood is usually ready to be buffed off! We recommend covering one half of the entire vehicle before beginning to buff away where you started. This way you know it has all been covered and has properly cured! The wax will cure to a lighter haze so you know when it is ready. When you use your microfiber wax removal cloth and remove the wax with the crosshatch pattern again, you are left with a beautiful shine of superior Carnauba protection.

See? It's Easy

Waxing is a simple stage in the process that we tend to make more difficult than it is. It’s simple, but a very important stage. Waxing protects all of your hard work in perfecting your paint and will truly help make your VW a head turner. Our Paste Wax is a quick and very easy way to ensure that your paint not only looks incredible, but also has a superior protection barrier to make sure it stays that way.