Amazing Mirror Like Shine - Wash, Clay, Polish then Wax.
 

Hey fellow Z owners!

With a week off from work for the holiday, I decided to (over a three day span) to wash, clay, and polish then wax my Z. I finished this afternoon and was so amazed with the results I thought it would be helpful to some members to share the steps I performed to get these results.

I didn't rush, nor did I complete this detail in one day. I believe not rushing to get this done in one-day was a key factor in the results I received.

1 ½ HRS - On the first day (PM) I wash and dried my car thoroughly. I usually wash my car when the Sun goes down. I do this because I don't like the soap and/or hard water drying on a section of the car when washing another. I personally find washing my car at night (without Sun baking) delivers better results IMHO. I also use the Absorber Synthetic Drying Chamois and my air compressor to blow all the water from the cracks and crevices of the car. Trust me there wasn’t a drop of water left on the car when I was done.

Garaged covered.

2 ½ HRS - On the second day (AM) I taped off all black trim & lights using 3M painters tape. I then used Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Detailing Clay to remove the contaminants in the paint. My Z is a weekend driver and mostly garage & covered, and despite of that, I was surprise with how much contaminants the clay bar removed. I couldn’t believe how much smoother my car finish felt after using the clay bar. This was only the first step and I was impressed.

2 ½ HRS - Second day (PM) I polished my Z using Meguiar’s Show Car Glaze polish using the Shurhold Dual Action Polisher. I added the final touch by using the Brite Bonnet Final Polish Pad powered by the dual action polisher. Let me just say … this dual action polisher is awesome!

Covered.

2 HRS - Third day in the morning, I waxed my Z using Meguiar’s Hi-Tech Yellow Wax (with premium yellow Carnauba) using the Dual Action Polisher. And for the final time, I used the Brite Bonnet Final Polish Pad once again on the entire car.

It was time well spent while the wife and kids were at work and school. The pictures really don’t do it justice; it looks so much better in person. I hope anyone reading this finds it helpful. Enjoy!

Drive Hard but Safe!

http://www.the370z.com/members/stino...ish-wax-05.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/stino...ish-wax-09.jpg

http://www.the370z.com/members/stino...ish-wax-18.jpg

nice work. I plan on tackling my first detail job on my Z in two weeks, before a car show.

Thanks! I can't stress enough to use the clay bar if you haven't used one already. It's really an important 1st step to a smooth finish.

I wish you well with your detail. :tiphat:

Wow mirror clean....

My car is also a garage whore, I need a orbital buffer now

Wow, your car looks amazing for only 9 hours of work. I just got done with mine last night after over 20 hours throughout 4-5 days on and off. And I definitely believe you about the pics not doing it justice because I've been admiring my own work all day knowing I wouldn't be able to properly capture it in a photo.

Thanks! I must say "The orbital polisher really saved me a lot of time." Did you also us a orbital polisher?

I would love to see a pic of your Z.

There is really a huge sense of accomplishment when you finish detailing your Z to the extent we did. Enjoy admiring all your hard work. I know ... it's a good feeling to sit back and see your Z nice and shiny. :ughdance:

Yup, I used a PC 7424xp. I gotta give a big thanks to Junkman and all the time he put into making his videos for people like me to at least have an idea as to what the hell I'm doing. I haven't got around to taking pics because of Thanksgiving preparations, but even then white cars don't quite "Pop" and make you say "Wow" in photos like other color vehicles when they are freshly fully detailed.

Looks like you came out well by doing this yourself. Nothing like being able to pat yourself on the back.

I'm curious as to why you went with a glaze instead of a polish?

Thanks! Junkman2008, honestly I'm no expert, however, I started to do some research and read somewhere that the #7 Mirror Glaze was the same as a polish without abrasiveness. There were several posts on other forums where people seemed to use it like a polish. So considering it's been garage and covered since buying it new; I though a non-abrasive type of polish would be adequate.

It's a 2010 with only 2040 miles. It's not my daily driver, just weekend fun when I have the time. This car is more like a hobby of mine, I enjoy modding my Z when I have the time.

What's your thoughts. Did I make the right decision? I would like some feedback. I'll tell ya ... it really surprised me how smooth and shiny the paint turned-out.:tiphat:

Regards,

Stino

Well, they definitely passed you some bum scoop on that one. A glaze is NOT a polish. A glaze is a product that is used to fill in paint damage without removing any clear coat (which is what a polish would do). In order to repair the damage in your clear coat, you have to shave it down to the point where no damage resides. The amount that you shave it down depends on how deep the damage is. With the PC, you are NOT going to be shaving down any significant amount of clear coat at any time and that's why it takes so long to repair stuff with a PC. However, that's also what makes the PC so safe for a novice.

By using a glaze, the only thing you're doing is masking the damage. It is still there, and will reveal itself after you've washed the car enough times. Detailers, body shops and dealerships will use a glaze to make your car look perfect when you come to pick it up. However, after a month of washing, all the scratches will eventually show back up. That's why you never see me use a glaze in any of my videos. I want the damage removed, not masked.

Silly question, Junkman... Based on how you described polishes, is it possible to polish your car so many times that you essentially "sand" all of your clearcoat away? Also, if I use a polish like Liquid Glass LG-100 Ultimate, do I still need to wax my car?

Stino, your car looks amazing.

You need to watch these videos to get a better understanding about the first question that you are asking.

As for that product, it sounds more like snake oil than anything and I would not want to put that stuff on my car. If I were you, I would use a true wax on my car. That stuff is NOT a polish or a wax. It's more like some kind of coating.

listen to junkman. He is the pimp of paint and the sultan of shine lol

That looks amazing! I would pay anyone to hook my Z up with a clay, polish and wax detail. I am waaaay to lazy. No one does clay bars around here!

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...eys/rofl-1.gif

I will have to borrow that one!

Looks great. I'm familiar w/ the 3 step wash, polish, and wax, but don't have much experience w/ claybar-ing. It seems like that is great as preparation for cleaning the paint thouroughly. . .

It is the foundation of a perfect shine. If you don't clay when necessary, then yo' shine ain't gonna be anything like my shine. :tiphat:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h.../washpics0.jpg

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http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h.../washpics2.jpg

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For a better word, I like to consider Junkman2008 as the "connoisseur" in the art of automotive paint detailing.

Although the word "connoisseur" can also refer to fine art, food and wine tasting, Junkman2008 has the true artistic expertise and technique in bringing out the outer beauty, ultimate clarity, deep color, and luster to one's automobile paint.

Junkman2008, keep those automobiles spotless featuring that wet-look!

spryor

lol! I'm flattered and will do sir! :tiphat:

Junkman2008, so far I watched six of your videos, All 2 HRS & 56 MIN worth from the link you provided in this thread. I'm very impressed with the knowledge you share on paint correction/protection. Not that I did a bad job with my 370Z a couple of weekends ago (the paint is in outstanding condition and easy to care for at this point), nevertheless, I would have tweaked my process some after watching your videos. I have a 4Runner that can benefit from what I've learned watching your videos and will be doing some paint correction on it in a couple of weeks. I've always done a two bucket wash, and my process of shining a car is very similar to yours. With that said, I will change my process and some of the products I use to closely match yours.

You're very thorough and know your stuff.

Thanks for the help! It's much appreciated. :tiphat:

Regards,

Stino

Thank you sir! Being thorough is what makes my videos so long. A few guys will complain but leaving no stones unturned is the way I learn. The way I figure it, most of the people watching my videos think the same way I do. :tup:

Are those recent pictures of the vette?
I'd like to see newest pictures.

Here you go:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...IMG_1170-1.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h.../IMG_11843.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h.../IMG_11853.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...lue_glass3.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...lue_glass4.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...lue_glass1.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...lue_glass2.jpg

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...lue_glass5.jpg


I have also been trying out a new tire gel called Opti-Bond Tire Gel. You can get 32 ounces of it for $16 or 128 ounces for $36. I'm really digging this stuff and it's a ton cheaper than what I was using! :tup:

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...d_tire_gel.jpg


Here it is dirty, but you probably won't notice the dirt. :D

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...8/hsgirls6.jpg

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it amazes me that Meguiar’s keeps coming out with all these new products. oh new formula, new line, new....stfu!

Here's what you have to realize about a company like Meguiar's. Unlike a lot of companies that you will read about on these boards, Meguiar's actually manufactures what they sell. They are not some boutique brand that gets their base product from another manufacturer and then adds their 2 cents, they MAKE every polish, compound and wax that they sell. That means that they have a research and development department. They take the time to test, redevelop and improve everything that they make. To not do so allows your company to get stale and that's how you get passed up by your competition. A good example of that is Motorola.

There was a time when Motorola didn't do two things. They didn't make commercials and they didn't discount their phones to employees. Guess what happened. The competition started making funny commercials and affordable phones. So affordable that Motorola employees started buying them (I know... I use to work for Motorola). Now you can't name 3 of your friends who have Motorola phones. That's because Motorola, the 800 pound gorilla sat anywhere it wanted to for way too long and the little chimps named Samsung and Nokia ate their lunch. Now Motorola, the 800 pound gorilla is has practically sold off their cell phone division because they couldn't turn a decent profit. That's what happens when you get stale. Meguiar's is smart enough to learn from Motorola and the Swiss. The Swiss use to make 89% of the watches sold in the world. How many people do you know who are wearing a Swiss made watch right now?

Constant development does one thing for your company. It keeps you fresh and on your toes. It's a jungle out there in business land and there's always a few chimps just waiting for you to take a nap. ;)

Amazing to see Guys using the same products I have used since 1985...

Number 7 and then number 26 Mequiars...

Here is a photo of 29 year old paint that has not been washed in several months...

It has only been hand polished with number 7 and number 26 it's whole life...

The number 7 strips away everything and makes it squeaky clean, and with a deep color, and the 26 just deepens the color and protects it...29 years...

I understand what your saying but here is my thoughts. When you have something that works a customer will return for more. When you keep flooding the market with "new formula" one starts to think why! Mequires is a big company, yes they have alot of stuff but everyone ive talked to about detailing i always here the same thing. Why do they have a billion different compounds and this and that! idk..... i dont care what the name is. if it works and has results leave it at that. just remember with good customer service and products that work you will have a customer for life!

There's nothing wrong with finding something that you like and mastering it. I promote the same thing. However, some people find it easier to get the results that they want using combination A of a product line, as others find it best for them to use combination B of the same product line. Having a choice can be an advantage. One, it's a preference thing and two, it's a technique thing. Meguiar's makes polishes and products that can be used with a rotary polisher for professionals, a dual-action polisher for the intermediate detailer and a orbital polisher for the beginner. They also make products for the individual who wants to work by hand. Add the development of the microfiber buffing pads and all of a sudden, you have a mess load of products on the market. As an end user, you don't have to use or try everything that they put out, just find and use what works for you. If you feel like broadening your horizons, they will always have something new for you to try.

Here's one way to look at it. There is a car on the market that gets better gas mileage than any other car on the market right now. Everyone likes to get great gas mileage, however, everyone might not care for that particular car. Thus, there are other choices on the market that you can buy and still get great gas mileage. Do all the choices cause you a headache? No, because you like having choices. Detailers feel the same way. Imagine how much business Meguiar's gets by being flexible with what they have to offer. Since they are picking up new customer literally every day, offering various methods of paint correction is a win-win for them. It can be very, very confusing to the novice detailer who just overwhelms themselves by trying to take in the entire line but that when guys like me who show you just one method and selection of products to use come in handy. You don't have to get lost in all the products that they offer, just use what I use in my videos and call it a wrap. ;)

mine needs to be cut bad. I have tried it myself but the swirl marks are deep from the previous owner so i think I will get it professionally done then keep up with it after that.

What have you tried so far? Have you watched my latest swirl removing videos?

I actually just did. I think my problem is the lack of a garage and most importantly patience. Takes so much more effort than I was expecting. I see now why detailers charge so much

That's why I charge such an outrageous rate. ;)

Hi Stino,

You did an amazing job on your Z. My situation is very similar to yours. I only drive my Z when I have extra time. My question is what product and how do you clean your wheels? Thanks.

Hello, sorry for the delay in my response. I've been out of town on business.

I use Meguiars Hot Rims® All Wheel® & Tire Cleaner - link

And Gold Class Endurance® High Gloss - link I use a very small amount of this and spread it real thin.

I hope this helps!

Stino :tiphat: