Polymer vs Wax

[V..rroom]

I read a thread some time back about preferences of polymers vs waxes...but can't find it...does anyone have any comments of this topic and any product recommendations of each...what I've recently read is use a polymer sealer after you wash...put 3 coats waiting a day between for curing...etc...but as I recall from another thread, some would say..stay away from polymers..so I'm seeking recommendation

 

[Lone Ranger]

I'm here to tell you to take a look at Wizards Products. Their "Shine Master" breathable poly-acrylic polish/sealant is awesome. It leaves the paint wet looking, super slippery, yet dry and no filmy residue or oily residue.

http://www.wizardsproducts.com

They sent me some samples. It only took half the 4 oz sample bottle of Shine Master to do my '95 'vert two coats. But then I damped the cloth and used sparingly...

 

[JJU]

If you get the Wax Test (http://www.thewaxtest.com/) it will tell you that polmers (a.k.a. synthetics) will last 4 to 6 times longer than Carnuaba products. These are independant testers that received no money for their work from the product manufacturers.

I use Zaino and if you purchase ZFX you can apply up to three coats in a 24 hours period and get "the wet look" IMMEDIATELY. You can do this on a "prepared" car IN 2 HOURS!!! You can layer synthetics. You can not on carnuaba products or they start to yellow.

 

[Lone Ranger]

If you get the Wax Test (http://www.thewaxtest.com/) it will tell you that polmers (a.k.a. synthetics) will last 4 to 6 times longer than Carnuaba products.

Hmm... Which poly-acrylic do they say is the most durable, i.e which one lasts longest? I've always wondered if Nu Finish was as they claim, "The once a year car polish."

 

[JJU]

Zaino Finished #1 with an 'A-' rating. Zaino's protection lasted past the 8th week which was the end of the test. Other tests show that Zaino will last up to 6 months depending on conditions of the paint, the weather, and exposure.

Most didn't make it past the 5th week.

Nu Finish rated a 'C+' and at #18. Its protection was gone on the test section at the 6th week. I wouldn't believe them anyway on this claim of "once a year car polish". It defies the laws of physics.

A 'C' is an average Polish/Wax. Most of the 46 tested fell in to this category.

 

[SLROCKE]

I have used all Zaino, Mequiars, And in my search for the perfect finish I have settled on 3M for the moment. However I've been seeing some excellent results on another forum with the Pinnacle line. Here's what I've learned of 3M--

Once every so often a product innovation comes along that is truly an advancement and establishes a new standard of performance. Acrylic Silicone Fluoropolymer (A.S.F.), developed by research chemists at 3M, is such a breakthrough. By chemically grafting silicone and fluorine onto an acrylic backbone, a new fluoropolymer is created that is extremely slippery, water repellent and bonds to modern automotive finishes.

Perfect-It Show Car Paste Wax is the first 3M product to take full advantage of A.S.F. Suspended in the wax, these fluoropolymers create a surface that actually repels dirt and grease - they just don’t stick to it! Show Car Paste Wax fills minor scratches and swirls and protects new and like-new finishes with a tough, high gloss wax shield.

Note: This is a pure wax without any cleaning properties. Surfaces should be pre-cleaned with 3M Imperial Hand Glaze (fresh paint) or 3M Perfect-It Swirl Mark Remover(cured factory paint) prior to first time application.

 

[JJU]

In the Wax Test,

Pinacle Souvran Carnuaba finished #5 with 'B-'.

Pinacle Paste Glaz Carnauba finished #6 with 'B-'.

3M Perfect-IT Show Car Paste finished #24 with 'C+'.

 

[SLROCKE]

I've posted this before on other boards about the "waxtest" from gurureports. It is so flawed and unscientific I was just happy to see that they weren't into medical testing, to compare products on a variety of panels of various origin and rate the product like it's a level playing field is ludicrous. My personal choice after my own testing of a buttload of products one being #1 Zaino. I find it by my standards to be about #4 with 3m Being #1 all products being tested on the same vehicle and panels. Just my.02

 

[JJU]

....and others have posted that the results are accurate.

Automobile magzine felt it accurate enough to mention it favorably in their May 2003 issue. So that magazine is flawed also? :eyerole

Until there is overall agreement as to an acceptable method for comparing Brand A with Brand B, it's the best that's available without spending a bunch of money and proving them wrong. But hey... go for it.

 

[SLROCKE]

I don't know if the magazine is flawed I'm saying the test results are flawed and anyone can see if you're comparing apples to coconuts the results will be different i.e. german paint as compared to say japanese or domestic paint. I'm not gonna get in a ****in' contest with a Zaino distributor. All's I'm stating in my garage conducting my own gurureport on corvette paint it's 3M for me.

 

[JJU]

I was a user of all waxes and polishes on many types of paint for 25 years before I became a Zaino distributor. The results in "the wax test" only confirm what it took me 25 years to find out.

You've abviously bonded with your product (no pun intended). If you like the results and think they are better than anything else on the market, more power to you.

For those that don't know what to choose, I hope to provide useful information (not just my opinion) where they don't have to spend 25 years picking "their" best product.

 

[SLROCKE]

Actually I'm not "bonded" to any 1 product as stated before I'm in search of the perfect finish. If I find something better I'll give it a shot and also help people choose the "best" product for their car subjectively (I don't sell any of the product I use)people e-mail me everyday asking what in the world is on your car(many of them currently using Z)So most of the time the pictures do all the talking. What people want in a wax is very personal so I know by my experience(which they can take or leave)is that if you want a wax that provides depth, shine and protection from water spots and bird droppings you probably don't want Zaino. If you can get by with shine and being part of a Zaino culture that swears this stuff was divinely ordained than you want Zaino for sure.
Thanx

 

[tomls1]

i'm still trying to figure out what to use on my car. so far, i've clayed it using the mother's kit which included some cleaner/wax. i'm looking for a good paint cleaner to use followed by a good wax.

slrocke -- can you get the 3m products at auto stores or do you have to go directly to a distributor.

 

[SLROCKE]

You can get them at O'reilly or Napa for sure. If you don't check with a local body shop and see who their local distributor is.
E-mail if your interested in my routine and I'll shoot it to ya.

 

[Vettelt193]

One thing that synthetic wax makers always seem to leave out in their marketing is how wax keeps paint flexible (or how it does not)

Modern day car bodies are simply loaded with flexible plastic parts. If the paint does not remain flexible, it will start to crack... especially if bumped into.

Good quality carnuba waxes (like zymol) 'feed' paint to help keep them flexible. Synthetics do not. (at least none that i have seen so far)

I can't tell you the number of cars that are show clean, and always kept waxed, but have cracks and dings because the car's paint is getting dried out.

Synthetics definitely last longer and are easier to apply... but, just like anything else, you get what you pay (in this case work) for. Carnuba requires more work and more applications but in the long run the paint should out last and out shine IMHO.

 

[JJU]

Vettelt193,

Zaino is safe on all paint finishes and DOES keep the paint flexible (allowing the paint to "breathe"). It's one of the few protectants that can immediately be applied to newly attached decals (should you decide to do something like this).

Sal Zaino (and others) have been using Zaino on their cars for over 20 years with no problems in this area. (i.e., the cars HAVE NOT been re-painted) I've only been using it for 3 years.

I'm not sure which synthetic product(s) you are talking about. Zaino does not fall in this category.

Please let us all know which ones fall in this category so that we can avoid them.

 

[JJU]

Actually I'm not "bonded" to any 1 product as stated before I'm in search of the perfect finish. If I find something better I'll give it a shot and also help people choose the "best" product for their car subjectively (I don't sell any of the product I use)people e-mail me everyday asking what in the world is on your car(many of them currently using Z)So most of the time the pictures do all the talking. What people want in a wax is very personal so I know by my experience(which they can take or leave)is that if you want a wax that provides depth, shine and protection from water spots and bird droppings you probably don't want Zaino. If you can get by with shine and being part of a Zaino culture that swears this stuff was divinely ordained than you want Zaino for sure.
Thanx

Pictures do nothing for me. Much depends upon the camera, light, and computer monitor being viewed on (just to name a few). The only way to get a true picture of the product is with the naked eye.

This may not be your case but what bothers me is the so-called experts "bad mouthing" a product (no matter what that product is) and have no immediate experience with the product good or bad.

No product is a panacea. Including Zaino. If it sounds like I'm asking everyone to just "trust me", that's incorrect. Trust your friends, club members, and those professional people that use the product for a living. If they "ooze" over a product it's because they had exceedingly good results previously not achieved. You should be skeptical because their emotions have taken over. Look through the emotion to the facts and you'll discover the truth.

 

[SLROCKE]

I couldn't have said it better!!!! the picture DOES look good though doesn't it come on admit it. Your right the picture really doesn't do it justice. You really do need to see it with the naked eye to believe how incredible a Corvette paint finish can be....yada yada yada.

 

[JJU]

All I see is the passenger side of a clean Light Pewter Metallic Corvette that appears to have somewhat of a 3D wet look. That's it. Any product (except Lemon Pledge) in the wax test will provide the same effect on a digital photo given enough coats of the product. When I look/judge the finish of a car I look at it against the sun for scratches, depth of reflection, "door dings" & discoloration. You can not attempt to see these items on your photo. Sorry. I have one more test which will be hard to duplicate in your geographic location. On my own car (not my Corvette) I also look at the protection on the surface of the paint AFTER 3 MONTHS in the dead of a Nebraska winter. (i.e., does the water still bead and does the car still look shiney.)

As you can see from the picture above my signature, both the Corvettes I'm standing next to appear to have the same wet look. The difference to the naked eye is that my previously owned 1980 Corvette has a laquer finish and a few scratches. The 2001 is "perfect". Both look good in the picture and the reason I have it in my signature.

 

[SLROCKE]

1st I can tell alot about your cars from your photo. The C3 is bruised up on the nose and spoiler, the front cover is discolored (but most are) it's yellowed where the liscence plate was. The C5 appears to have a bruise on the drivers side nose. It does look better in the photo. As far as weather we get tons of ice here and it is more brutal than any Kansas or Nebraska snow. I however still wouldn't know as all of my cars fit into my garage.
3m rocks
the "waxtest" is a joke
And I've said all I'm gonna say
See Ya