Searched for "wax" and all I got was dudes getting waxjobs

So yesterday I went to Advanced Auto to buy some car wax, the traditional apply, let dry, and buff off type. There were atleast 10 brands, and it was available both as a liquid paste, in stiff paste in tins, and some new-fangled spray on and wipe off stuff. Prices ranged from $4-$14 per bottle.

My dad buys the cheapest stuff (big surprise ), regular Turtle Wax liquid paste in the plastic bottle. I recently got a sample size bottle of Mother's Carnuaba (sp?) wax with a claybar kit, and I liked that more than the Turtle Wax, so I bought a bigger bottle of the stuff at Advanced. I also bought terry cloth pads with a special rubber grip for easier application. I used microfiber cloths to wipe off and buff.

What does H-T use? How do you apply it? How often do you do it? How long does it last/how can you tell?

I'd also be interested to hear what you guys use to clean the interior, I've had **** luck with nasty greasy sprays in the past, is there a better alternative? I've switched over to just a damp cloth.

TIA

 

i find it is more of the application than the product. sure, you can spend $100 on some wax, but will it really look and protect that much better than a $15 wax? probably not. at least in my opinion.

i will usually use meguiars stuff, because it is easy to find, and it for the most part cheap. i also have zymol that i will use every now and then, because i love the smell of it.

1) wash car (meguiars nxt)
2) wash car again + claybar (meguiars clay kit)
3) paint cleaner/swirl remover (meguiars step one paint cleaner)
4) polish (meguiars show car glaze or meguairs step 2 polish)
5) sealant (meguiars life time poly sealant)

glass i use stoner invisiglass. to clean the dash i use a water and a cloth. followed by some generic brand carpet shampoo if needed. spray some febreeze, and put a nice new car scent tree (or a vanilla yankee candle scent if i am ballin that week) in there, and i am good to go. for application, i just use your typical microfiber towels and applicators. i am considering picking up a porter cable, though. i am getting tired of doing this by hand!


Modified by .brian. at 9:59 AM 10/19/2008

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .brian. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
1) wash car
2) wash car again + claybar
3) paint cleaner/swirl remover
4) polish
5) sealant
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wait, what exactly are you using in steps 3,4,5? Is that something besides regular car wax?

I skipped on the claybar this time because I was feeling lazy. I just wanted to put a coat of wax on before winter hit.

Doing a thorough job must take atleast 3 hours! I mean, a good hand wash and a wax took me around an hour and a half, that's without doing the clay bar step.

 

you know what i'm interested in this too, i'm going to wax the car on wedn.

i'm not going to use claybar because it's my 10 year old civic, i think i'll live without it.

anyway, i'm going to buy some wax, prob meguars, and then from there i have no idea. Do you apply the polish before the wax? i didn't know that.

 

What about Meguires????
http://www.meguiars.com/

I use there quick detail mist, and the leather cleaner wipes and spray inside. Also use the quick detailer mist for the interior.

http://www.autogeek.net/carwax...hYbLQ

That is where i buy most of my supplies. I use the foam cannon to was the car with DP foam wash. Dry with 2 micro fiber waffle weave clothes, then spay it down with the detailer mist. Also use the meguires hot wheels spray for the tires.

Detailing I usually send my car down to a local guy. He charges me $100 for a full detail job, money well spent as it will cost me that much just to update all of my waxes and bars, plus my time waxing.

Glass I also use the invisable glass spray. One of the few things I have found to clean glass without streaking and hazing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nbcivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you know what i'm interested in this too, i'm going to wax the car on wedn.

i'm not going to use claybar because it's my 10 year old civic, i think i'll live without it.

anyway, i'm going to buy some wax, prob meguars, and then from there i have no idea. Do you apply the polish before the wax? i didn't know that.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Spend the time to clay bar it. If the paint is not trashed the clay bar will really help with the final results.

I would say to buy one of the meguires step buy step kits. I dont see it on the website but they use to have like 4 bottles with step 1-2-3-4. I think it went cleaner, polish, wax,sealer. Or something like that

 

Automagic at work

 

http://www.zainostore.com/

 

Pm'd

 

I was using Zymol until I bought an Adams step kit, stuff works amazing.

And for the interior I use a damp terry cloth, I can't stand all that greasy interior stuff.

 

meguires clay bar once a year and then their 3 step wax system......my car is shiner than a bald man's head

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">meguires clay bar once a year and then their 3 step wax system......my car is shiner than a bald man's head</TD></TR></TABLE>

claybar is usless without a PROPER polishing after it. and meguiars 3 step system is a complete joke.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tokyosmash! &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was using Zymol until I bought an Adams step kit, stuff works amazing.

And for the interior I use a damp terry cloth, I can't stand all that greasy interior stuff.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Meguiars hyper dressing (water based, dillutibile) &gt; *

 

I tried some Mothers and didn't really like it. I'd been using the cheap Turtle Wax for years and always been happy with it. When they came out with the ICE a friend tried the liquid and really liked it so I wanted to try it. They were sold out of the liquid so I used a paste. It worked really well and I later bought liquid. I try to way the cars at least every 3 months but the 96 and the Caprice go longer than that usually. The 06 Accord sometimes gets done more often than that.

 

Lots of good advice/experience, I'm lovin it.

Another question: what's best to use to get bugs and tree sap off, without harming the paint? I've tried Goo-gone but that didn't do much for the pine sap on my rear bumper. Maybe iso-proyl alcohol? I have a sponge with a 'rough' side that I used to get bugs off once, and now I can see some minor swirl marks in the paint on the hood if the sun is just right. Do the special 'bug remover' sprays work?

E-rok, what's this polishing step you're talking about? Polishing compound? Because the stuff I have seems to be more abrasive than a claybar. Also, what's the 'sealant' step?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicWagonRUS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lots of good advice/experience, I'm lovin it.

Another question: what's best to use to get bugs and tree sap off, without harming the paint? I've tried Goo-gone but that didn't do much for the pine sap on my rear bumper. Maybe iso-proyl alcohol? I have a sponge with a 'rough' side that I used to get bugs off once, and now I can see some minor swirl marks in the paint on the hood if the sun is just right. Do the special 'bug remover' sprays work?

E-rok, what's this polishing step you're talking about? Polishing compound? Because the stuff I have seems to be more abrasive than a claybar. Also, what's the 'sealant' step?</TD></TR></TABLE>


compound isnt polish. its compound. there are polishes in all different grades of cut.

for bugs, I just let some degreaser soak on it for a few minutes and it comes right off.

I use meguiars detailer line for cleaning products, and menzerna for polishes.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-Rok &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


compound isnt polish. its compound. there are polishes in all different grades of cut.

for bugs, I just let some degreaser soak on it for a few minutes and it comes right off.

I use meguiars detailer line for cleaning products, and menzerna for polishes.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What about this 'sealant' thing, does that come as part of the kit?

 

Zaino.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CivicWagonRUS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

What about this 'sealant' thing, does that come as part of the kit?</TD></TR></TABLE>

sealent serves the purpose of a wax, but makes a chemical bond to the paint so it lasts longer. I usually use sealant then top it with a layer of wax.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VashTheStampede &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Zaino.</TD></TR></TABLE>

extremely overrated

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-Rok &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">extremely overrated</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's your opinion. Methinks you just couldn't afford it.

 

http://www.tropi-care.com

When I'm lazy and don't want to do a real wax job I'll use eagle-one nano spray wax which works decent for about a week.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VashTheStampede &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That's your opinion. Methinks you just couldn't afford it. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I have $50 bottles of Menzerna polishes. Nice try.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-Rok &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I have $50 bottles of Menzerna polishes. Nice try.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Like I said. Zaino pal. More than you can afford.

Do you also have a can of turtle wax to back up your Wal-Mart buffer?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VashTheStampede &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Like I said. Zaino pal. More than you can afford.

Do you also have a can of turtle wax to back up your Wal-Mart buffer? </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol if my camera didnt get stolen Id take a pic of my shitloadof detailing supplies

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by E-Rok &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

lol if my camera didnt get stolen Id take a pic of my shitloadof detailing supplies</TD></TR></TABLE>

You still have your detailing biz?