I have been out of the detailing scene since about the time zfx was first coming out (if that gives you any idea)...

Will be working on a black 996 and my seal grey metallic 986....

what are gonig to be the best products for giving these their depth, gloss, as well as durability/protection?

Thanks

 

The condition of your paint and your skill level will dictate the products you'll use. If you want to keep things simple, a clay, polish, and wax routine will do wonders from where you are right now. If you have swirls and scratches that are bothering you, then we've got to step it up a notch and get you a Porter Cable Dual Action polisher, Menzerna Polishes and put you to work. Let us know where you fit in in that spectrum.

 

i had a pc7424 a few years back but sold it when i got out of the "care-about-my-car" period and started driving a beater for a few years... i was actually doing details for people on less high-end rides (vettes, 3-series bmws, transams, etc)... i mostly used the PC for the swirls and did the regular polish by hand... i have exceptional towels i buy from a company local that sells detailing products, but they only sell their brand... and while i've used it with success, i would like to know what else is out there (and probably better)...

so i guess in the spectrum, i know what to do, i know why to do it, and i'm pretty up on the terminology... it's just that there are so many options now and so many high-dollar things (which may or may not be worht the $)... knowing that my car (the seal grey) is a metallic and not a gloss makes it less noticeable for swirls and small flaws... i'm wondering if several coats of polish and then sealing with a wax might be best.. and if so which ones and also which ones to use the PC for and which to do by hand (i have a close friend with a PC i can borrow until i get another for myself)

btw, saw some of your other detail threads, specifically the aston martin new-car prep and you obviously know what you're talking about so thanks for replying and helping out!

also, the black 996 is a buddy that's getting into his first porsche and i was going to help him with cleaning it up

 

S100 is great and affordable wax! they sell it at harley dealers it's the exact same thing as P21s (which usually sells for $30 a can) but at half the cost. It really is great stuff.

As far as polish I like griots staged machine polish.

 

are you planning on using getting another machine like the PC? and doing this on your car as well as family/friends?

If so I would probably pick up a Flex XC3401 (its much better than a PC especially if you know how to use a PC) match it up with Menzerna Super Intensive Polish and a green CCS pad and finish with Menzerna PO85RD and a blue CCS Pad and you will have some great results.

Finish with a nice Carnauba to get a warm deep glossy paint. (Lusso or Swissvax)
Lusso
Swissvax
Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Fully agree with Phil's product recommendations. I used the Menzerna products followed by Zaino on my M3. Several years ago I started with a PC...have recent moved to a Mak BO6040. Phil, who makes the Flex XC3401? Spec's read well.

 

With all that said, then you're up to the task. I recommend using the Menzerna SIP and Lake Country Orange CCS pad and finishing up with Menzerna Nano Polish and Lake Country White CCS pad. From there, I hand polish using Zymol HD-Cleanse and finish with 2-3 layers of Zymol Concours. If you like the AM Vanatge I did, you'll get a taste of it using this process. Please let me know if this helps and/or if you have further qustions.

 

The Flex XC3401 is made by Flex Tools in Germany. Its a solid machine and has changed the enthusiast /pro detailing scene just like what the PC did years ago.

If you have the PC and haven't moved to the Flex boy are you missing out.

I have had customers pick up the PC and moved to the Flex within 1-2 weeks wanting more.

 

3M's Perfect-It 3000 line is pretty bulletproof. Just take your time and do it right.

John

 

good info... a few questions... the SIP and nano polish, from what i'm reading seem more like swirl cutter/removers and then teh zymol products seem to be more towards the appearance/gloss/wet/depth phase... is that right?

also, i'm seeing that the zymol concours is quite pricey... possibily more than i'm looking to spend at this point ($180ish?)... is there a step (or a few) down that would be doable (maybe $50ish or under?) for a final product?

also, i was looking at getting another pc7424 but after reading up on the flex, it seems like a no-brainer and i'm going to hold out for that one... might give me the edge locally in getting back into doing some detailing

i think for now, i'm less worried about swirls and more worried about some level of protection (and of course looks) to get me by for the next 6 months until i get into my house/garage (sits in the elements for now ).... and at that point i'll probably dive in deep (concours, etc)...

using the remainder of my tropicare tomorrow and the next cleaning will be time for some sort of new product...

 

1. You'll be using the zymol polish and wax AFTER machine polishing with the Menzerna Polishes. Keep in mind, you will not need to do this step if you're going to be usnig a synthetic wax. The reason we take the steps of polishing and waxing w/ zymol is to change the look to the natural, warm glow that can only come from a carnauba.

2. When you do the math, zymol concours isn't that expensive. Each 8oz jar will do about 50 applications. So, if you wax your car 3 times a year, that's over 15 years of wax. You can step down to Titanium and that sets you back $71.

3. If you want to invest in a great tool, save up for the flex. I haven't used it yet, but hear good reviews.

4. Use whatever you have product wise, and when it comes time to refill, then elevate your game to the high-end products. You'll be glad you did