Waxing-polishing?

[Dartastic]

I know this has probably been covered but Id rather start a new thread since there are so many new members. Anyone have an opinion on a good was/polish? Personally I like Maguires but cant the fact they have so many different formulas. Gets confusing. I tried a wax/polish called Resin TR3. That stuff had my 78 Bronco and 74 Bronco looking pretty good. I know many will think good ol Turtle Wax is cheap stuff but Im gonna try it on my LS. My paint looks great now but in sunlight you can see swirl marks from a bad carwash. I remember Turtle Wax making my sister's 78 Black Camaro look like new. Opnions?

 

[SurfjaxLS]

I use meguiar's tech wax. Real good, and removes a lot of fine scratches. Worth the $15 in my opinion.

 

[Dartastic]

I use meguiar's tech wax. Real good, and removes a lot of fine scratches. Worth the $15 in my opinion.

You remember which formula number that is? I was looking at meguires last night and jus said forget it! I know which to use for older slightly oxidezed paints though.

 

[DLS8K]

I would try some 3M imperial handglaze and follow it up with a good wax (like the tech wax or gold class wax). I just buffed mine tonight........took forever but it looks amazing.

I used 3M rubbing compound with a wool pad attached to a highspeed buffer. Then I followed it with 3M machine glaze with a foam pad attached to the same buffer. Then I followed that with 3M Imperial handglaze by hand and then waxed it with some meguirs gold class wax. The car looks absolutely amazing and there isn't a single surface scratch on the paint. If you want to get rid of the minor paint imperfections that car washing causes, I would try this approach or find a friend to help you with it.

If you don't want to buff it or dont know how.......I would handglaze it and then wax it. That alone will make more of a difference than just waxing it........no matter what wax you use. There are different products to use for different applications. If you use the right products in the right order, then you will simply have to upkeep the finish by waxing......thats just my 2 cents. It will make it easier for you in the long run if you do this.

Another helpful hint to make your car look amazing. Use claybar on the entire car (this lifts contaminents from the paint such as oxidation....etc). I would then go over the car with 3M adhesive cleaner......this removes any other contaminents such as road tar, bugs......etc. After that, go over the car with some rubbing compound and hit the scratches that are deeper like around the door handles, gas cap.....etc. Then handglaze and wax it. Hope this all helps!

 

[Frogman]

The owner of the local autobody shop is a good friend of mine. "He" polishes my cars every 6 months or so, and he uses that 3M stuff. I agree with DLS. It's amazing stuff.

 

[Dartastic]

Excellent responses. Thanks guys. I park outdoors 24/7 on a dusty street or in my driveway that needs refinishing bad! Im looking for all the protection I can get. I can wash my car on a friday and it will look dirty the following monday.

 

[tmvandekamp]

try a car duster

Excellent responses. Thanks guys. I park outdoors 24/7 on a dusty street or in my driveway that needs refinishing bad! Im looking for all the protection I can get. I can wash my car on a friday and it will look dirty the following monday.

I frequently use the California Car Duster between washes. It does an amazing job.

 

[Frogman]

Excellent responses.

Oh. We were being graded ont his stuff?

Rut-oh.

 

[Dartastic]

Oh. We were being graded ont his stuff?

Rut-oh.

LOL!! Naaaw. Its just that so often topics tend to stray and you dont get anything out of them. Been meaning to try the Cali Duster too. Part of the reason I want to put a good wax and polish on it.

 

[ohioLS]

Griots Garage makes, I think, the best products around.
If you use there clay bar, fine hand polish, and best of show wax. You would be amazed, I am everytime I use there products all both my Jaguars and the LS. Here is a link to there site look around its well worth it. Good luck!
www.griotsgarage.com

-Scott-

 

[Husker Z]

I think these responses have been great, I personally think the Zaino products are the best stuff money can buy, but it's a process, just like 3M can be. Here is my process to get a perfect shine on both of my black vehicles.

Wash with Dawn
Mothers Claybar system
Zaino Z3 with ZFX - 3 Coats
Z-8 Grand Finale Spray

I do that process probably twice a year and my in between waxes, I used Meguires Show Car Polish #7 and follow that with Yellow #7.

I use the Z-8 spray at least twice a week on both cars, I truly think it's the best stuff ever invented. It rained yesterday, so I just sprayed both cars, wiped them clean and they looked freshly waxed within 25 minutes.

Another product I'd like to try is the Zaino Z-5, it's for fine scratches and swirls. If it works like the rest of the Zaino line of products, I have a feeling it will get rid of any swirl or fine scratch.

 

[Jim Henderson]

Be careful what you use, especially if you do it often. You can, I have, polish the paint right off your car.

Glazes, rubbing compounds etc are just for occasional use on badly oxidized paint. Cars with clear coat, I think ours are, do not need these abrasives hardly ever. Once you cut thru the clear coat, you will start to notice paint color on your rags, that is the sign that your paint is headed to turpentine heaven.

Instead just do nice mild car washes regularly. Also use a good wax that is not abrasive. I like Meguires, but like the guy said, just about every month they change the name, or I have heard excellent things about Zaino Brothers.

Don't wax every week, that's how I waxed the paint off my prized TA years ago. Shiney beautiful car but the paint got thinner. I wax when I notice the rain doesn't bead up as well. Usually a few months in dry weather, maybe a month or two in rainy season

To get a really smooth surface, you might try a clay bar. These work great for taking out those tiny small catches in the paint that you can feel with your bare hand when it is wet and soapy. Use plenty of lubricant, water works fine in a pinch. You want that bar sliding around, not sticking. A fair amount of work but if you want a glas slick wax job this does it well.

The glazes etc should be for abused paint. Cleaner wax combos also contain rubbing compounds so use sparingly.

Be careful with buffers, you can literally burn the paint if you push too hard or stay in one spot too long.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson