Ok, after the car receives a thorough Clay Barring with Clay magic, just what type of polish or wax do we use. I'm planning on a hand wax since we have no orbital polishers.

We've looked at Zaino, McGuire's, Mothers but frankly I can't tell you why one is better than the other.

This is a car which will get washed maybe monthly and polished/waxed once each year; at best!

The question is: what's the best polish/wax method to use? Is one better than the other or are they all really quite similar?


Thanks

I live in the south so wax won't stay on long. I prefer Liquid glass. Great stuff but expensive.

i use Collinite 845...will bead 5-6 months after application. applied very thin by hand using very little of product. you can even apply to rims as well. got my bottle for 14.99

I've always had good luck with Meguiars but I've been wanting to try Swissvax after seeing an ad for them in Classic Motorsports...

Thats a really subjective question and will differ so much from person to person.....I guess each will have their favourites for probably many different reasons.

Hopefully one of the detailing pro's will drop by and offer thier take on what they would recommend for you.

After I wash, clay bar, and polish my cars I have been using Meguiars # 26 The yellow wax. Then I apply Gold class lightly over the top of it. When finished looks like you can poke your finger into the finish like its wet. Seems like a bit of work but well worth it . Bonus on a nice day I get a suntan.

It does seem that the choice is rather subjective; especially with these new synthetics becoming so popular. I've always found the product selection process to be complicated.

I think maybe what I will use, after the Clay Bar, is some type of very light Polish and then a good Wax/Finishing product. I've liked Meguiars products in the past but, wow, has their product line become confusing. They must have 30 or more different products for polishing and waxing.

I guess in the end it is JUST a matter of protecting the finish from the elements, especially here in Arizona's sun, so just about any reputable product should do the trick.

Thanks for all the input.

equicor,

3 different options that find to work very well................

Megiuar's M205>M21

Adams Polishes Fine Machine Polish>Americana Paste Wax

Meguiars D300>D301

For those that want to try something new, try this out its fabulous!

* Nanoskin Towel>NanoShock

Either of these 3 combos work very well, just depends on how comfortable you are with a d/a..........Highly recommend a polish after clay, then a wax or sealant!

David, would all those be equally as good in the AZ summer heat?

I like 3M hand glaze after clay then Colinite Carnuba wax. Meguiar Hi-tech wax is pretty good. It's hard to be an authority as most only use very few products in their life considering what is really available.

Try picking the brains of the support staff on the sites you buy supplies from. In general, the best local sources for waxes and polishes are from autobody supply shops, not Pep Boys or Autozone. The selection and price difference is amazing.

This sounds much like my wife's car care regiment (nearly non-existent, but garage kept) and I used Zaino last time I clay barred it. Using the kit for dark colors and added the accelerator to help fill some scratched left by the puppy hanging out the window at the kids' bus stop.

I was amazed and it really lasted a long time. When washed, I followed up with McGuire's detailing spray.