This year i would like to try out few more "waxes" "polishes" and maybe some "sealants".

I would like to start a thread with people posting the following.

What you used? What kinda...

soap? clay bar? polish? wax? sealant?

And possibly give a rating (1 being bad through 5 being the best) ... on the items you used, for peoples future reference.

Pictures would help as well.

 

Umm...the entire forum is about detailing.

 

it would be kinda nice to have a thread just for sealants and polishes and such with ratings and pictures though...at least to me. Sure there are lots of different threads having to do with various aspects of detailing, but this could just be as the OP said: strictly waxes, polishes, and sealants, with ratings, and possibly pics. Still, only my

 

my350z is one of the worse forums on auto detailing. I think most of these people rather pay someone or just have bad paint condition cars. but i also notice this is on cars that cost over 25k. Usually those people have a bit more money.

 

Just visit "other" sites that are dedicated to such products - Detailed Image has one such forum.

 

Zaino freak here! Z5 and Z2 Rating-5
Zaino car wash Rating-5
Surf City car wash Rating-4
Menzerna for the polishes: SIP and PO106! Rating-5
Menzerna FMJ is one of the wettest looking finishes I've seen but durability lacks! Rating-4
Opti-Seal Rating-5
Wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant Rating-4
Blackfire tire gloss Rating-4
Surf City Beyond Black tire finish Rating-4
Pinnacle Souveran Rating-4
P21 wax Rating-3.5
P21 gel wheel cleaner Rating-4
Wheel Wax Rating-4
Black Wow Rating-4
any good elastic clay will do,
I picked up some Jeff Werkstatt stuff along with some Surf City Garage to try out this season, as soon as the weather breaks I will be using these products for the first time. Also have been hearing alot about the Deep Finish line, looking to try that this yaer as well.

 

I agree with most of the other members feeling on the products listed. Zaino is a great sealant and Menzerna are the "go to" polishes.

I would recommend checking out Autopia.org for any specific product question that you might have.

I am looking forward to trying out some of the higher end carnuabas. With all of the great reviews on products like Swissvax Concourso and Mystery its hard to not want try out new things.

 

I'm with you.

I'm waitinig for my tub of Mystery to come in. Ordered a few weeks ago. Can't wait for it (and some warm weather) to get here!

 

I'd agree there. I think in general, most people like their car to look stunningly shiny, but don't have the impetus or would prefer to spend the money on something else.

I always look at it like this, it's often cheaper to replace mechanical stuff, than respray or replace panels. Oh, ok I admit it, I'm a perfectionist too. Lol.

 

people who let others wash there car, are simply lazy. Who cares how much the car is..

 

washing and actually detailing are two different things. trust me, i don't blame people wanting pros to do their cars.

 

oh, i thought it was the same thing?

 

I detailed my dad's truck and my Z this weekend.

Wash with Meguiar's Gold Class
Clay with Clay Magic
Optimum Compound via a Lake Country orange pad (x2, and still not enough...)
Optimum Polish via a Lake Country white pad
Meguiar's #21 via a Lake Country red pad

Here are some pics...




Reflection after compounding:


Both cars:

 

Not enough? That truck looks damn good!

 

Thanks.

The paint is about 85% corrected...I would've had to make about 5 passes with the Optimum Compound and I just didn't have time for that. Chevrolet clear coat on that body style is really hard and the PC and Optimum Compound aren't really aggressive enough. I need to learn to use a rotary

 

Yip, totally agree. Most people don't have the patience to spends days working on their car or anyone else's for that matter.

 

improper washing (what most people do with an old bath towel and dish soap) yields you clean but swirled paint like this



detailing takes it to another level and the same paint becomes this



i myself am a menzerna and chemical guys fan...

polished hood of a repainted Black Lexus...dont mind the white spots..those are rock chips and dirty camera lens..this is what I love about detailing

 

^^Good job. I'm glad you take after pics in the sun light unlike most people who park their cars in the shade.

 

no it's not.

try getting one of those car wash kids at the local car wash to detail your car. They wouldn't know what to do. Now go find a pro detailer, his knowledge will be high. Most pro detailers i know use to do body shop work and is very smart with paint.

 

lol i was kidding...