How to: Applying waxes and Paint sealants

[Kar don]

This thread is meant for applying most liquid waxes and especially paint sealants(klasse, Zaino, blackfire, etc.). First off you must wash your vehicle completely with a quality car wash soap or if you are using a paint sealant a wash using DAWN dishwashing detergent because this will strip the paint of all the waxes or oils that are on the paint. A paint sealant needs a near perfect surface so it can properly "bond" to the paint. If you do not use a dawn wash it may affect durability of the sealant. Make sure to use the blue dawn or equivalant dishwashing soap and not to use ones with lotions or oils to make it easier on the skin. Follow this thread for complete washing instructions. http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/sho...threadid=12843 Note: Try as best you can to completely dry the vehicle, especially in areas like the mirror and body trim. These area can drip and mess your work. For liquid waxes and Zaino I prefer to use a yellow foam applicator such as the meguiars gold class applicator. For Klasse I prefer to use a Microfiber applicator pad because of its watery consistency. 1) Lightly mist the applicator with a Quick Detail spray (Z6 for Zaino users), and for Klasse users do not use any carnuaba based Quick detail sprays (I recommend Eagle one Wet Wipe n Shine). NOTE: When using Klasse SG i do not like to wet the applicator with and Quick detail spray as it can cause a "haze". With All-in-one it is ok to use a Quick detail spray. 2) Pour about a nickel sized drop onto the appicator. 3) Dab the product in about 3 places around the panel (1/2 the panel if you are doing the hood or roof). Skip this step if you are using Klasse Sealant Glaze because it is too hard to dab it as it is too watery. 4) Using light pressure spread the product with the applicator around the area where you "dabbed" the product onto the paint, try and spread it as thinly as you can. Do this at every spot until you have covered that portion of the panel. 5) Now do this to cover the whole car (for paint sealant users and some waxes) NOTE: some waxes may need to be wiped off immediately or within a few minutes of application, if this is so wipe it off with a MF towel or 100% cotton towel as per the instructions. Using a paint sealant (even Zaino with ZFX) I apply the product to the entire vehicle and then begin to wipe off the residue after the amount of time given by the manufacturer of the product (immediately if using Zaino with ZFX). 5) Now let the product sit on the paint surface as per the instructions on the product and depending on the weather conditions. For low temperatures or humid conditions the product may need to sit on the paint for a longer period of time. 6) Wipe the product off the paint using little to no pressure, let the towel do the work. A small amount of dust may have settled on the paint so you do not want to use pressure here, let the towel do the work. Flip the towel often and change the towel after you have used all of its sides. 7) You should be finished now, if there are stubborn spots spray a quick detail spray onto the paint and wipe off with a clean MF or 100% cotton towel.

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[bmms8]

nj man

[JamE55]

Great Information for sticky!

[Kar don]

Thanks guys!

[ano0oj]

alboston, what about wax that is paste, i have meguires, just wondering if i was doing it properly

ano0oj

[FInality]

Thanks for the info

What about orbital buffers? I have heard conflicting info about whether they are safe to use or not. They do make life easy though!

[ElDiabloJoe]

http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/sho...threadid=17340

[Pbglas]

I am a complete newbie at aesthetic maintenance. My idea of washing a car is ot take it a hand car wash.

First question. Full of ambition, I went and got the Mercedes kit. They have things like `Paint Cleaner,' `Paint Care,' .... On this site, I read about clay, sealant, .... Is htere a correspondence?

Second question: How should I clean glass (windshield, lights, ..) and trnasparent plastic (covers for displays). What is the cover for the instrument panel -- plastic I suppose?

[gmdebruyn]

hey guys,

just got my black e55 this wknd. wondering how frequenty i should be waxing my new car. should the wax job differ from when i prepare her for winter vs. maintenance waxing? i'm garaging her at all times and trying to avoid the rain (not commute car).

i've bought the zaino product line and this will be my first time using it. any/all advice is welcome. i'd prefer to learn from others' experiences if i can.

thanks,
Gareth

[M.J]

when applying the wax, i find that it is hard to wipe it again and not like you say over here, i need to press in the applicator hard and just leting the towel do the work won't wipe it , i am using prestone synthitic , am i doing somthing wrong !!!! do i have to leave the wax a bit longer then wipe it ????

[MBE55AMG]

Originally Posted by M.J

when applying the wax, i find that it is hard to wipe it again and not like you say over here, i need to press in the applicator hard and just leting the towel do the work won't wipe it , i am using prestone synthitic , am i doing somthing wrong !!!! do i have to leave the wax a bit longer then wipe it ????

Prestone Synthetic... never heard of it, but usually all synthetic polymer waxes should be easy wipe and wipe off, without the hardness of carnauba. Perhaps it dried on there too much, but I doubt it because the NXT wipes off without trouble even after covering the whole car.

You can always use quick detailer sprays to help on with wax residues.

[revstriker]

A little goes a long way. Make sure you are applying it in thin coats. This will also make it easier when you go to buff it out.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Here's a tip. If you are using something besides Meguiar's or Zaino, don't ask how good is Acme brand or such and such a brand. Simply read all the advice you see here. Then do the following:

1. Throw out the crap you did buy.
2. Buy Meguiar's or Zaino or Klasse as recommended twenty bazillion times all over this forum and nearly every other luxury or exotic car forum.
3. Use as directed by the product manufacturer and/or the experts in the forum detailing threads (and even autopia.com).

Good day,

EDJ

[Pbglas]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Here's a tip. If you are using something besides Meguiar's or Zaino, don't ask how good is Acme brand or such and such a brand. Simply read all the advice you see here. Then do the following:

1. Throw out the crap you did buy.
2. Buy Meguiar's or Zaino or Klasse as recommended twenty bazillion times all over this forum and nearly every other luxury or exotic car forum.
3. Use as directed by the product manufacturer and/or the experts in the forum detailing threads (and even autopia.com).

Good day,

EDJ

Interesting that you figure Nxt and Zaino are in a tie for first place

[NdnMbLova]

Sonus and Zaino both make excellant products. I think the results are so close that it becomes a matter of preference. Personally i havent tired sonus, but i use Zaino, cause they are a good company and headquarted 15 mins away.

[Pbglas]

Originally Posted by NdnMbLova

Sonus and Zaino both make excellant products. I think the results are so close that it becomes a matter of preference. Personally i havent tired sonus, but i use Zaino, cause they are a good company and headquarted 15 mins away.

Is there a manufacturer called Sonus? Or are Sonus products made by other companies and marketed by Autopia?

BTW, do we now have a 4 way tie between Klasse, Zaino, Nxt and Sonus? Or, is Zaino in frist place with the others in a tie for socond?

[NdnMbLova]

Originally Posted by Pbglas

Is there a manufacturer called Sonus? Or are Sonus products made by other companies and marketed by Autopia?

BTW, do we now have a 4 way tie between Klasse, Zaino, Nxt and Sonus? Or, is Zaino in frist place with the others in a tie for socond?

http://www.sonus-usa.com/ and sonus products are also found on atuopia.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by Pbglas

Interesting that you figure Nxt and Zaino are in a tie for first place

I never said that. I simply grouped them in the same echelon. I assume Nxt is Meguiar's?

There are first tier waxes, and then the rest. Just like colleges.

EDJ

[NdnMbLova]

Try sonus, zaino or meguirs. They are all excellant products.

[DamonAnthony]

Try a polish called Nanolack. I detail Ferrari's and Maserati's, price is not an issue, skill, knowledge and product however is. Most people assume Meguiar's to be good, BUT I can assure you that aside from meguiar's microfibre cloths, the rest of the range Isn't nessecarilly the best. I hope this helps fellow MB owners.

[c230K415]

Hey guys I recently decided to clay bar my car...I got the lube and clay...i got Meguiar's #7 for the polish....as for wax...i thought i bought the Synthetic Paint Sealant Meguiar's #21....but i accidentally got the Meguiar's #20 Polymer Paint Sealant...Do you guys know if the results of these sealants are similar? Will Polymer be more harmful to my paint than the Synthetic?

[Greg@DI]

Synthetics are essentially an artificial wax created in a lab. Polymers are a form of synthetics. The other popular form of sealants are acrylics or acrylic resins. Neither product should harm the surface at all and are probably very similar, although I don't know for sure. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Greg @ Detailed Image

[c230K415]

Originally Posted by Greg@DI

Synthetics are essentially an artificial wax created in a lab. Polymers are a form of synthetics. The other popular form of sealants are acrylics or acrylic resins. Neither product should harm the surface at all and are probably very similar, although I don't know for sure. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Greg @ Detailed Image

Thank you very much Greg.
Sometimes in these following weeks I will apply what I have to my Lexus RX300 (I keep the C230K Sedan garaged and the RX300 sits outside collecting all the fog and ocean mist...I live about 10 blocks from the Pacific)
The stuff I plan to put on the Lexus are:
Clay Magic's clay bar & lube
Meguiar's #7 Polish
Meguiar's #20 Polymer Paint Sealant
...and possibly some of Meguiar's Carnuba (if i'm not too tired from the up above)

i'll post pics as soon as I get this done...thanks again for the reply Greg.

[Greg@DI]

Glad the info helped, can't wait to see pics!

Greg @ Detailed Image

[BigGar]

Originally Posted by c230K415

i got Meguiar's #7 for the polish

Not that it's a bad product at all, quite the contrary for certain situations. It is not, however, a "polish" IMO. Meguiars #7 is and excellent glaze and filler. Probably the best glaze/filler I've ever seen. You can literally make almost any scratched up, swirlmarked car look great with it, for a few days anyway. It's great for a car going to a show, but pretty much useless for something that you're going to drive. It doesn't actually remove anything from your paint in the way of scuffs, scratches, or swirls. It simply hides them.

As far as the old sealants vs. wax debate, some sealants will give you more durability than basic carnuba wax, and look good too, just don't be under the impression that anything on the planet is going to protect your paint for longer than 6 months or a year at best, speaking of daily drivers of course. I tell my clients to not waste their money on dealer add-on sealant packages that come with some sort of nebulous warranty. What exactly are they warranting anyway? The paint's probably not going to just fall off your new Mercedes, even if you never wax it or anything.
I've found Zaino to be decent stuff, but extremely time-consuming and difficult to use. Klasse is a good product that's been around forever. Eagle one Nano-wax in the spray or liquid paste is pretty good stuff. Meguiars Nextec is also great. I use all of those on occasion and according to client preferences, but for the most part, I use a product called MicroSeal 2000 from Blue Ribbon products. It has great shine and durability and is really quite easy to use. If I'm using wax, I like Formula113 carnuba-based liquid. They also make one of the best quick detailers on the market in their Bead-X spritz. I love that stuff for a final wipe and as a little wax-booster.
IMO, 99% of getting the paint right is in the proper polishing and preparation. If that's done well, it matters very little what wax or sealant you finish it off with. Barry Meguiar has given my clients "Best Paint" awards 3 different times at shows, which is a reflection (pun intended) on the job I've done preparing the car. He also knows that for the most part, I don't use his products. He's a very fair guy and I try to recommend his products to do it yourself guys. They're pretty much idiot proof (no offense), and do what they say they're going to do. He also gives tons of support to the car show industry (if one would call it an "industry").


All for now.




Gar