I must say that the new Optimum QD is very impressive. Very similar and on par with FK 425. You can get a 32 oz concentrate that makes a gallon for about $20.00. You can also use some wash soap mixed in a spray bottle with water as a good clay lube and clay while washing.

As far as wash soaps go there are so many out there.

Poorboys Super Slick and Suds
Duragloss 901
Meguiars Gold Glass
Zaino Z7

 

shopping at Detailed Image is so much fun!

You ditching the Suby?

 

Your list was good. Nothing wrong with it at all. There are so many good combos out there. I guess i'll just name one of my favs that i did on a daytona blue Z couple weeks ago. It looked amazing after.

Wash:
Chemical Guys Citris wash. Spray 2:1 dilution in a bug spray bottle and hit the bottom portion of the car.
Use foam gun with CG.
Diluted Megs super degreaser 4:1 on all fender wells and let it sit for 2 minutes

Clay Bar:
Megs mild claybar with my own solution using Optimum No rinse.

Polish:
Menzerna super intensive polish with an orange pad
Pinnacle XMT #1 with a white LC pad to take out very minor scratches

Wipedown:
Half mix of alcohol and water to make sure paint is good.

Glaze:
Pinnacle XMT Glaze (smells really good...well their whole line up does)
with a black/grey pad

Wax: Poorboy's Natty blue (work well on blue with metallics)

I was going to put on some very durable collinite wax on but the owner just wanted the paint to pop out so i went straight to a carnuba. He is one of my regulars so i will most likely wax his car in a couple of weeks again.

All window trims were treated with Klasse AIO.

Under engine was treated with Megs professional series rubber and vinyl restorer and buffed out.



Interior:

Woolite diluted with water and a damp rag on all plastic panels. Then using 303 aerospace for protection and satin look dash. Using megs quick detailer on the weird door panel texture of the Z to get rid of any blotchy look on it.

Then i used Megs APC diluted 12:1 to clean the panels from any staining or whatever. Be careful with APC, it can eat plastic if not diluted enough. Better safe than sorry.

leather (if applies) Zaino z10. leather cleaner/conditioner combo in one. Only Zaino product i like and use. Smells just like leather but a bit better.

All glass buffed with Stoners invisable glass in the spray bottle and not aerosol. Used a plain microfiber.

Vac last everywhere..even in the spare tire and everything.

 

i would cross out megs gold glass. Bad soap and not really in the same league as the others you listed.

 

You are semi correct. Its not a bad soap for the money but its also a decent soap for someone looking to pick something up locally. I agree it doesn't have the slickness or suds or PB SSS or Duragloss.

 

i have a big bottle that i stopped using out back. I did a PH level test on it and it wasn't good. It also have a lot of synthentic additives that i asked Meguairs about that it indeed stains plastic on most cars including the Z. I like duragloss a lot. It doesn't strip wax but is still very slick.

 

Hey Superblack..why don't you recommend Zaino products (besides the leather cleaner)

 

i've used their entire line up, i really wasn't impressed. most of it was stuff with fillers that didn't even take out swirls . Just hid them. And i don't like how you keep coating it up to 6-8 times. That's just a waste of time. There a other products that i will last 5 months or more with just one coat. I think people get really hyped up with Zaino stuff. They like to have all of this stuff in a package so they stick with one brand. Nothing wrong with that, there is just so much nicer stuff out there. High end detailers wouldn't even take a second look at zaino. I still have corvette customers that i use zaino stuff on because they request it.

 

damn...i didnt know all that. ive been using Zaino since Jan of 06 and have been happy with it...guess its time to see what else is out there.

 

not ditching ditched. FCK THAT MOFING CAR.

 

I was actually on the phone with sal a few weeks ago, hes a really cool guy oddly enough. Seems to know his ****, but he does not like carnuba wax. He compared it to xlax and said thats about all its good for, evidently its a key ingedient in laxative. Hey superblack since where both going to zdayz. Wanna trade samples? Also what are you bringing with you to zdayz? As far as paint cleaning goes. I was thinking well used washmit(to leave there) 2 buckets small thing of soap glass cleaner bug squash pb qw+ maybe a clay bar. I really wanna bring a buffer, but dont see why I would. O and Ill bring a **** load of towels. Maybe some wax or something. And for the drive down there I was gonna do some paint upkeep and put on a few coats of klasse aio for some good protection and then if the sealant will take it a coat or two of pb blue or red.

 

If you are happy with the look that Zaino gives then go for it. The most important thing is to find something that you like and use it. The last thing you want to do it get into the "Product of the Month Club" Zaino is a good product line but I tend to agree with Superblack350Z that it has a cult following.

Is it a nice product...Yes
The swirl filling abilities of Z5 are nice. However, I am not at all pleased with Clear Seal. I was very disappointed in its durability. Some of the other stuff like Z7, Z10, etc are good products. However, I think you can find substitutes that are just as good in some of the other lines (ie Duragloss, etc).

Is it the best product to end all waxes...No

 

Yeah Im a proud member of the month club, but I wait 3 months per detail order and pick up random stuff locally when I need it. Zaino has a cult following and a huge corvette following, Ive decided corcvette owners know absolutely nothing about detailing. I cant wait for the new products. Any opinions on the poorboys ssr series and which should I get to replace menz. sip and p106ff I was thinking 1 and 2 but is 2.5 necessary it says its a medium polish where as 2 is a light/ medium. Is 1 good enough as a finishing product?

 

After using both PB and Menzerna I would stick with Menzerna. The polishes are some of the best out there for the new ceramic-clear finishes. SIP/106FF/PO85RD and IP/FP should cover just about all of your polishing needs.

My experience has been that PB polishes tend to dust. Menzerna polishes are def a step above.

 

Im just wanting something more cost effective. As far as polishing ability goes hows the pb? Also if I wanted to replace menzera sip/ 106ff which pbs should I get 1, 2 and 2.5? How would the 3 be on an orange pad.
Any pad recs besides the normal lc pads? Im not a huge fan of them. How are the lc ccs pads?

 

I guess I have to ask for some clarification.

If you're planning on detailing other's vehicles (as a business or otherwise), the SIP/106FF via Flex and/or PC should be quite cost effective since you only need to use a little bit of either polish once the pads are loaded up.

However, if you're looking to try different products and can't justify spending the money on a bunch of products only to have product left over that will not get used then why not ask others if they're willing to either sell or supply you with a sample of said products?

 

If you are set on using PB's I would go with 2.5 and 1. I would use an orange and a white pad (LC). I have yet to use any of the CCS pads so I really can't give you an opinion on them.

 

Im wanting to try out the ssr and if i dont like it ill retire it to friends cars and they can fck with it. Ill order 1 of the orange and white ccs pads and see what I think and Ill let you know.

 

Use AIO and Souveran...and get the Pinnacle QD too.

Shout at me tonight about this detail man.

 

will do sir, I need your opinion on if I should get a 2000-2002 s15 or 350z. The 350z is more practical(never thought id say that)