Buffer / Wax Advice

[saturnkk]

I am looking to buy an orbital buffer. Does anyone here use one on there Cobra to Wax it? Which brand/model would you recommend?

Also, consumer reports rates the following liquid waxes 1-3:

1. Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 (69 of 100)
2. Nu Finish (68 of 100)
3. Meguiar's Gold Class Carnuba Plus (68 of 100)

Anyone have any strong preferences in this area? Years ago I was told Zymol (ranked about 7 or 8 by consumer reports) was the best but I didn't really notice a difference over other "top brands"....

Never used paste wax much but they do rate Nu Finish paste with the highest score of all (71 of 100).

[Dirty Harry]

My favorite is Meguiers Gold Class. As for a buffer, I prefer to apply all my products by hand.

[fjrgary]

i have a sears craftsmen 9" orbital that does a good job, as for the wax i like the pinnacle line of products. they're not cheap but you get what you pay for. i use the spray wax like detailer, for the top coat i go to the souveran paste. if you're not as anal as i am then mothers liquid carnuba or nxt works well.

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by fjrgary

i have a sears craftsmen 9" orbital that does a good job, as for the wax i like the pinnacle line of products. they're not cheap but you get what you pay for. i use the spray wax like detailer, for the top coat i go to the souveran paste. if you're not as anal as i am then mothers liquid carnuba or nxt works well.

Consumer Reports didn't rate Pinnacle. Do you like it better than Meguiar's and New Finish? Have you tried those too...

Mothers rated about in the middle of the pack. I used to use 10-15 years ago. I think that I like their leather cleaner/conditioner at that time.

[rgnbull1227]

Originally Posted by saturnkk

Consumer Reports didn't rate Pinnacle. Do you like it better than Meguiar's and New Finish? Have you tried those too...

Mothers rated about in the middle of the pack. I used to use 10-15 years ago. I think that I like their leather cleaner/conditioner at that time.

I also use Pinnacle. Been using it on my exotics since the mid 90's and best I've used and I've tried them all. Way better than Meguiars in my opinion.

[Mother]

Which ever polisher you decide to purchase. Use lots of sprayed on water when polishing or you will burn through the finish paint. I have found that an empty Windex Pump Spray bottle, filled with water works best.

[scootter]

I use the Zanio products. It's easy to apply by hand. I have seen many cars with swirl marks from buffers.
Scott

[4pipes]

Excellent advice. Zaino lasts for ever and can be dry wash with a few of their products. You can burn the clear coat if you do not use a polisher correctly.

[fjrgary]

i have to admit the zaino products if used properly do a great job. i seen a black corvette that was done with MANY coats of zaino products, it was the best finish i have ever seen on a car. thought about trying them myself but i could never remember which products to use and in what order. CRS is a bi$ch!!

[Varmit]

Used Zaino on my Vettes, then tried Adams, like the Adams much better. Use an orbital buffer to apply, the wipe the residue off, and finish with a good Canuba paste. Makes the Black Cobra look like a Black Diamond!!

[saturnkk]

Mine is red with a the white stripes. I am concerned to use any type of polish that it might leave swirls or damage the clear coat or stripes eventually.

I was hoping to stick with just a wax protective coat to help guard against swirls and paint damage while still leaving a nice mirror shine....

I assume that these multi-step processes bing used are wash, polish, wax?!?

[itstock]

Originally Posted by saturnkk

Mine is red with a the white stripes. I am concerned to use any type of polish that it might leave swirls or damage the clear coat or stripes eventually.

I was hoping to stick with just a wax protective coat to help guard against swirls and paint damage while still leaving a nice mirror shine....

I assume that these multi-step processes bing used are wash, polish, wax?!?

I used the Meguiars DA microfiber Paint correction kit on my car. I removed all of the factory paint swirl marks and I am more than pleased with the results. The DA microfiber kit is damn near fool proof, so no need to worry about burning through the paint or leaving swirl marks. Do it under GREAT light so that you can be certain to get rid of any fresh buff marks.

It's finished with the M21 synthetic sealant which is "basically" the orbital safe version of the NXT 2.0 wax.

[Varmit]

Originally Posted by saturnkk

Mine is red with a the white stripes. I am concerned to use any type of polish that it might leave swirls or damage the clear coat or stripes eventually.

I was hoping to stick with just a wax protective coat to help guard against swirls and paint damage while still leaving a nice mirror shine....

I assume that these multi-step processes bing used are wash, polish, wax?!?

Go to the Adams web site. I had the same concern until I did a bit of research on the subject. I use a buffer with swirl remover, then polish with a buffer then use an applier for the Canuba, it comes out perfect under any light angle. Whe you use the buffer as directed, you will have no problems at all with swirl marks.

[Don]

Originally Posted by fjrgary

i have to admit the zaino products if used properly do a great job. i seen a black corvette that was done with MANY coats of zaino products, it was the best finish i have ever seen on a car. thought about trying them myself but i could never remember which products to use and in what order. CRS is a bi$ch!!

I continue to use Zaino......their web site on product usage

Zaino Bros': Zaino Store

[saturnkk]

Originally Posted by Don

I continue to use Zaino......their web site on product usage

Zaino Bros': Zaino Store

Thanks. Their prodcut line is a bit overwhelming...

[blown871]

a good wax... and really keep up on it with a good spary wax....
the car will continue to shine.....
--
(I have another car that I do this with.. and have had the car judged favorably at some shows)
-
... If I had my choice....DRIVE it....I am very guilty of overthinking anything in the winter months in upstate NY.. and creating more work for myself... and spending $.....
Life is too short....

just my .02

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by blown871

I am very guilty of overthinking anything in the winter months in upstate NY.. and creating more work for myself... and spending $.....
Life is too short....

Bench racing and imagineering is the only way we get through these "non-driving" months here in New York! However we do appreciate our cars more than than those 12 months a year SoCal guys do....the two best drives of the year are the first one and the last one......................

[rpatton3]

I agree. Bench racing and cold weather projects are all some of us do til spring.

[Bod]

Anyone using the Surf City Garage products and are they rated ??

[cdog]

I would recommend something like the Porter 7424. See a good starter kit here: XMT Porter Cable 7424XP Light Swirl Remover Kit FREE BONUS! A DA Polisher is very easy to use for car polishing. I would start with 5.5" pads.

It's not the wax that makes the car shine, it's the polishing procedure.

For waxes, a lot of people recommend Collinite 845. Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845, liquid wax, heat-resistant wax, car wax

I like to use a polymer product, like Blackfire wet diamond (BLACKFIRE Wet Diamond All Finish Paint Protection, paint sealant, synthetic sealant, blackfire sealant) followed by a traditional carnuba wax.

Autogeek has a good selection of high-end products, better stuff than you see at local stores. And some tutorials.