What waxes or cleaners do you use?

Trueoo7 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 09:25 PM

Was wondering what waxes and / or cleaners people have found to work best on the body, tires, interior etc.. How often do you wax the beast? Is it wise to wax chrome side pipes. Do you apply waxes by hand or machine?

Thanks

Randy Rosenberg · #2 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 09:26 PM

Zaino...

Buy it from your local distributor...

foothills gary · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 10:36 PM

I use Malm's ultrafine polish and glaze to erase those very fine spiderweb scratches in the clearcoat,followed by a coat of pure canuaba paste from Autosport.I use a light detail carnauba in a spritz bottle with a microfiber polishing cloth to remove fingerprints and reinforce the wax after washing(also available from Autosport).I use Maguiers tire dressing in light gloss to keep the rubber nice and black with a slight sheen.It will last through multiple washings,unlike Armorall and similar sprays.Autosport also offers a very nice car wash that doesn't remove wax,and is very kind to the paint.I wash with a real sheepskin mitt,use a medical grade silicone squeege,and 100% cotton towels to gently remove any excess water.

cobra · #4 (**permalink**) 11-07-2003, 11:10 PM

Zaino...

Greetings from Switzerland

Walter

bnewell · #5 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 04:29 AM

Zaino Bros. for my cars. They also have great customer support. If you have a question give'em a call or drop them an email. In the past I have emailed questions to them and Sal Zaino was very good about responing back very quickly.

Brian

REDSC400 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 05:43 AM

Zaino Brothers Showcar Polishes on all my autos...
I especially like the fact that the products leave no dust.
The tire gloss product is just super.
Not greasy and dry.
Bestest Stuff Goin IMHO.
Cheers

Tony Radford · #7 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 06:25 AM

Add my name to the Zaino Bros list. My car has a show finish and I aim to keep it that way. As for the side pipes, mine are hot jet coated and the only thing I've found effective is the metal polish wadding (real cheap at Pep Boys). It doesn't scratch, but it's abrasive enough to remove things that get stuck to the pipes when they're hot.

Len Hurlburt · #8 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 07:58 AM

Zaino - It does make a difference!

stush · #9 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 08:55 AM

I have used Zaino with great results but for a quick clean and nice nearly effortless application I use Dri Wash. Check out their website www.dwgint.com Amazing product. Cleans without water and protects at the same time.

Stu

foothills gary · #10 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 10:24 AM

Sounds like Zaino is the hot setup-time to go shopping again,there is still a little room left on the shelf for some new product.Wife and kids can use up the"old"stuff(hee-hee).

bvega · #11 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 02:30 PM

Klasse from Germany is big here California and is sweeping the country.

You can check out a fanatics head to head test with Klasse v Zaino v Zymol v Blackfire v P21S etc.

You can check out this wax off at: Wax Head to Head Test

Overall Zaino and Klasse had results that were incredibly close in the shine department.

The Person doing this test was a long time Zaino user that had heard of Klasse but never used it. Once he used Klasse he switched to Klasse and never looked back.

You can also read about Zaino's dust attraction problems.

This is easily explained because Zaino uses 2 main approaches to car care: Use the polymers for protection and use SILICONE to creat shine.

As you may know Silicone attracts dust like crazy which explains why his Zaino portions attracted much more dust when going off roading than the Malms carnauba side.

So if you want to rub on silicone all over your car just like you use silicone on your furniture then go ahead. I personally dont like the thought of rubbing Pledge on my paint finish. Plus I dont like having a car that attracts dust.

Klasse does not have polymers, silicone, teflon, wax and there is no other comparable product on the market. Its secret ingredients are used in the aviation and marine industries and are beloved by showcar enthusiasts.

The best place to find Klasse is at Concours Direct. They have the Klasse All in One and Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze in kits that are amazingly priced.

If you use the Klasse Glaze be sure to use a spray bottle with water to spray the body panels that you are wiping down when you wipe off the residue. This ensures a streak free perfect gloss shine. You can layer the Glaze for the ultimate shine. Most people put on a layer a week for 12 weeks and are able to read credit card receipts off the reflection of their cars paint.

I know everyone here loves their Zaino. But once you try Klasse and see how versatile and easy to use it is you will think twice about what your using.

Take a look at the head to head wax test that this guy did. It is pretty thorough and objective. Top 2 or 3 were always really close in terms of shine. I think it is really educational.

Tom T. · #12 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 05:59 PM

"Guru Reports" gave P21S the highest final grade of the "natural" waxes, as I recall, and Zaino got the best final grade of all (whether carnuba based, or, like Zaino, synthetic). Klasse did well, with a final grade somewhat below Zaino, I think. Their overall conclusion was that the synthetics, such as Zaino and Klasse, were superior overall, especially with regard to durability. There are so many variables at play with different finishes, colors, climates, car care habits of owners, etc., it seems to me. As indicated in the test results cited in the preceding post, the differences among the best products are not that dramatic--I guess you settle on the one you like best after trying several. I'm currently using P21S and like it pretty well--it does not have the same retina-burning shine as Zaino (which I've also used), but there is more depth on my black paint with the P21S, which is a point of discrimination for my own tastes. That's another thing, the factors--clarity, depth, shine, etc., probably weight differently in perceived quality from one individual to the next. The only thing I know for certain at this point is that it's great to have a lot of choices compared to what was available when I was a kid.

TT

sp1410 · #13 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 08:07 PM

Hey guys, I swear by Beauty Shine products. They have a website to order products (they're based in North Hollywood, Ca).

My favorite is their #502 Pink Carnauba wax. It is a hard wax that is water based. Why is that important? Because shine freaks like me can bulid layers of pure wax without having the solvent emulsifiers found in most products take off the previous layers.

You have to let it dry properly and apply a thin coat, then as many more as you like. It is fantastic and long lasting with no silicones. Check out their "tubular knit" polishing cloth too- it is unreal.

Lew Ledyard · #14 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 11:16 PM

www.carcareonline.com sells all of the top quality auto detail products (e.g. Zaino, One Grand Blitz Wax, Klasse, Zymol, 3M, etc). They also have unbiased real world test results (the guy sells them all, so he can give honest opinions of one product over the other). Very helpful website. I have ordered 2 or 3 times from them. The orders have been filled promptly and the products were as described. The website has ojective car detail information that could fill a book. No affiliation, just passing on impressions of a happy customer.

bvega · #15 (**permalink**) 11-08-2003, 11:59 PM

Quote:

www.carcareonline.com sells all of the top quality auto detail products (e.g. Zaino, One Grand Blitz Wax, Klasse, Zymol, 3M, etc). They also have unbiased real world test results (the guy sells them all, so he can give honest opinions of one product over the other). Very helpful website. I have ordered 2 or 3 times from them. The orders have been filled promptly and the products were as described. The website has ojective car detail information that could fill a book. No affiliation, just passing on impressions of a happy customer.

They dont sell Klasse.

Tom T. · #16 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 11:51 AM

bvega,

Are you affiliated with Klasse products at all?

TT

Art Burtt · #17 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 12:22 PM

As a auto detailer, I use nothing but Mothers products.

foothills gary · #18 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 01:22 PM

Art,as a professional auto detailer,can you elaborate on which Mother's products you use,and what techniques you use to gain maximum results?I'm sure many of us on the site would be fascinated to share in your wealth of knowledge,especially as applied to the unique needs of the Cobra. Thanks! Gary

BlueRooster · #19 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 01:58 PM

Simple Green for underneath
WD40 underneath and engine compartment.
metal polish= Flitz, WENOL, and nevr dull wadding
waxes= Pig Snot biker wax, Mothers Showtime, Maquires finecut, medium cut, swirl remover.
Lexol leather cleaner
any window cleaner and lots of warm water I dont think I have ever used soap on the cobra. I use and have used the above on all of my cars at some time or another(not all at once) What a list.

ENTDOC · #20 (**permalink**) 11-09-2003, 03:38 PM

The results with a clay bar and Meguires auto detail spray are fantastic.It gives the smoothest finish I have ever seen.I use P21s to top it off simply because it is easy and does not leave white powder on the rubber. chuck