Waxing a black SS, use what?

What will work best to remove wax without leaving swirl marks?

Micro fiber, old t-shirt

If you have non-synthetic wax you want to remove, use Dawn dishwashing liquid and a cotton wash mitt.

A high quality microfiber towel or a high quality 100% cotton towel for removing waxes and sealants.

I generally buy my towels from www.pakshak.com & this towel http://www.autopia-carcare.com/mf-cbt.html

Looks like I misread. You want to know about removing freshly applied wax. Well, don't use the Dawn. :D

100% cotton terry towel is what wax companies recommend.

100% cotton terry towel is what wax companies recommend.

Which "wax" companies? Besides Zaino.

The best way is to use a clearcoat safe paint cleaner. There are many to choose from, such as easy to find names like 3M, Mother's and Meguiars. I would not recommend Dawn because although it is a mildly aggressive soap that strips, it will not remove all of the wax. You could do well by using a claybar b4 the paint cleaner if you have particles in the paint or a rough feel in the paint. Good paint cleansers will also have a bit of a polishing effect in removing the old wax, baked in dirt, all contaminants, and a bit of abrasive action in getting out minor swirls and streaks. My favorite paint cleaner happens to be Gliptone's pro buff. It is an excellent media for correcting paint that's gone awry.

Your best effort will be to plan a method of attack in getting the paint clean, polishing and fine-tuning with either a one step or two step polish application (which may feature a fine polish and a neutral glaze to smoothen and shine the paint) and then your choice of a natural or synthetic finish product.

Good luck.

Which "wax" companies? Besides Zaino.

Mequires, turtle wax...any bottle I read says to use 100% cotton to do anything.

Which "wax" companies? Besides Zaino.

I've never seen a wax product that didn't recommend a terrycloth towel.

On that note... I think he's just asking how to remove wax without leaving swirls. My suggestion: several towels and rub hard. Once a towel is used, after a while it picks up wax and basically puts it right back on the paint.

Funny that many of those companies have their own microfiber towels.

NEVER rub hard on your finish.

lol I rub hard on my finish and my car still looks brand new. Some of you guys treat your cars like they could collapse & fall apart at any second.

Note: using a buffer is 3x as hard on the finish as hand rubbing.

Yes, they also have their own microfiber towels, but on every bottle on the market you'll see a suggestion for terrycloth towels. It's good business practice to sell the accessories with the product, but not necessary.

I see that your knowledge is far superior to mine...I'll just slip out of this thread...


www.shineshoppe.com

LOL you're some kind of wax elitist I can see. You use your method, I'll use mine. Both work just fine and I'm pretty sure neither of our cars are going to fall apart any time soon.

Shine shop? Congrats, I hope you're doing well. I've been detailing Ferraris & various other $200,000+ cars for years, as well as hondas & chevrolets. It's good money when my other business is slow. If there was a problem with my hand buffing terrycloth method, I wouldn't still be in business. With clients like figureheads of Anheuser-Busch, I can't afford to take shortcuts.

Could I see some pictures of your work?

If my web domain was still operational I'd be happy to let you see. I'll mail you some pics when I finish networking these machines.

Oh...

Okay, you have mail. The quality of the photos aren't great, but the digital cam I use is only 1.2 megapixel. Also, these are just what I have available on one computer. To attest to the quality of my work I even included a picture of my wrecked '95. As you can see even days after the wreck the finish on the undamaged parts is still glossy like new.

Note one picture is only a car in the background, but like I said, I'm working with limited resources here.

Included in the series of photos are 2 shots of a "true" rare f1 camaro after a complete restoration after it was rolled. Much of the body work was done by yours truly.

Well, they're nice pictures, but I would like to see pictures of before and afters, swirl removal, oxidation removal, etc.

Before:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/ZaneO/blazer013.jpg

During:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/ZaneO/blazer014.jpg

After:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/ZaneO/blazer012.jpg

Before:

http://www.shineshoppe.com/Media/Picture%20004.jpg

After:

http://www.shineshoppe.com/Media/Picture%20016.jpg

As I don't rely on my detail work as my main source of income, pictures of before/during/after are tough to come by, but I'll try my best to accomodate our house detail expert.

I don't claim to be an expert, but don't talk crap if you don't have any means to back it up.

P.S. I'd love to see the "figure head's" car or a Ferrari.

Looks like I sent you pics, being a man of my word and not one to simply talk smack on a web forum to try to impress. Anything else I can do to make your life more liveable?

Note that wasn't a shot at you, it was a jab at how many people manipulate the forum.

Those pics are all you have?

All this talk and all you have to show is some far away shots of Z28s?

I wasn't trying to impress anyone...you started spouting off, so I offered some of my work as credit for my advice.

P.S. Photobucket has free picture hosting.

LOL I wasn't spouting off, I was simply stating facts that nearly every wax product out there has, printed on the label, a recommendation for cotton terrycloth towels. Wouldn't make sense to argue this with me because I'm right.

Furthermore, You asked for pics, spouted off to ME your silly sarcasm and now you can't come to grips with the fact that I backed up my work, gave several pictures which are no further in distance than the cars on your website, and I actually gave pictures of the glossy paint finish, not some hoopty chrome grill, or a brand new corvette that didn't need a wax in the first place looking shiny. I gave pictures of older, mistreated cars that I restored and gave a like-new appearance to. I respect what you do for a living, but grow up.

To think all this started because I prefer terrycloth and a little elbow grease to microfiber and kid gloves. Considering I already stated I don't rely on my detailing as my only source of income, how can you expect me to have all the pictures you request? I gave you what I've got, and as far as I'm concerned, that was generous of me. It's not my main line of work, just profitable enthusiasm for cars.

I hope you don't conduct business the way you act on this forum because it won't be long before you're in line picking up your unemployment check. After all, "The business owner is always right" attitude won't work too well for customers.

You can have your method of detailing a car, and I'll keep using mine. Let's just agree to disagree and quit wasting valuable space. Have a nice day.

You're free to use any method and any product you choose. I just wanted to see some of your high-dollar work that you talked about, but you don't seem to have any pictures showing how well your methods work.

Hoopty chrome grille? Brand new Corvette that doesn't need wax?? I honestly don't know what you are talking about.

The only people who ever have a problem with me or my attitude are people who talk big. Sorry, I just step up when I feel the need to.

There aren't any hard feelings on this end :cool:

Fair enough-- just don't see how you can feel that a hand buff is ineffective, considering 1) I showed what pictures I have available of the results 2) people have been hand waxing/buffing their cars for decades.

But at any rate, I'd rather quit before this topic grows 8 pages long, I don't have anything to prove---- do you?

Good luck in your business ventures.

I was just wanting some pictures showing swirl removal by hand...that's all.

BTW, there are many microfiber towels that are a terry cloth weave.

It's certainly not that I have anything to prove; it's just that I want to correctly educate as many people as possible.

ehhh... i finish with 3m hand glaze and remove with the recomended 3m micro fiber wipes.. or i just do it with the buffer the first time..lol.. nothing like some final glaze and 2100 rpms..

2100 rpms..

:eek: :eek: That's a really high speed :eek: :eek:

yes sir.. i get er done.. i usaully start at like 1800 then go to 2100.. 1800 with a little pressure then 2100 with hardly any pressure.. show quality..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/NorthTexasStreetRacing/fawk1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/brantleyb/09-25-04_1426.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/brantleyb/10-03-04_1402.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v313/brantleyb/scooba/scooba14.jpg

BirchMan98z, the fact that you "rub hard" when you wash and detail a car is enough that I would never let you work on my car. The paint on most cars is VERY soft and can be swirled very easily. Since you don't know that, I wonder how much experience you actually have. If you want the best results use a gentle touch and only the best supplies. The paint on my Harley is so soft that even a baby diaper can't be used to remove polish. I have to use only DFTowel microfiber towels on it.

So, Anyway before everyone kills each other and uses all of my towels to soak up blood.

Terrycloth towels then?

Dare I ask what wax is best. :death:

for youre basic everday wax job a damp terry cloth is best..

Terrycloth towels then?

High quality microfiber or high quality 100% cotton (made in USA, Supima).

So, Anyway before everyone kills each other and uses all of my towels to soak up blood.

Terrycloth towels then?

Dare I ask what wax is best. :death:

Use Zaino!!!!

Use Zaino!!!!

That's not funny, and it doesn't help at all.

That's not funny, and it doesn't help at all.

It wasn't meant to be funny. Guy asked, and I recommended.

There are no "best" waxes or sealants. It's all personal preference. :)

There are higher and lower quality waxes. Results, however, are subjective. Some lower quality waxes and sealants will work well on some paint surfaces, and some high end wax and sealants have flopped or failed to live up to the hype on other surfaces.

That's why you have to compare for yourself, and not rely only on heresay, pictures, or test results. They do help, but you have to take the plunge and decide on your own.

BirchMan98z, the fact that you "rub hard" when you wash and detail a car is enough that I would never let you work on my car. The paint on most cars is VERY soft and can be swirled very easily. Since you don't know that, I wonder how much experience you actually have. If you want the best results use a gentle touch and only the best supplies. The paint on my Harley is so soft that even a baby diaper can't be used to remove polish. I have to use only DFTowel microfiber towels on it.

I'm not sure if you are following me... by "rub hard" i'm not talking rubber banding a terrycloth towel to a pneumatic hammer here, I was going to give some benefit of the doubt here, but your replies have removed all of that doubt-- I'm either dealing with an emotionally challenged mentally underdeveloped child, or an immature little punk who hasn't seen daylight in weeks because he's still removing the 9th coat of wax with a Q-tip, thinking they might have a shot at "baggin their first hot babe" if their car is shinier than the next guy's. Before you start flaming me again, know that you'd better be able to take it as well as dish it out.

Furthermore, I'd be willing to put my method of hand rubbing w/a soft terrycloth against anyone else's. Wax isn't going to come off by itself ladies, those of you who use buffers are essentially "rubbing hard." I can assure you that my hand buffing is far more gentle on the paint than any buffing machine, and as I've proven to be a man of my word, I'm more than happy to show any pictures I have available of the cars I detail regularly, and their show-quality finishes. All achieved by hand buffing.

At least ZaneO was willing to let bygones be bygones, and has now agreed that cotton terrycloth is acceptable for removing wax-- not that there was ever any doubt on my end. We fought what I consider a gentlemen's duel, and parted ways cordially.


Now, one final little observation and a short story before I unsubscribe to this ridiculous thread:

Observation: If you guys are removing swirl marks from your cars all the time, then perhaps you don't know as much about paint care as you think you do.

Final Thought: A short story.

Socrates was teaching a group of his students about life, history, art, and providing them with general knowledge. One of his students then spoke up and asked a question. "Who is the smartest man in the world?" he asked. Socrates, taken aback somewhat by the straightforwardness of the question thought about it for a while and replied "I am." The student asked him "Why do you say that, master?" He shortly replied "Because I don't think I am."

Ponder for a while, and relish your newfound humility.

Have a nice day.

Actually, I'm 51 and have been detailing cars for 35 years. You came across as one of those 16 year olds that knows everything.

I actually have to take Kevins side here. Just because we use polishers (And im not clear if you consider a PC 7424, a hard rubbing polisher) But if we lived close enough to each other, Id be more than happy to detail the other 1/2 of a car with you, and see whos 1/2 is more pleasing to the customer. You can not compare accomplishments with hand vs PC. I have 20 yrs of detailing behind me, and feel comfortable putting my horse, before my cart. Pictures also available upon request.....
Swirl presence is not indicative of a detailer who doesnt know how to detail, its more indicative of owners who dont practice proper washing, and maintenance techniques.......

That's not funny, and it doesn't help at all.

What the hell is wrong with you man.... You sound like a real jerk

Nothing the hell is wrong with me :)

Comments like "Use Zaino" don't help anyone learn.

BTW, welcome to the board.

Actually, I'm 51 and have been detailing cars for 35 years. You came across as one of those 16 year olds that knows everything.

Hardly, I was just stating my personal preference, which for some reason people seem to have a problem with. I'm always open to advice & suggestions, but waxing a car is pretty straightforward.