Which is better wax or polish? Is there much of a difference between the two? They both seem to go on and off the same. What is the prefered brand of each?

 

Polish and wax are two different things. Polishing a paint correctly using the right pad and polish abrasive and speed will remove imperfections such as light scratches,water spots and those dreadful swirl marks from improper washing and detailing. This will freshen up the paint agian and bring back the shine. Most vettes stock are a PITA because GM made the clear coat solid hard and this takes more time and a more aggressive polish/aggressive pad to reduce swirl marks. Polishes for most brands have different steps depending on your needs. For instance Poorboys detailing products (which I use) has a line of polishes such as SSR 2.5 which gets rid of deeper swirl marks/scratches then you would follow up with a SSR1 which is a finer polish to bring back the shine because your more aggressive polish (SSR2.5) will most likely leave a hazeyness finish depending on what pad you use if you apply by machine (also depends on how hard or soft your paint is). Wax is a LSP or last step product. This will protect your finish and give the paint more depth/wetness.

This is what I use. Great set up. I use SSR2.5 for deeper stuff and then follow up with SSR1 (stuff smells awesome ,like strawberries) to bring the shine back nicely. And then hit it with Pinnacle Souveran Carnuba wax. Yes its like $95.00 but its well worth it! The wetness is awesome and there no chalky residue and easy applying this stuff on. I would purchase a Porter Cable if I were you. More effiecient and faster then applying by hand. It also doesnt burn through the paint like a rotory. Go to autogeek.net. They have millions of different products and a forum to go through. Plus the customer service is awesome and wouldnt go anywhere else. I have been using them for a 3-4 years. Heres a link for the PC http://autogeek.net/poca746varap.html





If you ask, no I dont use ZAINO and have no experience with it..

 

Apples and oranges
Polish is applied prior to wax properly can remove minor scratches, swirls, dirt and ect. from paint and leave a nice finish when done.
Wax it next. Wax provides a protective barrier over that fresh clean paint you've just removed all the crap from with the polish and left exposed to the elements. More coats of wax also give you the look where the paint looks deep enough you can reach into it.

 

They really have different jobs. A polish is for cleaning tiny contaminants off the paint after washing. It makes it smooth and shiny. The wax goes on after the polish to seal the paint from contaminants to protect the polishing job and keep it shiny.

 

Great shines can be had without risking buffer damage to your paint by starting with a clay bar application, followed by a polish that comes in several strengths (all hand applied and buffed), then followed by applying a resin/acrylic gLaze. This whole process takes about 2 hours to do on a Vette and none of the steps require hard rubbing or working up a sweat to complete! Your shiney finish will be good for at least 6 months with this & all you need is a 3 min quick detailer spray for touch ups when you want to get a "just polished" look. The "wet look" products result in an especially deep shine.
I personally will not use wax base products. They are soft and every hand that touches your car leaves an impression. That will not happen with non-wax based products. Most all of the resin/acrylic based products will not leave any white residue.
There are several vendors at this CF link that sell the procducts I am describing and some even have videos demonstrating what I posted.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/car-care-discussion-10/

Here's the result of my "No Wax" shines as described above

 

Two hours??! Certainly not for one person....! It takes me about six hours to claybar my C4 alone.
A proper wash/dry job before claybarring adds another hour, then waxing tacks on another 2-3 hours, minimum. Even using a good P-C orbital, it still is hard work...my hands will be hurting all night after doing this.
What you describe takes me a full day to accomplish. If you can truly do it in two hours, please, please, please, tell me your secret! Heck, going over the car with a toothpick and cotton buds afterward (to remove wax residue from the various cracks, seams, and grooves) takes about 45 minutes...!

Cleaning, polishing, and waxing the wheels adds another 3 hours.

Are you doing a half-azzed job, or am I being far too ****???? (EDIT: Don't answer that; I think I know the answer.)

Larry
____________
not easily impressed....

 

All of the pictures I posted really did take about 2 hours to do. Over the past 20 years I've learned many short cuts by watching Videos by Jason, Adams, Pinnacle, and many others, watching dealer demos at swap meets, and actually helping my son-in-law, a former "DerStuff" dealer, do demos at swap meets, car shows etc. i.e., I can wash a car in 20 min and after rinse leave it wet and start with clay. Althought car is still wet, I help the clay using a "5 min detailer" spray. The clay on most C4s takes about 20 min, then with the claying residue on the car I apply one of the polishes depending on cleansing/rubbing power needed...another 15-20 min or so then a couple coats of wet look final shine polish...another 25 min. I power wash the wheel wells, and spray that area and metal areas with a special frame metal brightner. I use only the wet look shiney stuff on wheels. When I do the wheel wells etc it takes about 30-45 min. I'm lazy, never use a buffer, & don't like hard rubbing,...not ****, but never have had complaints about my finished product!
I use a tooth brush to get white stuff off by emblems etc just before application of wet look polish...takes about 5 min on C4. The products I use are from Chemical Guys, and never leave any white residue. All are compatiable with each other...you can get rubber dress on polish etc and it just wipes off with no noticable show. Chemical Guys has been in business for over 30 years with customers world wide. They sell their CG products and also provide product to over 200 private label firms. Visit their web site as another place for "how to" info.

 

Wax....gives you the "wet look"
Polish...gives you a better reflextion.

Best wax for me...Pinnacle Souvern
Best polish...I would go with Zaino (if you call zaino a polish)

I would use what you are happy with. There is cost, ease of application, looks,all to consider.

 

ANUS I mean **** for sure. 6 hrs is a lot man sounds like nice work

 

...as well it should (considering the pace at which new products arrive).

From what I've seen, both can deliver a fantastic finish, if the paint is properly prepped (a key step whichever product you use).

I've tried both, and currently I like the Zaino polish process. Not only do I get a lot of comments on the finish, but once the base is applied, and "Clear Seal" applied, all it needs after a wash is a spritz of detailer spray, and it gleams!

Black is probably the most critical color to "get it right". But, I've found happiness, even on my red car. Have a look:











For me, there wasn't that much difference between a good carnuba waxing and Zaino, in most light and color situations, especially light-colored cars. But, the BIG difference (and why I stick with it) is the durability of the finish and ease of maintenance. I Zaino'ed my car one year and didn't have to redoux it for the 3 years I had the car after the initial application. Just a thin coat of polish once a month, and then just detailer's spray after washes, and good to go!

Wax on my black Vette sitting in summer sun would become engraved by the slightest finger touch, requiring lots of buffing (once the surface was allowed to cool) to get the marks out. With Zaino...I just swipe it with a cotton cloth and the finger print is gone. And, now Zaino has their "Clear Seal". That stuff is amazing. And at showtime, there is that insane Z8 detailer!

I have gone on too much. My vote is for the polish; Zaino is what is on them now, and I don't expect to change until something proves to be better.

P.

 

I like the Meguiars NXT. Good stuff.

 

I guess the difference between my all-day job and your two-hour job is that you're a pro getting paid and I'm an amateur performing a labor of love?

I still can't believe anyone can do a thorough claybar on a C4 in 20 minutes....or even 2 hours....unless it didn't need it in the first place??

Larry
_________
not easily impressed....

 

I agree with you, a lot of professional detailers are a joke. Back a few years ago when I had very little information about detailing a car correctly, I brought mine to a "professional" detailer that every local goes to. The guy charged me couple hundred bucks after taking him a few hours and he swirled my finish worst then before. However, after doing alot of researching I learned how to maintain a swirl free car. It takes me a full day as well when I use my PC to come out the way I want it. I feel like a couple hours is doing just the hood. It also depends how bad the finish was from before. The worst it is, the longer it takes. If theres not much flaws to remove my labor isn't much.

Also claying is a great way to start off detailing when your washing the vehicle. This lifts off all the dirt/pollution and contamination off your paint leaving it with a cleaner surface to use your wax/polish. Makes the job much easier IMO as well. Its also so much fun seeing that nasty black crap on the back of your clay bar.

 

Me too....goes on easy, comes off easy with no residue, lasts a good long time...can buy it anywhwere.

 

I need to polish and wax mine this weekend