Exterior Care

[chevelle]

It's obvious that many WCM members are very into their rides. To those members, how do you care for your exterior?

I am in dire need of a wax for my Tahoe. I haven't waxed a vehicle in ages (myself) and I'm wondering if you have tips. Do you just take yours in somewhere or do it yourself? If you do it yourself, please recommend methods and materials! I have black paint and really don't want swirl marks :)

[baNNed]

It's obvious that many WCM members are very into their rides. To those members, how do you care for your exterior?

I am in dire need of a wax for my Tahoe. I haven't waxed a vehicle in ages (myself) and I'm wondering if you have tips. Do you just take yours in somewhere or do it yourself? If you do it yourself, please recommend methods and materials! I have black paint and really don't want swirl marks :)

I use ICE (turtle wax), it's pretty good. Mothers is also nice, just do it late at night on a cool day when the paint has time to cool down. Wash the car first, usually I use ICE wash and wax. A good sponge works, get it all cleaned. Then apply the wax with the sponge given and use microfiber cloth to remove the wax. Pretty straight forward... key is the first wash to get all the dirt off because it takes one little grit of sand to make those nice swirl scratches.

On that note if you haven't waxed your shell in awhile then do it twice. Cali doesn't have the road salt we have up here.

One con.. don't use dish soap. As for practice if you want to clean my drive shaft you can... I'll be around the area.

[chevelle]

I've always used Turtle Wax, myself. I have often wondered if I should purchase a buffer, but I hear those can give swirl marks.

[baNNed]

buffers suck.. just give it a nice hand job and clay bar it if you do have some scratches on the clear coat.

[nick]

buffers don't suck, but you really need a lot of practice with one not to screw up your paint. you might want to buy a polisher instead. buffer in conjunction with a polisher + some skillz, you can do some amazing stuff.

[chevelle]

With a buffer and zero practice, can't you essentially buff off the clear coat? I fear that. What's the difference between a polisher and buffer? Is it the lever of abrasiveness?

[nick]

With a buffer and zero practice, can't you essentially buff off the clear coat? I fear that. What's the difference between a polisher and buffer? Is it the lever of abrasiveness?

with zero practice, you could see steel :P

buffer spins, a polisher just does small circular motions like you were waxing. they are basically impossible to hurt the paint with one.

http://www.homeright.com/product/C800669_fl.jpg

[chevelle]

A polisher spins then too, right?

So can you put the wax on and take it off with a polisher?

[baNNed]

buffers don't suck, but you really need a lot of practice with one not to screw up your paint. you might want to buy a polisher instead. buffer in conjunction with a polisher + some skillz, you can do some amazing stuff.

Eh, its just a faster way to polish a car I think. I used buffer and high rise sponge and a low grit polish. It works but you also get into the area where paint is "ok". I just like to use my hand and fix the spot that needs fixing. If the paint is chipping off and there is millions of deep scratches... face it.. it is time for a paint job.

[baNNed]

A polisher spins then too, right?

So can you put the wax on and take it off with a polisher?

Bad idea... wax your car and then use one small wash cloth to remove the wax. over time wax builds up on that cloth and yeah.

[Dude]

Bad idea... wax your car and then use one small wash cloth to remove the wax. over time wax builds up on that cloth and yeah.

I hope you have plenty of time if you're planning on waxing a Tahoe.

I use Zymol polish and a buffer. My ride is nearly 7 years old with 140,000 miles on it, and the paint still looks new.

Turtle Wax is good stuff, but it will work your fingers to the bone.

[chevelle]

I hope you have plenty of time if you're planning on waxing a Tahoe.

I use Zymol polish and a buffer. My ride is nearly 7 years old with 140,000 miles on it, and the paint still looks new.

Turtle Wax is good stuff, but it will work your fingers to the bone.

It took me almost a whole day to wax one side of my Chevelle once. I do have a handsome, strong BF who I will probably talk into helping. And by "talk into helping," I mean watch him do it while sipping on lemonaide.

[Dude]

It took me almost a whole day to wax one side of my Chevelle once. I do have a handsome, strong BF who I will probably talk into helping. And by "talk into helping," I mean watch him do it while sipping on lemonaide.

Sounds like what my GF does while I slave over her car. Then again, I "helped" her do laundry yesterday. By helped, I mean "laid on the couch nursing a hangover and watching movies while she folded my clothes."

[chevelle]

Sounds like what my GF does while I slave over her car. Then again, I "helped" her do laundry yesterday. By helped, I mean "laid on the couch nursing a hangover and watching movies while she folded my clothes."

Sounds exactly how my boyfriend does his laundry. He hasn't literally done his laundry since the day he met me. Or washed a dish, or cleaned anything, etc. It's a nice exchange, really.

[nick]

a polisher does not spin, it just kinda moves back and forth a little.