OK I have a 95 formula that is black. Of course I had all the little scratches and swirl marks that a black car gets.First i clayed the car, i took 3M swirl mark remover to it. Then waxed it with 3M show car finish. The car looked good for about 2 weeks and then the swirls started to come back. I wanted to try and get some of the bigger scratches out so i used 3M rubbing compund #39002. then i the swirl mark remover, then 3M wax. I thought that the car looked pretty good. There were still a few little scratches, but i wasn't too worried about them. Well the car looked good again for about 2-3 weeks. Why are the swirl marks coming back and why is the shine going away?

Is is because of the wax i am using? I was thinking of going with Klasse because i have heard it gives good protection and a good shine. I can't afford Zaino so i figured klasse was the next best thing.

Also Should i be using different compunds to get the paint free of scratches and swirl marks? I knwo i need the swirl mark remover, but should i be using a different rubbing compund or something?

BTW i am using an orbital buffer for these products.

I think i am using all the right things to wash my car: 100% cotton wash mitt, meguries car wash soap, california water blade, and the absorber.

thanks
Tom

 

Hmmm, well, your swirl problem I'm a bit puzzled over too, but I know what your problem is with the lack of shine after 2 or 3 weeks. First the swirls....what are you using to buff the car off with after aplying the SMR, Compound, wax etc...?? What kind of pads are you using on the buffer to apply the wax? What kind of wash mit are you using, brand specific? 99% of the time, swirls are caused from a weak link(s) in the detailing chain, be it your wash mitt, towels, applicators, etc... something is causing them, so try to find out what and either remove or replace it with something better. Everything that touches your paint is a potential source of swirls, so you must use high qualty items to minimize or eliminate these effects.

Now, the loss of gloss after 2 to 3 weeks is primarily due to the 3M Show Car Wax. This wax is silimar to Meguiar's Gold Class. Decent shine, but very poor durability. It just does not last through multiple washings or rain storms. The oils, silicones, and the wax itself is what's temporarily covering your (remaining) swirls, kinda like a bandaid for your finish. As these wash off, your swirls reappear. This cycle could go on forever, and is one of the reasons I gave up on products with poor durability. Klasse does give a nice shine but won't necessarily deal with your swirls on a long term basis. Both Klasse products will run you about $40-50. Based on durability, protection, and long-term swirl filling ability I would recommend Zaino in your case, especially for Black. If you don't want to blow a wad for the whole system yet, just try the ZFX and Z5 for starters. That's about $40 or so to get you acquainted with the products. The Z5 is a high gloss protectant and a swirl FILLER that will deal with swirls on a long term basis. It will not wash off and it really will help with minor swirl problems. I've had a lot of success with Z5 over the years and it just keeps getting better. To remove that 3M wax, just do a DAWN wash and your ready to go with Zaino. From using a compound and SMR and clay, I'm sure your finish is already prepped well enough. Klasse doesn't do to much in the way of hiding swirls. And, IMO, the dreaded hazing problem is a little annoying. It's up to you though...both are great products, but I think the Z5 Zaino would be best for your swirl problem. Either way tell us what you choose and we'll try to help!

Mike

 

Mike thanks for taking all that time tohelp me. You guys re great. Well as far as the weak link in the detailing or washing my car don't know what it is. I am using everything that you guys say is the best. I bought my wash mitt from Napa, but i am not sure if it even had a brand name on it. I know Kevinss and maybe your self recommended this wash mitt. I am using a california water blade and the absorber to dry my car. I always make sure the mitt, water blade and absorber are clean before using them.

I am using a foam pad to for the rubbing compound and the swirl mark remover. I put the wax on the first time with a terry cloth pad and the second time i put it on by hand and took it off with a 100% cotton towel.

Another question for you. Ok if i use all the produces to get rid of the swirl marks and use the correct stuff to wash my car are the swirl marks still eventually going to come back. I know zaino can keep them from coming back, but if zaino wasn't used.

And a question about the zaino. I am taking it the ZFX is what protects the finish on the car like a normal wax? Also if i were to spend more money buying zaino what else would you recommend i buy? BTW this is a daily drive and not garage queen if that matters at all.


thanks once again for you help
Tom

 

Well, sounds like you're doing the right things, can't fault you there. About the NAPA mitt, KevinSS recommends this mitt now. I bought one a long while back (before it was discussed) and did my own testing with it. IMO it left many tiny spiders and swirls, so it's never been used again. I don't know if they're still like that, but mine was filled with tiny black things, Im guessing cotton seeds, that probably contributed to the swirling. Maybe that was a rare one time thing with mine, but once I'm burned with something I never go back for round two generally. I really can't say if it was the brownish/ black seeds mainly causing it or the cotton mitt itself. Whatever the case, I no longer use it.... A few more tips... with the Water Blade, always make sure your paint (and the Blade itself) is as clean as possible before using it and you won't have problems. Same for the Absorber. When I use the Absorber, I ring it wet to start with and when I'm finished I thoroughtly rinse it out for next time. This way, it's as clean as possible when using it on the finish. I store both the Blade and Absorber in their original packaging when not in use to keep them from collecting dust or dirt.

You might try a cotton terry pad or applicator with the compound in the future. Compounds are full of grit (abrasive) and the cotton can help soak up a bit of the abrasive instead of pushing it all into the finish, like a foam pad would. Also, you might give a closer look at your towels. You're probably OK here, but even some that claim 100% cotton are total crap, so you have to be careful.

You're logic is correct, you would think that even if you don't use Zaino, but you do use all the right things otherwise, that it would prevent or lessen most swirls. This is true to an extent I guess. Even before I ever used Zaino, I was always fighting the same things. When the wax wears away eventually the swirls would come right back, even when you thought they were gone. And, I would have to rewax again so the car looked good. Honestly, I don't think the carnauba wax was protecting the car well enough to prevent swirls from other sources too, like daily driving, dust, heavy rain, etc... So, every few weeks it was time to rewax to make the car look good again. Afterwards, it looked great for sure, but for all that hard work and effort, it just didn't last long enough or protect the paint well enough for me.

ZFX is an additive that mixes with the Zaino polish protectants to decrease drying time and allow the ability to instantly layer the polishes up to 3 coats per day. So, yes, ZFX-enhanced Z5 or Z2 is a synthetic protectant that is very durable and won't simply wash off over time. On my daily drivers, the basic products that work best as a system are ZFX, Z5, Z2, Z6, and Z7. Of course, I've bought quite a bit of other stuff too like the Z18 clay bar, tire gloss, glass polish, etc...but these aren't absolutely essential for the car. And, for a black car, you could probably skip the Z2 and just stick with Z5 for it's swirl filling benefits. Z2 has a slightly greater shine than Z5, but most would never notice. Many with darker colored cars only use Z5, but it's up to you. I like to finish off with the higher shine Z2 on my dark reds, but it's a personal thing really. With a black car, I'd probably use Z5 only as well, to help with the swirls. Or, if you decide to try Klasse I'd recommend both products, the AIO and SG. The AIO will help prep your surface, while SG adds more protection and durability. Klasse is a great alternative, but it's just not for me right now.

HTH!

Mike