Best Wax, Polish, Etc....Your Opinion

[akauth]

Originally posted by basmith
What about black in the Arizona heat? Any recommendations for me

I've got one........

Walmart has a great supply of those "hotmitts" for cooking so you'll still be able to open your car doors even on bright sunny days in August.

Good luck.....

Seriously,

It's pretty universal that if you want THE BEST finishes that won't require a lot of maintenance after you've done the groundwork and still look really, really great - especially with your black vehicle, which is an awesome color to polish but hell to keep clean; follow the Klasse route for dark colors and the Zaino route for light colors. Then touch up with their finish sprays when you wash. Combine that with drying with the microfiber towels (they really clean and polish the best) and it will look like you've waxed your truck every time you wash it. This is not the cheapest route initially, but in the long term it's not expensive and a lot less labor intensive than using cheaper products (you get what you pay for).

Although you might be one of the first to try the new Blackfire stuff and give some feedback to the group on how that works. It's synthetic so it will really last in your hot sun where Carnumba would be evaporated off after a few months.

http://www.properautocare.com/blackfire.html

You know, I wonder exactly how hot that paint is going to get in the summer!!

Whatever synthetic you use, I'd apply it twice a year and use touchup stuff when you wash or once a month.

Either way, I'm sure that you're truck will look awesome. I wanted to get black because, God it looks good!! But since I'm in a mostly sunny climate, too, I opted for white as it's cooler, easiest by far to keep clean (or at least LOOK clean), and doesn't really show scratches, dents, dings and is easiest to resell later due to it's universal acceptance.

Alan

[basmith]

Ha ha ha. Maybe I should get some of those hotmits huh. I opted for the black even though I live in the desert because it is the toughest color. Yeah white or something else would have made more sense but I just don't see the point of getting a white full size truck, unless you are old or lazy about keeping it clean. The bad a$$ trucks I have seen have all been black. Also, I think billet grilles, along with lift kits, look the best on black trucks. [color=orangered]

[akauth]

Originally posted by basmith
Ha ha ha. Maybe I should get some of those hotmits huh. I opted for the black even though I live in the desert because it is the toughest color. Yeah white or something else would have made more sense but I just don't see the point of getting a white full size truck, unless you are old or lazy about keeping it clean. The bad a$$ trucks I have seen have all been black. Also, I think billet grilles, along with lift kits, look the best on black trucks. [color=orangered]

I think you'll find as you get older and have more experiences, your priorities change. Once you've done something and experienced it, often you make different choices the next time around.

An "old guy" once told me that as you get older you get more conservative. I can see as I've gotten older that what he said was true.

Black is an awesome looking color. Even now I'm still a little jealous when I see one. But I had my chance to buy one and I chose white. I've been through my "black stage" already....

Alan

[basmith]

Yeah, I just turned 23, and this is my second black car. I don't mind all the work to make it clean. I love spending time with my truck.

[akauth]

Originally posted by basmith
Yeah, I just turned 23, and this is my second black car. I don't mind all the work to make it clean. I love spending time with my truck.

You'll find that when you get to be 33 and then 43 that you don't have as much "time". There are other things to take you away....

All I can say is that right now you own a gold mine (of time). Hope you spend it well because 20 years down the line you're going to realize that life is a whole lot shorter than you thought it was!!!!

Honestly, make sure that you're not going down a path that you don't enjoy because life is too short.

When I was in my 20s I used to spend much of the mornin every other saturday making my truck look like it was just waxed (it practically was). Now I want it to look great, but I want it in 15 minutes instead. That's not realistic (unless I pay someone else) but I can do it in a half hour to 45 minutes.



Alan

[TRDPWRD]

OK, I'm stickin' up for the old 'geezers. I just turn 40, and I spend whatever amount of time is necessary to keep my new Tundra looking very sharp.

I have been doing that to every vehicle I have owned since the first one, a Porsche 944 in 1983.

I have always been a fanatic about it. In fact, I have always owned black cars until recently. I used to live by Henry Ford's saying "you can have any color you want as long as it is black."

My wife decided to break ranks and got a red '01 Corvette Z06. I liked that color so much I got a red Tundra.

Of course we don't have kids, well except for our vehicles, so that affords more time for sure.

Now what happens when I hit 50- well I may be wishing for that wipe on/spray off car wax they had out a few years ago.......

[akauth]

Originally posted by TRDPWRD
OK, I'm stickin' up for the old 'geezers. I just turn 40, and I spend whatever amount of time is necessary to keep my new Tundra looking very sharp.

I have been doing that to every vehicle I have owned since the first one, a Porsche 944 in 1983.

I have always been a fanatic about it. In fact, I have always owned black cars until recently. I used to live by Henry Ford's saying "you can have any color you want as long as it is black."

My wife decided to break ranks and got a red '01 Corvette Z06. I liked that color so much I got a red Tundra.

Of course we don't have kids, well except for our vehicles, so that affords more time for sure.

Now what happens when I hit 50- well I may be wishing for that wipe on/spray off car wax they had out a few years ago.......

You know, I don't know what it is. Maybe it hasn't hit you yet. But it's a moment when all of the sudden a light bulb goes on and you look up at the stars (at least that's where I was, walking out to my car one night after work) and realize "DAM*! We're really only here such a short time".

So much to do and so little time to do it. Hey I only turned forty a few months ago so I'm less than halfway "there", but I definitely get a sense that I'm heading down that river called time. Since it's absurd to think I can back up all I can do is look down the river and make sure it's a fun ride!

(Oh, you can get your [windex-like] wipe on/wipe off wax now. Well sort of. The only catch is that you need to do all the prep work every six months to get there and just touch it up when washing. )

alan

[Possum]

Okay Gang,

This information was lost when we crashed. Please post what you are using as far as wax, polish, etc. that you have been extremely pleased with.

Also website address with you comments would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan

[jbtoy]

I am underway with spring cleaning on the Toy. I just switched to Klasse products and love the result. I used Pinnacle lubricant with clay bar, and then the Klasse All-in-one. I finished with glaze protectant. Plan to add 2 coats of glaze after de-badging and a top down and inside cleanup. For a 20 month old Toy and 2 winters in NE with salt/sand, it is looking very good to me. Very happy with the results.
Good place to visit. Works best with dark colors, btw.
http://www.properautocare.com/wax.html

[nhparrot]

I am also beginning my spring cleanup routine. Clay, then 3M Perfect-It Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Paints , followed with 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, about 3 coats of Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze and topped with One Grand Blitz wax ( I will be using P21S wax along the bedrails and anywhereelse there is black plastic trim, as P21S does not leave a white residue).

Thank goodness the the Mrs (aka Pink Flamingo) gave her parrothead a Porter Cable Random Orbital Buffer for Christmas.

[GRKTUNDRA]

I have nevr seen anything work as well as ZAINO. check zainobros.com for more details

-Dennis

[KDTundra]

I've heard in previous posts about ZAINO but haven't seen it locally here in mid-Missouri. I used Blue Corral in the past with pretty good results as well as McGuires car care. Usually with a lot of elbox grease and several cloths later, it did the job. I've gotten a product from a local body shop that is amazingly easy to put on and take off.

Like most of you, I do a application in the spring and the fall. This product is called "PPC Prestige Protective Polish" made by Protective Products Inc. in Johnston Iowa. The directions suggest using an ultra soft cotton cloth or even a "Viva paper towel" for application! I've stuck to the cotton cloths for application and removal. You let it dry for 20 seconds and wipe off. I usually do a section at a time and then go back and remove. Light haze that comes off pretty easily. Best stuff I've used in years!!!

We didn't have much of a winter here but my fall (August 2001) application is still beading!!!

A 12 oz bottle usually does my Tundra and wifes 4Runner easily. Bottle cost me $12.75.
Kev.

[Buzzard]

Originally posted by GRKTUNDRA
I have nevr seen anything work as well as ZAINO. check zainobros.com for more details

-Dennis

I use the Zaino. If you do the whole bit its a little expensive. I would suggest if you order the Zaino to order some extra Z-6 detailer, that stuff is great and is slick as greased owl s--- well-- you know.---Buzzard

[GRKTUNDRA]

order Z6, the wash, and gloss enhancer.


-Dennis

[dyogim]

Meguiars: wash, cleaner wax, polish, then wax. I may try something different this year

Mike