New to detailing, some questions about piling/zaino & polishing/glazing.

Q

qwik

New member
Hey guys, i've used zaino for years and its a great product but now i recently had my car repainted with a custom paint job, 2002 GM Electron Blue Metallic with PPG paint. It came out nice but there are certain spots that appear dull, i am using 3M Finesse-III finishing glaze to bring out the shine on those areas. Also i can see some small swirl marks from the crappy towels that the guy used to clean the polish off i guess.



So basically i am looking for a guide, i've gone through all of the learning things on the board and searched around but i can't really find something definitive on what i should start out with and use. i know there is so much speculation on what to do, what to use etc.



I was wondering if i can polish the car to get it completely smooth and free of swirls and anything else that is in the paint than pile zaino over it, is that possible and will that seal the polish in, will the zaino adhere properly? I know it depends on what i use to polish the paint, which brings me to the next quetsion, what should i use!??



Since it is new paint, new clear etc, i guess i don't need anything too abrassive so that narrows the list down, and the paint condition is near perfect, maybe a scratch or 2 from driving it already but i guess i can fix that with some 3M stuff later on.



sorry for the essay of a post but i really want to get moving on this now. I am pretty confused about the abbreviations you guys use, i wish you had a guide lol. Any good resources for novices displaying various types of products used etc?





I would appreciate some responses, thanks in advance guys.
 
You are going the right route with 3M PIII-MG for light swirls. More intensive swirls or marks may need a more agressive cleaner/polish, which DACP is a good product to use provided you start with a white polish pad first. If after it breaks down to a powder and you still have marks, try the yellow pad. If marks are that deep or far down, it may take a cutting compound or keep the DACP and switch to rotary if you used them before.



3M PIII-MG does remove swirls pretty well for the light stuff, which you just may have and need to work it longer.



Always try the least abrasive first, least abrasive pad as well. It's new and maybe the clear has the marks from the toweling, so 3M should do it.



The DACP may haze and if so, don't panic, just get the 3M PIII-MG again.



Once done, try the new Zaino Z5/Z2. Works for me! See my SC430 below in sig. Dealer put a good amount of swirls on it. Honest, it needs a bit more work, but ran out of time, so more 3M PIII-MG followed by Menzerna FP on a grey pad will do it. I used the grey pad so that only the polish works the finish, not the pad.



Since you say the finish is cured, you're safe to proceed with DACP.



Take your time. Go over each section as some may need the DACP and others may not.



Regards,

Deanski
 
First, Autopia does have an acronyms list on the Home Page: http://www.autopia.org/display.php?file=acronyms.htm



Second, it's kinda hard to tell you exactly what to use since none of us can see your car and evaluate the problem. There are literally hundreds of polishes on the market so there's no one perfect product that will work like magic. It takes some experience and experimentation to get the results you want.



In general its best to start polishing with the mildest product required and work your way up the aggressiveness ladder until you get the results you want. I'd guess that 3M polish you mentioned would be an OK starting point. It's easier to start working on one panel and gauge results than polishing the entire car. Play with the polishes a little bit to see how they work for you.



I'm not clear what you're saying about Zaino and polishes. For best results your paint should be polished to perfection prior to Zaino as it tends to highlight flaws. When all your polishing is done, wash the car to remove any residual fillers and oils from the polishes, then apply Zaino. This ensures proper bonding.



I don't know if this answers your questions but I hope it helps some. Don't overthink this: Start with a couple mild polishes, some new applicators, a few microfiber towels for product removal, and get to work. There's no mystery or secret formula to making your car look great, just hard work and some experimenting.
 
Thanks for the quick responses guys. Basically what i mean't was can i polish the car than put zaino onto of the polished surface? What i am using is called 3M Finesse-it II Finishing Material. The description it is Designed to remove minor scratches and light oxidation while producing a high-gloss wet look finish on fiberglass and painted surfaces.



So so far it has done the trick with some dull edges and inside curves and other areas. If i am supposed to be using something else to bring the shine up than please let me know. Here is a picture of the stuff too. http://store5.yimg.com/I/levineauto_1746_1028331



I don't know whether i can go over the whole car with this stuff, i am pretty sure this is the same stuff that my body shop guy used when it came out of the booth to bring the shine up. Its considered a polish but is this the polish that i want to use to really remove the small scratches/swirls left over from the initial polishing or something else. I do not have a buffer, but i will buy one if i need to. You were talking about DACP isn't that basically the same thing that i am using now?



So to reiterate, should i continue using the 3M FI-III (finess-it III finishing glaze) all over the car, either by hand or machine, than wash, and zaino?



BTW what is Menzerna FP? I know Menzerna is a line of cleaning supplies but will you be using that on top of or in place of the zaino? Sorry for the confusing post lol, thats how i get sometimes.
 
Just be sure you strip off all the goup before Zaino. It is a synthetic polymer, not a wax, so it doesn't bond as well if fillers and such are there. I always wash with Dawn prior to putting first coats of Zaino on.
 
I might just stick with Klasse for now, and trial and error. Should i dawn before i use the P21S body lotion wash on the car?
 
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