Recommended VX Paint Polishing System - Griot's Garage

[rowhard]

Yes, and what I have found, is you can end up with the same results using any name brand products, whether it's Mothers, Meguiars, what have you and still have enough money left over for dinner.

[workmeistr]

Hiding scratches with a filler product like wax isn't the same as removing scratches (either clear coat or paint) through a polishing system, but to each their own.

[johnnyapollo]

I use Zaino Bros products:

Z-18 Clay Bar $16.95
Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover $12.95
Z-5 PRO Show Car Polish for Swirl Marks and Fine Scratches $16.95

For leather I use:
Z-10 Leather in a Bottle $10.95

I usually just buy it as I need it (combine a few items to make up on shipping costs) or if you're just getting started you can buy a kit. Web site is here:
http://www.zainostore.com/

I've been using this stuff since about 2002 - it was recommended by a friend of mine who show's his Z06 vette in shows. It goes on effortlessly and is actually a 100% synthetic wax so there is no yellowing (like you get from carnauba) - every coat you put on puts an additional layer of protection and it builds up so it looks better every time. I wax 2x a year and started using the anti-swirl and scratch stuff when the watering ban started here (I used to NEVER go to automatic car washes but the ban got so bad it was the only way to get the truck clean - it's required that the car was use a recycling system and most of the self-washes don't and were closed down).

Another advantage of Zaino is that it doesn't marr the cladding if you get it on there - no white streaks on the edges. The claybar removes the impurities from the paint (dust and road crap that get's embedded) by rolling across the surface. I don't believe in using powered buffers - too easy to burn through the clearcoat. With this product even the buffing is effortless, and with the minimal amount of painted surfaces on the VX it's not time consuming at all.

-- John

[VX KAT]

OMG!
I finally got around to using the Griot's Garage products that Bart and Workmeistr used.
Oh dear Gawd this stuff is simply fantastic!

After the 3 step process, my paint actually looks different than I've EVER seen any paint before. Interestingly, Griot's booklet specifically points out that black and dark red /burgundy are the hardest colors to deal with scratches......great....

The Griot's kit was $110 with free shipping on Amazon which was an absolute screamin' deal! (6" orbital buffer, 2 foam bonnets, Clay Bar, Speed Shine, Machine Polish #3, and Best of Show Wax). It's now $199.
You could also just get thes kit with the Clay, Speed Shine and microfiber rags, then use your own polishing and wax.http://www.amazon.com/Griots-Garage-...157112&sr=8-41

Here's the process:

1) Clay Bar entire paint surface - This is so ridiculously easy, there's no excuse not to do it. The paint surface is smooth as glass, just as they claim. It's done by spraying "Speed Shine" lightly on the paint, then taking a blob of clay and wiping it back and forth over the paint. The clay is like Silly Putty and the Speed Shine is like a slightly soapy, slippery dish soap, that allows the clay to just skid/slip right over it. It was actually very weird as I can't really figure out how the clay works to remove imbedded particles from the paint, when all you're doing is rubbing it quickly over the slippery wet paint. Whatever!....it works and works exceptionally well.


2) Machine Polish #3 - Machine polish #3 is a light/mild abrasive and removes light scratches and swirls. It's the least abrasive in their line up. I need to get the slightly more abrasive polish (#2) to remove some deeper scratches I can still see (but only slightly).
It is extremely hard to buff off once dry, you really want to either buff it before it's dry, OR, the instructions suggest you spritz it with Speed Shine to make it easier to remove once it's wet again.


3) Best of Show liquid wax - super easy to apply. A little harder to buff off than I expected, but then I never let any wax "cure" for 3 hrs (as directed)...actually I left it overnight. It went down to probably 45 degrees in my garage and it was pretty hard, so I pulled it out in the sun for a while, than buffed it off....er, well Dave surprised me and buffed it all off.

I'm blown away by the difference this process made. I can see the mica chips sparkle much more prominently than ever before. It truly can be described as "having depth of color". And top all that with the absolutely "glass smooth" paint, and the result is just spectacular!!!

I just couldn't capture it very well in the pics. I'll try some different lighting, like an overcast day and see if the pics are closer to what my eyes see.






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This is the "Best of Show" wax applied with the orbital. It's a very slippery type liquid wax that goes on very easy with the buffer. A small amount goes very far and ends up a very thin layer as you can see here.



THEN YOU LET IT CURE FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS...then buff off with a microfiber cloth.
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The Griot's 6" random orbital buffer has a great ergonomic design, and is balanced and VERY easy to handle, even though it is a bit heavy....the angle of the handle is perfect. Only thing I didn't like was the speed selector wheel is on the very end....can't get to it when the unit is on, and even if you were super strong to hold it up with one arm, the numbering on the dial is pretty small, can't read it when the unit is buzzing and vibrating.


If you do NOTHING ELSE TO YOUR TRUCK.....DO A CLAY BAR PRODUCT ON IT....IT'S AMAZING!