Polish and Wax recommendations?

[SimpleMan]

Guys,

Could you recommend a good polish and wax?

Thanks,

[Barryb97]

I'm sure you'll get many answers. I prefer Zaino products.

[Kgolf31]

Wow, opened a can of worms here.

As for polish, I use Meguiars M105/205 with LCC Hydropads. I use a Makita 9227c rotary.

For LSP, I use Wolfgang 3.0 Paint Sealant, Dodo Juice Hard Candy, then finally top with Dodo Juice Rainforest Rub

[pungo]

I have been using Poorboy's World EX-P Pure Sealant with good long lasting results. The good thing about many of the sealants is you can add layer after layer and build up a nice thick coating on top of your paint to protect it from acid rain, bird poo and the like. If you have swirl marks and want to remove them, you'll need to use something with some "cut" to it to remove the swirls 1st. Check out a place like autogeek for more info on paint care.

[GammaZeta]

For finishing I use S100 carnuba wax, which is the rebranded P21 carnuba wax sold at my local motorcycle shop. I also use Klasse sealant and glaze, and Meguiar's Ultimate wax.

[MC 357]

Zaino for me too! Use only the rest of there products if you use there wax/polish!

[strokeoluck]

There are a number of threads here on the topic, if you want some good bedtime reading. When I did the research and read through all of the opinions, I went with Meguiars. (They also happen to make what most people consider to be the # 1 boat wax, and that's worked wonderfully for me.) I called the Meguiars office and had a nice chat with one of their product tech guys. He said there is no longer a need to put a carnauba wax on the car, OVER a regular wax (which is what some guys recommend). They just recommend using their synthetic wax. I used it, and loved it. I purchased a whole bunch of things from them - car wash soap, hand mitt, clay bar, rotary buffing tool, pads, and so on. Good company to deal with.

[GammaZeta]

Carnuba wax is for shine and depth. No, you don't NEED to put it on, but it enhances the look over synthetic wax.

[jslym777]

find a reputable detailer and have him do it. it takes training and patience to polish and seal

[Nate4641]

spend some time looking around www.autogeek.net and you will learn more than you thought you wanted to about detailing. Then you'll be hooked. Lots of great information and how-to videos for a lot of things.

Personally I use Meguiars as well. I used a Pinnacle swirl removal kit on my 17 year old 3000GT and it did wonders for the paint.

[007MCoupe]

I used Pinnacle whe I was in the states. In my short time detailing my car, i realized just how important a good POLISH was. without a good polish and clay, the 'best' product will look like crap. I also used the Pinnacle swirl remover, clay bar and lube, and their carnuba wax. I've used different waxes and got similar results to each other, but noticed the best results after a fresh polish and clay.

I'm not trying to sell Pinnacle, just saying what I used. I think autogeek had a special at the time I bought. haha

crap, now i'm looking at autogeek for stuff i "don't" need. haha :

[TexasZed4MC]

I use all the Pinnacle products from Autogeek.com They can answer any questions you have also. I also use Klasse sealant and a Porter Cable DA buffer.

[007MCoupe]

*sigh* just bought the full pinnacle kit. *sigh* it needed to be done. (couldn't ship it in my military stuff) might as well do it when it's on sale.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by strokeoluck

I called the Meguiars office and had a nice chat with one of their product tech guys. He said there is no longer a need to put a carnauba wax on the car, OVER a regular wax (which is what some guys recommend). They just recommend using their synthetic wax.

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Carnuba wax is for shine and depth. No, you don't NEED to put it on, but it enhances the look over synthetic wax.

Bingo.

OP - It is a game of testing. I have over 7 different polishes sitting on my shelf at home. Sometimes the go-to polish doesn't work.

I have the full line of Menzerna Polishes on my shelf, with over 60 polishing pads. Be ready to spend money.

[thekurgan]

Without knowing your color, I found the 1Z Glantz to GREATLY bring out the metal flakes in Space Grey

It's also very tough for a polish/wax.

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by jslym777

find a reputable detailer and have him do it. it takes training and patience to polish and seal

I take exception to that statement. I find that washing, claying, polishing, jeweling, sealing and waxing, to be very easy. Yes, it is time consuming....
Training is easy, over on Autogeek.net....

[jslym777]

Originally Posted by Shipkiller

I take exception to that statement. I find that washing, claying, polishing, jeweling, sealing and waxing, to be very easy. Yes, it is time consuming....
Training is easy, over on Autogeek.net....

ive been a detailer for 10+ years, to do it right, not easy. and just reading a forum isnt enough training to do it right the first time.

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by jslym777

ive been a detailer for 10+ years, to do it right, not easy. and just reading a forum isnt enough training to do it right the first time.

Where are you in Ohio?

Anyways, when I did my car last winter I spent 3 days on it. A total of around 25 hours

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by jslym777

ive been a detailer for 10+ years, to do it right, not easy. and just reading a forum isnt enough training to do it right the first time.

So you are saying that most people should not even attempt to do any detailing or learn anything about it, just take your car (and a a lot of money) to someone who knows how and has the experiance? Not to even try???

I am not trying to be argumentive, but that is what I am comprehending out of your two statements.

[jslym777]

no im saying if you want to try, then try on some old panels or old car first, not your BMW. Theres risk involved. If you mess up you will leave the car looking worse than when you started, you can burn through paint, might not have the right tools, etc.

[GammaZeta]

Originally Posted by jslym777

ive been a detailer for 10+ years, to do it right, not easy. and just reading a forum isnt enough training to do it right the first time.

We're talking about basic car maintenance here, not takng out another person's appendix.

If people can go online and follow instructions to do their own valve adjustments, brake jobs and CDV deletes, they can follow the directions on the back of a Klasse bottle.

No, you shouldn't be doing wet sanding if you've never done it before, but using a DA polisher with some low abrasive products is ok for first timers.

[Shipkiller]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

We're talking about basic car maintenance here, not takng out another person's appendix.

If people can go online and follow instructions to do their own valve adjustments, brake jobs and CDV deletes, they can follow the directions on the back of a Klasse bottle.

No, you shouldn't be doing wet sanding if you've never done it before, but using a DA polisher with some low abrasive products is ok for first timers.

^ What he said...