Sunday, November 30, 2008

The Perfect Shine

People often ask me how I make and keep my cars looking so picture-perfect. “What wax do you use?” is the question that comes up most often.

It is not the wax that matters, it is much more complicate process that you cannot rush into, surface preparation is the most important step. Washing regularly, at least once in a week for daily driven cars is a must.

Maintaining showroom condition is difficult for daily driven cars unless you have T-car(spare car for weekend ride) :p

Below is an article that quote from AutoPia

SIX PERFECT SHINE REQUIREMENTS
The perfect shine comes when your car's paint finish is in good condition, free of surface contamination, polished, glazed, protected and waxed. Let's look at each of these requirements individually.
Good Paint Condition
For the first 12 to 18 months of a new car's life, the paint is relatively oxidation-free and in good condition. If you maintain your new car's paint with regular washing and protection, oxidation will remain minimal, and cleaning the paint will be a minor task. At a minimum, you should wash your car weekly. If you don't have time to wash weekly, use my Quick Detailing process.
Contamination-free
As you drive your car, debris from the road (i.e., tar, oil, bugs, etc.) will lodge itself on your car's paint. The longer this debris is allowed to remain, the more difficult it is to remove. This is just one reason that regular washing is so important. While outside, your car will also collect other contamination. (Birds, bugs and neighborhood kids seem to have a natural attraction to beautiful cars.) These contaminants must be removed; you can't wax over them and expect to get a show car finish.
Polished
Polishing is necessary to remove minor blemishes, including surface scratches, swirl marks, pitted areas (minor road stone nicks) and scuffs. When polished, the paint finish will feel perfectly smooth. Your hand and polishing towel will literally glide over the surface. Feeling a perfectly polished car is a stimulating experience for most car nuts. There's nothing quite like the polished fenders of a curvaceous Porsche, Ferrari, Viper or Corvette.
Glazed
Glaze is a term that's grossly misused in detailing products. Glazes are paint treatments used to fill small surface scratches and swirl marks. To a painter, glaze is the term used to describe the process of restoring full paint gloss. In The Perfect Shine, ultra-fine polishes are used to refine the paint finish to achieve or restore full gloss.
Protected
Paint is protected when it's sealed from the elements. As we've discussed in previous chapters, synthetic sealants offer the best protection. Synthetic coatings are five to ten times more durable than the carnauba waxes. They offer extended protection from the elements and create a super-slick surface. In The Perfect Shine process, the synthetic protection is an acrylic sealant. I have not found a polymer sealant that works. I will explain why later.
Waxed
Waxing is the final step of The Perfect Shine. We're not talking just any wax here; we're talking about a pure, natural carnauba wax. Pure carnauba waxes don't have cleaning properties or synthetic compounds added. They are made from a blend of carnauba waxes, beeswax and natural oils. A quality show car wax gives paint depth and warmth. I know, I know, it sounds like we're talking about a fine wine or something. Just don't underestimate the value of a great show car wax when it comes to the final results of your car's finish.
Now that you know the six requirements for The Perfect Shine™, I'll share with you my personal tips that keep my cars turning heads. The first thing to know is that I treat my toys differently than my daily driver. It's very difficult to maintain a perfect shine on a daily driver, unless you only drive it a mile or two a day. Show cars (toys) are easier, because their job is to stay beautiful.


Quoted from AutoPia org

Presenting Mrs.White (ZAINO)

Presenting Mrs.White, following pictures explain in details how massage spa and facial treatment done for 'her'. I love white color very much, some may say white looks plain and dull. In fact, lighter color really pops especially at night, cars with lighter color visuality looks bigger.

Took me more than 8hours to finish this task, faster than what i did earlier. Usually, it tooks me 2days to complete it. I would not re-apply sealant immediately right after the first application, allow it to cure for 2-3hours before apply 2nd coat and following.

Some products used:
Washing:
PolyGlaze Wash
PolyGlaze Deep Paint Cleaner
DishWashing liquid
ZAINO Z7 Show Car Wash

Surface Preparation:
Meguiars Quik Clay Kit
Meguiars Claybar
Meguiars Quik Detailer

Paint Cleaning & Polishing:
Meguiars ScratchX
Meguiars Deep Crystal Step 1 Paint Cleaner
ZAINO Z-PC Fusion Dual Action Paint Cleaner Swirl Remover

Windscreen/Windows/Glass:
ZAINO Z12 Clear View Glass Polish

Headlamps/Tailights:
MEGUIARS PlastX

Protection(Wax/Sealant):
ZAINO ZFX Flash Cure Accelerator Addictive
ZAINO Z2 Pro Show Car Polish(sealant)
ZAINO Z5 Pro Show Car Polish(sealant)
ZAINO Z6 Ultra Clean Gloss Enhancer
ZAINO Z-CS Clear Seal

Interior(dashboard, vinyl, plastic):
ZAINO Z10 Leather In a Bottle

Exterior(plastic,vinyl):
MEGUIARS Gold Class Trim Detailer

Tire/Wheels coating:
ZAINO Z16 Perfect Tire Gloss

Pad applicator:
MEGUIARS High Tech pad applicator
ZAINO #314 cotton pad

Washing accesoris(clothes, mitts):
Large final buffing MF towel
40cm*40cm general purpose MF towel
MEGUIARS MiroFiber Wash Mitt
















































Friday, November 28, 2008

Too many Shine, Too Little Time


Stay tune, time too ZzzzZZ, continue tomorrow. Here's the sneak preview on latest detailing session..Presenting Mrs.White. She receive an expensive facial treatment and massage spa, very lucky for her..

~Too many Shine, Too little Time~ crazzeee detailing, i am wash mania

New shoes - Pimp it Up


Pimp it up with new shoes, rubber treat with Megs Gold Class High gloss tire gel, looks plastiky huh..