Wax and stuff

[james s]

I've always shunned posh waxes, but we have a great local valet chap who does a very good job for about £30 so I wondered if I should get a tub of Zymol or something similar and let him use that

So I found a site that sells them , but then it all got a bit complicated with about 50 types of Zymol including 'bottom wax'.

Should I just buy one pot and if so which one or do I need a starter kit to do it justice - If its the latter will the one at about £100 do.

Before anyone mentions it I don't feel a need to ring Tracey on 0898..... and I really don't want to become a wax anorak.

Also anynoe know someone in the Marlow area who can pull dings out. We had a slight incident at Silverstone when our 944 track car picked up a re-arranged rear end. Its not worth getting it done properly but I would like it to be something like the right shape before we venture out again

[sleep envy]

james s said:

Should I just buy one pot and if so which one or do I need a starter kit to do it justice - If its the latter will the one at about £100 do.

You will be wasting your money if you just apply the wax without preparing the paint first.

[Lurking Lawyer]

sleep envy said:

You will be wasting your money if you just apply the wax without preparing the paint first.

I agree.

I went through a "waxing phase" when I first got my S2000 - I bought the Zymol kit recommended for Japanese cars' paintwork. To get the best out of it, you need at the very least some of the Zymol HD Cleanse as well as the wax itself, and ideally the Field Glaze too.

If you're going to do it properly, I would also recommend getting a claybar kit (Zymol do one, or you can get a Meguiars one for £11.99 - Halfords might do it, but you can certainly get it from the various online detailing shops) and using that before applying the HD Cleanse and wax. The clay removes a lot of the surface imperfections and crap that bonds to the paint so that it's a much smoother to the touch.

[verysideways]

Save yourself some money - get a Meguair's clay bar, Meguair's three step paint cleanser (which is step 1), and then some Harly Wax (check ebay, or google Woods Automotive).

[kayc]

james s said:

I've always shunned posh waxes, but we have a great local valet chap who does a very good job for about £30 so I wondered if I should get a tub of Zymol or something similar and let him use that

So I found a site that sells them , but then it all got a bit complicated with about 50 types of Zymol including 'bottom wax'.

Should I just buy one pot and if so which one or do I need a starter kit to do it justice - If its the latter will the one at about £100 do.

Before anyone mentions it I don't feel a need to ring Tracey on 0898..... and I really don't want to become a wax anorak.

Also anynoe know someone in the Marlow area who can pull dings out. We had a slight incident at Silverstone when our 944 track car picked up a re-arranged rear end. Its not worth getting it done properly but I would like it to be something like the right shape before we venture out again

Zaino stuff really good,easy to use and cheap.You will have to claybar the car etc with Zaino as well though.Ive had better results with Zaino than i have Zymol.

[Lurking Lawyer]

kayc said:

Zaino stuff really good,easy to use and cheap.You will have to claybar the car etc with Zaino as well though.Ive had better results with Zaino than i have Zymol.

I too have used both. My own view is that it largely comes down to how much elbow grease you're prepared to invest as to which gives better results.

Zaino is probably a bit easier to apply and it seems to be more durable than Zymol. After a decent polishing, the car can go months and months without needing to be re-done - the odd application of Z5 (?) Gloss Enhancer after a wash brings it back up a treat. The shine you get with Zaino does tend to get better and better as you apply more layers over time.

But I always seemed to get a better, deeper "wet look" finish with Zymol, even if it did need re-applying more often.

Latterly, when I could be bothered to do the S2000 properly, I would Zaino it and then apply a final coat of P21S carnauba wax (similar to Zymol - maybe not such a high carnauba content though) and get the best of both worlds.

I think it's horses for courses though. There's a few really hardcore detailers on the S2000 forum where I moderate and each of them swears by their own choice of products (take your pick from Zymol, Zaino, Meguiars, Autoglym, Poor Boys etc etc). For most of use far more casual polishers, I think any of them are capable of giving a good finish IF you prepare the bodywork properly first.

[DucatiGary]

Bored of Lincoln says:

I used to only use Autoglym all the time but after one application of zymol I was converted.

they also do Lehm klay which is obviously far superior to the cheaper stuff, why? becuase it costs more, duh.

[sleep envy]

DucatiGary said:

Bored of Lincoln says:

I used to only use Autoglym all the time but after one application of zymol I was converted.

they also do Lehm klay which is obviously far superior to the cheaper stuff, why? becuase it costs more, duh.

but I bet with all the time you've been a man of leisure your car is filthy

[DucatiGary]

it is

and for the record it was your fault I paid about 400 quid on zymol, all your fault.

[4sure]

i prefer pledge or mr sheene both about £1.50

[4sure]

if its good enough for my local opc,its good enough for me !

[james s]

I knew this would happen - that's why I've avoided it in the past!

SO if I buy some sort of cleaner, a clay bar and any of the waxes is that all I need?

[996tt_stevo]

1st: Zaino
2nd: Meguiars
3rd: Don't know

[randlemarcus]

james s said:

I knew this would happen - that's why I've avoided it in the past!

SO if I buy some sort of cleaner, a clay bar and any of the waxes is that all I need?

www.carnauba.co.uk/porsche_wax_hints_tips.htm
Clicky, then you probably wont need to ring Tracey, but if you want to, her number's at the bottom. Seriously, I got a starter kit from this fount of excellence, and it explains in detail the steps, and more importantly why.

It will not explain to the Other Half why you're spending all day outside when you could be putting shelves up, or to the neighbours why you now feel the need to give your car a fingertip massage...

[catgreenhorse]

K300 DT 3 part kit ordered via 968 Forum.Clay Bar & lube, Cleanser and a Carnuba Wax. REstored my 968 to a gleaming shine after a days work.
Beats zymol and autoglym by a mile.
All for £39. Bargain.
Rich

[james s]

OK order put in for the £39 kit, clay, cleaner, wax and a variety of cloths. Lets see what difference it makes

Thanks all

[richb]

You'll get two kit's now James