Wax Wars: Final Episode!

[ssabripo]

After multiple threads over the last year with regards to what is the best detailing procedure, and with which products, there is still no clear cut winner. HOWEVER, after reading multiple sites and several waxing reports, and looking at several threads in this and other sites, we have narrowed it down to the final 2 (no particular order):

Zaino Brothers
Considered by many to be the best overall, if you do the entire Zaino treatment, it has performed very well, but it is the most expensive of the bunch. Here is what you should use, and how much it will cost you:

1. Wash your car with Liquid Dawn (free)
2. Prepare surface, if needed, with Z-18™ ClayBar ($16.95)http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/images/z-18.jpg
3. Apply a coat of ZFX accelerator ($19.95)]http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/images/zfx.gif
4. Apply one or more coats of Z-5 and/or Z-2...gotta let it dry well. Wait 24 hrs in between coats ($16.95/each)http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/images/z-5.jpg
5. Use Z-6 "Gloss Enhancer" spray as per directions, between each and every coat of Z-5 or Z-2 ($9.95)http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/images/z-6.jpg

TOTAL = $96.75

P21S(or s100) and Platinum UPP
Most commonly used combination among weekend detailers; very natural products, and relatively inexpensive compared to Zaino and others. Also, gives somewhat of a better depth, but may will not last as long or protect as well.

1. Wash your car with Liquid Dawn or heavy dose of car wash (free)
2. Prepare surface, if needed, with Mother's ClayBar ($11.95) http://store4.yimg.com/I/rodi_1749_24931454
3. Apply a coat of P21S Gloss Enhancing Paintwork Cleanser ($10.00)http://www.carcareonline.com/images/10430.jpg
4. Apply a coat of Platinum Series Ultimate Paint Protection ($14.95)http://store3.yimg.com/I/platinumcarcare_1724_87007
5. Apply 1 or more coats of P21S Concours Look Carnauba Wax ($20.00)http://www.carcareonline.com/images/10425.jpg

TOTAL = $56.90




Now, everyone and their mothers have opinions about this, and perhaps other products as well, so please feel free to post your methods with prices and pics if possible....

Let's make this the ultimate thread on waxing

[F1Crazy]

Let's make this the ultimate thread on waxing

You don't wanna go there...



...and you have Zaino procedure wrong, part 3 and 4, check out Detailing Forum for some good info on Zaino application.

[ssabripo]

...and you have Zaino procedure wrong, part 3 and 4, check out Detailing Forum for some good info on Zaino application.

I got this stuff directly from the Zainobros website :dunno: :confused:

[Guest84]

Application, removal of said product is much more important than the product itself.

[in_d_haus]

Two things:

1) This should be in the Detail Forum
2) There is no single best way to wax.

[eugeneDC/TX]

haus is right, waxing/detailing is a different strokes, different folks. how can anything be deemed best? looks are subjective. not to mention the only thing that comparison wax tests are able to judge is life of product (and even that depends on application method)

(oh and the use of zfx is to speed up the z2/5 application so you dont have to wait 24 hours between coats....)

mods, lets move this thread to the detailing forum where it'll garner more discussion

[F1Crazy]

I got this stuff directly from the Zainobros website :dunno: :confused:

You don't apply a coat of ZFX, you mix it with Z2/Z5 so you can apply up to 3 coats in 24 hour period, it accelerates drying and curing time.
I think you got it confused with Z1.

[Artslinger]

ssabripo... your frickn' sig is a bandwidth hog. :thumbdwn:

[ff]

Wash car with Blue Coral car wash soap & water: $1 (?)
Wax with Mothers Carnauba: $.50
End up with a car that looks just as good as you jokers that spend 3 weeks salary on car care products: priceless

[Cliff]

ssabripo... your frickn' sig is a bandwidth hog. :thumbdwn:

Indeed. Rather than mention it, I just put him on ignore. No more sig.

[Guest84]

Wash car with Blue Coral car wash soap & water: $1 (?)
Wax with Mothers Carnauba: $.50
End up with a car that looks just as good as you jokers that spend 3 weeks salary on car care products: priceless

Yeah, Mr. Semi-light colored metal flake car! :p :bareass:

Let me give you Jet Black and see if that car still looks good using that method! :bigpimp:

[dlloyd1975]

Wash car with Blue Coral car wash soap & water: $1 (?)
Wax with Mothers Carnauba: $.50
End up with a car that looks just as good as you jokers that spend 3 weeks salary on car care products: priceless

Since all those Minnesota state birds (mosquitoes) are probably making a mess on the front of your car, you might want to look into a clay bar. Best thing I've found to take off road tar and very hard to remove bug residue without scratching the paint.

[Pinecone]

Wash car with Blue Coral car wash soap & water: $1 (?)
Wax with Mothers Carnauba: $.50
End up with a car that looks just as good as you jokers that spend 3 weeks salary on car care products: priceless

Why spend so much on Mother's carnauba, any one of the one step products wil do just as well? And the blue WalMart Zymol lasts longer than the expensive version. :)

[Pinecone]

Also you can't add. Even with buying one of each Z2 and Z5, the total is only $80.75. And you don't need Z5 if you don't already have swirls.

Z6 use is optional. But in reality you should add a quick detailer to the second group for inbetween touch up, as Z6 does that also.

And you don't need to use the Zaino clay bar, you can use a cheaper one if you like.

So lets see, no Z5, cheaper clay brings you down to $55.80 keeping the Z6.

Also as has been pointed out, no 24 hour wait using ZFX, which is optional. So you can replace the ZFX with Z1, which drops the price another $10.

There is no single right way, and detailing is not about cost. If you want a top job, you spend what it takes. You want a OK job, you buy some cheap stuff that does an OK job.

[Artslinger]

Yeah, Mr. Semi-light colored metal flake car! :p :bareass:

Let me give you Jet Black and see if that car still looks good using that method! :bigpimp:


You got that right... Oriental Blue the one color maybe as diffuclult as Black to keep looking good, without Griot's Machine Polish and P21S GEPC my car would have water spots and swirls marks bigtime.

[Intermezzo]

Wash car with Blue Coral car wash soap & water: $1 (?)
Wax with Mothers Carnauba: $.50
End up with a car that looks just as good as you jokers that spend 3 weeks salary on car care products: priceless


What you don't understand is that any monkey-brained idiot can make a brand new car like yours look good (unless of course, it's a very dark color).

[JPinTO]

I find it strangely liberating to have a black car and simply leave it dirty all the time. After 4-5 weeks, I am usually shamed into at least rinsing off the wheels.