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Old 11-03-2003, 05:12 PM   #1
DrBoy01
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Wilmington, DE|Berkeley
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2006 Outback 2.5 XT
Garnet Red Pearl 5MT

Default Paint Care While at College (quick & dirty waxing)

To the NASIOC detailing pros:

I am currently attending school in Nashville, TN, in the middle of the city. Unlike my situation at home, I don't have a place to wash, wax, or detail my car. I don't have the money to go get my car professionally detailed, and I don't think that's necessary while I'm at college. I prefer to do my own work.

There is a nearby car wash that does hand detailing and a cheap hand wax (Blue Coral maybe? It sucks) for $60. I was thinking of having them do a hand wash and then take my Impreza over to another parking lot to do the polishing & waxing.

I haven't bought the detailing supplies yet. The nearby Autozone carries Meguiar's products. Has anyone used the 3-step Meguiar's process with positive results? Is there a better retail combination that is cheaper? Seeing as I don't have as much time, is there something better that I should be using?

Ideally, I'd like to put something on my paint that will protect it throughout the winter.

Thanks in advance
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Old 11-03-2003, 06:35 PM   #2
gerbs
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Zaino is absolutely unbelievable, I would never reccomend anything other than it.

(if you want results similar to this, this, this, or this, then hopefully you'll understand where i'm coming from. )

Wash your car throughoutly with Dawn Dishwashing Soap to get off any previous wax/polish/random crap -- and if the surface of your car when dry isn't smoother than a babies bottom (chances are very high that it won't be ) -- you're going to need to clay bar the paint. after using the claybar, apply two+coats of Z2 wax, then just one coat of Z5 (or more coats of Z5 if swirlies are obvious) once you've done all that make it glossy by wiping a film of Z6 all over your car. repeat this every few days to keep the mirror-shine (unless your car gets filthy, then wash it with Z7 car wash. it won't take off the layers of wax that you've already applied. but dawn WILL REMOVE all of the precious layers of zaino!! so never use dawn again, unless you are using touch-up paint or something.)

this usually takes me around 7-8 hours, but i spend insane amounts of my time on cleaning, waxing, and polishing like no other. All this could be done in just a few hours if you stay focused.

reminder: never wax in circles, always go up/down, or left/right. also while taking the wax off w/ towel, up/down, left/right. stay consistant


hrm....
I find it hard to believe that you can't find SOMEWHERE to simply wash/wax your car for a few hrs?! ... Keep lookin!

Zaino Bros' Total Protection Show Car Kit

buying that kit was the best $100 i've spent on my WRX so far. my bov and exhaust wouldn't be half as cool if my car didn't shine like it does.

if you want amazing results like those in the pictures of my rex up top, there's no alternative that matches the quality of Zaino.



happy washing, waxing, and polishing!

Last edited by gerbs; 11-03-2003 at 06:48 PM.
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Old 11-03-2003, 07:04 PM   #3
DrBoy01
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Garnet Red Pearl 5MT

Default

I've already used the Zaino routine at home. I have pics of it in the members' forum here , and I can attest to Zaino's greatness too Thanks for the recommendations, I'll keep them in mind for this summer when I get my car back home.

The problem is that I need something done pronto, and tomorrow or this weekend is my time to do it. I don't have time to wait for Zaino to ship me some stuff, nor do I have the cash to spare to do so.

I went to Autozone and bought some Zymol cleaner wax and some Meguiar's carnuba wax along with some cloth applicators. I'll use the Zymol and layer the Meguiar's on top of it. I'll do this tomorrow and post some pics, because I'm sure there are other members out there who have to take care of their cars' finish at college and are going through the same problems.

By the way, has anyone had any success with Zymol in removing swirl marks? Ever since I had some body work done, my hood is covered in them. I know that Z5 and Meguiar's SMR can remove swirl marks, but I'm asking specifically about Zymol.


Edit: I'm convinced that the paint in the 04's is much stronger than the 03 and older models. I'm jealous, your paint is PERFECT. Congrats!
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Old 11-03-2003, 07:18 PM   #4
gerbs
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OH! i see, you don't have time to wait until it comes.

I thought you meant you didn't have alot of open time to actually sit there and work on your car.

I'm retarded



.....I was checking the uh ss.. specs on the endline, for the rotary... girder... I'm retarded

Aw man I miss chris farley -- that wav cracks me up every time though.
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Old 11-03-2003, 09:19 PM   #5
Kean
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DrBoy, I think the Zymol/Meguiar route would be fine. I think the key is that you get something on there to protect the finish.

As for the swirl marks, Z5 has been sufficient enough to "fill in" any that I had on my car. Check out http://www.autopia-carcare.com/. If your swirls are bad, you may find some tips or products that will help you. I recall a fellow "Zainoite" talking about succesfully using a swirl remover from 3M before they applied Z5 & Z2.

- Kean
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Old 11-04-2003, 02:00 AM   #6
DrBoy01
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Garnet Red Pearl 5MT

Default

Yeah, as a matter of fact, I'm a member of Autopia and I've gotten a lot of my information from there. It's a great site for detailing, but I find that there is a lot of information to be gained from fellow Suby owners because our paint is so distinctively...picky? Finicky? Crappy? Take your pick.

I can't wait to get home and do the SMR/Z2/Z5 routine...it will help me sleep better at night

Do you think it's safe to layer the Meguiar's carnuba right on top of the Zymol? I figure that it's ok, because they're both carnuba...can you layer carnuba on carnuba right after the other, or does each layer need to 'cure' for a day or so?
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Old 11-04-2003, 09:46 AM   #7
MattJP
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What works for me:

Do not use circular motions on any process..

Use Meguiars Cleaner first - to take off the fine film scum buildup (I do this twice a year, in the spring and like now, before winter).

Use 3M Imperial Hand Glaze second- A fine polish that smooths the surface and helps with the light scratches. I use this about three times - after using the cleaner and then once midsummer before a wax.

Use a good wax. I personally like Mequiars but it doesnt seem to last long. I do mine about once a month in the summer.

Lastly, I like the Mequiars tire gel to finish of the effect. Personal preference - some like shiny black tires and some don't.

For use at college - I'd at least do the polish and wax once then maybe another coat before it gets to cold. In the dead of winter its tought to even get a wash - I'll occasionally go to hand wash place near me...

Hope this helps!

Matt -
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Old 11-04-2003, 11:43 AM   #8
Kean
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Quote:
Originally posted by DrBoy01
Do you think it's safe to layer the Meguiar's carnuba right on top of the Zymol? I figure that it's ok, because they're both carnuba...can you layer carnuba on carnuba right after the other, or does each layer need to 'cure' for a day or so?
Good question. I don't know because I never applied more than one coat of pure carnuba on my finish. Before I started using the Zaino system, I would always polish and then add a coat of good carnuba paste wax. I would maintain the gloss by using a quick, liquid carnuba every week and follow up with a new coat of paste every couple of months.
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Old 11-04-2003, 02:29 PM   #9
DrBoy01
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Location: Wilmington, DE|Berkeley
Vehicle:
2006 Outback 2.5 XT
Garnet Red Pearl 5MT

Default

I definitely plan on adding another coat after I get another wash at the end of this month before winter really sets in. Nashville winters aren't too bad, thankfully, so I don't think it's going to murder my paint as bad as the winters back east did.

I'm going to be doing my detailing this afternoon, so wish me luck! If anyone has some advice on the Zymol cleaner wax or working with carnuba wax (I'm used to sealants like Zaino), I'd love to hear it!
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Old 11-04-2003, 06:40 PM   #10
DrBoy01
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Garnet Red Pearl 5MT

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Well, I did it. I got my car washed at a local hand wash place and then had them use a mildly abresive compound on my hood, which was really scuffed up from some bodywork I had done. Amazingly, the rubbing compound reduced the amount of scuffs and swirl marks.

I took my Impreza over to a Shell station right across the street to apply the Zymol. This stuff is definitely not as hard to work with as I expected. It's just like a carnuba wax, and if you use just the right amount, it removes easier than some Quik Detail sprays. It didn't work as well as Klasse All-in-One, but it did clean the paint some. It's a very light abrasive polisher and carnuba wax.

I drove the car to my parking garage and threw on a coat of Meguiar's Deep Crystal carnuba wax. It went on really easy and left the paint feeling very soft and smooth.

End result: Swirl marks & scuffs reduced, slight hazing on the paint at some places, but a decent finish for $20 in materials. Not too shabby. I took some pics after the Zymol, but I left my camera in the car. I'll post 'em later.

Hope someone finds this useful!
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Old 11-04-2003, 06:43 PM   #11
gerbs
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cool, sounds like you had good results for only $20.

got what ya paid for
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Old 11-04-2003, 06:47 PM   #12
Kean
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Glad to hear it worked out.
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