Polish? Wax? Here are some answers for you...

[OneQuickGT1]

As always, I try to look for things that are being discussed on the forum, and then I attempt to answer some of the somewhat unknowns. I know I have talked about polishes and waxes in the past, but maybe a sticky with some info will clear some things up.

First of all, non-abrasive polishes. These polishes are used mainly to increase the gloss of the paint. Some polishes contain stricly oils that feed the paint. Examples are Meg's 7 and Imperial Hand Glaze. These are the more common types of polishes, and they can be used as frequently as possible.

Moving on, we have the abrasive polish. These usually have a small amount of abrasive in them, and examples are Meg's 9 and 3M SMR. I will be clear in saying that there is little chance of anyone damaging their paint with a product like I have mentioned. These also contain fillers and oils, but also have some abrasives to take it up a notch. Do not confuse these with compounds, as compounds are MUCH more tricky to use properly.

As far as wax, there isn't too much to say. Most waxes are abrasive-free, the exception being SOME multi-purpose waxes. Even cleaner waxes are just usually chemical cleaners, not abrasives.

Bottom line....Off the shelf products are basically safe, and you should not worry. As always, give things a try and decide what YOU like best. Please contact me for more info or if you have questions!

Brett:thumbs:

[2K1GrandAm]

I think i was looking at some polish one day, and the instructions said something like "remove any wax that is on your car." Do I really have to strip the wax off before applying a polish? How would I go about doing this?

[OneQuickGT1]

I can answer this in several ways.....Many polishes strip off existing products, while others like Zaino suggest using Dawn to strip off existing products. It is up to you what you want to do, but most off the shelf products do not require removing exisitng products.

Regards,
Brett

[Mike Jung]

Can you use a polymer 'wax' with polishing oils, then later on use canauba wax (to build extra layers of protection) :confused:

For example:
Use Meguiar's Gold Class clear coat liquid car wax in the late spring.
It says on the box,"...cleans the surface, removes swirl marks, adds polishing oils,...adds tough, long-lasting polymer protection."

Then later on (say a month later & every month after that) use Simoniz Pure Premium Liquid Car Wax with pure Canauba (there is no mention of any 'polish' in it) to build extra layers of protection.

[OneQuickGT1]

The oils will not allow the polymer to bond, so don't try to use the two together..Experience! ;)

Brett

[WildBill]

Hello Brett,

I am new here, so forgive me if I get/do something wrong (until I get the hang of it)...:confused:

Basically I searched & could not find mention of "Liquid Glass!" My body shop is really "sold" on Liquid Glass instead of waxes. I just had a Ram Air hood installed & painted... and they tell me my GA SE looks so good, they want to help me do my whole car (after I finish some graphics work) in Liquid Glass (AT NO CHARGE!)

Any advise/suggestions?

Thanks much...

WB

[zegoldfish]

As far as Liquid Glass goes... great wax. I use Maguiar's step 2 polish then Liquid Glass. These two steps alone create one helluva deep shine. I don't know much about polishes and waxes, but these two steps make my silver look awsome. You should be able to pick up some Liquid Glass at Autozone.

[OneQuickGT1]

Sorry it has taken me so long to reply! As far as LG goes, it is a pretty decent product, though there are better products for the price, including Blackfire, Zaino, and others. I would no discourage you from using it though, but I just want you to know there are other options!

Brett

[WildBill]

Thanks for the replies guys (RE: LG)...

This will give me more to research before we do the LG. As much work as I hear it is for the first coat, I just wanted to be fairly sure & feel good about it before committing to it. I just found it "impressive" when the shop owner & top estimator swear by LG, do their "show cars"/best cars with it, and offer "free help/expertise" to help me apply it in their shop (and I have to admit... it feels good that they think my car is "show quality"). They even offered to buy the product for me at their cost ($16.95... sells at AZ here for $24.95).

I will look into Maguiar's Step 2 (heard a lot about this one), Blackfire (never heard of this), and Zaino (lot of "mixed press" on this one... right here in GrandAmGT.com discussions/threads)...

Again... THANKS VERY MUCH... : > )

[2K1GrandAm]

I have a question about polish. Will a polish protect the cars finish the way a wax will? Or should I apply a wax after I polish to protect the car's paint?

[OneQuickGT1]

You will need to wax unless the polish is a two-in one product! Without wax, you will have nothing protecting the car!

Hope that helps,
Brett

[DumpsterDamon]

any type of dark colored waxes so that when i wax my car and it gets into cracks i don't have to worry about it showing?

[OneQuickGT1]

really no such thing as dark colored wax...Try P21S...It doesn't dry white....

[DJCobol]

Originally posted by 2K1GrandAm
I have a question about polish. Will a polish protect the cars finish the way a wax will? Or should I apply a wax after I polish to protect the car's paint?

Putting a wax over top of a polish is redundant. While applying the wax you are removing any of the polish that might be left. Use one or the other, but not both at the same time.

[OneQuickGT1]

Only if the wax has cleaners or abrassives.....Polish alone will not protect the paint....

[Ant]

what stops water spots.....wax or polish? I have no clue about ANY of this polish wax stuff, as I have never applied EITHER to ANY CAR, EVER.

[OneQuickGT1]

Nothing will really STOP water spots. To remove them, you would want to try a polish, or even diluted white vinegar, as this will dissolve the mineral deposits!

Bret

[Ant]

Originally posted by OneQuickGT1
Nothing will really STOP water spots. To remove them, you would want to try a polish, or even diluted white vinegar, as this will dissolve the mineral deposits!

Bret

polish not wax? I always thought of wax as like..a "barrier".

[OneQuickGT1]

Like I said..nothing will STOP water spots. I have a ton of protection on my car, and it is still very easy to get water spots. So...you can TRY and stop them with wax, but if they do happen, use a polish to get them out. Hope that helps...

Brett

[cmoore]

Originally posted by DumpsterDamon
any type of dark colored waxes so that when i wax my car and it gets into cracks i don't have to worry about it showing?

I have a black 2002 GAGT and I found a Turtle Wax product called "Color Cure". Can't remember if it is a wax or polish, but it comes with a black crayon for filling in minor scratches. Seems to do a good job, but it is temporary and has to be redone every couple of weeks.

[chill03sct]

im a automotive detailer, and the best things to use are polishes. most wax's are abrasive and most polishes like zaino (which i recommend) are very good protection for the paint and non abrasive. also, one thing to keep away from those darn scratches you always encounter, when you are drying off a vehicle (by hand) make sure the cotton towel you use is not completely dry, this will cause more scratches to occur and simply leaving the cloth a lil bit damp can help with that problem. another thing some people have trouble with is there headlights and fog's tend to get that cloudy look and film over them, one way to keep that away is to polish the lenses also, leaving the polish on each lense for 10 min or so then gently whiping off with slightly damp cloth. if i can help anyone with any more questions pm me or state them below, i will try my best to help!

chris

[OneQuickGT1]

First of all, a polish is usually much more abrasive than a wax, so I am a little confused as to where you got the idea that a polish is abrasive. Zaino is called a polish, but in reality is really a polymer protectant. A polish, as stated earlier, is for removing scratches and other impurities, and a wax is for protection. Also, NOTHING wrong with using a completely dry towel. The problem most people run into is not using 100% cotton towels. Any other questions or whatnot, please PM me. I am always happy to help!

Brett

[chill03sct]

wax's have been proven to be abrasive. i find that useing a polish like zaino gives my car a much better shine and protects better than a wax. although the wax will last longer, the polish is better for the surface of the vehicle. paint cleaners are used to cover up the impurities of a auto's surface, more so than a polish which is used for shine and clear coat protection. and its been proven that using a completely dry towel is not as good as using a slightly moist one, i never said it was bad for it to be dry i said it produces more scratches!!! if you desire less scratches and impurities on your vehicles surface, you will take this advice and use one that is slightly moist. not to try and prove you wrong, but you should try this brett, it really helps and prevents any surface from getting scratched. and what you had said about using the 100% cotton towel, you are so very correct! like you had said thats where most people run into problems. pm brett or myself for any questions on detailing, after all... we are professionals ;)

chris

[OneQuickGT1]

I'm going to lock this thread soon, not because it's turning into anything nasty, rather I meant it more as a read only. Anyway...I really think you are missing the point of a polish. A TRUE polish is not made to protect, rather it is used to remove imperfections and enhance gloss. Zaino, like I said, is a PROTECTANT. Waxes, well, they may not protect as long, but they will give you a different type of appearance, which many people find more pleasing. Also, a pure wax is NOT abrasive at all. A cleaner wax may be abrasive, but not a pure wax.

Regarding the towels....I have used dry towels and wet towels, and trust me, there is little difference in the amount of swirls, scratches, etc. 100% pure cotton will not scratch in 99% of the cases we use them.

Cliffnotes.....A polish is just that, a polish; which is used to enhance gloss and remove or hide imperfections. Zaino may be called a polish, but other than Z5, it is a protectant. Traditional polishes offer little to no protection. Wax is Wax, bottom line, and is used to protect. There are also polymers which protect, and those are just synthetic versions of waxes. Again...Waxes that are cleaner waxes MAY be abrasive, but pure waxes are not.

This is not to start a fight by any means...I will be ****y and say I know my stuff. My business and my personal vehicles speak for themselves.

Just my $.02...

Brett

[chill03sct]

Originally posted by OneQuickGT1
My business and my personal vehicles speak for themselves.

Brett

as do mine... this is a good thread brett, and its a good thing you posted this for the detailing "impaired"... everyone does need to know the right and best way to get that show car shine, you have your preferences and i have mine. good luck with everything and the best to you and your business!

chris