Maybe it's just stress relief? If washing it once relieves stress then twice is better. Hell, then claying and then waxing it twice must be like morphine!
Whats your favorite wax...?
- Thread starter AutoXRacer
- Start date
Maybe it's just stress relief? If washing it once relieves stress then twice is better. Hell, then claying and then waxing it twice must be like morphine!
whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
LOL, I guess so or maybe a hot chick with a white shirt present would make washing it a 4th time even better.
In case a few dont know this: if you wash the car with dawn you better be ready to WAX it - dishwashing soap while mild enough so as not to damage paint/clear coat does REMOVE wax - and there is a whole other battle as to how OFTEN you should clay bar a car... I would NOT clay bar it every time
Im in the camp that doesnt get the wax then wash with dawn again... too stressfull....
Im in the camp that doesnt get the wax then wash with dawn again... too stressfull....
whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
Its stupid to wash that many times with dish soap when clay bar removes the wax also. That method was very redundant and I dont see any benefit coming from washing in something that removes wax, applying wax, rmoving the wax, then washing again.
After last use of clay bar I would say 1x per year would be good enough but apparently it doesnt harm the paint at all so according to meguiars more applications doesnt make any harm.
After last use of clay bar I would say 1x per year would be good enough but apparently it doesnt harm the paint at all so according to meguiars more applications doesnt make any harm.
fourthmeal
Banned
Who the HELL said to dawn, clay, wax, and dawn again? (or any variation on that theme?!)
Not me!
If you are talking about my post, you need to re read it very carefully, as the whole point of it was lost due to "skimming"
exactly as Mocoso said, the DAWN is to remove all traces of dirt, wax, debris, etc. from the paint finish. It must not be left in this condition, this is PREP only. Actually, unless you have paintwork done, if someone decides to "wax" your car for you (like an overzealous dealership or something like that) or unless you neglect your finish for years after you've Zaino'd, you probably won't have to do this prep work ever again. The Dawn, Dry, Dawn, Dry, Clay method is solely to prep once. NEVER Dawn after polish/waxing. To do so would destroy everything you've done so far.
Not me!
If you are talking about my post, you need to re read it very carefully, as the whole point of it was lost due to "skimming"
exactly as Mocoso said, the DAWN is to remove all traces of dirt, wax, debris, etc. from the paint finish. It must not be left in this condition, this is PREP only. Actually, unless you have paintwork done, if someone decides to "wax" your car for you (like an overzealous dealership or something like that) or unless you neglect your finish for years after you've Zaino'd, you probably won't have to do this prep work ever again. The Dawn, Dry, Dawn, Dry, Clay method is solely to prep once. NEVER Dawn after polish/waxing. To do so would destroy everything you've done so far.
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Jesus H Christ! I will stick with the soap my g/f buys that's blue and has some carnuba in it, the Meguiar's Gold Class, the tint-safe Windex (or other tint-safe window cleaner), the orange bottle of creamy tire stuff that comes with a neat notched applicator pad, and the silvery bottle of stuff for the interior trims/dash/etc. That's already 5 products, more and I'd be going crazy! I wash it weekly, wax it monthly/every two months depending on how it's holding up. Right now I Gold Classed my car 2+mos ago and the wax is still like yesterday's, beads up fantastic. I looked into Zaino some time ago and the bunch of different products combined with the mix and match scheme they've set up is very efficient at making them cash, I'm sure, but the whole thing turned me off. I'm of the KISS mindset. Not saying your suggestions are bad Fourth - btw I am getting all my stereo supplies for XMas to soundproof and wire my car. Yay!
fourthmeal
Banned
But....
If you are looking for a simplistic approach, I've outlined what to do there, too.
Bottom line is that the paint deserves the best you can give it.
If you want the simplistic approach, then follow this:
Buy the Z-18 Clay Bar kit.
Buy the Z-AIO All-in-One bottle
Buy the Z-CS (optional!)
Buy some Z-6 Spray (for detailing later, and in between car washes
Buy some Z-7 Carwash
Buy some Dawn
Buy some quality 100% cotton towels that don't have polyester in them (Fieldcrest towels are nice, as are Cannondale)
Buy a couple applicator pads on the Zaino site.
Including the optional (yet exceptional) Z-CS, you'd be looking at ~$95.25 in Zaino + maybe $40 in towels and Dawn.
This would do the car for YEARS, maybe as long as you own the car, with exception to the Z-6 spray and Z-7 carwash, which will probably last a year. If you want to cheap-skate further
you can omit the Z-CS and an applicator I guess, which would make the cost $62.80 + the towels and Dawn.
If you are looking for a simplistic approach, I've outlined what to do there, too.
Bottom line is that the paint deserves the best you can give it.
If you want the simplistic approach, then follow this:
Buy the Z-18 Clay Bar kit.
Buy the Z-AIO All-in-One bottle
Buy the Z-CS (optional!)
Buy some Z-6 Spray (for detailing later, and in between car washes
Buy some Z-7 Carwash
Buy some Dawn
Buy some quality 100% cotton towels that don't have polyester in them (Fieldcrest towels are nice, as are Cannondale)
Buy a couple applicator pads on the Zaino site.
Including the optional (yet exceptional) Z-CS, you'd be looking at ~$95.25 in Zaino + maybe $40 in towels and Dawn.
This would do the car for YEARS, maybe as long as you own the car, with exception to the Z-6 spray and Z-7 carwash, which will probably last a year. If you want to cheap-skate further
you can omit the Z-CS and an applicator I guess, which would make the cost $62.80 + the towels and Dawn.AutoXRacer
Member
Well, I just finished waxing the car!!! Hewww, what a long process...
I washed with dawn, clayed the whole car, and then used an orbital polisher for the first coat and then hand applied the second coat. Man, I've spent all day doing this...from 8am - 5:15pm... I'm tired... lol
Looks good, though its a cloudy day so I can't really see the improvement in shine...it feels nice and slippery though...
The clay didn't remove much... It was clean except for a couple of little black pin dots and some yellow residue (???)...
Overall, I'm happy with the end result... I know the paint is protected and that gives me a peace of mind...
Oh yeah, the last thing I did was RainX my windows and when I was all done, I went inside for a quick drink and when I came out some stupid bird pooped on my window... lol
I washed with dawn, clayed the whole car, and then used an orbital polisher for the first coat and then hand applied the second coat. Man, I've spent all day doing this...from 8am - 5:15pm... I'm tired... lol
Looks good, though its a cloudy day so I can't really see the improvement in shine...it feels nice and slippery though...
The clay didn't remove much... It was clean except for a couple of little black pin dots and some yellow residue (???)...
Overall, I'm happy with the end result... I know the paint is protected and that gives me a peace of mind...
Oh yeah, the last thing I did was RainX my windows and when I was all done, I went inside for a quick drink and when I came out some stupid bird pooped on my window... lol
tonybonekhang
Member
- :
- 03 Mazda Protege 5
IMO wax is wax. I use Mother's california gold because of it's carnauba content which seems to be harder and harder to find. Carnauba was the original natural wax used for cars. Everything else seems to be synthetic, not that it's a bad thing I just have a preference for carnauba.
As for cleaner waxes I like to avoid those. It's a two in one product and everyone knows that those don't work as well as using the two actual seperate products.
It's more important in how you apply the wax than what you apply. Make sure the job is not rushed and that all old wax is removed (unless you're just doing a refresher). I'll start each summer with a dawn dish detergent car wash to remove the wax (dish detergent removes wax whereas almost all car wash solutions contain wax). Then I'll dry it, clay bar, wash and dry again and finally apply the Mother's california gold three step (cleaner, polish, wax - same as meguairs). From there out I'll use car wash solutions to wash and apply just the wax as needed until the next year.
As for cleaner waxes I like to avoid those. It's a two in one product and everyone knows that those don't work as well as using the two actual seperate products.
It's more important in how you apply the wax than what you apply. Make sure the job is not rushed and that all old wax is removed (unless you're just doing a refresher). I'll start each summer with a dawn dish detergent car wash to remove the wax (dish detergent removes wax whereas almost all car wash solutions contain wax). Then I'll dry it, clay bar, wash and dry again and finally apply the Mother's california gold three step (cleaner, polish, wax - same as meguairs). From there out I'll use car wash solutions to wash and apply just the wax as needed until the next year.
AutoXRacer
Member
(hand) Should I have washed the car over after I clayed it?
I do
AutoXRacer
Member
Why is that...? I used Meguiare's Detailer with the clay and then wiped it off with a clean micro-fiber towel...
Does washing it a 2nd time just rinse off any residue left by the clay?
fourthmeal
Banned
Here's what the Clay process does, and why you should wash over it after you're done:
Claying a car removes micro-particles imbedded in the paint. If you really want to see what a clay bar is doing, just run your fingers over the paint before, and after the clay work. You'll notice the feeling goes from semi-smooth to silky, glassy smooth very quickly. This is the effect you are after. In fact, your fingers are far better at detecting surface flaws then your eyes could ever hope to be. So, that is your measuring stick...the feel of the finish.
And to who said "Wax is Wax..":
I've used Zymol, Meguires' - 3 step wax, one step wax and those crappy NXT, and Gold Class waxes, Mothers' - one step wax, and 3 step wax, countless variations on Turtle Crap Wax, Blue Coral junk (some ruined my finish!), I've tried several spray aerosol waxes used in NASCAR, I've used tons of cans of Honda Polish (an excellent Motorcycle polish/cleaner), the coveted Body-shop special 3M cleaner/polish/wax bottles, etc.
I've probably spent thousands on all these waxes and their new versions of what they were peddling. But, I learned an important lesson while making these mistakes...Wax is DEAD. Zaino is a Polish with enough strength and durability to be used in place of wax. Long live Zaino. 'Nuff said.
06 VFR, one coat of Z-2 with ZFX additive, about 1 month after treatment (didn't even clay it)
1997 Trans-Am, Pic taken in 2000 I believe, 7 year old black car. Clay/2 coats of Z-5, 2 Coats of Z-2. This pic taken about 6 months after its treatment.
Claying a car removes micro-particles imbedded in the paint. If you really want to see what a clay bar is doing, just run your fingers over the paint before, and after the clay work. You'll notice the feeling goes from semi-smooth to silky, glassy smooth very quickly. This is the effect you are after. In fact, your fingers are far better at detecting surface flaws then your eyes could ever hope to be. So, that is your measuring stick...the feel of the finish.
And to who said "Wax is Wax..":
I've used Zymol, Meguires' - 3 step wax, one step wax and those crappy NXT, and Gold Class waxes, Mothers' - one step wax, and 3 step wax, countless variations on Turtle Crap Wax, Blue Coral junk (some ruined my finish!), I've tried several spray aerosol waxes used in NASCAR, I've used tons of cans of Honda Polish (an excellent Motorcycle polish/cleaner), the coveted Body-shop special 3M cleaner/polish/wax bottles, etc.
I've probably spent thousands on all these waxes and their new versions of what they were peddling. But, I learned an important lesson while making these mistakes...Wax is DEAD. Zaino is a Polish with enough strength and durability to be used in place of wax. Long live Zaino. 'Nuff said.
06 VFR, one coat of Z-2 with ZFX additive, about 1 month after treatment (didn't even clay it)
1997 Trans-Am, Pic taken in 2000 I believe, 7 year old black car. Clay/2 coats of Z-5, 2 Coats of Z-2. This pic taken about 6 months after its treatment.
astraelraen
Member
I love meguiars professional line.
#5 or #7 polishes followed by
#26 High-tech yellow
Sometimes I use #21 over the yellow, but its pretty hard to find locally here.
#26 is a really awesome wax, I think its much better than Gold class or NXT, and its relatively inexpensive
#5 or #7 polishes followed by
#26 High-tech yellow
Sometimes I use #21 over the yellow, but its pretty hard to find locally here.
#26 is a really awesome wax, I think its much better than Gold class or NXT, and its relatively inexpensive
AutoXRacer
Member
I felt the surface with my fingers/hand before I clayed each area...just an old habit from working at a body shop...just wanted to feel the before and after effects.
Anyway, I didn't fell a difference... Like I said, my car was only a month old and only driven two of those weeks; garage kept the whole time and it hasn't rained on it yet... LOL Oh and I've been washing it every other day. LOL
The only thing I did notice the clay was doing was this yellowy substance, but that could have been the Detailer product...though it didn't do it all over that car, just a few areas...
Next time I will wash the car after claying it... I'm kind of bummed now that I didn't do it.
Anyway, I didn't fell a difference... Like I said, my car was only a month old and only driven two of those weeks; garage kept the whole time and it hasn't rained on it yet... LOL Oh and I've been washing it every other day. LOL
The only thing I did notice the clay was doing was this yellowy substance, but that could have been the Detailer product...though it didn't do it all over that car, just a few areas...
Next time I will wash the car after claying it... I'm kind of bummed now that I didn't do it.
Yeah! some may say its over kill but i like to do it.
I know this isnt a "Zaino rules" thread but i have used a lot of products and i havent found anything out there that protects as well. Like i have said b4 well worth the money.
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ThrillRide
Member
- :
- Truck
ThrillRide
Member
- :
- Truck
OK before I wasn't sure but I see now that you are a shill. Wax is not dead. That is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard. Only a shill or a neophyte would say something like that.
Carnauba wax is only being declared as dead or outdated by those marketing their own synthetics or by shills. There are Carnaubas out there that create a better look and last just as long as Zaino. I prove it everyday. So stop the shilling.
Zaino is not a polish. Fanboys make this mistake all the time. I don't care what Sal wants to call his products. z2 and z5 are not polishes. They are synthetic sealants. ZAIO and Z-PC are the only products with polishing ability....an neither is a great polish at that.
I use zaino. I am not bashing it or its ability. There are times when it makes good sense to use it in my business. And there are times when it doesn't. But these fanboys and shills drive me crazy with the ignorance.
fourthmeal
Banned
A shill? WtF?
I'm done with you, and your opinion on the holy grail of detailing.
I've said it before, and I meant it. I've used a lot of the major brands and a lot of the ones that are lesser-known (like the supposedly awesome Zymol and 3M), and haven't not seen the results I have with Zaino.
I'm no fanboy, I'm just a realist who's used the products sold by the company with EXCELLENT results. Actually I was a skeptic after spending "X" amount on many other products. After a little bit of hemming and hawing, I decided to bite the bullet and try the stuff out...and I found a local dealer in KC who made a nice guarantee on his own dime. The guarantee was that I could return the stuff for a refund if I was not pleased or felt it wasn't worth the money.
Upon application of the product (Z-5 initially with ZFX, then Z-2 a couple times) on both my Trans-Am and my father's Vette, I was hooked. Simple as that. You find something you like, and you stick with it. I'm no fanboy, but I do intend to tell others about my experience. And you calling me ignorant...wow. I'll remember that one, don't you worry.
shill (shil)
Slang
NOUN:
One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle.
This s*** pisses me off to no end.
I'm done with you, and your opinion on the holy grail of detailing.
I've said it before, and I meant it. I've used a lot of the major brands and a lot of the ones that are lesser-known (like the supposedly awesome Zymol and 3M), and haven't not seen the results I have with Zaino.
I'm no fanboy, I'm just a realist who's used the products sold by the company with EXCELLENT results. Actually I was a skeptic after spending "X" amount on many other products. After a little bit of hemming and hawing, I decided to bite the bullet and try the stuff out...and I found a local dealer in KC who made a nice guarantee on his own dime. The guarantee was that I could return the stuff for a refund if I was not pleased or felt it wasn't worth the money.
Upon application of the product (Z-5 initially with ZFX, then Z-2 a couple times) on both my Trans-Am and my father's Vette, I was hooked. Simple as that. You find something you like, and you stick with it. I'm no fanboy, but I do intend to tell others about my experience. And you calling me ignorant...wow. I'll remember that one, don't you worry.
shill (shil)
Slang
NOUN:
One who poses as a satisfied customer or an enthusiastic gambler to dupe bystanders into participating in a swindle.
This s*** pisses me off to no end.
