Do I need to strip all my old wax of with dishwashing liquid before using the 3m? My car is black.

Thanks!

 

The light abrasives in 39009 will remove the wax for you. If you're just starting over with a new wax or polish system then yes I'd Dawn wash first, then 39009. What kind of wax are you using? If you're just touching up some spots then there would be no need to strip all your wax; just rewax the polished area for protection.

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My whole hood, roof, and spoiler is scratched up (previous owner) and I use Mother's carnuba now. I'm open to any suggestions of getting started or how to do this. Spider marks, swirls...got 'em all.

Thanks!!

 

If it's as bad as it sounds, the 3M 39009 SMR may not be enough as that product is very mild in abrasiveness. It's certainly worth a try though before you move to a more abrasive method. If you're going to polish by hand, try several applications of SMR and see if you like the results. Remember to polish in straight lines instead of circular motions to reduce any further swirls. And you might need to use a little hard pressure to get the SMR to break down and polish more effectively.

If the swirls and scratches don't improve much, or to your liking, after a few apps of SMR you are going to need something more abrasive to cut the swirls out. You might need 3M FI-2 #39003 or even 3M PI-2 Rubbing Compound #39002 to get the deep swirls out. The FI-2 is slightly more abrasive than 39009 and the Rubbing Compound is about as abrasive as you want without the need for professional assistance. If you do use FI-2 or Rubbing Compound go back over it with another coat of SMR to clean up the residues.

Once most of the swirls are gone then follow up with your favorite glaze & wax. You kinda have to be patient with 3M polishes because sometimes it takes several apps or different techniques to get the best results.

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks for the help!! I'll let you know how it turns out. The word "abrasive" scares me, but gotta do it I guess...

Thanks again