Hey guys, so who here waxes their prius? How often? and what are your favorite brands of car wax + application tools?
I wax it twice a year by hand. I use Mother's California Gold Pure Carnuba paste wax. You need a round applicator pad to apply the wax (thinly) and a buffing cloth to remove and lightly buff the wax off.
I have not waxed yet but I too think twice a year is good and that is what I am planning on doing. When to wax is my question? My gut tells me to do it in April/May once winter is over, and in Sept/Oct before it gets freezing cold. My old car was waxed once a year by hand with cheap off-brand wax but the prius paint job is too nice to use cheap wax.
I use Zaino, which is a polish, not a wax. Twice a year, Spring (if the &$#@ weather will ever warm up!) and Fall. It lasts long enough that I've considered going to once a year. The car looks almost as good now, and water beads up almost as well, as when I last applied it in October. But for now I'll stick with the twice yearly treatment. My baby's still good as new and I want to keep her looking that way! I use the Zaino application pad to apply the product, and US-made cotton towels to buff. They have a new Clear Seal product that I'll be trying that requires no buffing. Coincidentally, my order arrived today. Woo hoo!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 10 2007, 10:18 PM) [snapback]421250[/snapback]</div> I did the full Zaino treatment last fall. Since then, I've washed the car (weather permitting) using Zaino shampoo and then applied the "gloss enhancer" product. From the look and feel of the finish, this is all I'll have to do to keep the Zaino finish looking its' best. BTW, I've already used the new clear seal product. It's a spray product and does need to be wiped off. Easy to apply and great results.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SpartanScott @ Apr 10 2007, 05:53 PM) [snapback]421209[/snapback]</div> I don't know. I just wax whenever it needs waxing lol. We usually get nice days in the winter so I have the luxury of waxing it mid way if need be but I try not to since I don't want to wax when it's cold outside.
I'll add another vote for Zaino. My 2005 looks like it's new, just like my new 2007. If anything, the depth of gloss on the 2005 is deeper since it has more layers. Right now I'm fighting HEAVY pollen from big-leaf maples. The cars have a strange yellow-green glow that brushes off.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 10 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]421250[/snapback]</div> Zaino is a sealant, not a polish. The makers just choose to call it a polish, but it does not fit the widely accepted definition of a car polish. "Polishes" don't protect finishes, and Zaino Z-2, Z-5, and CS do, so they are not polishes. The only products in Zaino's line that either are polishes, or contain them are Z-PC and Z-AIO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 10 2007, 10:18 PM) [snapback]421250[/snapback]</div> Priusenvy beat me to it. Zaino is a sealant, not a wax and certainly not a polish. Manufacturers choose to call their products whatever they want, which makes it complicated to choose what product to use for what application. Zaino is DEFINATELY not a polish. They do sell a polish, but the Z2, Z5 etc are not.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(redryder @ Apr 10 2007, 10:45 PM) [snapback]421262[/snapback]</div> But it does not require buffing, correct? From what I remember on their web site, after spraying it is lightly "rubbed in" (my words, not theirs -- sorry if the paraphrasing is off) with the applicator, with no subsequent buffout required. For those correcting my "polish" terminology, thanks. I just knew it wasn't a wax.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 11 2007, 12:53 PM) [snapback]421510[/snapback]</div> No, Zaino does call it a "polish", it just isn't.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Apr 11 2007, 09:53 AM) [snapback]421510[/snapback]</div> The reason I mention that was not to be an annoying p*ick, but because it can be very confusing when making recommendations about products for paint correction, and the same terminology isn't being used by everyone in the conversation. For instance, I might suggest a polish out of a particular manufacturer's line to remove light paint swirls, and using a polish won't make sense at all to another person who is used to Zaino's definition of a polish, which is a product that has no abrasives and no paint correction abilities whatsoever. I think of paint care as four steps, plus maintenance between details: Wash: regular old car wash shampoo Decontaminate: clays and acid washes Correct: polishes and glazes Protect: waxes and sealants Maintain: instant detailer sprays And here is how I would categorize Zaino's main products Z-PC: correct Z-AIO: correct, protect Z-2 Pro, Z-5 Pro: protect Z-CS: protect, maintain Z-6, Z-8: maintain
This link showed up on detailcity.org. It's that guy in the UK that gets up to $10k for a detail, this time detailing a $1.2M Bugatti Veyron. Detailing a $1.2M Bugatti Veyron Note that he only uses a circular polisher, no random-orbital polisher for him. That's a sign of an experienced pro. He even wet sanded a scratch - that takes a lot of confidence.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusenvy @ Apr 11 2007, 04:53 PM) [snapback]421630[/snapback]</div> I didn't think you were. My "thanks" were sincere. My apologies if it came across as sarcastic. I don't pretend to be an expert in auto detailing by any means. I defer to those such as yourself -- or manufacturers -- who know more.
