What wax with many "invisible until waxing scratches?"

My car doens't look "bad" as it sits - but it could look better.
Now, I know how just about everyone thinks Zaino is the greatest thing ever, so don't try to sell me on it.

I do however want an honest opinion of what wax would work pretty good for a paint job that has a lot of the little tiny "invisible until you put wax on it scratches" all over the hood. I have used a couple of different waxes, and you can tell when I do for a couple of months by all the white residue sitting in them.

I'm NOT going to pay $200+ for a complete cleaning system for a car that I am going to paint soon. After it's painted, I know what I will use. But until then, I just need something to brighten it up for a little while. It is Black.

I bought a bottle of the Turtle Wax color matching stuff (Black wax), and haven't yet used it. Will this be just as good as anything for me? I am not going for a super long just waxed look even really, just want to put a coat on there and let it shine when I want it too. I would use Meguiars Gold Class - but I am afraid it would residue like my other Meguiars system.

Once again - please don't try to sell me on Zaino. If you KNOW that it is 100% T-Totally without a doubt the only thing that will work, then I will just leave it like it is. If there is something else I can use though, then let me know.

Thanks in Advance.

If you do not want to pay $200.00 for wax then stay away from Zymol ;) Did you try repairing the scratches with a product like 3M Scratch and Swirl Remover? If the paint is that bad that 3M SSR did not repair the damage then try a product with a high oil or silicone content, of course these products will lose their shine very quick if you drive through rain or wash your car a few times, but the oils will cover the scratches for a while. You may want to try Rain Dance, Eagle One Wet Wax, you may even try Lemon Pledge (no kidding, it's a high silicone product) we used this yeas ago for a quick shine on black cars.

Thank you for your honest and useful post!

We will see how it turns out this weekend.

Here are some of the top rated products from the www.gurureports.com wax test. Obviously ranked in the order they placed in the test.....

1 Zaino
2 P21S Concours-look Carnauba
3 Klasse All-In-One Sealant Glaze
4 Armour All Protective Barrier
5 Pinnacle Souveran Carnauba
6 Pinnacle Paste Glaz Carnauba
7 Rain Dance Premium
8 Mother's Califonia Gold Carnauba Cleaner
9 Collinite Marque D'Elegance
10 Mother's California Gold Pure Carnauba
11 Blackfire
12 Collinite Super Doublecoat
13 Blitz One Grand
14 Turtle Wax Finish 2001
15 Eagle One Wet Polish and Wax
16 Griot's Garage Carnauba Paste Wax
17 Nu Finish
18 Meguiar's Gold Class
19 Turtle Wax Emerald Series
20 Prestone Bullet Wax
21 Griot's Garage Best of Show
22 Meguiar's Medallion
23 Turtle Wax Super Hard Shell
24 3M Perfect-IT Show Car Paste
25 Meguiar's #26 High Tech

If you're looking for something local, so with P21S. I occassionally use the S100 wax (which is the exact same wax as P21S) and it is available at most all local Harley dealers. Grab that wax and the Shine Enhancing Cleanser and both products should run you $25 at the most. They will leave a great shine and will last about a month. You also get plenty of applications from one jar of P21S/S100.

Other than that, look over the list and choose one that interests you. I'd recommend a cleaner wax or two step cleaner + wax (as in the S100 example). I've used many of the products on that list and most provide a nice shine, but it won't last long. If you want something more durable, try Liquid Glass, available at AutoZone. Other than that, just about any product will give you a temporary shine, like Mother's or Meguiar's cleaner wax, Gold Class, etc....

I do agree with Carl about surface prep though. You'll increase your results 1000x over if you prep the finish before applying ANY product. Zaino wouldn't do much for your paint anyhow without the proper prep.....it would mainly highlight all the imperfections.

Thanks Mike -
I think I am going to just do a waxing this round, and pick up some of the 3M SSR mentioned perhaps and try it in a few weeks.

BTW - is Pledge really paint and clearcoat "safe." Seems like it would have to do something not good to it...

The Turtle Wax color stuff increases the color and shine factor, but it does nothing as far as paint protection (doesn't bead water in rain...)