I'm looking for a great finishing, polishing wax to do my truck with. What's the best to use?
I'm looking for a great finishing, polishing wax to do my truck with. What's the best to use?
Polishing wax is a contridiction of terms. A polish is to create the shine and even take out minor defects such as scratches. Wax is to protect the shine so it does not dull and even protect the paint in some cases. A good wax is mequires hi-tech yellow wax. Just make sure that if you polish make sure to seal it with a good sealer like mequires poly seal #21
Can you get a wax that does both?
I don't believe there is. What process are you using hand or machine? For best results a DA polisher is the best until one has graduated and knows how to use a rotary buffer.
Excellent question.Originally Posted by shdwcrew HD
Q:
Have you ever used a DA buffer?
What are you trying to to achieve?
Do you have swirls and fine scratches in your paint?
Are you just trying to find a single All-In-One (AIO) product?
A:
Meguiars D151 is an great one-step cleaner wax product...
D151 has S.M.A.T .technology and requires a machine for work time, finishing etc.
Meguiar's D151 offers a slight protection because it leaves behind wax.
D151 is a one-step product that doesn't require any additional coats of wax.
The correction abilities of D151 are derived from S.M.A.T. abrasives and polishes.
Depending on your pad and machine, it can correct down pretty darn good with its abrasive package.
For a one-step product D151 delivers very well. It leaves a nice, clean, glossy, protected finish.
An additional coat of D151 with a finishing pad will even add more protection and gloss to the paint.
I have used Megs D151 on a few one-step details and achieved a clean, shiny, protected paint vehicle.
Although, Megs D151 does both things in one product it is limited in its paint correction abilities.
I just have light faint swirls in the paint.
Do you have a machine or will you be doing this by hand?
Just a orbital.
What type is it?
Is it a Dual Action type like the Griots Garage 6" or Porter Cable 7424xp?
(pictured below)
or this type of traditional orbital polisher?
(pictured below)
It is just the traditional, I know I can't achieve the best finished product with it, I'm just trying to do the best I can with what I can.
Well I'm sorry to be the one to break the news to you are not going to achieve your desired results with that machine.
IMHO the traditional machine can and will make paint worse. You are better off doing it by hand than using that machine.
If you can swing it, my recommendation would be the Griot's Garage 6" DA. It come with a 6" backing plate and a lifetime warranty.
I know it's an expense but it is probably the one single item that you will need and want. I promise you you will get a LOT of use out of it.
This is a tool that is well worth saving up for to purchase. This is a tool that should last you a lifetime. You will be happy with the results.
In the meantime I would suggest purchasing Meguiar's Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish. These are consumer products that can help.
These two products can be applied by hand but are MUCH more effective when used with a Dual Action (DA) buffer and foam pads.
Sadly there is no single magical product that will eliminate swirls and scratches and leaves a protected "show car" finish behind.
Processes wary fairly widely but basically you removed swirls and fine scratches with polishing the paint. Consumer term: Compound
Then you refine the finish by removing any matte finish that was left behind with the compound and enhance the gloss. Consumer term: Polish
Then you apply a sacrificial UV Protectant (wax or sealant) to protect the paint. This adds shine, depth, slickness etc. Consumer term: Wax
There are quite a few All-In-One (AIO) products out there but they are the "jack of all trades and masters of none". Components do a better job.
Try the Megs UC and UP by hand and check out the results. Like I said, you can do it by hand but your body will be sore and hate you for it.
Even though you have not polished out your swirls and scratches you should still keep a coat of wax on your vehicle to protect the paint.
Side Note: If you use a quality sealant or wax on your paint without taking the time to polishi out the swirls you will have very shiny swirls.
^ +1
I enjoy my Griot's Garage 6" DA ! It really makes the day go faster and the results are just awesome.
I think I have owned every dang brand/size of "DA" ever made!
Just go here:
Cyclo Toolmakers
Wax is actually not too good except for shows. It never actually dries ... it always "flows" ... especially in sun. Since it never dries and is always "wet/soft", it attracts dust and other airborne contaminants that can actually damage paint under normal driving conditions. That is why true Hot-Rodders that have very expensive mega-coat candy-type lacquer paint jobs always carry a fine "dust-mop" and many different types of microfiber and terry cloths in the trunk and are continually wiping down their vehicle with detail spray!
If a vehicle is to be driven regularly, it is best to use a polymer-based paint sealant instead of wax.
The short version is:
Use a DA for best results
M105 / LC Orange Pad / Speed 5
M205 / LC White Pad / Speed 4
or
Megs DA Microfiber kit
Optional
Menz PO85 / LC Black Pad / Speed 4
Optional
Wet Glaze 2.0
Sealant
Zaino Z-2 with ZFX (ZFX for 3 coats in one afternoon)
GG 6" DA , M105, M205, 6 LC pads & Zaino Z-2 (under $200)
You can not do by hand what you can do with a machine!
(Lake Country Pads 6 pack 2-orange, 2-white, 1-black, 1-blue)
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