chrisdlove

Thanks @falcaineer - its on its way and i'll take back the other one And it is a very reasonable price considering all of the accessories, etc. Maybe i should return the scratch and swirl remover if i have the compound and polish now?

Hi @falcaineer, Yes trying to avoid 2-step polish system as i purchased two 12oz scratch and swirl remover product (but no blue compound) and doing that by hand using Scratch and Swirl remover product for a XC90 will definately be challenging without a machine. I did recently buy the 1-step polish, 1-step pad, suede microfiber towel, and dbl-soft microfiber towels - they are enroute to my home now. The plan is to get rid of the swirls and scratches, then polish as you and RayS pointed out, apply surface prep, and then Graphene coating. I plan to buy a mid-range speed adjustable polisher machine RPM 1500-6800 RPM 6" so i think this will save me a lot of time! Hopefully this will work! Chris.

I have one more question. If you lightly polish with a machine using the scratch and swirl remover - is that acceptable or does it need to be hand polished using the orange hex applicator? My hood is pretty bad - and honestly so is most of the car panels.

@RayS @falcaineer thanks for the clarification re: polish/wax/sequence. I watched the hour long Adam's video speaking about Graphene application, and the Adam's expert was polishing the car at the beginning. He then applied the surface prep, which as you all stated brings the cars "surface" to the clearcoat/paint. At that point he applied the Graphene coating. Thus, I am now ordering some 5.5" polishing pads and one-step polish. I suppose the scratch and swirl remover is really for deeper scratches and does not provide the "polish". Polish is the last major step before Graphene application; the last step being surface prep. No more missing steps! I think I am ready now. Wish me luck!! Chris.

Hello Falcaineer, thank-you for the warm welcome and response. To clarify one of the steps - you wrote, "Ceramic coatings need a completely bare surface, so the wax should not be applied first. It will inhibit the coating's ability to bond properly yielding poor results. Surface Prep should be used right after you polish, and right before you coat". I recall reading that the wax and polishing it should be applied after clay and swirl remover, but the person who wrote that may not have intended to apply a Graphene coating. That being said, I suppose that after the surface prep is applied, the Graphene coating can be applied, and then the wax? I tend to think this would make more sense as well. I was thinking to myself that applying the Ceramic wax and polishing it next, and then stripping it off with the surface prep did seem a bit odd. The Adam's advanced Graphene coating in my mind seems to be equivalent to a very hard wax, and I even question the need for applying the Ceramic wax after the Graphene coating is applied. Assuming the Ceramic wax is applied after the graphene coating, is there really a benefit? FYI, I have Simoniz Ceramic wax, not Adam's Graphene wax. Thank-you very much, Chris.

Hello Adam's Forum, I am preparing in the coming weeks to do a full detail on my Volvo XC90 nd wanted to ensure I am following the correct sequence of steps. I have the following products: 1. Surface Prep 2. Car soap foamer (for a power washer) 3. Graphene Glass coating 4. Graphene Ceramic Coating (advanced) 5. Graphene Boost 6. Graphene Ceramic spray coating 7. Clay bar 8. Clay Mitt 9. Lots of microfiber towels 10. Graphene sponge for spreading liquid 11. A gallon of detail liquid (pink) 12. Iron remover 13. Ceramic car wax 14. Scratch and swirl remover 15. Hexagon orange application sponge Can one of the experts please offer the correct steps to ensure the correct sequence? Here is what I believe is correct: 1. Wash car using foaming car shampoo 2. Dry with towels. Finish drying with detail spray (pink) and microfiber towels. 3. Apply Iron remover - wait 5 minutes and rinse off. 4. Apply clay-bar with detail spray working in small 3x3 foot areas. Buff off with microfiber towel. 5. Apply scratch & swirl remover using orange hexagon applicator, working in 3x3 foot sections. Wait for 2-3 minutes. 6. Buff off swirl remover with microfiber towels 7. Apply ceramic wax working one panel at a time. Wait for haze and buff off with microfiber towels. 8. Apply surface prep one panel at a time and dry off with microfiber towels. 9. Apply Graphene Ceramic coating using applicator sponge in small sections 3x3 foot. Wait for rainbow haze. Buff off with microfiber towels. 10. Apply Graphene Glass coating one window at a time. Wait for rainbow haze and buff off with microfiber towel. 11. Enjoy car :)