Best detailing products? (chamois & wax)

www.griotsgarage.com

 

I agree 100%... if you're using a wax rather than a polymer sealant like Zaino Brothers, then Griot's is the way to go.

You might also see the FCA article reprints at www.fca-se.org/concours.htm

 

I have been using, almost exclusively Meguiars products for several years & have been quite impressed with them. The NXT polymer wax does a wonderful job, especially on darker colors such as red & black. However, the best finish is achieved by doing the multiple step approach - clay bar (if needed), cleaner, polish, & finally wax. For vinyl trim, you might try using Pledge - the furniture polish. It doesn't attract dust & dirt like AmrorAll does. Lexol for leather is quite nice as well. for wheels, I've used a citrus based natural cleaner that really dissolves the grease & brake dust while not harming the finish. The detailing articles that appeared in the FCA Newsletter have been most helpful - filled with tips. Cotton terry cloth towels, that you wash frequently, are still great drying tools.

 

Thank you... that column will be restarting, possibly in the issue coming in the mail now if the editor had room.

 

I am a big fan of the P21S stuff, the wax is one of the best carnuba waxes made, and the synthetic drying towel works well.
I bought a kit with these, as well as a polish (works well) and a car wash (not tried it yet).

I would buy it again!

 

I agree about Meguiars products. Specifically their NXT Tech Wax. I also use their 3 step process on my car but replace Step #3 with their Tech Wax (Barry Meguiar actually recommended this to a guy I know). It is SO easy to use. Applies with the consistency of hand lotion, smoothes out like Vaseline, and comes off easy with a microfiber.

I have a black 328 and people are ALWAYS asking me when I got it repainted. They don't believe the paint is original because it looks so deep still.

When the Tech Wax goes on in the 3rd step, the car looks wet. Not greasy looking. Just wet like a perfect finish......

Probably the BEST detailing product I have ever used. And the bottle of it only costs about $8 or so......

Check out the reflection of the Lambo in my paint. And this was at the end of the drive.....
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Actually, for exterior vinyl trim, I use Armor All Tire Foam. The stuff in the black and orange can.

Spray it onto a terry cloth towel and apply it on thick that way. Then wipe with a microfiber. I am serious. It will maintain a black shine for weeks. My top on my 328 looks NEW and it is because of that. A buddy of mine who is ALWAYS winning car shows showed me that one back when I had my 911.

 

ditto

 

Go with the Zaino Brothers kit. It is a multistep application, but is well worth the effort. My car had some light swirls that I have pretty much eliminated. Original paint on the car (except for the spoiler and rear bumper). The kit is a little pricey (about $85), but is enought for 16 coats of polish on the 348. It takes me exactly one ounce per coat to cover all the exterior paint on the car. In a long article by Sunny (the resident Fchat polishing expert), the Zaino kit was ranked #2 for overall shine, depth etc... and #1 for durability. To me it is a great product that is easy to apply and work with.

BT
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my '83 308 doesn't have clear coat except for a little on the nose.

I like Meguiars professional stuff (Yellow bottles). I think the NXT stinks. Even on my '05 Mazda (beater) the water fails to bead after 2 weeks. The Meguiars professional stuff lasts for months.

I wash with dish soap to get the old wax off
use swirl remover to get old finish off & scratch-out when necessary
Glaze, then yellow wax. I can get the numbers of the products if there's interest.

For black trim I like Mother's Black

I love Meguiars rubber-tipped mag wheel brush & their hot rims product (when I'm too lazy to wax the rims)

As for towel dry, I have both a no-frills synthetic chamois (lasts a year before disintegrating) & a Meguires towel. The towel is too big for my tastes.

 

I've had good luck with Mother's products. Seem to come off without a lot of "white dust". Has anyone tried the Mother's Top Coat???

 

www.swissol.com

 

We have a detailing shop in our facitliy and only use 3m products, nothing lasts longer and has results like 3m.

 

Not better, just different. Polymer sealants last longer, are easier to apply and remove and keeps your paint looking like new paint. Waxes have a bit more depth to their appearance, but don't last nearly as long and are more work.

Go to www.fca-se.org/concours.htm
and review #s 3, 4, 5 and 6

 

Ive always used P21s products for wax and rim cleaning. The rim cleaner isnt the strongest but its safe.

regarding the microfiber towels:

Even if you use a microfiber and apply too much pressure it will leave micro scratches.

for wax removal, i use a quality microfiber from detailersparadise and most importantly, not too much pressure at all.

For drying, ive switched back to a very soft terry cloth towel that is slightly damp. The microfibers take twice as many passes to dry which means more of a chance of abrasion and more time spent drying the car.

 

I have started to use Four Star products as well as Prima From:

Detailers Paradise

Great products and great people to work with.

 

My gt4 spent many years in a warehouse, driven but unloved. The paint had so many swirl marks/scratches from the car cover being removed and replaced it appeared pink rather than red. Griots random orbital, machine polish 3 and best of show wax eliminated ALL the scratches. Everyone who has seen the car before and after ask how much the respray put me back...

 

I like the P21S wax as well, but purchase the S100 labeled one at Harley Davidson dealers...same product but half the price ($15). I use a Griot's synthetic chamios to dry my car initially, then do the final wipe down with a microfiber cloth. Often times I will spritz a little of Griot's Speed Shine or Spray Wax on the car, just before the final wipe down with the microfiber cloth....seems to boost the shine a bit.

Oh, and being "thrifty" I buy the microfiber cloths from Costco... ;-) Just remember to rip the tags off them first.

Dave

 

There are a lot of parts stores now selling the 3M line. It's really good stuff.

-Peter

 

I have a 95 355 Rosso Corso. The tech guy at Zaino's said I have a clear coated car. When I use a mild polish on the car I am getting a lot of red paint on the applicator. This is telling me I have no clear coat and need to revert to the Zaino non clear formula. Does anyone know if 355's were clear coated?
Thanks,

 

I sure would have thought that they were 2-stage/clearcoated paint in 1995. Otherwise, you *could* have had some touch-up done in a single-stage. I'm looking forward to someone posting a definitive answer.

 

I use swissol's scuderia wax on my 355.

 

The synthetic one that is available everywhere (I think it's called The Absorber) works very well and lasts forever if stored properly. The trick is that it needs to be stored WET in the plastic container it comes with. The first one I had fell apart until I read the directions and noticed that it must be stored wet. I have one that is at least 5 years old and it still works fine. I've recently switched to using the blue waffle microfiber drying towels -- they really don't absorb as well as a chamois and takes a little more work, but I think the soft microfiber cloth it is less abrasive on the paint.