Paint on new Car

[Mr. Munson]

Hello,
My new Vette has some swirls and water spots that I can't seem to wax out completly. It looks like Zaino products get a good review but I don't feel like spending 8 hours on my one day off polishing the car.
Any tricks?

Thanks

 

[bluecoupe]

I use Meguiar's Gold Class liquid wax. It goes on fast and comes off easy. I can apply it to the whole car rather than a section at a time then buff the whole car off. It take less me than a hour to do a good job. It hides a multitude of sins on dark colors. I also use the Meguiar's Quick Detailer after each wash. I take off the heavy water and while it is still slightly wet I spray on the detailer then dry it completely. That really saves time.

 

[compyelc4]

Try claying it, followed with your favorite wax. That is the gentlest method I know of to start with.

 

[mick_s3]

I recommend the claying and also Pinnacle makes a nice non abrasive paint cleanser you may want to try. Works great imho....

I have heard that 3M swirl remover is a good product as well, but I have never used it.

Mick

 

[MM-C5]

Clay it

I know it's probably explained in here somewhere, but could someone please repeat the "HOW TOOs" ?

Also, how often should one wax a car that is typically garaged and when you do wax, do you need to remove the existing? If so, how?

Geez, you'd sure think that at this age, I know how to do some of this stuff! Guess there's much more desire to do it right than there ever was with any of those company sedans!

Tom

 

[bluecoupe]

Tom,
Try these sites:

http://www.mothers.com/detailguide/detailguide.html

http://www.meguiars.com/howtocenter/



http://www.zainostore.com/

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=Z&Category_Code=APPLICATION

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=TIPS&Store_Code=Z

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=FAQ&Store_Code=Z

 

[bluecoupe]

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=12

 

[MM-C5]

Thanks for the links everyone!

I knew I'd been somewhere in CAC where there were discussions about car care, but I couldn't figure out how to get back. I've now subscribed.

I'll check out the Mother's & Zaino too.

Thanks again.

Tom

 

[Greg C]

Even the paint on new cars are contaminated with all kinds of "stuff" it picks up during transport. Most common being "rail dust" from trains running over the rails.
Best thing to do is : 1. Wash the car with a mild soap (I use Dawn) and mildly hot water. This takes all the grease and surface dirt off the car. Dry and inspect for road tar, bugs or anything else that the washing did not take off and if you find anything clean it off.
2. Clay Bar all the painted surfaces. This will remove any cantaminates that are imbedded in or on the surface of the paint.
3. If you do not have any deep scratches that need to be wheeled out polishe the car with a very light polishing compound.
(I use 3M products...and having access to an orbital polisher really helps out alot). What the poilish or light scratch or swirl remover does is basically fill up all the small scratches so you can't see them and is some cases actually rub the "very light" scratches out.
4. Apply a very good high quality wax. (Try & stay away from the cleaner waxes.........waste of time, money & effort). Then buff the car out and walla............great looking paint finish you will be proud of...............
From this point on only wash the car with cold water and dry off with a soft towel........
One more thing, I only use this 4 step system in the spring (my vette is not a daily driver) and maybe one more time in mid summer.........

 

[EHS]

Mr. Munson:

You are correct. Zaino gets good reviews, but is a waste of time and money.

Spend eight hours on your car with any wax and polish and you will achieve a good result. That's the Zaino gimmick.

Use what works for you. I like the "NoAd" brand of polish -- it's really "Zaino" in drag.

A friend uses Liquid Glass, another good product.

Spend eight hours on the thing, and I guarantee almost anything will work (including Zaino).

 

[MagRed2002]

Seems that some here are perpetrating a myth that Zaino is some kind of 8-10 hour process. Not true.

If you wish to begin with a claybar process to cleanse the surface - that takes time, but is recommended by all high end wax companies that make a claybar. I am a Zaino fan, but used a Mother's claybar (by the way, claybaring is the most time consuming step).

When using either Z-2 or Z-5 with the ZFX additive, it is applied just like a conventional wax and is removed easier. Without ZFX, a one-time base coat of Z-1 takes the place of the ZFX addiive.

Regardless, after surface treatment and a base coat, Zaino is EASIER than wax.

Z-6 is a "wipe-on, wipe-off" spray enhancer (or "detailer") that increases the depth of shine and can be used any time after wax or after wash.

My C5's finish was damaged by a well meaning, but misdirected
dealer. I tried several products, including 3M(by hand), to eliminate the resultant swirl marks and had no success on my Mag Red coupe. Thankfully, the Zaino Z5 helped to reduce the swirls to the point where they are now imperceptable.

What I'm trying to say is that Zaino produces an accumulative benefit unmatched by any other product when used as intended.

I have no interst in Zainio, nor am I a distributor. Just a fan. Maybe someone with more expertise can weigh in with a better explaination of the Zainio experience. All I know is: I love it.

 

[Greg C]

The only way to fix your "damaged paint surface" is to take the car to an experienced painter and have him/her "wheel" the car out. That should remove most of the "swirl marks" and other surface damage as long as the "damge" is just in the "clear coat" surface. If any of the scratches are deep enough into the color base coat then your taking about sanding and repainting the damaged area. In most cases you will find that most of the kind of damage you are refering to is usually confined to the top "clear coat" and is fixable with a "wheel out".

 

[atmmac]

Spots

I was driving back home from summer school this morning and went by some construction I came and got out of my vette. I did a quick inspection of the car as always to make sure it was nice and clean. I noticed what looked like oil spots on the hood and windshield. I tried water and soap no luck. I went to Lappens and the guy said try dishwasher detergent. so i tried that no luck. I went to the construction site and asked what they were using. He said they were using no chemicals (Yeah Right) and that i should wax it. I tried that no luck. I went back to the site and said this is ridiculous and stated that they should cover any cost to have it detailed. I got his name and the police officer working there so i could contact the DPW. I went to my dads friends body shop and he said they would have to compound and wax the whole car a 6 hour job to remove this odd chemical. compounding it took off some spots. It was 258 dollars. Hopefully my town covers it because this is ridiculous. Anyone have any similar stories. THis is the day after i got it back from the dealer for the steering column lock. Just not a good week i guess.

 

[Greg C]

Did you take any of the black substance off to use as a sample? If so, You should be able to take that sample to your local county health dept. and they can analize it. If it was black it sounds like something like a road way maintance product. What kind of constuction site was it you passed? Road repair? A New building site? Did you try using automotive tar & bug remover on the spots before you took the car to the paint shop?

 

[atmmac]

it is not black it is more of an odd gray/ white color when seen from certain angles of the car I will try and get a picture

 

[Greg C]

Sorry but I won't be able to tell anything from a photo.......
I just saw you were wondering what the "substance" was that got on your car and I just sent you a suggestion on how to find out "if" you took a sample before you had it all removed.......

 

[bluecoupe]

If they won't tell you what chemical it was then call OSHA and have them look into it. www.osha.gov
If it'll damage paint just think what it can do for your lungs.