How often does everyone polish? Polishing too often can eventually remove all the clear correct? Anyway, what's the best way to go abouts getting your car clean and shinny ...

1. wash
2. clay
3. polish
4. wax - 2 coats
?? Or am I missing a step?

When would you use a cleaner wax vs. a carnauba wax?

Thanks much!

 

I polish in the spring and maybe every other year in the fall.

Your process looks good. The only type of 'cleaner/wax' I use after polishing is AIO then top it with SG or UPP then a carnauba.

If you polish well, you wouldn't need anything else that has abrasives in it. i.e. the over the counter cleaner waxes. AIO is a 'chemical' paint cleaner and mild protectant layer.

 

last week i clayed, polished with meguiar's show car glaze, did a layer of nxt paste, waited 24 hours, and then put on another coat of nxt paste. The results are effin slick.

and oh yeah, i polish everytime i clay - once in the spring and once in the fall.

 

most of the wax's that are out there are clear coat safe. Over waxing can cause wax build up or so i heard. i never tried the clay though hafta try that.
wax it or clay a couple of times.Once you get it to that point where its super shiny or to your spec's you should be able to hose it down and dry it off providing it did'nt rain or anything. grab yourself a chamios,and have at it
I actually wash and wax my cars when ever i get bored can stand a dirty car

 

what is a good polish to use then?
i'm relatively new to this...

 

last spring i used the meguiar's 3-step thing. That polish was pretty useless imo. A few weeks ago, i clayed then used meguiar's show car glaze polish. The ride looks flippin sweet. check out the results.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=501558

 

Yeah, I know what you mean about the 3 step polish, I just used that stuff, and it seems pretty much useless.

 

I polish once a year, and if I start to notice the spider web scratches though out the summer.