Need Terminology Clarification & Advice

C

charlesvr

New member
Hello All! I am a regular over at www.AcuraTL.com and I just purcahsed my new ride 3 weeks ago. I'm determined to take excellent care of this car. However, I am relatively new to detailing. I do know a fair amount of what I consider some advanced detailing tasks such as claying. And I did a LOT of searching on this site before composing this post.



My basic question: Does wax = polish? I realize that carnuba is natural, and Zaino or Klasse are synthetics.



My current detailing equipment:

*I have ordered Zaino Z1 and Z2.

*Meguire's Final Inspection as my QD.

*Mother's Claybar kit (Wal Mart)

*order of 20 MF towels from JT International,

*along with a waffle-weave drying towel.



I know that Zaino is synthetic and not a carnuba. I read that Zaino is termed a polish, but I saw no statement regarding Zaino as a wax. Assuming that polish is not wax, should I be waxing after applying Z1 and Z2? If so, what type of wax? I ordered the Zaino products thinking I would only need that to protect my car. Then I realized that I should have gotten the Z6, but because of the wait and cost, I opted for the Final Inspection as my QD. I read on this board that Zaino and FI work well together -- maybe not as well as with Z6, but whatever.



My plan of attack:

1) Dawn car wash

*2) Clay with either the supplied Mother's Lubricant or FI

3) Dawn car wash again

4) Z1

5) Z2

6) Maybe some FI here and there.



Regarding #2 above, I heard that the Mother's Lubricant that comes in the claybar kit contains a small amount of carnuba. I think that carnuba and zaino are not compatible, but I think the 2nd dawn car wash would strip any carnuba that was on the paint.



Sorry to be so long winded. Just want to start off right, and Thanks for your help! :D
 
Welcome!



Ok, in answer to your questions, you will find that polish is a misused term often times. Zaino is a polymer sealant, and if you are doing a blow by blow comparison, equivalent to wax in the stage of detailing. However, it has better optical clarity, is more durable, and better reflectivity (I am not a Zaino user - yet, this is from posts and pics from here). Zaino is like a pure carnauba wax in that it has no cleaning ability, so with an SMR and claying beforehand is a good idea, even on a new car.



In your steps, if you use car soap as lube for the clay, you don't have to do the second dawn wash, you can just do a quick wash to clean up the residue and Z away! If you use an SMR, you will have to Dawn wash, as there are oils and fillers, which would affect Z's ability to bond.



I personally use #20, which is a polymer sealant (although pretty good, it's inferior to Klasse and Z, from all the results I have seen). I use a wax topper, but most Z users will recommend against topping Z with wax.



Good luck, and put up some pics when you are done.
 
Think of it this way:



A polish is an abrasive that will actually take away a tiny amount of clearcoat (much like light sanding a wood floor)



You use polish to get the surface as perfect as possible before sealing in that perfection.



A Polymer sealant is a chemically based product does just that -- seals & protects the paint -- it lasts much longer than a natural wax (much like polyurethane on a floor)



A wax is a natural product that is designed to wear away gradually (say about 6 weeks), carrying away dust, etc, when you wash -- (like the old Johnson's Floor Wax)



Hope this helps a little! Post pics when done!!! :xyxthumbs
 
Welcome to Autopia,

Your plan looks good. I am a Zaino user and heretic ;). I would suggest that you eventually invest in some Z6 and Z7. Z6 actually helps with the gloss and surface prep prior to adding another layer of Z2 polish (sealant). The Z7 improves the appearance by adding sealant during the washing procedure. There is no problem from reading threads about Zaino and FI except that it must be removed prior to adding more Z2.? No problem if you are washing the car but if one evening the car's just sitting in the garage all clean and previously QD'd with FI you can not just layer more Z2 without rewashing.

You will love the Zaino and if you have a light colored car you will be amazed.

Enjoy. :wavey
 
You guys rock. This is awesome. I now have a community of people who share my obsession for keeping my new car sharp and clean. I have a Silver Satin Metallic exterior on my new 2003 Acura TL Type-S. Hoping the Zaino treats me well. This is my first new car, and I intend on keeping it in tip-top shape. Especially when one considers the $30k I am paying. :eek: Of course I realize this is modest price to some of you, but cripes -- this is the best car I could afford!



Leaving my car at home for a week while I go to North Carolina's Outer Banks for a week in the sun! :D Here's to hoping next Sunday when i return that I get some nice weather for me to do my detailing!
 
Just to clarify for ya, sometimes a polymer sealant will describe itself as a polish. Polish, in this sense has nothing to do with a polish used as part of a multi-stage finish care system (Example, cleaner, polish, wax).



With Zaino, you are using a man made compound that achieves the results of a three-step system with one product. Its called a polish, just cause' its called a polish.



With a three-step system, one normally cleans the paint first with a cleaner. An example would be Meguiars Medallion Paint Cleaner. Then you move to a polish. A polish may have abrasives included to remove swirls (3M SMR, Meguiars DACP, Meguiars Swirl Free Polish, Meguiars Speed Glaze, 3M Fi-II) or it may just be a pure polish (3M IHG, Meguiars #7, Meguiars Machine Glaze). Pure polishes add oils to the paint and create the high gloss wet look. Sometimes they have fillers to help hide swirls and may be referred to as a glaze. Then to lock in the oils and look of the polish, a wax is applied.



Waxes come in all shapes and sizes including cleaner-waxes, waxes that polish and wax in one step, and pure waxes.



So the answer to your basic question is no, waxes do not = polishes.



The Mothers lube in the clay kit is good stuff. Use it and the dawn wash afterwards will take care of any residue. Most folks do not top Zaino with a wax because it negates the key to the Zaino system, which is layering. You may top with a wax if you wish; you just can't layer more Z on later without stripping the wax.
 
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