first wash/wax

[seth399]

I use a maquires 3 step on my truck and its pretty sweet. I will probably use the same on my bike if I ever care to spend that much time cleaning it (7 hours on truck = not fun).

[CEO]

clarify... what would be a cleaner wax, and what would be a top wax?

The turtle wax you used is a cleaner wax, which cleans the paint, pulls out contaminants, and leaves the paint 'naked'.

After that you want to use a polish to get that deep shine.

Then, you want to use a top coat or two of a high quality wax to seal it in and protect it. A yellow wax, carnuba wax, etc like I said, is what you want.

As far as wax goes...Zymol is the best cleaner wax out there

I agree that Zymol makes a good cleaner wax, and I use it myself often...

However, Zaino, the other Z brand, makes the best detailing products out there, including their cleaner wax.

[Sheppo]

I do it the lazy man's way, I use a gas powered leaf blower to blow away the water. No water spots for me, & the heck with using a "chamois"

Or the blow gun off my compressor works just as well.

[getaddicted]

Sorry for the bump, but I'm about to run to autozone and I wanted to clarify a few things.

For the exhaust pipe, what type of polish should I use? Obviously a metal polish of some sort, can it be an all purpose metal polish, or does it need to be something more specific.

For Mothers or Meguiars 3 step, is it sold as a package, if not, what specific products am I looking for?

Also, do applicator pads work better than regular microfiber towels for wax/polish, or is that marketing bullshit?

thanks

edit: links are helpful for showing me what I need

[seth399]

Ace - Ace Tree: Auto: Car Cleaning Supplies: Car Cleaners: All Purpose Car Cleaners: Mothers® Mag & Aluminum Polish (05100)
^ that stuff works the best for me on my stainless steel exhaust on my truck...I will use it on the bike whenever I get around to it as well. As far as the Mequires 3 step stuff, when I bought it they were all individual bottles (maroon) but they say 1,2,3 on the bottles so you all the crap you have to buy.

[getaddicted]

awesome, that's the exact polish I picked up, and at first I was trying ti find a separate cleaner, polish and finish wax but then I saw meguiars bottles that said step one, two and three all in a line so I got those instead.

[tsanterre]

anybody use dryer sheets...?

Try it...seriously....

[Jayspeed]

If you don't have a leave blower, I've used a shop vac in the blow position.

[CEO]

awesome, that's the exact polish I picked up, and at first I was trying ti find a separate cleaner, polish and finish wax but then I saw meguiars bottles that said step one, two and three all in a line so I got those instead.

SOrry I didn't see this thread this morning... but you got the right stuff


As for the applicator pads, yes, you want to use those to smear the wax on... and then use the microfiber one to remove the wax.

[Cheese]

I've used a shop vac in the blow position.

Bit of a dry spell Jay?

[getaddicted]

I washed my bike today and used the metal polish and the meguiars 3 step. Takes forever, but damn, it looks good!

And of course, I have to post pictures.

[seth399]

looks like a showroom bike man, sweet. I agree its tedious though, last time I washed then did the 3 step on my truck it took me about 7 hours

[getaddicted]

yeah, the bike took me quite a while, longer than it should have, like 4-4.5 hours (though I spent a long-ass time washing it). Once I get it down it'll go faster, I think. I love my work though

[Jayspeed]

Bit of a dry spell Jay?

I my vacuum................I mean, it sucks oh so good..................I mean, its an efficient little bastard.

[CEO]

Good work man, looks very nice.

If you get to be as anal/ocd as me, you can start purchasing the best detailing products on the planet which a buddy introduced me to and I'm finally manning up and buying it... Zaino. There is absolutely no substitute.

Their full kit is on it's way to me right now