If I dont have any marks/swirls/scratches in my clear coat do I need to polish? It came in my Zaino box but I was told it will remove a good layer of clear coat when I use it since its abrasive.

SO, When to polish? I keep my car pretty clean by washing at least once a week and waxing twice a month

I just posted new pics in the Photograph Gallery after my first claying experience too

 

Ya lost me when you mentioned Zaino..........

 

What came in your Zaino box? What are you talking about there?

You can polish now, but don't use anything too abrasive. Something more like a paint cleanser is plenty. It'll remove contiminates just like claying does.

 

 

Sounds like all you need is a paint cleaner.

 

What is the product name of that polish? Was it Z-PC, Z2 or Z5?

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one that wishes Zaino would stop marketing Z2/Z5 as polishes.

 

Its the Show Car Polish, I think its z-2 or z-5

Im thinking I dont need polish right now since I dont have scratches/swirls to remove but later down the line I will need to buff those out and get back down to the "clean" level of paint.

I dont care if you hate Zaino or love it. I personally dont think its much different than Meguiars but I ordered the all in one Zaino kit to try it for myself so now I have the polish on hand for when I DO need it.

JackieO, is Zaino Z2/Z5 not a polish but more of an abrasive paint scraper? hah. Whats your thinking there? I used it once but I dont think I did any harm with it.

 

xtin - Z2/Z5 are neither. They have no abrasives whatsoever. It's a sealant, the same as any sealant. The Zaino polish is called "Z-PC". Assuming you know what a sealant is (sounds like you do), you can go ahead and use it right now since you said your paint is in ok shape. Just dawn wash then start layering your Z2/5 (you choose which, I like Z2 personally). It's perfectly safe.

That's why Zaino's marketing is so confusing. He calls them polishes - but in modern detailing polish means an abrasive compound used to sluff off a layer of clear coat to remove swirls and scratches. Z2/Z5 are not that - they're sealants just like Megiaurs NXT, Poorboys EX, 4* UPP, etc...

 

Zaino does not make anything thats going to remove anything significant from your clear coat. Their polishes are mislabeled and should be called sealants or protectants. The Z-PC polish is mild at best for removing any type of swirls. If your paint is pristine then try something like Megs #81(Body Shop Professional Hand Polish) prior to using a sealant/wax. A polish is going to introduce polishing oils to your paint that will help give it more depth and richness. This is more so on dark colored cars. Waxing twice a month is way overkill and is not really improving anything other than your muscles. You can only build up a wax coat so far before you simply just waste your time. A good waxing should last you at least 3 months. Check with Exceldetail's thread on washing since you feel you need to wax so often. Click Here

 

I know how to wash a car, thanks =)

I feel I need to wash it weekly because we have a ton of road debris and a lot of my driving is highway from DC to Baltimore and it gets DIRTY and gritty

I probably wont wax twice a month once it gets too cold to be out there but right now its good practice and it makes the car look deeper and better everytime I do it =) And yeah, Im working out my muscles.

 

Couldnt have said it any better.............

 

What is your favorite wash, wax, sealant, polish and tire cleaner? While your at it, throw in your rec's on interior cleaning too

 

Wash, generic.....I currently use Eagle One....I get whatever is on sale....
Polishes, Poorboys SSR's, and Optimums Compound or Polish.
Sealants, Four Star UPP, and Poorboys EX-P, Blackfire, (Although I seldom use it anymore, I still love it)
Tire cleaner, Four Star or Eagle One......
Interiors, Generic All Purpose Cleaners, diluted, and lots of vacuuming and microfibers....
Rubber/Vinyl, Four Star.....

 

Since you're asking:
Wash - Megs NXT Car Wash
Wax - Optimum Spray Wax, Nattys Blue
Sealant - 4 Star UPP, EX-P
Polish - Optimum Polish, PB Pro Polish and SSR2.5
Tire Cleaner: PB APC & PB Spray & Rinse Wheel Cleaner
Interior: Aerospace 303, 4 Star Leather Cleaner & Condtioner

 

Where's our resident Zaino nazi Homer? On pins an needles for a response.

 

Xtin, who did you get the smoked tailight kit from? (I'm a Rockblocker distrib...)

 

I'll chime in too.
Wash - NXT car wash
Swirl removal - Poorboys SSR + PC
Glaze - Meg's #7 show car glaze
Sealant - Meg's #21 synthetic sealant
Wax (optional) - P21s

 

Can you guys recommend me a good non abrasive polish for my car? My car is new so there isnt any swirls, scratches,etc. I just want a good shine before i seal it. Can i just use a glaze instead of a polish since the paint is new?

 

Try Klasse AIO - one of the better cleaners available, will remove oxidation and wax buildup and is non abraisive. You can glaze to get more surface gloss and then seal, so the order would be wash, clay, polish, glaze (opt), seal.

 

I bought my car a little over a month ago and used Klasse All-In-One (AIO). It's a one step polish, cleaner and sealant. It works amazingly well and lasts for about 6 months. I also bought Sonus Acrylic spritz to maintain the shine in between and after washes. I like it because it's real easy and real good.

Check my thread on it: https://acurazine.com/forums/wash-wax-23/zaino-orange-peel-129858/

 

Although the Klasse AIO is without question, a good product, 6 months of durability for a multipurpose use product is a little s t r e t c h e d ........(In my opinion)

 

I gotta agree with Patrick about the 6 months (advertised by the manufacturer) durability for AIO. It's a great multi purpose product and to get the most out of it, top it with a sealant or a carnuba. This is one procedure recommended by a number of folks as well as online references.

 

How about a polish thats not all in one, just a polish?

 

Optimum, Poorboys SSR's come immediately to mind....
Regarding AIO's durability, heres an interesting thread just started........https://acurazine.com/forums/wash-wax-23/how-tell-when-its-time-reapply-wax-331415/

 

There are a bunch of 'em on the market and some are glazes (a very fine polish which brings out the lustre in new paint). I've heard good things about Menzerna FPII. There's also Wolfgang (Pre-Wax Polish, Finishing Glaze), Pinnacle (Paintwork Cleansing Lotion, Advanced Finishing Polish), ClearKote (VM) and P21S Paintwork Cleanser. Personally, I've been using Four Star Ultimate Paint Cleanser and PB Pro Polish. Hopefully, some of the other guys will chime in and offer recommendations and provide comments on some of the products.

 

Rockblocker

 

Excellent........great service and products....

 

So Ive heard. Havent gotten the chance to install it yet though. It was 18 today and we got 22 inches of snow last weekend

 

dam shes ugly for one............and two........i polish everyday

 

Whos ugly?

 

You polish what, everyday?

 

What a fag. If your talking about xtin, she looks pretty damn cute to me.

 

I still wanna know what he polishes everyday!

 

Oh boy my feelings are hurt. Someone on the internet called me ugly.
-cry-
hah.

In other news, Im pretty sure I know what he polishes everyday with a little bit of spit

 

 

Strong, confident, sense of humour, drives a TSX, girl next door looks

If I was 25 years younger, 50 lbs lighter, looked like Brad Pitt, I still wouldn't have a chance, but the one thing that I can say it that you "owned" him.



Excited

 

If she was only my neighbor...................hmmmmmm.

 

I drive a TL


Im in medical school full time
I work 60 hours a week
I run 2-4 miles a day (hey I used to weigh almost 350 pounds and I will never go back to that!!)
AND I still make time for my baby (seen above)
Priorities Priorities!

. . .but I dont have much time for anything else.

 

I gotta pic of your neighbor!! =) (taken in Atlanta zoo)