WAX or Polish, Don't get them confused

[acdii]

A lot of times I see people confusing wax with polish when talking about detailing their car. You always see a good debate on which WAX is better. For me, I could care less which wax is the best. simply put, you get what you pay for. Buy a cheap wax, and you will be cleaning the car more often, and I dont mean running through a car wash, I mean cleaning the old wax off the car.

 

When it comes to wax, use a good one, but dont be surprised that you have to redo it every few months, that is the nature of wax, it protects the paint from the elements by putting itself in harms way and slowly degrades over time with rain, wind and UV. Because of how it is used, every time you re-wax your car, you are adding a layer on top of a layer, and the problem then becomes, how many bad layers are under your good layer. You wont notice it right away, but in a few years time, your finish isnt all that shiny anymore.

 

To prevent this, you really should take a spray bottle with a few drops of Dawn dish soap in it, dont use an off brand, use Dawn, it works! Use a good clay bar, the ones from Mothers works well, but they do tend to absorb the liquid and turn to mush much quicker than the ones I get from Zaino. I get two in a container from Zaino, and I am still on my first one after doing at least 4 cars with it more than one time. The Mothers one will last maybe one or two times before its mush. Do this indoors so it doesn't bake into the paint and make it hard to clean up. Spray a small section and start rubbing the paint with the clay, do about a 2' x 2' area, back and forth and circular until the entire area is smooth, you will know as you can feel and hear it. Wipe down the surface and move to the next. Once done, hose down the car to get the soap and other residue off. then reapply your wax. this should be done at least once a year for you fanatics who wax every few weeks, or done every time you wax if you are the lazy type like me who do it once every blue moon.

 

That is, when I actually use Wax. I use Meguiars wax when I do, the Carnuba based ones. Carnuba is one of the best natural waxes to use as it holds up best to the elements. Synthetic waxes are ood too, as long as you use a good one. You will know by its price.

 

This is a known good product, many people swear by it, and for $19, the price isnt bad either. http://www.collinite.com/automotive-wax/insulator-wax/ For the Fanatics, there is always this, http://www.zymol.com/zymolcreamewax8oz.aspx

 

As far as Polish goes, I am not referring to the bottles of grit used to turn a dull paint onto a shiny one, but for the liquids that bond to the paint itself and have light refracting characteristics in them. They also seal the paint and protect it from chemicals and UV damage. There arent very many out there, and most that call themselves polish are just fancy waxes. Yep you guessed it, talking about Zaino here. There are other ones I ran across one called Klass, but they dont have their own website detailing the product, so I cant tell you if it truly is a polish or a fancy wax, and Glare. http://www.glare.com/ Looks promising, but never used it. Might try it some day, maybe when I get a HyTi. Then there are the professional ones that car dealers sell with warranties, but those are usually put on by certified professionals wearing hazmat suits and rebreathers.

 

 

The difference between a Wax and a Polish is simple, a Wax wears, a polish does not. The polish uses a chemical bond to attach itself to the paint molecules, Wax just lays on top. Once bonded, it takes a solvent to remove it. Using Dawn will not remove Zaino, but will take Wax right off. Application is no different, and in fact is now quicker than waxing. Paint prep is the same, but even more important that you claybar with dawn before applying as you do not want to seal the wax to the paint, and Zaino will do just that. When applying the polish you put in an extremely thin layer, you shouldnt even see it, if you doo you put on too much. Go over the surface in a circular motion, then go over it once more to ensure its covered, not with more product, just an extra rubbing, but this time in a straight line. For hood trunk and roof a line front to back, on fenders and doors, up/down. Think of how your eye sees the surface, if you look at a door, you will see lines if they are horizontal, but not vertical, so that is how you want to apply the polish. Start at the hood, and by the time you reach the tail, you can start wiping it all down with a soft terry cloth towel. For the towel, always use a 100% cotton towel, borderless if you can get it, make it if you cant. Wipe a section, flip the towel, in fact have several so you arent scattering the dust. Once the first coat is done, for most people they are done. But heres a trick I learned, if you really want it to glow, add a second coat, each coat enhances the finish, especially on dark colors.

 

In between coats Zaino has a gloss enhancer spray that you lightly mist and wipe down the surface, then apply the second coat. The next day, add two more. Its up to you. One bottle will last years.

 

OK, now that you polished your car, like it? go ahead and wax it. Use what you want, it will just make the car that much prettier! You can always take the wax off, but you cant take off the polish. Once you have a nice layer of polish bonded to that paint, waxing it is icing on the cake, you protect the polish, the paint and gives you an excuse to get out of the house and away from the honeydolist.

 

 

For those with brand new cars, like most who are now on the forum, you can skip the Dawn solution, instead use the Mothers, or Meguiars detail spray to clay the paint. You would think, Its brand new why should I clay it? Do it or you will regret it, especially those with white paint as in a few weeks or months you will start to see little tiny rust spots. Your car got to where it is on a rail car, trains as you all know run steel on steel, and those teeny tiny little bits of steel that wear off the rails and wheels are now stuck to your paint, get them off! Once you clay it like this, go right ahead and polish or wax it, no need to wash it down like you do when you strip the wax off.

 

Here is what I have been using for the past decade, and all my cars always look showroom new when I trade(maybe thats why my dealer give me top dollar).

 

Z2 Show car Polish for new paint

Z5 Show car polish and swirl remover, for older paint, or where there are light scratches.

Z6 Enhancer. Use it between washings, or whenever you are bored and want something to do.

Z7 Car wash, a capful does the whole car, one bottle lasts a long time.

Z8 Grande Finale. Holy S**T does it glow. Use very very little of this as it will streak. but man when done right, what a shine!

Z-18 Claybar

Z-PC This is a very mild abrasive for getting out light scratches, and works great on plastic too. Can be use with a machine for heavier scratches. Want a really slick surface, use it on the entire.

ZFX USE IT! This is the accelerator, with it you can do two coats in about an hour, without it you need to wait a day before you can recoat with Z2 or Z5. Just make sure you follow the directions, or you will be tossing the small bottles out. It does have a shelf life as I found out over the weekend, it will gel up and be useless after a few years, so use it.

 

 

These are just the product I personally have used, but you dont have to use them to get the shine or protection, Zaino has the AIO kit, with all you need. Get the triplets kit, $73 and can do several cars many times over. I have heard great things about Colinite too, so give it a try too. Just remember the difference, Colonite you have to strip off eventually as it will build up, its a WAX, Zaino(and other polishes) you dont strip off, it doesnt build up and degrade over time, it will wear off though over time.

 

One HUGE word of caution, what ever product you use, make sure it DOES NOT contain any Silcone!!! Very Very VERY important, Never use anything with Silicone in it on your paint. If ever comes a time that you need to have a repair done that involves painting your car, silicone will cause fisheye. It is extremely difficult to remove and no guarantee it will be removed with paint prep. If you use a Silicone based product on your car, like to wipe down the rubber seals, or anything of that nature, spray it on a rag, and away from the car, and use the rag to apply it. Very nasty stuff to get on paint.

 

[Toz]

good info, thanks.

[hybridbear]

You seem very knowledgeable about all this, acdii. Thanks.

[acdii]

Victim of many trades! :) Computers, truck driving, building houses, repairing cars, ASE certifications, body work, auto painting, Electrician, plumbing, NOC designing and building. Shoot only thing I haven't done is surgery. Oh I forgot to mention, I also climbed towers for a while.

[hybridbear]

Why so many jobs? What has been your favorite?

[Riggo]

Is there a chance of ruining your finish with Zaino, say if you used too much by accident? Or is that impossible?

[acdii]

Why so many jobs? What has been your favorite?

Just tried out different jobs until I found one I wanted to stick with. Before driving a truck I worked in a factory as shop maintenance, Strippet turret punch press programmer, built RF induction furnaces, repaired aircraft navigation strobes, and school bus wigwags, and this was all at the same factory, they had 3 divisions. Then I went to drive an 18, and did that for 2 years until a crackerjack licensed driver blew his airtanks on ice and rear ended me and my career. Took 2 years to recover and then worked as a mechanic, but that was too hard on my back and the oil and grease on my hands made them feel awful. Then I went to build houses, did that for 2 years until I again injured my back. In between the mechanic and houses I tried my own business building decks, but was too hard doing it as a one man builder. They were very nice decks, but I needed help and was at the point where capital and other things just weren't there. Once my back healed up enough to go back to work I found a job with an ISP and have been doing it ever since. Been working on internet related stuff since 1998, and have a wall full of Cisco certifications to go with it.

 

Is there a chance of ruining your finish with Zaino, say if you used too much by accident? Or is that impossible?

All you wind up doing is wasting it if you put too much on. Until it fully cures all you do is move it around, and you will be spending all day waiting for it to cure then. A very light coat is all you need. If you see it, you used too much kind of coat.

[Osofast]

Acdii, thanks for all of the info. I have wanted to pull the trigger and order all of the product to do a zaino treatment but haven't because I was not sure what to purchase. I have a Boudreaux red (dark color) when you go to the zaino website and then to the Zaino simplified page it says for dark colors to use the z-5 pro. Have you had any experience with this or should I just use the z-2?

 

Below is the quote from the zaino page

 

For lighter colored vehicles, use Z-2 PRO to brighten the color with greater optics.

Use Z-3 in place of Z-2 for old cars with single stage paints or non-clearcoated vehicles.

For dark colored vehicles, use Z-5 PRO to deepen the color. Also use Z-5 PRO to minimize appearance of light swirls.

[acdii]

Yes, go with the Z5. That one has properties to reduce swirl marks, which show up much quicker on dark colors. That is what I used on my Flex, which is black and Fusion, which is a dark green almost black. I dont know if you have seen the Tuxedo black up close, but here is the front fender and hood after one coat of Z5. Each coat after this will make it deeper and richer.

 

[neod192]

I received a Meguiar's gift set for Christmas and I just opened it up. Is this the good stuff, the so-so or the really cheap stuff? Is it safe to use it? Should I clay it first and use a zaino polish before I use the Quik Wax? What about the car wash stuff? Can I use the wipes on the dashboard - what surfaces are safe for these? I don't see anything for the leather in the kit, so I guess I'll have to buy that separately, right?

 

[acdii]

All that stuff is good. If you are going to put Zaino on, do that first before applying any wax. Just keep in mind if you want to put more of the Z on, you need to first remove the wax with a little dawn and water in a spray bottle. Clay first, get the rail dust off the car.

 

One thing I found about the "protectant" for the dash and stuff, it outgasses onto your glass, so while it looks great, in a few months when that shine is gone, you can find it by cleaning your windshield, cause thats where is went.

[neod192]

Thanks! Now I wonder if the dealer already waxed my car after they had it in the bodyshop ... Had to take it back because it was really dirty and when I picked it up it was really really clean and shiny. How can I tell?

[acdii]

Look for traces of wax in the nooks or under edges. Water borne waxes though dont affect the Z, only paste wax that is applied with a pad. All the marks left by the pad can show through the Z where you never saw them before because of how the light is refracted.

[Riggo]

I see tire foam in your pack neod. I remember reading somewhere that that tire shine products can dry out your tires but I have no clue if that's true. Acdii, your services please on this question!

[acdii]

I dont have an answer on that, I do know that some of that tire dressing is a pain to get off paint. There are some new products out there that are more like a paint than a dressing.

[milleron]

Great information here. I just spent $100 at Zaino. They should be giving you a commission, acdii.

 

Now, let's say I've done this by the Zaino "book" -- Claybar, Z-AIO, ZFX-enhanced Z5 followed by Z6, & the car's glowing & protected for 6 months. What's the doctrine on running the car through a car wash??

[GrySql]

I remember reading somewhere that that tire shine products can dry out your tires

Read this on tire care.

[acdii]

Great information here. I just spent $100 at Zaino. They should be giving you a commission, acdii.

 

Now, let's say I've done this by the Zaino "book" -- Claybar, Z-AIO, ZFX-enhanced Z5 followed by Z6, & the car's glowing & protected for 6 months. What's the doctrine on running the car through a car wash??

I take mine to touchless unless I have the time to use the bay. I wont use any car wash that has brushes or rags that touch the paint. You should be good for at least a year though, the cars I did lasted well over a year and still beaded like new.

[neod192]

I just placed my Zaino order ... Can't wait to use all this stuff!

• Z-5 PRO Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches
• Z-6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer Spray
• Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner
• Z-10 Leather in a Bottle
• Z-14 Plastic Magic Cleaner & Polish
• Z-18 ClayBar
• Z-AIO All-in-one

[milleron]

Neod, we've seen your car after its "bath time." Please consider taking before-and-after photos of your clay-bar-and-polish session. I'll try to do the same and hope that anyone else who gets the Zaino bee in their bonnet might join in, too.

 

No ZFX for you? It's my impression that it's not just for speeding drying time between coats.

"Using ZFX™ in place of Z-1™ Polish Lok will promote cross-linking, reduce drying time, increase gloss factor, extend durability level."

I'm for anything that'll "extend durability level."

[neod192]

Neod, we've seen your car after its "bath time." Please consider taking before-and-after photos of your clay-bar-and-polish session. I'll try to do the same and hope that anyone else who gets the Zaino bee in their bonnet might join in, too.

 

No ZFX for you? It's my impression that it's not just for speeding drying time between coats.

"Using ZFX™ in place of Z-1™ Polish Lok will promote cross-linking, reduce drying time, increase gloss factor, extend durability level."

I'm for anything that'll "extend durability level."

I called Zanio because I was confused about that as well. First time you apply Z-2 or Z-5 you have to use ZFX or Z-AIO. Z-AIO is better for an everyday car, while ZFX is better for show cars and it also helps between coats. I don't mind waiting 12 hours between coats (if I ever do more than one), so Z-AIO was for me - it's also easier to apply - no mixing needed.

 

I'll definitely have pics! :)

Edited May 14, 2013 by neod192

[milleron]

Interesting information. I thought to use both AIO and ZFX-enhanced Z5 because of their statement about increasing durability. Did you by any chance discuss that with them on the phone?

[acdii]

I have used the ZFX and it does increase the durability of the Z5. The drawback is it has limited shelf life, and you wind up losing at least half of it because you rarely have to apply the Z. Only a fanatic would ever use up the ZFX. It is in a small dropper bottle, I think something like a 1/4 ounce, and you use up to 10 drops per 2 ounces of Z, and 2 ounces will do 2 cars 2 coats each. You can only do 2 coats a day. I did 4 cars several times and still had half a bottle of ZFX, and it turned to a gel this year.

 

I can tell you though, without it, the Z5 does not stay on well. I only washed the car twice and the finish is nothing like the F150 was after I did it the correct way. My Z1 died a few years ago along with my Z2, only my Z5 and sprays live on. I need to order some AIO now.

[neod192]

I have used the ZFX and it does increase the durability of the Z5. The drawback is it has limited shelf life, and you wind up losing at least half of it because you rarely have to apply the Z. Only a fanatic would ever use up the ZFX. It is in a small dropper bottle, I think something like a 1/4 ounce, and you use up to 10 drops per 2 ounces of Z, and 2 ounces will do 2 cars 2 coats each. You can only do 2 coats a day. I did 4 cars several times and still had half a bottle of ZFX, and it turned to a gel this year.

 

I can tell you though, without it, the Z5 does not stay on well. I only washed the car twice and the finish is nothing like the F150 was after I did it the correct way. My Z1 died a few years ago along with my Z2, only my Z5 and sprays live on. I need to order some AIO now.

Your comment about the ZFX shelf life also made me buy the AIO instead. I hope it doesn't go bad, like your ZFX :)

[acdii]

Dont let it freeze, keep it in a cool spot like a basement and it will last for years. This is why my Z1 and Z2 died, I left them in the garage and they froze.