Ed...I use spray wax in between "real" wax jobs. In my case right now I have
Zymol Concours on the shelf for paste wax. W/most quality paste waxes you
don't need to let them dry, in fact they recommend you don't. Wipe on, wipe off.

And for interim shine-up after washing - waterless or otherwise - I use Pinnacle Souveran Spray Wax (Autogeek). Takes 10 minutes.

IMO you need a good base wax job.

 

This is a great question because actually the shine/luster comes from the prep and not from the "wax." I've been writing a lot about claying the paint and getting the surface contaminant free - this is essential to achieving high gloss. As you've indicated, some LSPs (Last Step Product = wax, sealant, coatings, etc) are easier to apply. A great spray wax is by Optimum and if you want to go to your local auto parts store to pick something up, buy the Meguiars Ultimate Spray Wax. In fact any of the Meguiars Ultimate products are very good. Their Ultimate Compound is quite good. But to achieve a show car finish, you need clean paint and probably polish the paint with something like Sonax 3/6 or Menzerna 4000 which a light duty polishes. If in bad condition, then first use Menzera FG400 or Meguiars M101 and then follow up with the light duty polishes mentioned above. That's where the shine comes from.

Assuming you don't have any scratches or swirls, than a paint cleanser will get the job done. If there visible marring/swirls than you'll need either a compound or a polish - perhaps a two step process that is a combination of the two. I would also strongly recommend using a DA (dual action) polisher. These are paint safe and you cannot burn the paint with a DA polisher. Autogeek, Autotopia, Detailers Domain, Adams Polishes and Detailed Image are great places you can buy product and watch instructional videos. You can buy either a Porter Cable or a Griots for around $125 that will do nicely. The Flex 3401 is the Porsche of DAs and is really a fantastic piece of equipment.

To answer you question directly, here are a few of my favorite LSPs. I have purchased and used them all but once again, right tool for the right job.

SEALANTS - Spray on
Blackfire Crystal Seal or Wolfgang Deep Gloss Liquid Seal (WOWA -wipe on, walk away) New High Tech Spray-on Sealants. Nothing is easier to apply and only takes 10 minutes to seal the entire car. And the best part is it's WOWA!!! Since it's so easy to use, apply 3 coats for max effect, waiting 45-60 minutes between applications. Buy the one on sale or BOGO.
http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-crystal-seal.html
http://www.autogeek.net/spray-on-paint-sealant.html

Carpro RELOAD this is the Gloss Boss product of products and sheds water better than any other product I've tried. Only "disadvantage" is you cannot top with anything else that contains wax. v1 of ONR works great as your go to cleaning agent or detail spray. Literally repels dirt. Amazing but I like to fiddle so I've stopped buying it - but it's really terrific.
http://www.autogeek.net/cquartz-reload-spray.html


SEALANTS - in liquid form applied with buffer-let haze for 60 minutes
Menzerna Power Lock Polymer Paint Sealant.
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-pow...k-sealant.html

Carnauba Waxes - "old school" style waxes. The sky is the limit and the possibilities endless when it comes to Last Step Products (LSP). Here's a few of my favorites.

Collinite #845 - liquid and meant to be applied by machine. This wax is tough as nails and will last 6-8 mos. If you follow Nick's directions, super easy to apply & remove. Apply by hand or machine, wait 45-60 minutes and remove by hand with soft MF towel. One of my favorite combinations is 1-2 coats of #845 topped with 2 coats of BlackFire Crystal Seal. Unbeatable for the price!! Search Nick's article on how to use. I use this as my "base coat" of protection. Especially good on white & light colored paint
http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-in...r-wax-845.html

Auto Finesse Spirit - probably the best nuba I've found on white paint. Great depth of shine & gloss. Easy to use if applied by machine, let haze for 10 minutes and buff off. Competes with waxes costing 4x-6x more. This stuff wins the race IMHO.
http://www.autogeek.net/auto-finesse-spirit.html

Auto Finesse Illusion - probably the easiest nuba to use and almost as good as it's bigger brother Spirit. Because of the ease of use, I would recommend buying this one first if you like to apply wax by hand. It can also be applied by machine & wiped off immediately or let it haze - it's simply NOT fussy.
http://www.autogeek.net/auto-finesse-illusion-wax.html

Pinnacle Signature Series II - carnauba paste wax that's super easy to remove with a great look. Apply one panel at a time and then remove. They make a 3 oz jar which I recommend to start with.
http://www.autogeek.net/pisisepawax.html

Wolfgang Fuzion- hybrid paste wax that's super easy to remove with a great look. Arguably leaves the glossiest shine of any LSP. Apply one panel at a time and then remove-impressive results. They make a 3 oz jar which I recommend to start with due to price.
http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-fuzion-wax-sample.html

SPRAY WAX to re-apply coverage after bug & dirt removal, lower rocker panel touchups. Also used in-between sealant applicants for added protection or general touch up. Restores slick feeling to the paint.

Optimum Car Wax
http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-spray-wax.html

Meguiars Ultimate Spray Wax - readily available & a good product
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-spray-wax.html

 

CR Spotless

 

Lots of great advice...thanks for posting.

 

First, thank you everyone! Wow, I never expected what I thought was a simple question - which I feared would make me look like an idiot, but was worth it to protect my car - would end up with so much great advice and identify so many products. I, and I am sure that the others playing along at home, have learned or confirmed quite a lot! Let me see if I can sum up the answers and reduce this down to a shopping list of sorts - in keeping with the start of the thread, I will not add clays, waxes, sealants etc. as I will rely on my professional detailer (until Moe can open an NJ office!) for the heavy lifting and rely on his good judgment for that.


So just for those between detail sessions:


Washing: P21 Body Work shampoo and Gel Wheel cleaner; Griot's waterless cleaner works well also


Windows: Meguiars D120 glass cleaner and - most important - Kimberly Clark Wypall (green) microfiber glass cleaning cloths


Surface protection: Griot's speed wax; Reload


And see your professional detailer early and often! If I got something wrong or left out anything, please let me know.


My wife has been looking over my shoulder and, just to pass along an anecdote - she saw me looking at grit grids for wash buckets - I have been using a clean and a soapy bucket for a long time but without grit grids. Once I saw them, I had to order some - and new buckets, of course. My wife gave me that look that said, are you freaking kidding me, more car stuff (and, at the same time - and I can't get you to pick up your clothing and you are getting more stuff to WASH A CAR!).


I am guessing that more than one of you know exactly what look I am talking about.

 

I just wanted to get your input on a particular wax that was not on your list. The people in my local PCA chapter, overall, seem to love P21 wax. Have you used it and did you not like it? I will likely be letting others do my waxing so it is just a matter of curiosity. Thanks. And thanks for all the time and advice!

 

I have actually. There are two flavors and I prefer the P21s 100% Carnauba Wax version - higher nuba content. Excellent product and easy to work with. Apply by hand or machine over one panel and wipe off. Probably lasts 2-3 mos.

 

P21S waxes are some of the easiest to use. For the money, excellent value. For me, higher end carnaubas have always meant Zymol. We use Vintage as our go-to carnauba for our phase 2 and phase 3 service. For the average user, Concours is an attainable wax that will give you the Zymol "look" and will last several months.

 

If you want to try Zymol, Glasur is very highly rated and affordable. This is one I haven't personally tried but those with the nuba disease rate it high. Auto Finesse Spirit has yielded the best look & gloss to my eyes - but keep in mind I'm dealing with strictly white paint at the point.

 

Another great way to sample the Zymol line of waxes. If you send them an email inquiry, they will respond and give you a -20% code.

http://www.zymol.com/samplertwo.aspx

 

I assume you mean just damp cloths?

 

 

No chance i"m going waterless

 

We have a joke in Florida. How long does zymol last? As long as it took you to put it on. Check out Swiss Vax. I've been using it for 2 years and it's the best wax I've ever used. It's expensive, but I can get 10-12 wax jobs out of one jar