What's best practice for polishing/protecting wood inserts in luxury cabin?

SilverLexus

SilverLexus

Super Enthusiast
Just wanted to see what process and products people here are using for interior wood trim....



Is there a preferred polish and wax? technique?



Any suggestions for removing light scratches gently?



Thanks! :)
 
I'd like to know this too. The finish on the wood in the SC isn't gone, but it's a little lighter than it should be, me thinks.
 
Plexus works well.



You can also apply a sealant. Basically, you can treat like any other painted surface but with the understanding, it's meant to be polished heavily.



Paco
 
I dunno if maybe Lexus has changed the wood they use in their cars since mine was made (1995) but I'm positive it's not plastic, and I don't think it's finished. Maybe some teak oil for boats? I have no idea what kind of wood is in the cabin.
 
Unless it's a Rolls or something, I'm pretty sure that all veneer's are clear coated these days. I can't think of any car that would still have oiling as a requirement as the number of customer complaints about wood drying out would be a significant problem.



Scottwax and other do a lot of high end vehicles, perhaps they can chime in and say what type of finishes are on the dash/console inlays.



Paco
 
Paco is right, wood in cars is coated.



Generally, I try to stick with 1 damp and 1 dry MF towel to clean the wood. You really have to be careful with 97-01 Mercedes because there is a transmission control module under the console and if it gets wet, kiss it and $1000 good-bye...not to mention a tow to the dealer since the car won't go.



I've had good results with VM and AIO and foam pads to polish out very light defects.
 
What Scottwax said :xyxthumbs A mild all-in-one type product to clean, a very mild polish with protection (e.g., 1Z WPS) if it has more severe defects, then some LSP if I feel like it. If it's already perfect looking I might just do a quick coat of a LSP (only). The Jag's wood has held up to this just fine and it'll be twenty years old this summer. The same regimen seems to work fine on our other vehicles as well.
 
How about simulated wood? I think mine has clear and it has many light scratches (swirl like) for whatever reason(s). AIO + foam pad should do the trick? I tried PlastX without luck...too agressive?
 
I'm not sure about this one, never got around to working on the simulated stuff in the Caprice. I dunno if the AIO will have enough cut.



I'd try Plexus and/or Griot's Plastic Polish, both of which I have on the shelf but haven't used yet. The Caprice is out of town so I can't even experiment with them.
 
I use Menzerna FPII and follow up with a sealant of choice. Optimum Car Wax comes to mind for its ease of use.
 
I have tried AIO+SG, multiple coats of SG (10+) and Plexus.



All have given a very nice shine. Once got out a very visible scratch with Scratch X, rubbing lightly and perpendicular to the scratch.



BUT, I still have some spider webs and scratches that Plexus and AIO have not touched.
 
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