Are you really Air Force or is it someone in your family? (This doesn't fit this Edmunds topic, so I'll confess that I used NuFinish for more than 15 years before I switched!)
I come from a quasi-military family (parents were defense contractors so we lived on or near a few bases). I passed on the Air Force when I was told that at 6'4" I couldn't be a fighter pilot but could fly C-141's and the like. I then got my jollies detailing private aircraft which fed two interests at once.
I bought a new car several months ago and have been reading this message board to get some information on the best way to keep the paint looking good. Now my head is spinning. I must confess, I've never waxed a car in my life. Up until now it's been drive-through car washes with "hot wax" sprayed on. I can hear you all groaning now! My last car was light blue (very forgiving with dirt and scratches) but my new car is black and those days of the drive-through are over!!!! I have found out already that you have to be very careful about what you use on a dark color car. My car was at the dealer for a few minor problems a few weeks after purchase and as a "complimentary service" they washed it for me. Later I saw lots of tiny scratches all over the car. They must have used an abrasive towel when drying it. Lession learned: I'll be the only one washing my car from now on!
Please give me some advice on waxing a black car. What are the best applicators for the wax? Are the round terry cloth disks that you buy at the auto store ok, or a soft white tee-shirt? What about taking the wax off? I've been using a chamois for drying with good results. As for wax, I bought a bottle of Zymol after reading Consumer Report (and before I started reading this message board) because it got good rating for swirl marks. I want the paint to look nice, but I want to keep it simple. The weather is suppose to warm up early next week, so I'm planning on waxing then. Any suggestions before then will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
My only suggestion is that to keep your finish looking nice just do your washing and waxing frequently. Probably the simplest thing is to just hand wash and use a spray quick wax each time you wash. There are a lot of products out there and you just have to see what works for you, but most people would probably agree nothing works as well as doing a wash frequently. The terry cloth disks are fine. 100% cotton towels are fine.
I've owned a couple and other dark colors as well. If you're not planning to be fanatical and appearance care is not a major deal in your life (unlike some of us in here like me), here's what I suggest:
Buy yourself an orbital buffer; a good one not one of those that plugs into the cig lighter. Spend $60-75. Get 5 or 6 cotton terry bonnets for the buffer. Use that Zymol or another top quality one-step like Meguiars Medallion. Wax your car when you start seeing spider-webbing (those micro scratches), probably every 8 weeks or so. The buffer will make the job go quickly and easily. The wax you use will remove and fill the scratches and bring out the gloss. To remove wax use cheesecloth or maybe buy some flannel at a fabric store. I use cotton diapers.
I did this for years and got lots of compliments. Now, I also used to try many different products and techniques but when I wanted the car to look sharp and I wasn't going to a car show, out came the buffer and the Medallion.
Black is the hardest color to maintain. But it looks the best when cared for. Don't ignore the other details like cleaning the wheels and tires. With summer coming, keep the nose/front end waxed and clean so bugs don't stick.
If you need more help, feel free to ask us. We're here to help.
I thought about buying an orbital buffer but worried I might get circular marks in the finish. Do you think a novice with NO experience...and I should mention, no upper body strength, get good results using a buffer. My main concern is damaging the finish.
You don't need to manhandle them either, thats what gives you scratches or burns in the paint. Just moderate pressure and move it easily across the paint. Orbital buffers are the safest for most people to use and shouldn't leave any swirl marks. Use good bonnets, not too much wax and you should be fine.
If you haven't already found it, there is a wonderful topic that's banned on this board (begins with a Z). I bought a black car about a year ago, and learned a great deal from folks on that board - and not just about the product. There's tips about many facets of keeping your car looking great. Go there, you won't be disappointed.
Yes, I'm aware of that. But I'm grateful that I've learned so much from knowledgable individuals on this forum and the other forum. And I would never have know about that other forum unless someone mentioned it here. Just trying to help as I've been helped - no need to delete my post.
but can anyone recommend a good product for removing tar spots from alloy wheels? They are a little over 1 year old, and they also are turning brown in some spots. Is there a different product to get rid of the brown color?
I like clay for taking off tar spots. You could also try something like 3M Adhesive Cleaner, which used to be sold at Wal-Mart, among other places; or Wurth Tar Remover. Both are solvents so you need to be careful.
Avon's Skin-So-Soft bath oil should work; it's not an instant process, but each application, especially if you can get it with a spray bottle, or transfer it to such a bottle, will loosen the tar. I removed a big tar blotch on a friend's bumper with about 45 minutes of repeated application, letting the SSS soak in and then working of the spot.
I'm sorry, but I find your criticism of the poster merely directing someone to the "other forum" too politically correct. Edmunds owns these forums and for the regular participants to be so narrow about what they feel others may post to the point of not allowing generally related information to flow, is a use I don't believe they intended. As soon as THIS forum mentions products only or mostly available by mail, from catalogs, or through the Internet, the "Store Bought" restriction is breached. I agree that some, even many, of the long-time "Z" enthusiasts crossed the line to uncivil "fan"aticism, but let's be realistic, new and short-term participants don't know the history and it's unfair to zap 'em. I find this especially true with the apparent removal of the restriction on "stacking" of messages to only about 500, so that new, more appropriately and fine-tuned titled forums would follow the old ones.
These posts are really informative. Before I saw this site, the only waxes I heard of were Turtle wax and Simonize. Now because of the info from this site, I just placed an order for Collinite wax for my just purchased car. I do have one question. I see that cotton (made in USA) towels are recommended for wiping off the wax. I suppose they are also good for washing the car, too. Are cotton t-shirts any good for anything? My old undershirts always made good rags. For a final going over, wouldn't flannel, which I believe is also cotton be ok? It is softer than a cotton towel. Louie
For many years I've used cotton diapers to apply and remove wax. For removal, flannel works great also. Cotton terry towels are an excellent choice as they have a nap that lifts dried wax and dirt away from the surface. Some cheap "cotton" towels are partially polyester which can leave spider web scratches during polishing.
Unless you are prepping your car for shows most any soft towel will do. After I've cleaned my car I wash my towels; no fabric softener, no bleach, no cling free dryer things as all will leave a residue on the towels which will end up on your car.
For wax application you can use those little round applicators but I prefer something larger like a 3x5 sponge or an applicator that is covered in cotton terry cloth. Your local auto parts store prolly sells a round applicator that has a pocket for your hand - that thing is great.
Thanks for the tip on Avon. Unless I read your post wrong, however, it was my post #759 directing kaycee41 to the other forum. I agree with you - no harm in informing new participants that there are other relevant discussions.
Kaycee41 - You'll find Car Care Online very informative and helpful. They have "how to" articles on all aspects of car care.
www.carcareonline.com
Continue to pick the brains of the forum experts. Like you, I was a novice at car care. I used whatever was cheapest to wax my car which I did infrequently. When I bought my black 2000 Eldorado I decided to make the effort to keep it looking great at all times. My wife thinks I'm obsessed with keeping the car sparkling.
You may have to try several waxes before you find one that appeals to you or you might like the first wax that you try. It's all up to you. Maintaining your vehicle should be a joy and not a chore. Enjoy!
To piglover, Use your old T shirts for rags to clean up messes or to wipe your hands off, also I would only use Flannel or diapers on crome or alloy wheels. By the way, You picked a great wax, I`m sure you will be happy with it. Tell others about it when you are done. It took me years of testing products before I found this one. I love Collinite products, especially the Insulater Wax.
I have seen at the auto parts store - are those OK to use on a brand new car? So far the only thing I've done is wash my car with a wash for clear-coat finishes - I have not waxed it because I have only had it 2 1/2 weeks - I'm not one for spending alot of time washing and waxing (and to be honest I've never waxed a car) so my plan is to wash it once a month and wax it once every 3 months - is there a particular brand that is recommended over others? thanks in advance
with higher end waxes. I needed to start somewhere and I went with the Meguiars 26. I've read enough here to determine its probabl'y not the best...nevertheless...I'm going to finish off the container. Now I have put on two coats in the last 5 days. Will additional coats help? How long to wait? Since I'm retired I have the time to -if it makes sense to throw on a layer - say every month. Does this make sense and will I eventually remove it and reglaze or what. I'm more interested in the durability than the appearance. Does the glaze "nourish" the paint more than say the #26? Is the Meguiars #7 a good choice for this. I'd rather use a very non-aggressive glaze if a glaze is necessary. Thanks in advance.
For glaze info go to meguiars.com and look under "product showroom" and then under consumer and under professional products at the polishing products. Lots to choose from. I prefer the Swirl Remover and Show Car Glaze. Show Car Glaze is the lesser abrasive. There is also a New Car Glaze which I believe is less abrasive still, but have not used. I have not found them to be overly abrasive. On the contrary. When trying to remove some larger defects in paint on older cars, I've had to go out and get more abrasive products, then work my way back to Show Car Glaze. Definately use a good quality orbital buffer with the appropriate pad. It's too much work by hand and the results are not as good.
I'm not sure there is such a thing as the best wax or polymer. Meguiar's are good products though.
How many folks in here use this stuff? I LOVE this product. I use it all the time inbetween washings and waxings. Obviously, only when my car is dusty or a bird made a deposit on my paint. I love all of Meguiars products. I also use the spray Turtle Wax in the green bottle. I use this product only to maintain my current wax coat, not as my sole wax application. This product is completely safe for all new car finishes.
I am also a finatic about washing and waxing my car. My wife REALLY thinks I am obsessive compulsive about cleaning my car. Last week we drove to Florida(from Atlanta) and during our 5 day vacation I HAD to wash my car. My wife sat in the car looking at me like I was crazy.
I use it also for removing the bird droppings etc. or a quick shine after a wash. I also use the #26 wax and also use Collinite and now experimenting with the Z. Getting a great collection of waxes, polishes, swirl removers on the shelf too! Not sure which is best as yet, for me with time to wash and wax the shine/gloss is more important then protection.
Meguiar's makes great products. A local paint shop that does a lot of custom work, show cars and high end cars turned me on to Meguiar's products a few years ago. Nowdays I use the unmentionable product instead of wax. But I still use their glazes and polishes and other misc. products. You will not go wrong with Meguiar's. Have you tried the Quick Wax? You use it after washing for that just waxed look. It is in a spray bottle and takes 10 minutes to do the whole car. I use to use it after every wash.
I have used Mequiars Quik Wax and really don't like it. I know I said I like all their products, but that is the only product of theirs I don't like. It is not as easy to wipe off. I like Turtle Waxes spray wax. It is really easy to use and comes off as easy as the quik detailer. You should try it. Consumer Reports also rated it as one of the best spray waxes.
I just used this - for the first time - on my hubby's '87 Volvo - I must say - I thought it provided good results - it was easy to use - I can't compare it to similar products because I must admit this is the first time I have ever waxed a car! But hey, there is a first time for everything!
Thanks for the info on the site. It's really good. I'm just getting into the better lines of car care products. At the prices of some of them it's good to have someone else evaluate before you buy.
The first spray wax that I used was Pinnacle's Crystal Mist. It gave a great shine between wax jobs. When I ran out of Crystal Mist, I purchased Meguiar's Final Finish (the sister product to Quick Detailer). Final Finish does not have as much carnauba wax as Crystal Mist and it showed in the results. Crystal Mist gave a high gloss shine which Final Finish did not. Still I can't complain. Crystal Mist costs $19.95 (16 OZ) VS. ABOUT $5.OO FOR FINAL FINISH.
I've been awaiting the Pinnacle annual spring sale. It finally started on April 16th. I ordered more Crystal Mist and Souveran Wax.
www.pinnacle.com
Some of you have tried and like Turtle Wax spray wax. I'll give it a try also. If it's as good as Crystal Mist I'll permanently switch over.
I saw where the Pinnacle Crystal Mist is on sale for $14.95 (pinnaclewax.com) The Turtle Wax I believe was about $4.99 at Wal-Mart - I used this about 5 days ago on my husband's car and it still looks good -
Mequiars Final finish or Quik Detailer DO NOT have any Wax in them. They are strictly for wiping light dust, fingerprints or bird droppings from your paint. Crystal Mist probably had better results because the Meguiars product is not meant to be used as a wax. The Meguiars products are meant to enhance your already existing wax finish. As far as the Crystal product, I have never used them so I cannot respond.
You should try the Turtle Wax spray. It is "carnuba enriched) according to the bottle.
Are we talking about Final Inspection from Meguiars? I've never heard of Final Finish.
FYI, there were a number of posts describing the differences between Final Inspection and Quik Detailer in this thread. Anyone interested should scroll back some.
I have done my new vehicle with #26 Hi-Tech. But to get better protection in the front I removed it with #7 and put two coats of the Medallion Premium Paint Protection on.
My question: Has anyone used the #26 over top of the Medallion and did it last or look better? Also does the paste #26 last longer than the liquid?? I asked the Tech rep about the first question but he was not helpful here.
I was so happy with the 3m swirl mark remover and hand glaze, i decided i had to give their wax a try. I was pretty unahppy with it... It didn't go on or come off easy, and it left the paint looking streaky.
Zymol was on sale at costco. $14.50 for 2 bottles. Had to try it. I like that's it's all natural and doesn't have petroleium products in it. It went on really easy, and came off easily, but didn't leave the surface as glassy to the touch as some other products have ( most notably meguiar's gold class ) , but it looked pretty good. The best part is that it didn't stain the rubber or plastic trim, and it came out of cracks and joints easily--i think the car would take 1/2 as long to wax using this stuff. On the downside, i don't know how long it lasts, but it would be practical for me to do the cars more frequently with this, i think. At $20+ per bottle, i wouldn't get it, but for $7.50 i will.
I am mostly interested in durability and for now I'm sticking to Mequiars in order to establish a base level. I just did the hood on my '94 Toyota pickup with the #7 (show car) and one side I used the #26 HiTech and the other the Medallion Premium Paint Protector. I only used a coat each so I will see the results.
Sometimes though I think that the protection factor is overdone. That truck is out in the weather all the time (never seen a garage) maybe 30 days total under a carport. It has been waxed maybe 4 or 5 times in its 7 year live. That hood looks like a sea of glass. I thought the Medallion gave a slightly better look. The #7 was somewhat hard to work with. But I guess I was asking too much of it. I'm not a real Toyota fan, but must have one hell of a paint job.
I tried to post a response here but got kicked off the server. Anyway, it looks like you are doing what I was gonna suggest - try different products on various parts of your truck and test.
Interesting comments about #26 vs. Medallion. Medallion is touted as the longest lasting product Meguiars offers. I've used since before Day One and feel its the best one-step product I've ever tried.
#26 is a product that Meguiars has thrown tons of knowledge into. Its a mix of carnauba and polymers and designed to give a great shine and decent durability with being easy to use. It really works best with #7 or #9 before it. IMO, I don't think you'll find a gloss difference between Medallion and #26 but give em a try.
Speaking of #7, its sorta designed to be hard to work with. It has fillers, oils, and other stuff that gets absorbed into the paint, removing scratches, swirls, and leaves a fabulous gloss. The trick to glaze is to apply it evenly, work it in, use a towel to knock off 70% of the product, then use another towel to polish the section you are working on. Don't worry about excess residue. When you follow with the #26 the remainder of the #7 will come off.
Sounds like you're having fun. Let us all know how things work out for you.
As I said before, even though I'm 55 yrs. old I have never used quality products. Yes, I am having fun. It's good to be able to talk to someone who has experience with the products. I did use the #7 under both products. What you said explains the difficulty with the #7. Thanks again.
I used to know a detailer that waxed his windshield, but this was in Calif where they got almost no rain so it wasn't an issue.
Personally, I'd recommend against it. The wipers will push the wax around and smear and streak and do weird things.
Instead use Rain-X. I've used it for years and its great. I don't even use the wipers when driving at night in the rain. And Rain-X is a thin coating so it won't potentially cause problems with clouding or streaking that a polymer sealant might cause.
I use the Rain-X. No matter how hard I buff there's always a little cloudiness. Others say there isn't any. A friend said he uses it and said there was none. I looked at his windshield and saw some. I'll continue using it though.
I don't get any cloudiness with rain-X. I put it on, then put a second coat on, then take a damp rag and wipe, then "buff" it out with a dry cloth. Don't know how you're applying it, but try that - it works well for me.
After reading many of your posts over these past months, I've been impressed with your depth of knowledge about detailing and related products. I'm also aware of your negative feelings regarding the "forbidden product" and can't help wondering why you feel the way you do -- especially in light of my own extensive experience with car care polishes and waxes and the total confidence I have in the "other" product after using it for more than a year. I've found nothing that compares to its ease of use and durability.
Comments
I come from a quasi-military family (parents were defense contractors so we lived on or near a few bases). I passed on the Air Force when I was told that at 6'4" I couldn't be a fighter pilot but could fly C-141's and the like. I then got my jollies detailing private aircraft which fed two interests at once.
See? I brought the topic back around to wax.
Please give me some advice on waxing a black car. What are the best applicators for the wax? Are the round terry cloth disks that you buy at the auto store ok, or a soft white tee-shirt? What about taking the wax off? I've been using a chamois for drying with good results. As for wax, I bought a bottle of Zymol after reading Consumer Report (and before I started reading this message board) because it got good rating for swirl marks. I want the paint to look nice, but I want to keep it simple. The weather is suppose to warm up early next week, so I'm planning on waxing then. Any suggestions before then will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Buy yourself an orbital buffer; a good one not one of those that plugs into the cig lighter. Spend $60-75. Get 5 or 6 cotton terry bonnets for the buffer. Use that Zymol or another top quality one-step like Meguiars Medallion. Wax your car when you start seeing spider-webbing (those micro scratches), probably every 8 weeks or so. The buffer will make the job go quickly and easily. The wax you use will remove and fill the scratches and bring out the gloss. To remove wax use cheesecloth or maybe buy some flannel at a fabric store. I use cotton diapers.
I did this for years and got lots of compliments. Now, I also used to try many different products and techniques but when I wanted the car to look sharp and I wasn't going to a car show, out came the buffer and the Medallion.
Black is the hardest color to maintain. But it looks the best when cared for. Don't ignore the other details like cleaning the wheels and tires. With summer coming, keep the nose/front end waxed and clean so bugs don't stick.
If you need more help, feel free to ask us. We're here to help.
I'm sorry, but I find your criticism of the poster merely directing someone to the "other forum" too politically correct. Edmunds owns these forums and for the regular participants to be so narrow about what they feel others may post to the point of not allowing generally related information to flow, is a use I don't believe they intended. As soon as THIS forum mentions products only or mostly available by mail, from catalogs, or through the Internet, the "Store Bought" restriction is breached. I agree that some, even many, of the long-time "Z" enthusiasts crossed the line to uncivil "fan"aticism, but let's be realistic, new and short-term participants don't know the history and it's unfair to zap 'em. I find this especially true with the apparent removal of the restriction on "stacking" of messages to only about 500, so that new, more appropriately and fine-tuned titled forums would follow the old ones.
For a final going over, wouldn't flannel, which I believe is also cotton be ok? It is softer than a cotton towel.
Louie
Unless you are prepping your car for shows most any soft towel will do. After I've cleaned my car I wash my towels; no fabric softener, no bleach, no cling free dryer things as all will leave a residue on the towels which will end up on your car.
For wax application you can use those little round applicators but I prefer something larger like a 3x5 sponge or an applicator that is covered in cotton terry cloth. Your local auto parts store prolly sells a round applicator that has a pocket for your hand - that thing is great.
www.carcareonline.com
Continue to pick the brains of the forum experts. Like you, I was a novice at car care. I used whatever was cheapest to wax my car which I did infrequently. When I bought my black 2000 Eldorado I decided to make the effort to keep it looking great at all times. My wife thinks I'm obsessed with keeping the car sparkling.
You may have to try several waxes before you find one that appeals to you or you might like the first wax that you try. It's all up to you. Maintaining your vehicle should be a joy and not a chore. Enjoy!
rck
I apologize that I didn't mention Zaino in this post.
Al
I'm not sure there is such a thing as the best wax or polymer. Meguiar's are good products though.
I love all of Meguiars products. I also use the spray Turtle Wax in the green bottle. I use this product only to maintain my current wax coat, not as my sole wax application. This product is completely safe for all new car finishes.
I am also a finatic about washing and waxing my car. My wife REALLY thinks I am obsessive compulsive about cleaning my car. Last week we drove to Florida(from Atlanta) and during our 5 day vacation I HAD to wash my car. My wife sat in the car looking at me like I was crazy.
Al
I've been awaiting the Pinnacle annual spring sale. It finally started on April 16th. I ordered more Crystal Mist and Souveran Wax.
www.pinnacle.com
Some of you have tried and like Turtle Wax spray wax. I'll give it a try also. If it's as good as Crystal Mist I'll permanently switch over.
You should try the Turtle Wax spray. It is "carnuba enriched) according to the bottle.
FYI, there were a number of posts describing the differences between Final Inspection and Quik Detailer in this thread. Anyone interested should scroll back some.
My question: Has anyone used the #26 over top of the Medallion and did it last or look better? Also does the paste #26 last longer than the liquid?? I asked the Tech rep about the first question but he was not helpful here.
Thanks
Zymol was on sale at costco. $14.50 for 2 bottles. Had to try it. I like that's it's all natural and doesn't have petroleium products in it. It went on really easy, and came off easily, but didn't leave the surface as glassy to the touch as some other products have ( most notably meguiar's gold class ) , but it looked pretty good. The best part is that it didn't stain the rubber or plastic trim, and it came out of cracks and joints easily--i think the car would take 1/2 as long to wax using this stuff. On the downside, i don't know how long it lasts, but it would be practical for me to do the cars more frequently with this, i think. At $20+ per bottle, i wouldn't get it, but for $7.50 i will.
dave
Sometimes though I think that the protection factor is overdone. That truck is out in the weather all the time (never seen a garage) maybe 30 days total under a carport. It has been waxed maybe 4 or 5 times in its 7 year live. That hood looks like a sea of glass. I thought the Medallion gave a slightly better look. The #7 was somewhat hard to work with. But I guess I was asking too much of it. I'm not a real Toyota fan, but must have one hell of a paint job.
Interesting comments about #26 vs. Medallion. Medallion is touted as the longest lasting product Meguiars offers. I've used since before Day One and feel its the best one-step product I've ever tried.
#26 is a product that Meguiars has thrown tons of knowledge into. Its a mix of carnauba and polymers and designed to give a great shine and decent durability with being easy to use. It really works best with #7 or #9 before it. IMO, I don't think you'll find a gloss difference between Medallion and #26 but give em a try.
Speaking of #7, its sorta designed to be hard to work with. It has fillers, oils, and other stuff that gets absorbed into the paint, removing scratches, swirls, and leaves a fabulous gloss. The trick to glaze is to apply it evenly, work it in, use a towel to knock off 70% of the product, then use another towel to polish the section you are working on. Don't worry about excess residue. When you follow with the #26 the remainder of the #7 will come off.
Sounds like you're having fun. Let us all know how things work out for you.
Al
Personally, I'd recommend against it. The wipers will push the wax around and smear and streak and do weird things.
Instead use Rain-X. I've used it for years and its great. I don't even use the wipers when driving at night in the rain. And Rain-X is a thin coating so it won't potentially cause problems with clouding or streaking that a polymer sealant might cause.