Ok.. So what is the best wax or polish to use on Black TL's ?
Looking to get out the swirls...

I have used all the right towels and applicators and higher end wax (Maguiars ) on my car but curious if there there is something that stands out above the rest?

thanks much !

 

the only way to get rid of swirls is with a polish compound and a machine.
simply put, your hand cannot generate enough pressure and RPM than a dual action polisher can.

read up on DA's here:
Dual Action Orbital Polisher Guide: how to remove swirls, scratches, & oxidation with an orbital buffer. Porter Cable 7424, foam pads, backing plate,

next, we have the topic of wax.
wax is found naturally in nature; while sealant is synthetic and man made.

a sealant will last longer because it has better properties that help repel and keep a deep gloss.

read more about waxes vs sealants here:
Carnauba Car Wax vs. Paint Sealants, carnauba wax reviews, paint sealant reviews

third; as we get into winter this guide will help you winterize your car.
Winterizing Your Car's Exterior, Winter car wash Tips, Preping your car for winter

 

I love Meguiars but I would not consider them higher end.
In all reality, the best wax is the one that gets applied.
As long as you stick with a reputable brand, you are fine.
What it boils down to is the aesthetics, application and durability and at the end of the day, it all comes down to your preference.

 

Plenty of debate as to what wax/sealant is the best. Personally I prefer sealants, Zaino as the top choice but Blackfire is also popular. Here is a pic of a freshly Zainoed CBP

 

These are my recommendations (all are linked), and they perfected the finish on my CBP!

Wash:



Paint prep (much better than clay bar IMO):
Chemical Guys - Luber - Clay &
Clay Block Synthetic Lubricant & Detailer


DA polisher and pads:
Harbor Freight DA Polisher
- 6" blue (polish) pad
- 6" black (sealant) pad
(to keep the pads from being chewed up as HF backing plate is too big)


Polish and sealant:


The above linked polish and polishing pad are designed for very mild swirls. If you find those don't do the trick you may try a combination that's more abrasive (like Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and the orange pad from HF).

Good luck!

 

Fuck I wish we had Harbor Freight in Canada...those things are almost double the cost here

Thanks for all the recommendations Bronco!

 

No problem! That sucks you don't have HF in Canada. That place is awesome! I've bought a ton of tools from there and have been happy with all of them.

I did follow some advice I saw online and swapped out the grease in the DA polisher with some from O'Reilly's Auto Parts. There are a couple other "mods" that people recommend including one that swaps out the cord for a longer version and one that moves the on/off switch to the top. It's a great polisher though, especially for the price.

 

^ Yep, had my HF DA for about 2 years now and its still kicking strong.
There has been few people who mentioned the HF foam pads falling apart. I tend to think it was from the pad being over-saturated and building up heat but just a precaution, I would stay away from HF foam pads.

I had a 3" Meg's pad fall apart on me. In its defense, I was being extremely aggressive with it. Luckily, it stayed intact enough that the backing plate velcros did not get in contact with the paint but I would hate to see that happening to anyone.

 

^^^ I remember reading some of your posts (on here and another forum where you have the same username) when I was doing my research.

From what I read the main culprit of the HF pads falling apart is the backing plate that comes with the polisher. It extends beyond the white section on the back of the pad and as a result chews it up pretty quickly. The smaller backing plate I bought seems to have alleviated that issue. I've only used the HF pads once but they still look brand new.

 

I also would like to mention that if one does decide to "correct" his or her own paint, that you also practice great washing techniques.

Other wise ALL your hard work will go down the drain, by inducing those same swirls you worked so hard to get rid of.

 

Zaino. Only avIlble at zainostore.com. I used it on my MBM 09 tl that had bad swirl marks. Had it wet sanded prior to trying zaino. Wet sanding didnt do it. Zaino Worked great. There are few differnet products all reasonably priced. I use it now on my WDP tl and shines.

 

Good to hear.
But just as a precaution, check the pad to make sure there are no signs of delamination before each use. I do this regardless of the pad's manufacturer.

 

No matter the wax or sealant you use .. prep is the key .. and after .. washing / drying techniques is critical .

 

thanks so much Great intel !

 

Lots of good advice in here. The keys:

1- Prep, as with anything, is key (a perfectly clean surface is the most important when trying to achieve a perfectly finished surface!)

2- Having the tools for the job. You'll need many pads to get the job done. I suggest cleaning your pad after each section pass, and a new pad after doing each panel. You may need a few different polishes/compounds as well as a good working knowledge of these. But I see you are smart enough to ask in the right places so that'll help you with gaining the right knowledge.

3- Proper maintenance after you finish the job. It's imperative that you take care of it, or within a month or two you'll be seeing the same marring and imperfections you had before you took the man-hours to perfect it!

I'd strongly advise you to check out the Harbor Freight DA, with mods. Or the Griots machine, it's a very good alternative!

As for polishes, there's a few I strongly recommend. First is Meguiar's D151, it's a GREAT all-in-one. Second would be Meguiar's M80...

However, I would also highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend you check out Optimum Car Care's Hyper Polish. It's a spray which may deter you at first, but when you break it down and think about it, it's quite genius. You get full pad coverage, don't use nearly as much and never apply TOO much to the pad (2 sprays is PLENTY per section pass).

Hopefully this helped. I realize I'm new here, but if you've got any questions don't hesitate to shoot me a PM or email me. I'd gladly help you out in any way possible!

 

Oh, and one more thing... Don't buy into the whole 'certain products for certain colors'. Typically that just means they have a filler. After a few washes they'll be gone and you'll see the marring all over again.