ok so do you guys typically use wax or polish when detailign your car? i know your supposed to use both but who has time for that. i know that i used ( and i know a lot of people on here do to) ice polish from turtle wax. whats the pro's and con's to either? i always used to use zymol cleaner wax but really like how that ice made the car turn out
Do you wax or polish?
- Thread starter Kristof
- Start date
RallyCat
Member
When I was more serious about keeping a car looking nice, the routine was to go through a complete process (clean, clay bar, touch up paint, buff/polish, seal, and wax) once or twice a year. This gets rid of swirl marks, blemishes, etc. I would then use a quick wax (i.e. detailing spray) to help maintain the wax and keep the car clean as needed and would do a good waxing every month or two.
I'm a bit old skool, so the wax I was using was typically pure carnuba which would wear away quickly and required constant attention. The newer synthetic stuff has gotten much better and will last much longer but I honestly haven't payed attention to the changes in the marketplace in the past 15 or so years.
Take some time and read through the Meguire's web site. IIRC, they had a bunch of very good tips on maintaining you car using the new synthetic products. There are a number of other sites out there as well that you can find and read.
I would caution you about always using a "polish" product. In old skool terms, a "polish" has a bit of grit to it and is designed to move the top layer of paint around and remove swirl marks. Constant use of polish can wear down the clear coat or paint and cause the car to start looking a bit ratty. You want a product for regular use that does not have any grit to it and is only intended to seal/protect the surface. Just double check that what you are using is recommended for the type of application you are using it for.
Then again, the changes in paint technology, car care products, etc has been staggering in recent years, so I could be completely off base and out of touch at this point (wouldn't be the first time
).
I'm a bit old skool, so the wax I was using was typically pure carnuba which would wear away quickly and required constant attention. The newer synthetic stuff has gotten much better and will last much longer but I honestly haven't payed attention to the changes in the marketplace in the past 15 or so years.
Take some time and read through the Meguire's web site. IIRC, they had a bunch of very good tips on maintaining you car using the new synthetic products. There are a number of other sites out there as well that you can find and read.
I would caution you about always using a "polish" product. In old skool terms, a "polish" has a bit of grit to it and is designed to move the top layer of paint around and remove swirl marks. Constant use of polish can wear down the clear coat or paint and cause the car to start looking a bit ratty. You want a product for regular use that does not have any grit to it and is only intended to seal/protect the surface. Just double check that what you are using is recommended for the type of application you are using it for.
Then again, the changes in paint technology, car care products, etc has been staggering in recent years, so I could be completely off base and out of touch at this point (wouldn't be the first time
2point5RS_Dan
HATER DAN
Garret beat me to the joke
Wash/Wax my car.... hahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahaa
Wash/Wax my car.... hahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahaa
Nigel Prodrive
Dirt surfer
ok sure so it might be hard to believe, but this dirt surfer came into the 'car thing' thru prepping cars for resale and for concours. paint prep is one of those things that's seen as more art than science, tho there's a lot of both to the process.
on a new car, there's less damage to undo before u go for that Percfect Shine. this is not to say that new car paint is perfect, far from it.
on an older car, the clay bar, polish then wax program is the way to get best results.
whatever you do, whatever product u use, the process has more to do with results than the product. by this I mean the #1 rule is GET THE EFFIN CAR EFFIN SUPER CLEAN before you do anything else. grit or residues left on the surface after 'washing' can really scratch the sheet out of your shiny baby. clean/wax the car on a paved surface or on the grass, not on a gravel driveway. hose the tarmac down b 4 u wash the car. don't try to wash/wax in dusty areas.
use clean cloths, clean buffer pads, clean clean clean. don't wear jeans with metal buttons or a metal belt buckle, those things can do more damage than you'd believe. if you drop a rag, it's done, throw it out (or at least toss it into the "wash" pile. Launder all buffing towels separately from used garage rags and grimy jeans (even tho the wife insists that "all dirty car crap gets washed together"
etc etc
on a new car, there's less damage to undo before u go for that Percfect Shine. this is not to say that new car paint is perfect, far from it.
on an older car, the clay bar, polish then wax program is the way to get best results.
whatever you do, whatever product u use, the process has more to do with results than the product. by this I mean the #1 rule is GET THE EFFIN CAR EFFIN SUPER CLEAN before you do anything else. grit or residues left on the surface after 'washing' can really scratch the sheet out of your shiny baby. clean/wax the car on a paved surface or on the grass, not on a gravel driveway. hose the tarmac down b 4 u wash the car. don't try to wash/wax in dusty areas.
use clean cloths, clean buffer pads, clean clean clean. don't wear jeans with metal buttons or a metal belt buckle, those things can do more damage than you'd believe. if you drop a rag, it's done, throw it out (or at least toss it into the "wash" pile. Launder all buffing towels separately from used garage rags and grimy jeans (even tho the wife insists that "all dirty car crap gets washed together"
etc etc
Last edited by a moderator:
MikeD
N/A All The Way!!
I think that my car is starting to fall under the "older car" category. I'm going to have to try out one of these clay bars ( I know that meguiar's makes one and that's my brand of choice) this spring. I've got some swirl marks on my hood that I would like to have gone.
i-wagon
Well-known member
i've waxed my car once since i bought it new on 07. between dirt roads, tools and hardware being tossed in and out and scratching paint along the way, and the dirt track in the field, i focus more on rust prevention than paint preservation (even though they are almost one and the same) it's easier for me to drive a car with crappy paint than to fix a huge rust hole.
but when i did do it i used meguiars carnauba wax (i know i spelled it all wrong) and it shined like a new penny after
but when i did do it i used meguiars carnauba wax (i know i spelled it all wrong) and it shined like a new penny after
Ryan
New member
Polish = Preps your paint for wax application. Removes surface contaminates that your clay bar could not. Removes fine swirls and scratches.
Wax/sealant = Protects and seals your paint and clear coat. Adds surface gloss and shine.
Two totally different things, but both go hand-in-hand. Polishing should only be done once a year. If you don't polish first, and just add wax/sealant, you are basically sealing in tons of contaminates, which will result in a duller finish. Clay bar does NOT remove everything.
Wax/sealant = Protects and seals your paint and clear coat. Adds surface gloss and shine.
Two totally different things, but both go hand-in-hand. Polishing should only be done once a year. If you don't polish first, and just add wax/sealant, you are basically sealing in tons of contaminates, which will result in a duller finish. Clay bar does NOT remove everything.
Nicklepage1010
New member
^^ Fixed =P
OP, It's all according to what shape your finish is in to what process you go through. There's different products called polishes also,like Zaino Bros. polish has no cutting or clean agents so it technically is not a polish but it's called that. I would go to some detailing forums and spend a few hours reading.
gakosaurusrex
New member
my car gets washed every 3k when evergreen dose it for free w my oil change haha
I'd say their the best sealant period but I haven't seen in person a Zaino's job since I lived in Florida( things could have changed?) I've heard Menzerna powerlock is excellent also and some say better than Zainos, who knows?. IDK if they still make "leather in a bottle" but that was awesome for leather and I've used a few of the big/popular ones( no worries there now with the REX!!).