which wax or polish gives most shine?
09-05-13, 10:44 PM
#3
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: CA
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Very subjective. I normally use wolfgang and pinnacle. Great shine. Then I switched to zymol concours and was told that it's somewhat shinier than the two i mentioned. Still, i don't see a difference.
09-05-13, 11:44 PM
#4
Find what you like and used it. Shine comes from having a level clear coat that is swirl free. A good polish would do that. Join a detailing forum such as autogeekonline.net to get help with whatever you need. As for polishes I like Menzerna products. But any polish would do the job. If your paint is really bad then it would be a good idea to used a compound. Wash, clay, compound (if needed), polish, & protect (wax, sealant, or a paint coating). I've invested in a dual action polisher with various pads as I detail as a side gig. It can added up quickly. You can also find a good detailer in your area if you dont want to jump into buying all the products to get it done yourself.
09-06-13, 06:52 AM
#5
Find what you like and used it. Shine comes from having a level clear coat that is swirl free. A good polish would do that. Join a detailing forum such as autogeekonline.net to get help with whatever you need. As for polishes I like Menzerna products. But any polish would do the job. If your paint is really bad then it would be a good idea to used a compound. Wash, clay, compound (if needed), polish, & protect (wax, sealant, or a paint coating). I've invested in a dual action polisher with various pads as I detail as a side gig. It can added up quickly. You can also find a good detailer in your area if you dont want to jump into buying all the products to get it done yourself.
First, let's discuss what creates a shiny surface since most people don't fully understand. Dull, worn looking surfaces are caused by defects in the paint. Most commonly swirls, scratches, and etched water spots are what create this sub-par appearance. The vast majority of these defects are created from improper washing and drying, so before you decide you want to fix these defects, you must also decide you want to learn how to properly maintain your finish.
As 509IS350 already mentioned, shine comes from having a level clear coat (or top coat). Defects create microscopic voids in the clear coat that refract light in all different directions, creating a duller appearance. See the image below for more clarification as to what I am trying to describe.
Machine polishing using various pads, cutting compounds, and/or fine polishes that work by removing a fine layer of your clear coat in order to get rid of the defects and leave flat surface.
In the photo below, you can see the right side of the vehicle is full of defects. These are actually sanding marks that were left over by the body shop after doing a dent repair and repainting. This is very common, believe it or not, as many body shops do not inspect their work after "buffing" fresh paint. The left side was compounded and then refined with finish polish to a perfect looking finish.
After polishing, the car was washed again, then coated with a layer of sealant for protection. The polishing is truly what makes the car shiny and the sealant and/or wax simply protect the surface and offer minor gains in terms of appearance when compared to what you can achieve with polishing.
^Bet most red cars you see don't look like this one does
Anyways, proper detailing is something that can be learned and done by every single car owner. Dual Action polishers are extremely safe and effective - even in the hands of a total beginner.
Let me know if you have any other questions, or check out the CL Detailing Forum for some more great threads!
-Zach
09-06-13, 12:27 PM
#11
...while Zaino refers to many of their products as a "polish" they are truly more like a glaze or a sealant. As far as I know, none of the Zaino 'polishes' contain abrasives to remove the defects, they just hide them by attempting to fill in the minor swirls and scratches which creates only a temporary solution. Proper polishing will remove the defects permanently.
I would highly suggest doing it "the right way" instead of resorting to the Zaino line up of polishes.
This will yield a longer lasting, perfect looking finish. The shine comes 90% from the prep work (ie cleaning, decontamination and polishing) and is only enhanced by the final product (ie sealant, wax or coating).
^My car hasn't been polished or waxed in about a year... It was polished to near perfection when I got it and was then coated with 22ple VX1 Pro Coating to preserve the finish.
-Zach
Last edited by zmcgovern4; 09-06-13 at 12:35 PM.
09-06-13, 12:29 PM
#12
Pole Position
+1 for Zaino 
I just sold a Camaro I had had for 17 years. Only Zaino products were used for about the last 14 years I had it. I would have the car in shows and people would come ask me who painted my car. My favorite reply was "a robot at General Motors".
So far I have 3 coats on the IS. It really makes the pearl POP in the paint. Love the detailer too.
I just sold a Camaro I had had for 17 years. Only Zaino products were used for about the last 14 years I had it. I would have the car in shows and people would come ask me who painted my car. My favorite reply was "a robot at General Motors".
So far I have 3 coats on the IS. It really makes the pearl POP in the paint. Love the detailer too.
