Casual waxer, new to sealers, looking for help

M

mvw2

New member
Background:

I own a blue/gold Subaru Forester. I'm not big on cleaning, so the car does not see much in terms of washes, but it does get cleaned, prepped, and waxed twice a year.



I've been a long time user of Mothers products and have used their 3-step process for some time. I generally go through the normal steps:

wash->pre cleaner->glaze->wax

I wax the car again within the next week. I find it gives a deeper shine and offers a little longer lasting protection.



However, Mothers and wax is not a very long-term type of product. I've only recently started looking at non-wax sealers as better option. However, I'm at a loss with the available products.



Help!:

What I'm looking for is a once year or at least something that will last the full 6 months without a sweat. I know people talk about different products working better for different colors and such. For that, I have no clue. The car is a deep blue and gold paneling along the bottom. I'd post pics, but that doesn't exactly work well for new members.



What I want in terms of looks is something that can provide a good, deep gloss. I don't want the finish to look "plasticy" and I don't want it to be really shiny and reflective. I would prefer a more transparent, wet look rather than a shiny mirror surface. I'm not sure if this is possible on the paint or not, but the gold body molding does it wonderfully. If I could reproduce the same look on the blue paint, I'd be happy.



Other than that, all I want is longevity, something that will hold up for half a year and if once per year, even better.



As well, I would like insight into things like number of layers I should use, mixing layers of sealant and wax, maybe mixing two different sealer products, one layered over the other.



I'll point you to pics if I can get it to work. I tried yesterday and ended with a blank page and nothing.
 
The car after the 3-step Mothers process and a second coat of wax. I really like the way the bottom trim looks. I'd like to try and somehow duplicate a similar deep luster without being overly reflective. I may or may not be able to do this as the paint surface is completely different between the two parts, different color, different texture, different reflective properties, etc. However, I'd like to try and get something of a more transparent nature if possible.



ForesterShine1.jpg


ForesterShine2.jpg


ForesterShine3.jpg
 
Having shirked my detailing responsibilities for 3-4 years, I'm starting anew. I bought a UDM and I'm now using Ultima products. I'm happy with the results, but having just completed the detailing long term results remain to be seen.
 
mvw2, you have a few different routes you could go. Personally, I like to use Klasse All In One sealant and top it with Collinite Insulator Wax 845. Klasse AIO is not very durable but it makes a great base for a carnauba, and 845 is very long lasting. You should get four to six months protection from 845.



Some guys love the Duragloss sealants. If you put down a thin coat of #601 Bonding Agent, then follow with either #105 Total Performance Polish or #111 Clear Coat Polish you will have a long lasting shine. The company claims up to a year of protection. Maybe some of the Duragloss devotees will chime in with their real world results.



Zaino sealants are known for long lasting shine and protection. It looks a little more "plasticy" than wax, but you could always top it with a wax for a different look. Zaino also responds well to layering, which is somewhat dubious with most products. Their Z-2 or Z-5 Show Car Polish mixed with ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator is supposed to give up to a year of protection.
 
Joel_MD said:
mvw2, you have a few different routes you could go. Personally, I like to use Klasse All In One sealant and top it with Collinite Insulator Wax 845. Klasse AIO is not very durable but it makes a great base for a carnauba, and 845 is very long lasting. You should get four to six months protection from 845.



Some guys love the Duragloss sealants. If you put down a thin coat of #601 Bonding Agent, then follow with either #105 Total Performance Polish or #111 Clear Coat Polish you will have a long lasting shine. The company claims up to a year of protection. Maybe some of the Duragloss devotees will chime in with their real world results.



Zaino sealants are known for long lasting shine and protection. It looks a little more "plasticy" than wax, but you could always top it with a wax for a different look. Zaino also responds well to layering, which is somewhat dubious with most products. Their Z-2 or Z-5 Show Car Polish mixed with ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator is supposed to give up to a year of protection.
Click to expand...



I recently used Zaino's new CS sealer on my Corvette and really liked the results. Their Z8 detailer / sealer is also wonderful.
 
Mvw2- Welcome to Autopia!



IME the only way sealants really rival waxes such as Collinite 476S is when the sealants are heavily layered. I use the 476S on one driver and layered Klasse Sealant Glaze ("KSG", a very durable sealant) on another (and I use other sealants on other vehicles), and the Collinite is what I'd recommend to you. Especially noting your preferences regarding how the lower portion looks; I think the 476S will work out great overall.



But a true 6 months is asking a lot. Yeah, six layers of KSG will do it, but it's sorta tricky to work with and requires superb prep work to look good. I'd see how the 476S works for you.



Note that a quick spritz of a QD like FK425 or Meguia's Ultimate QD after the wash will help keep your LSP (Last Step Product, i.e., wax or sealant) last a lot longer as it'll add a little sacrificial layer.
 
In terms of waxes and the color of my car, do I need to worry about sun and heat melting the wax off in short order? My car does sit outside all the time, so I've kind of become curious about this issue.
 
UPGP is very nice easy to apply but easy to use to much. 476S is a very durable product :) and will rival the best of sealants in terms of durability IMHO
 
mvw2 said:
In terms of waxes and the color of my car, do I need to worry about sun and heat melting the wax off in short order? My car does sit outside all the time, so I've kind of become curious about this issue.
Click to expand...



From what I've read the surface of a dark car can get very hot very quickly and cause the wax to lose it's durability and looks.



I'm just a casual waxer like yourself, but my goal is to achieve the best look and protection with a minimum amount of labor. That being said I think the best way to go is with Sealants as they offer the longest durability and are simple to apply. After claying I currently put on a coat of ZAIO (an all in one mild polish, cleaner and sealant) topped with ZCS (a wipe on walk away sealant) and then top it with Optimum Spray Wax (a sealant with some carnuba in the formula). A great look with minimum effort. Lasts a good 6 months (through New Hampshire winters), but you can add another coat of Optimum Spray Wax at any time since it only takes 15 minutes. I think you could optain the same results with Duragloss products at allot less cost. Clay, a coat of 105, a coat of 111 and then a coat of AquaWax (a spray on sealant)

A few links:



Zaino Store



Optimum



Duragloss Car Care Products
 
^ I too like the 3 brands he listed.



My go to is Optimum Poliseal topped with Optimum Opti Seal and then kept up with Duragloss Aquawax. AW will keep the protection virtually going and going and going and going.
 
thesacrifice said:
^ I too like the 3 brands he listed.



My go to is Optimum Poliseal topped with Optimum Opti Seal and then kept up with Duragloss Aquawax. AW will keep the protection virtually going and going and going and going.
Click to expand...



Do you apply the PoliSeal by hand or machine? I do all my work by hand and am curious how PoliSeal goes on by hand.
 
If you want a sealant, I've heard good things about Werkstat for darks.



Maybe also FK1000?



For caranubas you can't go wrong with Collonite.
 
Since using by hand I would do this.



Use Meguiars Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner then follow with Meg's # 20 Polymer sealant

repeat this process three times a year that wil give you total coverage maybe getting by doing that process twice a year.



The deep crystal cleaner will make the paint look deep with the oils in it then the # 20 sealant is bright and seal it in its a good combo



Also don't have to use any quick detailer either I suggest a good car wash like Meguiars # 62 car wash.
 
For prep, I generally use a glaze/swirl remover to take care of any swirl marks. For the infrequency between waxings, I always have some to take care of. After that, I have a smooth, flawless clearcoat to wax over.



What exactly are these "oils" doing? I guess I just don't get what you can do over a plastic.



I've heard Collonite mentioned again and again, even before I signed up for this site, that and P21S among a couple others. I'm still concerned about waxes lasting, although I know some do fair a good deal longer than others.



Should I just completely give up on sealants? Aren't they supposed to be superior to waxes for durability/longevity? Is the only way to go with a sealer to do a sealer + wax? If I'm waxing anyways, why am I using the sealer?



Is it possible to get the opposite of this, as goofy as it sounds:

http://www.autopia.org/forum/click-brag/109375-04-wrx-2-step-9-5pm-no-lunch.html



Basically, I want the car to not be one giant mirror. Are there waxes/sealers that are more...anti-reflective? I'd just prefer to see the paint underneith rather than the mirror finish of the wax and the trees, sky, ground, etc. around me. Does this make sense? Can I create this? This is why I like the gold trim. You see the gold trim. You get a good, deep luster and the look of the paint but not reflections of the surroundings.
 
heyyo302 said:
Here is better performance as you desire

Clean Your Car - car care products UK
Click to expand...



Pretty funny web address tort.



I used Collonite 845 the last time I waxed (but I am always using something different) and noticed that it actually repels dirt more than other waxes. I haven't washed in a week and my car still looks nice even after repeated rains. That's a pretty good bonus.



It sounds like you take a lot of pride in your vehicle. Pat youself on the back. You may want to think about investing in a polisher. You can combine the cleaning, polishing, and protecting steps into 1 and reduce a lot of time (and probably end up with a better finish too!). Let us know what you decide on.
 
Frankly I have no clue what to decide on. I know what I want to see. I just don't know how to get there.



Hmm...pride in my vehicle... Not really. I treat it rather poorly, lol. There's a love affair, but it's more towards function than looks. I like it because it does things, not because it looks pretty. In all reality, the Forester is not a beautiful, shapely car. However, that doesn't mean the paint can't be protected and the car dressed up. Here's my car in its winter wear. Consider months without a wash not uncommon.



ForesterDirtyFrostSmall.jpg




However, I do clean it up once in a while. My goal is to find a product or perhaps products that can let me continue my lax cleaning relationship but offer the protection I need to maintain a healthy, long term paint finish. This is why I'm looking into options with better longevity.



My other goal is simply to create the certain look I'd like to see. I'm just not sure what products lean towards that end goal or if that type of look is possible/repeatable on the blue paint surface. For some reason, unknown to me, it works right on the gold trim. I'm sure it just isn't as a smooth and glossy finish being painted/colored, plastic trim. Words like non-reflective, matte, and satin come to mind.



Is there a sealer/wax/something type of product that will create a matte/flatter look? I know this is common for dash and tire treatments, but is there a product for waxing to approach the same effect?



Something towards this effect but not so drastic. I understand the finish is like this on those cars, but I'd like to find a product that would create a non-reflective effect like this, something I could apply and wax over to give a deep, wet look without all the reflections.

Luckily - the factories are not doing this yet.. - Autopia.org
 
mvw2- The durability of Collinite 476S *will* rival sealants; I use a scad of different waxes and sealants and the 476S is great in this regard. Sealants will only beat if if the sealants are heavily layered and even then, the Collinite offers unusually good protection against bird bombs and bugs. I've used 476S on outside-24/7 vehicles. It's great for that an no, it won't melt off in the heat. Hey, it's an inexpensive can of wax...not a huge gamble and I'm quite certain you'll be satisfied.



Note that the other wax you mentioned, P21s, won't last long at all (at least compared to the Collinite) and IMO tends towards a "bright", highly reflective look...not what I think you want.



The sheen/etc. of the panels will usually depend more on the paint/surface itself and how it's prepped than it will on the wax/sealant. A wax will tend more towards what you want, but the differences will be pretty minimal in most cases. The finish on the lower sections is simply different stuff than the blue on the upper and you're not gonna get the same look out of both (I've had Subies).
 
An Amino-Functional sealant like Meg's 20 will crosslink and offer Max protection.



the ingredients in products are competing against each other Durability,protection,gloss etc.. the ingredients have to be blended to make the best amount of ecah in a product.



I would go with Meg's 20 or Collinte if use Collinite use it over Meg's deep crystal paint cleaner or buy some Werkstatt Prime and Klassse all-in-one one one vehicle use the Klasse top with Collinite then next vehicle use Werktatt Prime plus Colllinte.
 
Ok.



I've got some final questions.



There are a variety of glazes/pre-wax treatments. Do these allow adjustable options in look, depth, etc.? I'm just curious if there are intermediate products available that allow for some modification to the end look. For example, I have generally used the Mother's 3-step process to go results. Cleaner->glaze->wax plus a second coat of glaze->wax in a week or so. Is it possible to use these cleaners/glazes/sealers to get the different look? Maybe I could attempt a more opaque under layer that would soften and diffuse the light in order to soften up the shine and reflection. I don't know. I don't think many folks attempt the opposite of a mirror-like finish.:nixweiss
 
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