okay so I'm really wanting to do my first wax job on my 997. never even looked at this kinda thing before. I have done some reading on here and decided to clay, polish, wax. ive also decided I'm going to use zymol but not sure exactly which products to order. also what I'm wondering is if there is a video or write up showing step by step what I should be doing. also all items needed and so on and so on. I guess basically does anyone know of a link to give me all information needed to confidently do this task coming into it knowing nothing. I will continue to read past posts. as always thanks for all information provided! cheers!

 

Easy to do.

Apply a thin amount one body panel
At a time. Wait few minutes until it dries to a haze.

Wipe off.

You're welcome.

 

I would look into the Zaino line of polishes and waxes for your jewel. Their website is also very informative

 

incase you missed the part about clay, polish and wax ill repeat myself. I am looking to do all 3 and am basically asking for advice, tips and tricks to do a great job stress free.

awesome thank you!!! I will check out the site!

 

for simple detailing: wash, clay, wash (or at least rinse), polish, wax, wait 24 hrs, wax again, seal.

u can use pretty much any clay. make sure to use plenty of clay lube.

if this is the first time u r detailing, i would recommend u use Klasse all-in-one for ur polish (use random orbital such as Flex or Porter Cable)

i realize u said u r going to Zymol, but i havent seen anything work as well as Klasse when it comes to 1) fixing minor flaws, 2)taking off any old wax left, and 3)polishing to a brilliant shine.. and its all so simple.

after u buff out the polish, hand wax with Pinnacle Souveran Caruba wax.

Klasse and Pinnacle Souveran combo is the best i've used.

Here is a kit that gives u everything u need for detailing the outside (no wheels):
http://www.autogeek.net/sokit.html

and everything u wanted to know about detailing:
http://www.autogeek.net/detailingtips.html

and u can always ask Moe in the detailing section on this forum. He is undoubtedly an expert and a gentleman.

lastly, if u have the time, use painters blue tape around the plastic/rubber mold to avoid polish/wax getting on them

 

I second the Zaino reference, I have tried so many things and always go back to Zaino. You are not paying for all the advertising of many of the other companies, your paying for a great product at what I consider a very fair price.

To answer your question the prep is KEY, wash it really good. When you clay use a spray detail (I use Meguiars NXT). Spray a small 12"X12" sqaure at a time, then clay, then wipe. Use your hand to feel for any contaminents on the paint, you can not see them usually, but you can feel them. After you do one panel you might be able to do bigger areas at a time, but I would not go to big. I finish one panel at a time, constanly turning/folding the clay. If you drop a clay bar throw it out, not worth it. After your complete with Clay some people wash again, I just wipe it down with Detail Spray. Then follow the Zaino instructions, the stuff is really amazing. Let me warn you it is not a Wax, it will not clean water spots when you put it on like some cleaner waxes. The surface has to be prepped if you want to get the most out of it. Put it on REALLY THIN, a very small amount goes a long way. I usually wax 2-3 panels, then I go back and wipe down the first one, after than I wax one panel and then wipe another, keep going until the entire car is done. Once a year I wax door jambs, under the hood, trunk, ect. Buy the Zaino bucket also, it has the screen at the bottom.

The best part about Zaino is you can keep adding layers and the shine just keeps getting better, I also find it lasts much longer than any wax I have used.

I may have missed something, I am sure I have. I have tried just about every Zaino product and none have let me down, their tire dressing stays on the tire and it is not really shiny, to me it is just right, same with the leather conditioner.

Good luck, ask questions and read up on things.

 

Key is liberal with polish and use a machine back and forth up and back a few times per 2 foot square; and sparing with wax as all you need to do is lay down a very thin coat. Remove polish after each 2-ft square you lay down. Let wax set up before removing.

Wash and clay first of course...

 

this is all awesome. thanks!! looking at both sites. lots of info!! thanks.

 

There are a lot of information regarding detailing, you pick a method that works for you. Autogeek is a great place to learn. You only need to do it once to get over the beginners fright, then you'll be very comfortable and better as you go. Unless you are trying to remove deep scratches, it's really not that difficult to detail your car.

 

Since your car is black you will most likely have to use 2 different polishes. All depends on how bad your paint is (how much correction you need, more cut more correction). The first step in the polish will take out the scratches/Swirls...the second will remove what the first polish left and leave a haze and hologram free surface (finishing polish - no cut). Very important with black. Some will say to use 3 different polishes, but I got a great finish out of just 2. You will want to tape off an area on a nice flat surface for a test (about 2'x2') Use this to test your polishes to make sure they will take all of your scratches out. Start with the mildest polish and go up until you have a perfectly swirl free finish. VERY IMPORTANT step. You don't want to do the whole car and then realize the polish did not have enough cut.

You must buy a polisher. Doing it by hand will never get the scratches/ swirls out. You will also need to get matching polishing pads for the cut and finish polishes.

Like Ynot said....Go to Autogeek and read their forums. They have videos on the techniques and will tell you which products are easier to work with. Wolfgang makes some great polishes and are super easy - you will see 2 referred to as the "sisters". One is a cutting polish and the other is the finishing and leave your car looking like glass. Follow with a nice Wax and your car will look wet.....Nothing better than that moment with a black car!

Oh yeah almost forgot. Forget the clay....Get one of the new Nanoskin cloths or attachments for your buffer. Much easier and faster than clay!

 

Perhaps I'm confused, but I read somewhere on other posts that one should Seal then Wax last after the sealant, to the above steps?

 

There is good advice here re: surface prep. If you do it well, the results will dazzle you. My C2S is black, so basically I'm a slave to it. Zaino is super easy on, easy off, lasts a long time in FL. I have put on three coast in 3 hours. That's just body, no wheels, tires, etc. It's fast, does a great job, durable. Interior gets Zymol, sucks it right up, doesn't have the typical interior product smell/slime. Worth the price.

You may laugh, but if I drop a wash cloth on the ground when I'm still washing exterior panels, that cloth is replaced, sent to wheel duty. Black scratches easily. One grain of sand...

 

you have a bunch of good info in here.
to add on this, have some practice run... I did my mazda3 and matrix first. then I moved to the 997
I prefer screwing up on these cars rather than the 997...

I personaly used the meguiar's product. probably not the best. but this I used for practice runs... :-)

 

u r correct.

it should be '...polish, seal, wax, wait, wax.' although, many times, i've skipped the sealant

like u stated, its a good idea to use sealant, then apply caruba wax to bring out the depth.

 

Another good option for your final coat is a WOWA product. I used blackfire's and it was stupid easy and left a brilliant shine. I would say it is a little less of a deep wet look than a carnuba, but after about 12 hours of detailing......I was beat!