Clay Bar

[SoCalJD]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

I have used the clay bar, and I did like the results. I have heard of many people using different waxes after using the clay bar or just waxing in general. What is the best wax to use? I hate buying tons of different brands and wasting that money and time. I would like to go straight to the best (within some what of a reasonable dollar amount). So what is the best wax to use? I am looking for a honest answer and not just brand advertisements

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Zainos. 100%. Polish, not a wax. I *may* go detail my truck today with it. Won't have to do it again for 6 months.

[FirstToy]

Originally Posted by SoCalJD

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Zainos. 100%. Polish, not a wax. I *may* go detail my truck today with it. Won't have to do it again for 6 months.

Cool.... thanks! I will check it out.

[TexBiker]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

So what is the best wax to use? I am looking for a honest answer and not just brand advertisements

There is no "best wax." I have different polishes and waxes for different vehicles because some look best on certain colors/paint types. The combination I use on my Lotus looks like crap on my wife's Subaru. And neither of the combinations that work on them look very good on our Tundras. I suggest you buy a variety of polishes/waxes and see what works best for you. It's hard to take advice on this subject from someone else since we all have different methods, live in different environments and have different ideas of what looks "best."

Zaino makes some decent products, but I wouldn't consider any of them to be the "best" in any particular category. But they aren't bad if you want to stick with OTC products. They certainly won't hurt anything.

[SoCalJD]

Originally Posted by TexBiker

There is no "best wax." I have different polishes and waxes for different vehicles because some look best on certain colors/paint types. The combination I use on my Lotus looks like crap on my wife's Subaru. And neither of the combinations that work on them look very good on our Tundras. I suggest you buy a variety of polishes/waxes and see what works best for you. It's hard to take advice on this subject from someone else since we all have different methods, live in different environments and have different ideas of what looks "best."

Zaino makes some decent products, but I wouldn't consider any of them to be the "best" in any particular category. But they aren't bad if you want to stick with OTC products. They certainly won't hurt anything.

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No offense, but not only don't I get that at all, but it sure makes it more confusing and expensive for a novice. I've tried tons of stuff, on all types and colors of vehicles. When I saw that Zainos was ranked #1 in the Gurureports test, I tried it. I've since used it on my white Tundra, silver E-90, black E-46, and Bluewater M5. I've used it on a brand new silver SLK350, a brand new black CLS500, a red M5, and a custom graphite 996TT among others. Not one of those cars ever looked better than when I got done. Not one of the owners ever said: "Nice, but I think I'll try Raindance next." AFA "different environments", I live in rainless SoCal. Someone who had to deal with elements would benefit even *more* than me since the stuff lasts longer than anything else. I realize I'm a newbie here, and am probably pegged as a Zainos shill by now, by I assure you I am not. Never got a dime from them for pimping their products. (I'd be rich if I got a 10% commission from all the sales of the people I've turned them on to) I just do because when I find something I REALLY like, be it wax, a car, a restaurant, a website or a tv show, I tell people about it. The opposite is also true.

I'll partly agree on one thing...a good wax (P21S) will have a different *look* than a synthetic, and I suppose it's possible some might like it better (apples vs oranges), but all I know is that whenever I go to a BMW show I tend to attract a crowd around my car.

One more thing...you mentions "combinations." I wouldn't advise mixing a wax with a polish.

Ok...one *more* thing ...when I was at the Toyota $tealership one day, I ran into a Marine I know who was buying a brand new Tundra. He told me he was "waiting for it to come out of detail" where they were "putting on a teflon coating." I forget what he was paying, but I think it was $600. REALLY pissed me off that those souless b*st*rds would rip off an Iraq War veteran. If the stuffed *worked*, it shouldn't cost any more to put it on than a coat of wax. But it doesn't work. It's a scam, and I'm not sure how they get away with it. This is why I posted about finding a decent Indy here in San Diego, although I never got one response.

[TexBiker]

Originally Posted by SoCalJD

One more thing...you mentions "combinations." I wouldn't advise mixing a wax with a polish.

As someone who has spent years doing this professionally, I think you'll be hard pressed to find any reputable detailer who would agree with this statement.

The purpose of a polish is to correct any issues with the paint (swirls, light scratches, etc) and prepare the surface for a LSP (last step product)...aka, wax. Not many polishes are intended to be the final coat.

Some polishes will look good without a LSP, but nearly all of them will look wetter and deeper with a good carnauba wax on top. P21S is one of the best, but doesn't last very long. However, that's not an issue for me since it's so easy to apply. Plus, a good wax will extend the life of the polished surface below. I would never apply a polish without at least one coat of wax.

I don't doubt you've had good results with Zaino. They produce some decent polishes that I've used in the past. I've had customers that were quite happy with their cars when it was used. But since then, I've found better combinations that produced much, much more impressive results.

But, like I said above, what works for one person may not work for another. No need to change if you've got something that makes you happy. BTW, which product are you using? Zaino has quite a few different polishes (most of which aren't really polishes at all, but that's a story for a different thread.)

[SoCalJD]

Originally Posted by TexBiker

As someone who has spent years doing this professionally, I think you'll be hard pressed to find any reputable detailer who would agree with this statement.

The purpose of a polish is to correct any issues with the paint (swirls, light scratches, etc) and prepare the surface for a LSP (last step product)...aka, wax. Not many polishes are intended to be the final coat.

Some polishes will look good without a LSP, but nearly all of them will look wetter and deeper with a good carnauba wax on top. P21S is one of the best, but doesn't last very long. However, that's not an issue for me since it's so easy to apply. Plus, a good wax will extend the life of the polished surface below. I would never apply a polish without at least one coat of wax.

I don't doubt you've had good results with Zaino. They produce some decent polishes that I've used in the past. I've had customers that were quite happy with their cars when it was used (always with a wax top coat). But since then, I've found better combinations that produced much, much more impressive results.

But, like I said above, what works for one person may not work for another. No need to change if you've got something that makes you happy. BTW, which product are you using? Zaino has quite a few different polishes (most of which aren't really polishes at all, but that's a story for a different thread.)

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When I said that, I was talking about Zainos specifically. I called them, and that's what they recommended. (I realize they're probably biased...but I told them: "Hey, I'm not gonna stop buying your product...I just want to see what what wax will look like on top of it." They said something about "Zainos is optically pure...blah..blah" whatever that means. Could be BS, but my car looks so good I guess I'll believe them) I can't imagine it would *hurt* though, and I've always wanted to see what P21S looked like on top of 12 coats of Zainos. That's another thing about Zainos...you can put a zillion coats on (which is probably serious overkill). Don't think you can/should do that with wax. AFA which of their products I use...pretty much Z2 polish (with ZFX drying agent), and the Z8 finishing spray. I've been experimenting with the ZCS (clear sealant). Since I can't see a huge difference, I'm not ready to recommend it yet. The product I love the most (even though I rarely if ever need it) is the ZPC. They sell it as a swirl remover, and I'm sure it works well at that, but it blows me away how you can put some on a rag and remove marks that nothing else could. It's like that Billy guy in the infomertials. "Magic!" Even if you don't like/don't use their polish, you really should try that stuff out. I've never tried their AO1 (all in one), because I don't believe there's "shortcuts" to making your car look good. As a pro, I'm sure you'd agree. Probably good enough for the ICE people though(no offense...not everyone is a detailing freak like me)...in fact, it sounds similar. I use their leather cleaner and tire cleaners, but I can't say they're any better than anyone elses. Same with their clay bar. I also have the window polish, and the car wash, but again, I wouldn't swear they're any better than anyone elses. So, although I'm known as a "Zainos freak", I really only ever use their polish and finishing spray.

[FirstToy]

Okay... after reading the last couple of posts, I did learn a couple of things. Yes... I am a novice at detailing, just because I have never had such a problem with a new vehicle paint before. So.. I have waxed my truck serveral times now. When is it time to put a polish over a coat of wax? It sounds like you should always put a wax over polish.

[SoCalJD]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

Okay... after reading the last couple of posts, I did learn a couple of things. Yes... I am a novice at detailing, just because I have never had such a problem with a new vehicle paint before. So.. I have waxed my truck serveral times now. When is it time to put a polish over a coat of wax? It sounds like you should always put a wax over polish.

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Well, *I* always take the wax off and just go 100% polish.

[FirstToy]

Originally Posted by SoCalJD

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Well, *I* always take the wax off and just go 100% polish.

okay.... and what do you use for that? A wax cleaner?

[TexBiker]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

When is it time to put a polish over a coat of wax? It sounds like you should always put a wax over polish.

A polish will remove any wax that's on the finish, so that issue takes care of itself. In fact, most cleansers/soaps will remove the wax unless you're using a dedicated car shampoo. Personally, I prefer Adam's Car Shampoo since it foams very well and doesn't remove the wax. I know most people like to use dishwashing detergent to wash their cars at home and that stuff will strip the wax almost instantly. Every weekend, I watch my neighbors pour Dawn in their car wash buckets and it makes me cringe...

For my personal vehicles, I wash them every week or two. I wax them every 4 - 6 weeks since I generally use a very soft wax that looks fantastic, but doesn't last very long. I'll polish them two or three times a year, depending on how the paint looks. If I decide I need to use polish (swirls, scratches, oxidation, etching from bugs/bird droppings, etc) then I use clay first.

Generally I go in this order:

1. Wash/Dry
2. Clay
3. Polishes (might use multiple grits, depending on how much correction I need)
4. LSP...usually wax (maybe multiple coats...depending on the result I'm looking for)

In between washings, I'll usually use a "quick detail spray" to keep the dust off the car if they aren't too dirty. It only takes a couple of minutes and makes the car look freshly washed every day. There are quite a few of them on the market and I've found most of them perform pretty much the same.

I should also add that I use a machine (Porter Cable 7424 or UDM...depending on which bag I grab) for my polishing duties. You can't get the same results if you're polishing by hand. Once you use a real dual-action machine (not one of those cheap "buffers" from Wal-Mart or Autozone...they only add swirls to your paint), you'll never polish by hand again.

Here's a good overview of how to detail a car and keep your paint, glass, trim and interior looking great: Autopia Detailing Guide

[FirstToy]

Cool.. and thank you both for all of the information!!! I really do appreciate the time and the explainations. I really like this Tundra, but I am not impressed with the paint. I would like to do everything I can at this point to keep it looking nice. So... today I examined my finish, and I am seeing the swrils and small scratches again. I think my plan is to polish and then wax. I just need to decide what polish and what wax. The information that you both have given me has help a lot with that decision... so thanks again!

[TexBiker]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

Cool.. and thank you both for all of the information!!! I really do appreciate the time and the explainations. I really like this Tundra, but I am not impressed with the paint.

The paint on our trucks is absolute crap. I swear it gets swirls when the wind blows. Both of our Tundras are 040 Super White which has no clearcoat. On the plus side, the softness makes it pretty easy to do corrections. If you don't have any major defects, a mild polish (properly applied) should clear up your swirls. Personally, I'd suggest something like Menzerna PO115, Sonus SFX1 or Pinnacle XMT Fine Swirl Remover to correct the paint. You can use them by hand, but a machine makes it MUCH easier.

Once you get the scratches polished out, I've gotten good results on our Tundra paint with Klasse All-In-One as a paint protector. Easy to apply and lasts quite a while. It adds a nice shine, too. Then top it off with the LSP of your choice. P21S (carnauba concours wax) is my first choice for a wet/deep shine, but it won't last long. Klasse High Gloss Sealant or Ultima Paint Guard Plus (both synthetic paint sealants) will look nearly as good on most paints, but last a LOT longer. I used UPGP on my wife's Tundra two weeks ago. She put over 2k miles on the truck since then and it still looks great.

Of course, a thorough wash (I use a two-bucket method...one with soap, one with clean water, both with grit guards to keep the mitt clean) should be done first followed by clay if you want the best results possible.

[SoCalJD]

Originally Posted by FirstToy

okay.... and what do you use for that? A wax cleaner?

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Dawn. And Texbiker, I only use it *once*. Never needs to be used again.

[ramoine]

TexBiker , what is a grit guard ? Where can you buy one ?

Thanks , Bill .

[TexBiker]

Originally Posted by ramoine

TexBiker , what is a grit guard ? Where can you buy one ?

Any detailing shop/site will have them. Here's an example: Grit Guard

They are standard sized to fit just about any 5gal bucket. I have a ton of Home Depot buckets I use for this.