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Got Wax?

AUSMHLY

Yoda
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Hi guys.
Summers here and so are the car shows.
I've invested a lot of time over the years learning how to detail a car. I learned a long time ago, it's not the wax that makes a car shine, but the prep work in making the surface as smooth as glass. A good wax, carnauba or synthetic can deepen the color (black's a good test) or increase the gloss after you've put in some or all of the required steps: wash, clay, polish/glazing time.

So, what color is your car and what do you use?

Oh, and do you use a toothbrush to get into the cracks or are you like me and....committed.
Cheers,
Roger
 
Use detail brushes to get in the cracks

1] wash with good high quality car wash no dish washing liquid. :laugh:

2]Dry thoroughly with English Chamois

3] polish 3M hand glaze -------Note 3 $ 4 can be reversed

4] Clay only if required

5 Wax with Eagle One Catawba paste wax or the equivalent


6] Go get trophy:

Note the brand name of the products are not unique. What is is your know how in applying what you use. I Beat Zymol @ the golden Classic using Eagle One.--- :banana:
 
I must confess that I am not overly obsessive...just don't have the time. I wash/wax in the fall before putting the car to bed for the winter. I use Autoglym. During driving season, I wash as needed.
 
My Healey is 95/96 Ford Pacific Green and I have NEVER waxed any car that I have had.

You said it yourself
AUSMHLY said:
I learned a long time ago, it's not the wax that makes a car shine, but the prep work in making the surface as smooth as glass.

When I painted the car in my driveway 12 years ago, I sprayed 2 coats of color and 4 coats of clear. Then I color sanded and buffed.

I sometimes add some hand glaze compound to the wash mitt. Now, 12 years later, a rag thrown on the fender will still slide off to the ground.

Tim

Tim&Sherry3.jpg
 
1. Wash with warm water only and microfiber mitt

2. Dry with clean shammy

3. Use cleaning clay bar with speed shine as lubricant

4. Wax lightly with Griots Best of Show carnuba wax and buff

5. look into the mirror!
 
Zymol fan here; easy to use, great results.

In lieu of the Royal Glaze, I use Zymol Z3 (a variation__I think__of their Carbon wax line), preceeded with their HD cleanse.

I just did my annual car wax/detail job last Friday, in preparation for yesterday's ALL BRITISH local car show. I managed a 3rd place (in class) behind an outstandingly original BRG BJ8, and a gimmick-laden ice-blue BJ8.
 
I would second the use of a good Clay Bar. Recently did my 99 328i which has 152K on it and it came out great! On dark colors it is important to get the surface as clean as you can first and "old Wax" free as you can.

Michael.
 
AUSMHLY said:
Got Zymol Royale Glaze?

Zymol Royal Glaze 50oz.
Retail Price: $8,999.99
Sale Price: $8,416.00
(You save: $583.99)

https://www.gomazda3.com/zyrogl.html

That is absurd. You could be the wax guy at the local high volume car wash and never get your money's worth even after the lifetime free refills.

I have always wanted a list of people with more money than brains; the customer list for this product would be an excellent start.

For that price they should include someone to do the job and she should look like that car washer in Cool Hand Luke.
 
I've been using the Turtle Wax ICE products for the past few months and I'm extremely happy with the results.

1) Wash car with a lambswool mitt, warm water and some car washing fluid.
2) Rinse with cold water and then dry with a chamois leather
3) ICE Liquid Clay Bar all the bodywork and then rinse off the dry residue with cold water and dry with a t-shirt or soft cloth.
4) ICE Liquid polish - the finish this stuff gets is incredible when it's buffed off with a microfibre cloth. Never seems to leave streaks, even if the car is hot and in the sun and can be used on all surfaces including chrome.
5) Receive admiring glances and comments from passers by and neighbours
6) Drive

Takes me about an hour and a half but that includes cleaning the windows, mirrors, the wheels (with the wire wheel brush) and also cleaning the interior and giving it a good leather treatment.
 
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