polish defined?

Long time lurker, first time poster.



I've been following the waxtest "saga" for several days. I've communicated briefly with them. And I am very disappointed to hear that they received threats and worse from some sick and twisted people who can't seem to get over the comments the waxtest team made about some products. Considering all we've been thru since 9-11, you'd think folks would mellow out and refocus their priorities in life. But for some the priorities seem to be continuation of the mayhem and terror.



We are all victimized by the actions of those who attacked the waxtest folks. Many of us consider ourselves car care enthusiasts and by association we are involved.



I've read all the posts in here about this issue. And the thing that has disappointed me about the posters in here is that many have dissed the waxtest findings, the efforts, and the opinions, but no one (NO ONE) has offered a better solution or system.



There are some talented and knowledgeable people that hang out in Autopia Forums. Why haven't you put together a team and attempt the same thing? There have been several disparaging comments about the lack of scientific methodology. Well, why not apply some of your expertise in methodology and offer a superior product test?



I know it's easy to sit back and post whatever we feel like with the knowledge that we are safe from recrimination or reprisal. But isn't it time for the "experts" to put their money where their mouth is and attempt to raise the bar?
 
So yeah, it was the real guy. I e-mailed him and he told me, so I was mistaken.



I give this guy a lot of credit for putting up with crap. We do a lot of testing in my department at work and what we get is what we get, despite how it normally performs.



Rather than ostracizing the guy we should start a thread and give him tips.



Steve
 
that the words...i was wrong appear here....and not infrequently....prove that this is the best detailing...car care site anywhere...anytime....ever....and we're all very modest too!!!!!!!!!!:D
 
You want some Klasse to try out??



I can hook you up with some of the AIO and SG.



Just gotta find some 4 oz. bottles.. I will be going to Genovese tomorrow or something and look for them.



Jason
 
bigboy--



I didn't mean to offend anyone here. My point was that a hobby/interest gets out of hand when personal threats start getting made. Sure, I love discussions and debates about certain products because I feel that it keeps this board running. When it becomes necessary that the police have to be called out to resolve a dispute, then it is time to set aside our hobby and realize to stop the flaming. Just wanted to clarify... :D
 
"Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and helpful during the past couple of days. We thought we'd give you a brief update.

We have decided to continue with the tests, although two of our testers have left us. We are also working on getting some non-detail-type people involved in the tests to serve as additional judges.



Due to some business requirements, we will be traveling over the next couple of days. We will work on our updates during that time, and the next time you see us "live", the site will have a new look and feel, much more information, more pictures, and more detail about our testing methods.



Thank you again for visiting us, we should be live again by the end of the week.



-Sincerely,

The Guys @ thewaxtest.com"
 
We will be back in business shortly. We have regrouped, identified the person that was causing our troubles, and are now ready to resume publishing the results from our ongoing wax tests.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience we might have caused you, and we're so grateful that you continue to visit and send us kind words of support and encouragement.



We can hardly wait to have the site back up and running. Look for it very soon.

Thanks again to everyone.



-Sincerely,

The Guys @ thewaxtest.com
 
Here is my 2 cents on a factor which I believe may have been at least partially responsible for the reaction to waxtest report:

Some analysts are clearly objective and dispassionate. You can usually tell by their langauge. It is objective and scientific. Others are not so objective. You can tell, often, because you sense <em class='bbc'>attitudes[/i] and <em class='bbc'>emotional biases[/i] in their writting.

My problem with the waxtest is that I get this distinct impression of emotion and attitudes on the part of the writters. This immediately makes me suspicious of the writter. I want testers to be dispassionate. I think that often we react strongly (if unconsciously) when we sense that a writer has an undisclosed, but seemingly evident, biase or attitude.
 
Morning,

After reading some paragraphs, am I correct that to polish equals to clean and it also is the act of buffing for shining the car?

Then, I see products that are" all in one " advertized here---polish and sealants on the label. Does this mean it cleans and is a sealant, so you do not need too use a wax? It is a cleaner and a sealant all in one---saving you time? And then, one could just clean the cars with car wash soap, and use the cleaner/sealant say twice a year? thanks, softoa
 
softoa said:
Morning,

After reading some paragraphs, am I correct that to polish equals to clean and it also is the act of buffing for shining the car?
Click to expand...

Good morning!

Keep in mind that many products use different terms for the same thing, thus the words: polish, glaze, and wax can be used for different products. Always read the manufacturers directions and descriptions to make sure you are familiar with what the product is for.

In general, paint polishes are used to 'clean' the paint or remove a small amount of paint in order to remove damage and increase the smoothness of the paint. Polishes create a flatter, more uniform surface that reflects light better. The majority of the shine comes from having paint that is free of micro scratches and damage.

-Some waxes and glazes are also called polishes, although they function differently.
Then, I see products that are" all in one " advertized here---polish and sealants on the label. Does this mean it cleans and is a sealant, so you do not need too use a wax? It is a cleaner and a sealant all in one---saving you time? And then, one could just clean the cars with car wash soap, and use the cleaner/sealant say twice a year? thanks, softoa
Click to expand...

Waxes and polishes are different.

Waxes and sealants fall into a category known as 'lsps' or Last Step Protectants. These are used to protect the finish, increase the shine, and provide a sacrificial barrier against the elements. The main goal of a LSP is to protect the paint.

All In One products are designed to polish the surface while leaving behind a sealant (or wax) to protect it. The amount of polishing action and the length of the protection is going to vary depending on the product used. Some AIO (All In One) products do a great job of polishing the paint but don't last very long, where as some AIO's do a mild job of polishing but have great durability. If you are specific in what qualities would appeal to you we could help you select the best AIO for you.

However, when you deal with AIO's you are getting some level of compromise. While most AIO's are extremely effective, they generally cannot achieve the same level of results as breaking polishing and protecting into two separate steps. In general (disclaimer) the best results are often achieved by polishing the paint to increase the shine then protecting it with a pure (non abrasive) wax or sealant. This is substantially more work.

I would recommend applying an AIO more frequently, about every three months. The best indicator for when it is time to replace the LSP comes from observation however. When the water no longer beads (after washing) as well or if the paint no longer feels slick, then it is a good time to replenish the LSP.

Hope this helps.

Todd
 
Hello Sir,

Thank-you... I read about 2 products and took some notes from this site. One being the Meguiar's No. 9 pre-wax cleaner and the Klasse All In One Polish and Sealant.

I now understand the purpose of polish is for the paint . For years just on my own cars, I've washed, waxed and cleaned the interiors.. I am not a detailer--but am learning more from your site. I now realize, I have not clayed or anything, hadn't heard that word even.!!

I probably won't purchase an AIO item.. I like to do things by hand and even though it takes longer to polish and then wax or seal it---I'll continue doing that.. And thanks for telling me to read the descriptions if one day I'd buy something that mentions a two-fold title.

Very helpful--thanks again, softoa..
 
softoa said:
Hello Sir,

Thank-you... I read about 2 products and took some notes from this site. One being the Meguiar's No. 9 pre-wax cleaner and the Klasse All In One Polish and Sealant.

I now understand the purpose of polish is for the paint . For years just on my own cars, I've washed, waxed and cleaned the interiors.. I am not a detailer--but am learning more from your site. I now realize, I have not clayed or anything, hadn't heard that word even.!!

I probably won't purchase an AIO item.. I like to do things by hand and even though it takes longer to polish and then wax or seal it---I'll continue doing that.. And thanks for telling me to read the descriptions if one day I'd buy something that mentions a two-fold title.

Very helpful--thanks again, softoa..
Click to expand...

Your very welcome!!!

The directions often help clarify what the product really is, and look past the sometimes confusing name attached to the title. If you ever have any questions (prior to purchasing a product) please feel free to post it on the forum. Hopefully somebody with experience in that area can help!!! (That's what we are here for :D ).

Most waxes that you purchase at an auto or department store (consumer grade) have a little 'cleaner' built into them because the average car is usually not cleaned, polished, or clayed, so the wax (or sealant) has to stick to something. So you may have been polishing the paint all these years and never even knew it!

If you are looking for a two step process that will provide awesome results I would recommend trying the Blackfire Gloss Enhancing Polish and topping it with Blackfire Wet Diamond Sealant. Prior to polishing you will want to clay the paint first to ensure it is clean.

I would set up a maitnence program like this...

1st detail of the year-

Wash thoroughly
Clay
Polish by hand
Apply Sealant

Wash frequently and perhaps apply a spray booster sealant after drying monthly to keep protection fresh. Blackfire Deep Gloss Spray will help extend the length of Blackfire Wet Diamond if used after every couple of washes.

Wash and apply another coat of Blackfire Wet Diamond every three months (four to six months if using the Deep Gloss booster spray) to ensure adequete protection.

Clay and polish yearly.
 
Appreciate the schedule you've sent and the products you've written about for a polish then a sealant.

I have a 99 Ford Escort with 200,000 miles that I'll try a claybar on for practice before trying that claying on someone elses car. I've washed, waxed that car 3 times a year in the midwest being the sole owner . Just being a neophite basically and small town person who didn't know anything other than using "elbow grease." Glad to hear that maybe I've been polishing the paint on my cars for over 30 years perhaps and not realizing that. softoa..
 
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