Hey guys, what do you all recommend as being the correct steps to getting a kickass shine? I have swirls everywhere from the previous owner. Wash with Dawn, claybar, then go through the zaino products one-by-one?

Thanks for any help.

 

Z5

www.zainostore.com

Get some Z2, Z6 & Z8. Maybe even a claybar.

 

Z2 and z5 then z6 or z8

 

Oh, I was just thinking swirl marks.

1. Wash with Dawn dishwashing detergent
2. Claybar
3. Wash with Z7 car wash
4. 1 coat Z5 /w ZFX
5. 1 Coat Z5 /w ZFX
6. 1 coat Z2
7. Z6 (or Z8)

Note: max layers with ZFX is 3 within 24 hrs.

Then everytime you wash apply a Z5 layer (or more with ZFX) until the swirl marks are gone. Use Z2 once the swirls are gone for maximum shine. You may also find that applying Z6 between coats helps to enhance the shine even further.

Make sure you go to the site & look at the Tips section for additional items (like proper towels) needed. Results may be viewed below:

 

To the OP: these guys are suggesting Zaino, which will not remove your swirls -- only hide them (slightly), and when the zaino wears off you'll be left with them again.

I would recommend using a swirl remover prior to your wax/sealant as a way to prepare the paint. Meguiar's makes a good product and so does 3M. The 3M product is preferrable because it is less greasy.

Zaino is not an all purpose super-solution for your paint as some people seem to think, it is just a sealant and will not get ride of your problems -- only hide them! I've heard Sal is working on a swirl remover, but it is not available yet...

 

I'm confused as to why anyone would wash with dish soap. Doesn't that strip off the wax?

 

Exactly, you want to strip off all the wax to start with a clean slate. Even the wax can carry impurities over time. I wash all my cars with dish soap once a year to reapply my base coat of wax.

 

Makes sense then. I have just been clay barring and waxing on top of wax. Living in Az seems to have so much dust and dirt combined with 100+ summers, it's usually time for a wax every other month (depending on frequency of wash). Thanks though. Luckily the 350 rarely sees daylight.

 

+1
I just did this and then I did the Zaino treatment. For removing swirls I bot the Porter Cable 7424 random orbit polisher.
Car looks better than it has ever looked....very happy
You must invest 1 or two days of your time though.
.

 

Our Swirl remover will be available in a couple of weeks, I talked to Sal today and he said if used by hand it will just be like a paint cleanser but when used with a Porter Cable and foam pads it will be a swirl remover with an ever reducing abrasive (very mild one)

In the meantime, I like 3M Perfect It II 39012 Swirl Mark remover, I used to use Pefect it II part number 39009 but 3M has come out with their Perfect It III line now and I buffed an entire black car yesterday and I like the 39012 as it does not leave the paint drenched in oils like the 39009 did. I always wipe the paint with denatured alcohol after running the buffer over an area to wipe off the oil left by the 39009 in the past to actually see if I was doing the paint any good in getting out the haze and swirl marks, I noticed yesterday that when using 39012 instead of the 39009, there was no oils that where wiped off with the alcohol and the paint looked just as good before and after the alcohol wipe down.

You should clay bar before you use your buffer, I was getting a much smoother overall finish yesterday if I clay barred first and the used the 39012, using the 39012 and clay barring behind that did not yeild that good of results.

I clay bar any car that comes in my shop, new or otherwise first thing.............

 

I'll wait for the Zaino product.

 

http://www.properautocare.com/remswiruspor.html