KMK454

I've owned a black car before, but I was that car's first owner and did the proper wash/dry procedure, so the Volvo never developed ANY microscratches or spiderwebs.

I am the second owner on my Vette, though, and she has all sorts of crazy swirls, curvy microscratches, and spiderwebs. I only notice when direct light hits the paint, but it drives a perfectionist like myself insane (ESPECIALLY since my last black Volvo was PERFECT after 7000 miles).

Also, I don't know the best method of cleaning the wheels... I'm not sure if they're polished or chrome (yeah, make fun of me ).

Any advice on detailing would be appreciated! I'm wondering if a nice wash, dry, wax would get some out. Any ideas or recommendations? Thanks.

Here she is:

ZaneO

To remove swirls, you will need a paint polish. It will be most effective and efficient by buffer/polisher. There are lots of threads on here about the PC 7424/7336, foam pads, and paint polishes. A good kit to look at is this one: http://autogeek.net/hk7424.html

To keep those swirls gone once they're removed, you need good supplies and techniques. I recommend a quality genuine sheepskin mitt like the Eurow brand found at Wal-Mart. You will also need some quality towels. I have the best success with www.dftowel.com , www.pakshak.com , and www.fiber-works.com

When washing, use a seperate bucket and mitt for tires and wheels (which are polished and clearcoated, so you treat them like paint), and wash them first to prevent water spots on the paint.

When washing the paint, use two buckets...one with soapy water and the other with plain water to rinse your mitt between panels.

Always wash, dry, and wax using front to back and top to bottom motions.

Wash your towels in hot water with liquid detergent only (NO fabric softener), rinse them twice, and dry them on LOW heat.

Your overall detailing process should go something like this:

Wash
Claybar
Wash
Polish with abrasive and/or cleaner
Wax/Seal

agentf1

Excellent advice Zane...

The wheels on your C6 are Polished Aluminum that are clear coated and should be treated just like all your other paint.

On black I highly recommend going with Zaino products, Z2 Pro and Z8 cannot be beat for giving you that deeeeep wettttt BLAAAAACK look and is unsurpassed for its durability. Zaino Fusion is great for removing those fine scratches and swirls and works great by hand as well as PC and Rotary. Zaino Z9 and Z10 Leather Conditioner/Cleaners work awesome and leave your interior smelling just like new leather.

I also recommend drying with a 200mph leaf blower (the less you touch the paint the better) and www.pakshak.com for their Waffle Weave Drying towels to get the remaining water the leaf blower did not remove and www.dftowel.com towels for wiping off my Zaino.

bugman

One more vote for Zaino - because your car is black.
Just did my first black car with Zaino last weekend -- WOWWWW!
unbelieveable gloss, perfect finish, great shine.

I get very good results on my Victory Red Vette, but it's nowhere near as striking as the results on Black. I really think you might debate using Zaino, NXT on light colors, but on black I'm convinced there's only one choice.

The Z5 WILL cover very minor light scratches and cobwebbing. So you don't have to go crazy making the paint perfect before applying Z5. No matter what I did, I couldn't make the finish perfect, but once I put 3 layers of Z5/ZFx on it, the results now ARE perfect.

For removing the swirls, my best weapon is the PC 7424 and 3M 39002 fine cut rubbing compound. I believe it is more abrasive than the Zaino product. you might try Zaino PC fusion first, and if it doesn't work, go to 3M. try a white pad first with either product, and if it doesn't work, you might try the orange pad.

ZaneO

Don't expect miracles from the filling properties of Z5. It only has *slight* fillers.

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...01&forum_id=10

Black cars definitely need a little more care and caress as the color will not hide the flaws that certain other colors might. While everyone is quick to offer the product of choice, it really becomes your weekly regimine in keeping the car up.

For example, are you washing weekly ?? What types of towels, rags, and wash mitts do you use ?? Do you press down hard or glide across the finish ?? Do you find yourself circling while waxing and drying or do you follow straight across each panel ?? Do you blott , blow, or even dry at all ?? Do you even own or want to own a buffer ??

Black cars detailed properly will take on a mirror finish. You can see reflections and in most cases the bad orange peel of GM paint. (wet sanding will somewhat reduce that). So in closing I would suggest starting a new regimine of weekly cleaning, monthly or bi-monthly waxing/sealing, and learning to clay, and polish when needed. If you want hints off line, please PM me

P.S. Your wheels appear to be factory polished, which is has been clearcoated for protection. Treat them like the paint , and never use a metal polish !

58Vette65

I agree -- if you can not see the swrils then Z5 does a really good job of covering them up.

agentf1

Or you could just hide them with tons of oils from a product like Pinnacle Souveran, that is until your first wash or 48 hours when the oils evaporate.

bigcypress

58vet65 huh?

bugman

yes -- I'm still learning that is really the key to everything. Words of widsom. It's really amazing how much damage you can do by SCRUBBING the paint with ANYTHING - even a fancy microfiber towel. I'm learning from my mistakes. now just glide a lambs wool mitt over the car, barely touching it. Waffle weave to dry, then only cotton for any detailing, wax removal, or buffing. I'm soured on microfiber by all the damage I previously did.

BTW, Zaino is the only place I've seen recommending to "wax" in straight lines. Is this just a good idea no matter what sealant or wax I'm using?

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

I believe personally that you will introduce less swirling and marring if you learn to wax/seal while following the natural flow of air across the finish of your car. That said, keeping pads clean and not using a pad that "might" have been dropped is also necessary. One grain of sand on even a small foamy, will introduce some marring that will need to be repolished and resealed. It is however very hard at first to stop waxing in circular motions like we were taught or watched our fathers do

bugman

thanks

Reevo

Hey Bugman,,, what brand of cotton towels are you using? I too am having trouble finding towels that do not cause swirls on my Lemans Blue C5. It's not black, but the next closest color to it. I tried buying hi-quality 100% cotton made in USA towels from Bed Bath Beyond. But when I shine my halogen worklights on the car, I saw them causing swirls. Then I went to the same quality microfibers that you were using and same thing. Since Canon Fieldcrest no longer exists, where are you guys getting cotton towels that definitely will not cause swirls?

0Killrwheels@Autogeek

most of us have moved away from even 100% cotton towels to microfibers anyways. You will need several waffle weaves (for drying), and several small towels for polishing (dark green). I even use the Miracle Towel from Cobra (blue) for washing. Here is a link, and forum discount applies, might wanna consider a kit.


http://www.autogeek.net/mictow.html

TOGWT

The recommendation for the application of wax in one direction;
This application technique affects the paints optical properties by optimising light refraction and the reflectivity of the bodylines and contours of the vehicle.
JonM

thecatmac

I guess I am just going to have to buy Zaino!