thanks, so many acronyms, abbreviations, i'm getting confused. is is a porter cable modified? thanks, dd

 

Bob, Bob, Bob, now you've got me doubting my new Corey-Cable and box full of Griot's pads, polish and wax. You make a persuasive case, much like most other Zaino's users.

A couple things about Zaino's I've read on Porsche and Ferrari boards: Some concours show guys will only allow a type of carnauba on their paints, usually Pinnacle or Griot's. They say that polymers form a sealed barrier over the paint, and long term that can be harmful because the paint can't breathe away trapped moisture nor can it stretch or shrink with temperature changes. Other boards where owners love polymers like Zaino say that 3M polymer products are essentially the same formulation for half or less cost, and often on special direct from the 3M site with free shipping.

I'm old school, tried polymers previously (not 3M though), but always return to carnaubas on light and dark colors. I've tried Meguiars, Pinnacle and P21S polishes and waxes. I'm leaving the P21S camp now (unbelievable reflectivity and ease of use) to enter the world of Corey-Cable and Griot's. Believe me, it'll take something very special to upstage the results of hand-applying P21S on a new finish. Stay tuned.

Oh, and to actually contribute something here, I second the use of a NATURAL SHEEPSKIN wash mitt. I use Eurow brand from Wal-Mart, cost $5, and use separate mitts for metal surfaces and plastic surfaces. The plastic surfaces mitt becomes cruddy because those are the lower, dirt attracting areas of the vehicle. One more thing...on the Dawn wax stripping step DO NOT USE YOUR NEW MITT. Use an old one or something disposable. Even after a good rinse, Dawn will remain on the mitt and wind up stripping off all of your hard work again. I guess you could wash it in Woolite, but I use the last ones from the prior car and then toss 'em. To dry your mitt, DO NOT WRING IT OUT! Instead let it air dry upright. I find a LONGNECK BEER BOTTLE doubly handy for this. I'm liking caps today.

 

What's the best over the counter wax or polish. I'm still confused on whether i need a polish or wax.

I'm not super anal on this topic. I just need your best recommendation on a good wax or polish.

I don't have very rough paint issue's except a couple of permanent bird stains on the hood.

Hope some of you can help besides all the typical zaino- griot's people out there.

Ordering wax just doesn't make sense to me.

 

You get what you pay for and, of course, specialty items always cost more than generic.

If you just want to go straight into a shop and walk out I hear Zymol is good (don't remember if that's carried by the larger places). Mother's is pretty good too.

 

All you need to know!

FREE Griot's Garage "Detailer's Handbook"

 

I got great results by hand with a combination of Meguiars cleaner, 3M Rubbing compound and 3M liquid wax.

Those 3 bottles and some elbow grease worked great to get out heavy oxidation, scratches and dullness. It brought back a new car shine to the Accord.

I also have some old bottles of Meguiars (in the TAN colored bottles) that work EXCELLENT. They are almost all used up though.

 

Ive been using mothers with decent results. I garage my ride and it only last maybe a month. But the shine is really nice.

Is there really a better off the shelf item that will last at least two months?

Ive never clay barred. Whatever that is?

I have no scratches on my ride whatsoever, just 2 bird stains on hood.

How would you detail my ride with off the shelf items?

I know you zaino-grotto dudes must be laughin but please help. Thanks

 

Check out my link above...it'll answer ALL your questions.

 

Ol' red was a shiny rig.

Just recently updid the newer gray. Washed with dial and waxed with mothers. I normally use megiuars Quick Wax, but i decided to use the mother's carnuba for once. Seeing the actually wax helped a lot in applying it evenly. Also, removing it took a little elbow grease, which tells me it's working.

Appropriately, it rained the next day.

 

Ill never use anything other than Zaino ever again, especially on black vehicles (which for some dumb reason is all I ever buy)
Plain and Simple...ZAINO all the way
p.s. Deffinately go with the ZFX additive

 

The Deep Crystal line by Maguires is available at Walmarts and such everywhere. It works well enough, and is cheap. The polishing cream (think of it as hide food for paint) does a dandy job on neglected dark colors. This is probably what you'd want.

 

I'm a BIG Zaino fan, but I do understand that some folks may not want to go that far. Mother's has a three step system; cleaner, sealer/glaze and wax. I have been VERY pleased with the results on several cars. Pick up a few terry applicators (you get what you pay for) and steal a few good, soft, 100% cottom towels from the house, and go to town. The effort you put into the cleaner will pay off with the next two steps, easy on, easy off.

I was visiting my folks for the holidays, my nephews black explorer had not seen any care since it was new in July! "But it has a clear coat, so it doesn't need any wax or anything!". A quick run to Pepboys and about two hours later, I changed his mind! It was tough on the hands washing and waxing in 40 degrees, but it was worth it to prove my point!

There are a lot of very good products out there and each has their following. Zaino is at it's best with a good clean paint surface, prep is EVERYTHING! My 2003 Highlander came home from the dealer to several layers of Zaino. It looks GREAT! But, then again, the paint was perfect!

Try the Mothers, it does a real nice job for the price.

 

After I installed my ARB bumper I put 2 coats of Z5 and a coat of Z2 on the some what textured black powder coat. It made it look nicer but out of curiosity I ordered a bottle of Griot's Best of Show Polish. The Griot's made the Black powder coat look darker and nicer than the Zainos. So, from now on the ARB gets an under coat of the Zainos polymer with a coat of Griot's on top.

Still curious I polished about a quarter of my hood with the Griot's. It's been on for a month now and still holding up.

I cannot tell any difference in shine between the 2 polishes and both bead water equally. I applied the Griot's by hand and it goes on thin like Zainos and wipes off just as easy. Easier than any other carnuba based polish that I have tried so far. The only difference that I can foresee is that Zaino's will hold up better to the UV than Griot's down here at high elevation ~ 5800 ft in the New Mexico sun.

Either way Zaino's and Griot's are the best you can get. Location would determine which will hold up the best for you.

 

Speakin' of doing the ARB, I have some pics here from April of Griotizing mine with the Porter Cable.

I used it on the ARB, my fender flares, the rock sliderz, and oh, yes the rig too.

That was the last wax job, and it's still beading.

 

You showed me your pics of the ARB that's what got me curious enough to get a bottle of Griot's BOS to try.

I Zainoed mine last February and can't tell the difference where the new Griot's is and the old Zaino's is after almost a year in the New Mexico sun. Both sections look the same with the rain beading on my hood today.

Isn't it just plain old disgusting what good products can do for your vehicles.