Washing materials

[WhiteFang]

Paste wax is harder to apply, but in my opinion it lasts longer. The liquid waxes - like Zymol - are MUCH easier to put on and take off, but I feel they lose just a bit of longevity in the process. A good paste wax should last 6 months while Zymol loses its luster after about 4. If you're after the best protection you can get from your wax, then you'll need to do the Zymol about 3 times a year. The harder paste waxes should be good for two applications a year. All of this is subjective. There are many who only wax once a year and then there are the nut cases who wax every other weekend.

Me? I'm in the 3 times a year crowd myself....

[mhadden]

Whitefang, I'm guessing your use the Zymol Cleaner Wax (that's blue)? This stuff is good, but as you mentioned, it doesn't last more than 4 months, but I think it does say to use 4 times a year. Either way, it does a great job. This was the first wax from Zymol I used and I loved it! Made the car smell great! Oh, and I'm with youin the 3 (or 4) times a year club

Paste wax usually has more carnuba in it, making it last a little longer than others. It also brings out a showroom-shine when applied correctly (and even more shine and depth when applied in layers). I used Zymol Titanium, which is a glaze (but is technically a wax), and it lasts longer, but has 51% carnuba by volume when others have 15% or less.

[SybErkRimInAL]

Wow, that Zymol stuff is pretty expensive huh? The Titanium Glaze is over $70.00. Can you buy this stuff anywhere?

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

Wow, that Zymol stuff is pretty expensive huh? The Titanium Glaze is over $70.00. Can you buy this stuff anywhere?

I haven't found a place around here that sells it, though th Zymol distribution center is just 30 miles down the road in Chicago. I usually order my stuff through autogeek or Amazon, whichever is cheaper. $70, but a little goes a long way. It comes in a 8oz jar, but I barely used 1/2 ounce for my Tundra, and that's a lot of area to cover!

I want the Concours, but at $130+, I can't justify that price for only a couple percent more Carnuba by volume

[SybErkRimInAL]

Originally Posted by mhadden

I haven't found a place around here that sells it, though th Zymol distribution center is just 30 miles down the road in Chicago. I usually order my stuff through autogeek or Amazon, whichever is cheaper. $70, but a little goes a long way. It comes in a 8oz jar, but I barely used 1/2 ounce for my Tundra, and that's a lot of area to cover!

I want the Concours, but at $130+, I can't justify that price for only a couple percent more Carnuba by volume

Would you mind telling me your exact process when waxing your truck? Like what do you use to wash it, pre wax and I already know the wax you use. How long do you leave each product on, if at all? Thanks in advance!

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

Would you mind telling me your exact process when waxing your truck? Like what do you use to wash it, pre wax and I already know the wax you use. How long do you leave each product on, if at all? Thanks in advance!

No problem. Make sure you wash it thoroughly so every bit of dirt is off. Then I use a microfiber towel and dry from the top down, doing the rockers and wheels last. Pull into the garage and clay (I use Mother's clay Kit). When using th clay, spray the detailer onto a panel (I do one whole panel at a time and haven't had problems) and gently rub the clay back and forth 3 or 4 times in each area of the panel. Then wipe with a microfiber. Make sure you use a fresh, dry microfiber when it starts getting wet with detail spray. After claying, I apply Zymol HD-Cleanse with a Zymol pre-wax applicator pads. To do this, apply a liberal amount of HD to the pad and do 2x2' section (not the whole panel!). Let it sit for up to 20 seconds then buff. If you let the stuff dry, it'll be a b!tch to get off and you'll be doing more harm than good. I apply HD to the whole car, including headlights and taillights. After HD-ing the car (or truck), my arm is usually tired so I take a 30 minute break Then I come back, make sure my wedding ring and watch are off (if they weren't already), and take a pea-size amount of the Titanium and rub it into the palm of my hand, trying to get more on my fingers than in my palm. Then apply to the car in 2x2' sections or smaller. The first time I did it, I felt like a 3 year old rubbing motor oil all over the car! But then I got used to it and now my wife and parents laugh at me when they see me massaging a car! Anyways, let it sit up to 20 seconds, then buff with a microfiber. I usually apply the Titanium again in 4 hours, just to give it another coat. I've had it last over 6 months before, but I try to do my cars every 3-4 months

I hope this is what you were asking for...I didn't know if you wanted basics or details.

[SybErkRimInAL]

Originally Posted by mhadden

No problem. Make sure you wash it thoroughly so every bit of dirt is off. Then I use a microfiber towel and dry from the top down, doing the rockers and wheels last. Pull into the garage and clay (I use Mother's clay Kit). When using th clay, spray the detailer onto a panel (I do one whole panel at a time and haven't had problems) and gently rub the clay back and forth 3 or 4 times in each area of the panel. Then wipe with a microfiber. Make sure you use a fresh, dry microfiber when it starts getting wet with detail spray. After claying, I apply Zymol HD-Cleanse with a Zymol pre-wax applicator pads. To do this, apply a liberal amount of HD to the pad and do 2x2' section (not the whole panel!). Let it sit for up to 20 seconds then buff. If you let the stuff dry, it'll be a b!tch to get off and you'll be doing more harm than good. I apply HD to the whole car, including headlights and taillights. After HD-ing the car (or truck), my arm is usually tired so I take a 30 minute break Then I come back, make sure my wedding ring and watch are off (if they weren't already), and take a pea-size amount of the Titanium and rub it into the palm of my hand, trying to get more on my fingers than in my palm. Then apply to the car in 2x2' sections or smaller. The first time I did it, I felt like a 3 year old rubbing motor oil all over the car! But then I got used to it and now my wife and parents laugh at me when they see me massaging a car! Anyways, let it sit up to 20 seconds, then buff with a microfiber. I usually apply the Titanium again in 4 hours, just to give it another coat. I've had it last over 6 months before, but I try to do my cars every 3-4 months

I hope this is what you were asking for...I didn't know if you wanted basics or details.

Awesome, thanks man. I'm going to print this out and use it as my guide

[WhiteFang]

Originally Posted by mhadden

Whitefang, I'm guessing your use the Zymol Cleaner Wax (that's blue)? This stuff is good, but as you mentioned, it doesn't last more than 4 months, but I think it does say to use 4 times a year. Either way, it does a great job. This was the first wax from Zymol I used and I loved it! Made the car smell great! Oh, and I'm with youin the 3 (or 4) times a year club

Yep, I'm a fan of the light blue. I can get a good size bottle at Target for $13 something. Anything fancier and I have to remind myself that it's just a truck.

I also like the Meguires (sp?) product line. They have a three part system that really does a great job on older finishes. But with a new truck it's just a matter of getting the first coat on as soon as possible.

Oh, my other favorite product is Mother's Back-To-Black. That stuff is awesome!

EDIT: Super nice write up on your process BTW.

[mhadden]

Originally Posted by WhiteFang

EDIT: Super nice write up on your process BTW.

Thanks

Originally Posted by SybErkRimInAL

Awesome, thanks man. I'm going to print this out and use it as my guide

Haha, awesome! Other have their own processes they do with all kinds of other crap, but I like Zymol. I believe in the you get what you pay for (to a certian degree) and Zymol has always left my cars looking like new in the 8 years I've used it. My process just takes time, which gives me time to myself! And it always looks beautiful until I drive it in the rain/snow

[SybErkRimInAL]

I've had my truck for almost a week now and I NEED to get that first layer in ASAP. I'm going to have to wait on shippment on the supplies though. THanks again.

[guapo]

I got a Meguiars Gold Class kit for christmas, and will try it on my wifes trailblazed first to see how it works. I do however like the NUFINISH car wash. It is the best I've used to date. Does not leave any soap film when done. I will wash the suv and the truck when it stops raining. We have rain just about every day for a week. But since I am off for 9 days I will have the time. Leave is a good thing. BTW I can tell the wife likes the truck with the running boards installed, since when she left for work this AM she took my truck.

[SybErkRimInAL]

Originally Posted by guapo

I got a Meguiars Gold Class kit for christmas, and will try it on my wifes trailblazed first to see how it works. I do however like the NUFINISH car wash. It is the best I've used to date. Does not leave any soap film when done. I will wash the suv and the truck when it stops raining. We have rain just about every day for a week. But since I am off for 9 days I will have the time. Leave is a good thing. BTW I can tell the wife likes the truck with the running boards installed, since when she left for work this AM she took my truck.

You Sir. are a brave soul. When my wife asked me if she could drive my truck, I almost died laughing. She's done crashed every vehicle we've ever owned. Once even crashed two of our vehicles at once. So needless to say, she's going no where near the driver seat.

[guapo]

I really had no choice since it was 530am and I did not go out side, and she did not ask. Since I had just installed the hunter running board it would be easy for her to get in, she is 4'9". When she came home for lunch I asked. We just adopted a puppy from the local pet welfare center and she figured her car stunk. What she will not drive is the 78 Camaro with a build 350/350 turbo in the garage. That one scares the Sh** out of her and since i have owned it since 2002 she has only been in it twice.

[bolivia310]

Originally Posted by guapo

I really had no choice since it was 530am and I did not go out side, and she did not ask. Since I had just installed the hunter running board it would be easy for her to get in, she is 4'9". When she came home for lunch I asked. We just adopted a puppy from the local pet welfare center and she figured her car stunk. What she will not drive is the 78 Camaro with a build 350/350 turbo in the garage. That one scares the Sh** out of her and since i have owned it since 2002 she has only been in it twice.

LMAO!!!

[Mickey]

Personally I use Blue Coral with a fiber mit. Every 6 months meguairs claybar. Blue Coral use to put out a Carnuba paste wax. The can lasted 3 years. The shine was perfect. If you find it that's the wax. I do have one can I'm still using. I use the bonnet from a craftsman buffer. I have two buffers. "Wax On" and "Wax Off", never mixing the two buffers. I'm 49 and I use what help I can get. Yes they are areas the buffer can't get I put on by hand and take off by hand. All my prior trucks were black and you how hard that is to keep clean. Now I have a dark blue (Nautical Blue). So the same applies. I was told by a proffessional detailer who worked for two dealerships the claybar twice a year keeps your paint clean and fills the pores in the paint for a smooth feel. I don't keep the claybar after I'm done.