Which order do you use to do the paint?

Ok, this is not as bad as "which tire fits" but I keep reading different post and people apply sealants and waxes in different orders. Maybe my brain just cant keep up or I am confused about products. Some do a couple of things , example "polish & wax" .

My Tundra is a 2012 and has only been run through auto carwashes. It is BLACK and has some swirls and I can feel some stuff on the paint. I have never run a buffer before as I have always just had waxed. Right after I got this truck I had back surgery and has been neglected. I want to clean it up as I plan to keep for a few more years.

So here is what I want to do.
1. Wash
2. clay. I bought the Meg kit. (Steve's recommendation on some post)
3. wash

Ok here is where I keep getting confused on the order and products

4. Polish? I have the megs ultra polishing wax. (Steve's recommendation on some post)
5. Wax again or is the polishing wax good enough? Just plain wax? Which one?
6 Hydro 2 -- Is this stuff a sealant? (Pudge and Steve recommendation)
7 Done?
I understand many of the uses but in my condition health wise this will be a major chore for me so I want to do it right the first time.

Thanks for your help and advice in advance.

Ps. I am posting this from my computer, and will then add Pics from my phone. I think they will give the Gurus a better idea of what I have on my hands.
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1) wash (2 bucket method with grit guard) and dry
2) clay (decontaminate)
3) polish (paint correction)
4) wax or paint sealant (paint protection)
5) quick detail or spray sealant for maintenance at washing in between wax jobs

If the paint is not neglected you can combine 3 and 4 with an “all in one” product.

Hope this helps.

 

BTW,

In the background it looks like you’re at a carwash.

If you’re putting your truck through an automatic wash it will likely strip all of your hard work and promote swirls.

If you’re serious about keeping a black truck swirl free the automatic washes have to go.

 

I know but that is what I am doing now. Once I get it cleaned and set up correct, I will do it at home.
Very observant Andy.

 

What color of pad do I use on the dual action polisher?

 

Typically an orange pad for Polish/AIO (all in one polish/sealant)
Typically a red pad for Wax/Sealant only.

 

On a 6" backing plate, do you use 5.5" or 6.5" pads?

Man I don't know what I am doing.

 

Typically the 6.5" pad fits the 6" backing plate on many random orbital buffers. The pad should overhang the backing plate a little.

You're going to spend a lot of time cleaning, drying, and claying the car so you may want to break it up into two days.

Applying the polish is the fastest part of the job.

Read up here on how to do this.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/acxkaf44ctxbsgb/AACIMr-qZl7vdwVcVlC5djtQa?dl=0

 

That is what I plan to do. Wash, dry and clay a section. Maybe take 4 days to do it all.
Was thinking that I might even do half of the truck at a time including wax and sealant.

 

Pad colors vary by manufacturer....a Rupes yellow pad may not be the same as a Griots yellow pad. Pad/product combination(s) are best determined by doing a test spot and see if you're getting the results you're looking for. Meguiars D166 has decent cut, and is very user-friendly. If you're looking for an AIO (all in one) product with a little better cut, check out McKees 360. I've used both, and 360 cuts better and lasts longer, but it does stain your pads. For what it's worth, Tundras have soft clear and correct very easily, so I think, with the right technique and patience, D166 will work out well with a medium to heavy cutting pad. I went through 6 pads when I did a full correction on my CrewMax

 

So if the Tundra has soft clear coat you use medium to heavy? Seems like you would use a fine. I have no clue so I am just confirming Medium to heavy.

 

When I said the clearcoat is soft, it is soft relative to others. It does correct rather easily, but it will still take some effort. Remember that D166 is an AIO (All in one), combining a polish with a wax...not straight polish, not a compound. You can start with a light cut pad, but I've had good success with this product using the Griots BOSS 5.5" orange thin pad....which is their 'correcting pad', which I'd classify as a medium to heavy cut pad. A test spot will always be your best friend. You'll like working with D166....easy on, easy off....glossy, slick finish.

As was suggested to you earlier....you need to avoid the Swirl-O-Matic as much as possible. No sense in undoing your good work

 

As soon as I get this all done, no more Swirl-O-Matic.
Thanks