Do you guys polish your car?

[Kasai808]

do you spray the whole car with the V7 right after using butter wet wax? or do you use it as a quick detailer?

Yes, I apply it after the wax as it adds more depth and incredible shine. But do it a panel at a time and in the shade. It comes full concentration, so I dilute it 1:1 to get less-no streaks.

 

[Fazzster]

If you wash/dry and care for your car properly you can go years without a polish. I see so many people putting swirl marks and micro scratches in their paint jobs prematurely and unnecessarily. I am not trying to sound like I am Mr. awesome but I have learned much from a professional detailer in the family and many years of trial, error and finding the right combination of products and techniques.......

 

[DeliriousDonut]

Its a lot of work I tried it once and I honestly after a few minutes of it I told my friend to finish it for me.

 

[Howelldaddy]

www.zainostore.com

Check them out. That is all I use on all my cars.

 

[Budgetplan1]

www.zainostore.com

Check them out. That is all I use on all my cars.

Was a Zaino-zealot for many years, for some reason it is/was big in the Corvette world. Easy to use, relatively inexpensive and great look. Unfortunately while the durability is great, the protection is lacking and they haven't really released anything new since 2007 or so (Fusion was the last I think). Our 2004 black Corvette was always covered in multiple coats of Z5 Pro w/ ZFX and their QD and Grand Finale QD but it didn' stand a chance again bird bombs or water spotting in some cases.

Now all our cars are covered in glass/ceramic coatings. Much, much, MUCH less work to keep clean, greater protection from 'lazy' washing technique and other MINOR incidental blemishes. Heck, at about $7 per car McKees nano Paint Coating is even cheaper than Zaino.

Zaino sure was a nice, wet, glossy look and always drew compliments...for me thought there are better options out there. Like they say, however, find something that works and use it often!"

 

[Draken187]

Great thread imho.

If anyone can chime in..

Wash->clay->polish->wax? Does that seem the concensus nowadays?

Also my orbital is the attachments for m you put a microfiber or whool over the foam? Meguiars ultimate comes with a foam pad.. Anyone know of foam pad attachment?

 

[LeSpp1985]

Great thread imho.

If anyone can chime in..

Wash->clay->polish->wax? Does that seem the concensus nowadays?

Also my orbital is the attachments for m you put a microfiber or whool over the foam? Meguiars ultimate comes with a foam pad.. Anyone know of foam pad attachment?

It depends on the swirls and scratches on your car. Some might come out with a polish, and other ones might to be compounded first.
Also there is such a wide variety of abrasives (light polish, heavy polish, finishing polish) that it's difficult to give you a straight forward answer.
So the best I can say: wash -> clay -> polish with the appropriate polish (light, heavy, finishing...) -> sealant + wax

 

[bembol]

Meet too!

Clay bar, polish and wax, in that order. I use the Meguliars stuff

 

[old sparks]

I bought a big jug of Klasse all-in-one, because I want to clean the gel coat on my sailboat and provide some basic paint protection for my Rallye Red coupe. I've never used this product before, but I read good things about it.

 

[David Harper]

When I bought my car I (foolishly) paid the dealer for their (Protector) paint coating. IMO paint coatings are mostly snake oil. Also I don't use polish at all, it contains abrasives which are probably grinding the clear coat off. I use a clay bar then a synthetic wax like Meguires ultimate which doesn't contain abrasives.

 

[kelnh009]

Picked up a Civic Coupe LX-P last Friday, it's gonna have a hard life living outside so next weekend it's gonna get:

1. Wash
2. Iron-X decon: http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-iron-x-cleaner.html
3. Claybar using Nanoskin clay mitt - http://www.detailedimage.com/NanoSkin-M54/AutoScrub-Fine-Wash-Mitt-P701/
4. Paint corrected using Griot Gargage 6" Random Orbital DA, Lake Country Foam Pads, Menzerna 3500 and/or 3800 depending on how swirls/imperfections work out
- http://www.detailedimage.com/Griots-M56/Random-Orbital-Polisher-P671/25-cord-S2/
- http://www.detailedimage.com/Menzerna-M10/PO106FA-Nano-Polish-Super-Finish-P228/16-oz-S1/
- http://www.detailedimage.com/Menzerna-M10/PO85RD-Polish-P217/32-oz-S1/
5. (2) Layers Kamikaze Miyabi Coat - http://www.esotericcarcare.com/kamikaze-miyabi-coat/
6. (1) Layer Kamikaze ISM Coat - http://www.esotericcarcare.com/kamikaze-ism-coat/
7. Wheels done w/ Tuf Shine Tire Clearcoat - http://www.detailedimage.com/TUF-SHINE-M50/Tire-Appearance-Kit-P545/
8. Rims done w/ Geyon Q2 Rim - http://www.autogeek.net/gyeon-rim.html
9. Plastic/trim done with Gyeon Q2 Trim - http://www.autogeek.net/gyeon-trim.html
10. Exterior Glass done with Griots Glass Sealant - http://www.autogeek.net/griots-glass-care-kit.html

Generally about a 25hr process over 3 days...

Is it overkill? Absolutely...but it's gonne give me a chance to try this stuff on a car that will receive less than ideal attention. If it all pans out and stays solid thru the Northeast Ohio winter, I'll be switching our other cars to these products.

We currently have a 2004 black Corvette and a 2016 black Subaru WRX coated in Wolfgang Uber Ceramic ( http://www.detailedimage.com/Wolfgang-M85/Uber-Ceramic-Coating-P1274/30-cc-S1/ ), Gyeon Rim and Tuf Shine and the results this past summer have been fantastic. For the most part, very little maint is required, occasional quick wash but that's about it. No need for sealing/waxing, tire dressings, wheel cleaners, etc. Even after a few rainstorms the cars look fairly clean and shiny, wheels tires just hosed down to keep clean. Quick 15-20 minute wash every now and again and back to looking freshly polished.

A more reasonable Ceramic Coating is McKees ( http://www.autogeek.net/nano-paint-sealant.html ) which I've put on a few cars and it's holding up pretty well. Coatings make maint so much easier.

Thanks for this. Great write-up. Used some of these on mine. I've tried this new sealant from Flitz that has worked incredibly too. Don't know how it compares to McKees, but it worked great for me - https://www.flitz.com/flitz-sealant/

 

[nizarz]

Wax doesn't need a machine. Polish is where a machine is more helpful. Wash > Clay > Polish > Wax

 

[123sillyboy123]

Many years ago.. mmm.. i think 2005 when I got my BMW, I got crazy with detailing product. The bimmer forum suggested Klasse...
I bought this thing called Klasse wax and sealant, i cant remember how much i paid for it back then but it's over $70 now.
https://www.eshine.ca/collections/klasse-polish-sealant-canada/products/klasse-twins-32oz

It's by far the best detailing product that I have ever used. I had my BMW for just 3 years and business gone bad so I sold it for a Honda fit 2008. I didnt like the fit so I stop washing and detailing the Fit.. I forgot about these Klasse product at the garage. With winter here in canada, the wax and sealant got freeze up and melt year after year.. until last week I got a new honda civic hatchback and I pour this klasse thing out to use again and it surprisingly still great. The sealant added a complete wet look on the body. If you want to go fancy, you should totally try it out..

 

[Wxguru]

CG Honey Dew Wash, Meguiars Clay, CG Butter Wet Wax, CG V07 spray

 

[NoWin]

For me, foam, rinse, soapy wash, clay and rinse (if needed), some sort of base-sealant or synthetic wax (I use Meguiars NXT Tech wax), wax over that with a good carnuba paste waste. Detail spray as needed. Wash and repeat as needed.

Personally, I think a polish is not needed unless you start seeing swirls in the paint. Then the polish correction can be addressed.

Quality products for me: Meguiars (Gold Class, UQDetailer, love Hyper-Dressing), Griots Garage (good spray-on wash stuff and great spray bottles to pre-mix stuff with), Chemical Guys (very good foam/wash and excellent all-purpose cleaners), AmmoNYC (pricey but very good. Next for me to try is there Creme paste wax), and Im trying out some Limitless products on my next detail. Got to try some ONR for wash/rinse too. Oh, and QUALITY microfiber rags (TheRagCompany for most; buy an assortment and utilize as needed).

Not affiliated with any of those companies, just a satisfied old-fartz user.

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