Machine silver..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 174
From: North pole
Machine silver..
My z is machine silver..i use Meguiars waterless wash..which is amazing by the way. Then i use griots show detailer. The shine is incredible...is there anything i can use over this that will last? Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,467
From: Oswego IL
There are tons of products available that will last. Neither a waterless wash or a spray detailer offer much protection at all. And what protection they offer only lasts until you wash the car again.
Assuming your paint is in good shape and needs no correction, you at least need to apply a good synthetic sealer or a good wax. Once your paint is sealed or waxed, then you can maintain the shine after washes with your spray detailer. There are many spray detailers that contain either synthetic polymers or waxes in them, and they will help extend the life of your sealer or wax job.
I have two cars. My daily is pearl white, and it is driven in all 4 midwestern seasons. I protect the paint and keep it shiny with a good synthetic sealer. Between washes, I use Meguiar's X-Press Spray Wax as a detailer, which adds protection until the car is sealed again. My Z06 is Electron Blue, and is only driven in nice weather. I want maximum paint gloss and depth, so I use good carnauba wax to protect the finish. After washes, I use both Optimum Spray Wax and Griot's Best Of Show Spray Wax as detailers, as they both contain carnauba and add to the protection until the car is waxed again.
Assuming your paint is in good shape and needs no correction, you at least need to apply a good synthetic sealer or a good wax. Once your paint is sealed or waxed, then you can maintain the shine after washes with your spray detailer. There are many spray detailers that contain either synthetic polymers or waxes in them, and they will help extend the life of your sealer or wax job.
I have two cars. My daily is pearl white, and it is driven in all 4 midwestern seasons. I protect the paint and keep it shiny with a good synthetic sealer. Between washes, I use Meguiar's X-Press Spray Wax as a detailer, which adds protection until the car is sealed again. My Z06 is Electron Blue, and is only driven in nice weather. I want maximum paint gloss and depth, so I use good carnauba wax to protect the finish. After washes, I use both Optimum Spray Wax and Griot's Best Of Show Spray Wax as detailers, as they both contain carnauba and add to the protection until the car is waxed again.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 174
From: North pole
There are tons of products available that will last. Neither a waterless wash or a spray detailer offer much protection at all. And what protection they offer only lasts until you wash the car again.
Assuming your paint is in good shape and needs no correction, you at least need to apply a good synthetic sealer or a good wax. Once your paint is sealed or waxed, then you can maintain the shine after washes with your spray detailer. There are many spray detailers that contain either synthetic polymers or waxes in them, and they will help extend the life of your sealer or wax job.
I have two cars. My daily is pearl white, and it is driven in all 4 midwestern seasons. I protect the paint and keep it shiny with a good synthetic sealer. Between washes, I use Meguiar's X-Press Spray Wax as a detailer, which adds protection until the car is sealed again. My Z06 is Electron Blue, and is only driven in nice weather. I want maximum paint gloss and depth, so I use good carnauba wax to protect the finish. After washes, I use both Optimum Spray Wax and Griot's Best Of Show Spray Wax as detailers, as they both contain carnauba and add to the protection until the car is waxed again.
Assuming your paint is in good shape and needs no correction, you at least need to apply a good synthetic sealer or a good wax. Once your paint is sealed or waxed, then you can maintain the shine after washes with your spray detailer. There are many spray detailers that contain either synthetic polymers or waxes in them, and they will help extend the life of your sealer or wax job.
I have two cars. My daily is pearl white, and it is driven in all 4 midwestern seasons. I protect the paint and keep it shiny with a good synthetic sealer. Between washes, I use Meguiar's X-Press Spray Wax as a detailer, which adds protection until the car is sealed again. My Z06 is Electron Blue, and is only driven in nice weather. I want maximum paint gloss and depth, so I use good carnauba wax to protect the finish. After washes, I use both Optimum Spray Wax and Griot's Best Of Show Spray Wax as detailers, as they both contain carnauba and add to the protection until the car is waxed again.
Last edited by 04zjimc; Apr 10, 2018 at 12:36 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,467
From: Oswego IL
I would say you are a good candidate for an "all in one" type synthetic wax. That is a product that contains very small micro-abrasives, and will "clean" the paint of any minor swirls. It also contains a synthetic sealer that will offer you some paint protection. After that, you can keep it glossy with your Griot's Spray Detailer (good stuff, by the way).
Good "all in ones" are available from a few different makers (I have used 3D's "HD Speed" and Griot's "One-Step"). But, my new favorite "all in one" product is Meguiar's #D166 Ultra Polishing Wax. This stuff is magic in a bottle. I can use it with my Porter Cable and a microfiber pad to take out heavy swirl marks on my daily driver, or use it by hand on a soft foam pad to do touch-ups on my Z06. It has both synthetic polymers and carnauba in it, so it gives a nice shine but also lasts longer. It is virtually impossible to not love this stuff.
Good "all in ones" are available from a few different makers (I have used 3D's "HD Speed" and Griot's "One-Step"). But, my new favorite "all in one" product is Meguiar's #D166 Ultra Polishing Wax. This stuff is magic in a bottle. I can use it with my Porter Cable and a microfiber pad to take out heavy swirl marks on my daily driver, or use it by hand on a soft foam pad to do touch-ups on my Z06. It has both synthetic polymers and carnauba in it, so it gives a nice shine but also lasts longer. It is virtually impossible to not love this stuff.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 174
From: North pole
I would say you are a good candidate for an "all in one" type synthetic wax. That is a product that contains very small micro-abrasives, and will "clean" the paint of any minor swirls. It also contains a synthetic sealer that will offer you some paint protection. After that, you can keep it glossy with your Griot's Spray Detailer (good stuff, by the way).
Good "all in ones" are available from a few different makers (I have used 3D's "HD Speed" and Griot's "One-Step"). But, my new favorite "all in one" product is Meguiar's #D166 Ultra Polishing Wax. This stuff is magic in a bottle. I can use it with my Porter Cable and a microfiber pad to take out heavy swirl marks on my daily driver, or use it by hand on a soft foam pad to do touch-ups on my Z06. It has both synthetic polymers and carnauba in it, so it gives a nice shine but also lasts longer. It is virtually impossible to not love this stuff.
Good "all in ones" are available from a few different makers (I have used 3D's "HD Speed" and Griot's "One-Step"). But, my new favorite "all in one" product is Meguiar's #D166 Ultra Polishing Wax. This stuff is magic in a bottle. I can use it with my Porter Cable and a microfiber pad to take out heavy swirl marks on my daily driver, or use it by hand on a soft foam pad to do touch-ups on my Z06. It has both synthetic polymers and carnauba in it, so it gives a nice shine but also lasts longer. It is virtually impossible to not love this stuff.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,467
From: Oswego IL
For minor swirls and surface scuffs, I use a Lake Country 5.5" green polishing pad. Could go more aggressive, but the green seems to work well with the D166. I run my PC at a medium speed. If I recall, Meg's recommends a 6 to 12 hour cure time before applying any top coats of carnauba or spray detailers.
Don't be! That is what the forums are for! I am new to the home detailing game myself. I have learned a lot over the past 6 months or so. I highly recommend browsing the forums at Autogeek and read the articles at Detailed Image. So much good info there that has saved me a lot of headaches!
Sorry so many questions..
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
I use good old Klasse acrylic sealant,with nothing on top because when I refresh the sealant the paint can not have other product.
I use a mix of sealant with detail spray every wipe down.
Granted a wax over the Klasse on my MS will look softer but then I cannot renew the acrylic sealant unless I strip the wax off and by doing this am removing many coats of sealant.
I prefer to have the protection over what is a subjective gain in appearance.The paint remains very slick and smooth too.
It is an old product and has a learning curve but, a little goes a long way and streaks can be easily removed with detail spray. Sonus products are compatible with the German acrylic.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 174
From: North pole
For minor swirls and surface scuffs, I use a Lake Country 5.5" green polishing pad. Could go more aggressive, but the green seems to work well with the D166. I run my PC at a medium speed. If I recall, Meg's recommends a 6 to 12 hour cure time before applying any top coats of carnauba or spray detailers.
Don't be! That is what the forums are for! I am new to the home detailing game myself. I have learned a lot over the past 6 months or so. I highly recommend browsing the forums at Autogeek and read the articles at Detailed Image. So much good info there that has saved me a lot of headaches!
Don't be! That is what the forums are for! I am new to the home detailing game myself. I have learned a lot over the past 6 months or so. I highly recommend browsing the forums at Autogeek and read the articles at Detailed Image. So much good info there that has saved me a lot of headaches!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,094
Likes: 3,467
From: Oswego IL
I normally do 2' x 2' square areas at a time, and do 4 full overlapping "passes". "Passes" meaning polish the entire 2' x 2' section from left to right = 1 pass. Then polish the entire section up and down = another pass. Then left to right and then up and down. So, 4 total. Then I wipe with microfibers.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 174
From: North pole
I normally do 2' x 2' square areas at a time, and do 4 full overlapping "passes". "Passes" meaning polish the entire 2' x 2' section from left to right = 1 pass. Then polish the entire section up and down = another pass. Then left to right and then up and down. So, 4 total. Then I wipe with microfibers.