Made a new discovery! (pictures inside!)

[Mr. STL]

So, i stopped by my local auto parts store today (autozone, if you're familiar). And it seems that they did a little bit of a makeover with some new items that i'd never seen before! It was a nice day today, and the rain has just passed here in STL. So i decided that it might be a good day to clean the ol' LS!

Now, as i was browsing the aisles i came upon something called zymol. I had heard about the brand online and saw nothing but positive things. So i decided to take a leap of faith i guess and buy it. It was some expensive wax too. So i get home and i wash the car and everything. etc, etc. And then i start waxing. Holy sh*t. I LOVE this stuff. It is the absolute best wax I have ever used in my life. Not only did it cover up a lot of surface scratches with no buffer, it made a DRASTIC difference with the paint color. On parts where I hadn't applied the wax it looked okay, but nothing special. After the wax was applied, the color got darker and deeper. Very very noticeably too. I have a few pictures where you can sort of see what i mean. But i HIGHLY recommend this stuff to anyone. It's great. Expensive, but it's better than any meguiar's product i've used.

anyways, there's my two cents. now on to the interesting part!

by the way, these pictures were taken from my new iPhone, so tell me how you think the quality is!

These pictures are while it's being washed.

After it's dried...

so, now for the fun part! the waxing!

That's what i meant by scratches. the entire trunk looked like that. and you can very clearly see the difference the wax made...

See that thing that looks like a dark rectangle on the hood? That's the difference. It's not as clear and it doesn't look as dramatic as it did in real life in the picture, but you can see the difference.

So, that's all for the during pictures. Didn't take too many because I was on a time limit.
Now, for the after pictures! (The quality is a little bad on these. So bear with me)

You can see the shine in the reflection in that picture. It's a good indicator.

Her final resting place.

so that's basically it. Just wanted to share my experience. Feel free to chime in if you have any experience with the brand!

sorry there's so many pictures!

 

[nittanylion64]

Great job so far!! Next step is to clay, polish, and seal. Those defects can easily be buffed out, except for maybe the one on the front bumper. Where is St. Louis are you at?

 

[Sozialkampf]

looking good! I need to detail my car big time.

 

[jolinc01]

I've used that stuff before with good luck. I'm sure Pektel, or some other detailing guru, will correct me if I'm wrong, but you should put a coat of wax on now. That Zymol is more of a cleaner than a wax. That's how I've always used it anyways.

 

[bearsfan39]

looks good, dropping the car off in the morning for an alignment, maybe i'll clean mine up afterwards

 

[Alax7]

I've used that stuff before with good luck. I'm sure Pektel, or some other detailing guru, will correct me if I'm wrong, but you should put a coat of wax on now. That Zymol is more of a cleaner than a wax. That's how I've always used it anyways.

So cleaner's wax is not a wax? Like that cleaner's wax that comes with the meguiars clay bar kit. It felt like a wax, just thought it would also clean any clay left over and wax at the same time.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

It does look much better. Just remember the key point:

Not only did it cover up a lot of surface scratches with no buffer, it made a DRASTIC difference with the paint color.

It has masked the imperfections, but they are still there. A good buffing can get the paint in much better shape, allowing the wax to do an even better job of making the car shine!

 

[Asialee]

Very nice.. I'll have to give it a try

 

[pektel]

It does look much better. Just remember the key point:

It has masked the imperfections, but they are still there. A good buffing can get the paint in much better shape, allowing the wax to do an even better job of making the car shine!

What this guy said.

And Josh, I'm finally mailing that glass scrub today. It's been sitting on my desk for a couple weeks now. Sorry, bud.

OP- Zymol Cleaner Wax is made by Turtle Wax. Well, made in the TW factory under license by Zymol. I've never used it before, so I cannot comment on usage/durability. Zymol does have some top notch products, but you do end up paying for it. I have a 4 oz pot of Zymol Ital wax, which retails for around $400 for an 8 oz pot. Just tried it out a couple days ago, and man it's awesome. But I bet I used $25 worth for one coat.

Alex, yes, a cleaner wax normally has a chemical cleaner in it, good for removing simple things like water spots. It also acts as a wax as well, when left to cure it will leave some protection behind. A number of factors will influence how long that protection stays there. I would say that it does have protection in it, but not much. I would still follow with a wax. Well, I would've clayed first, then used the cleaner wax, then waxed over the top of it.

 

[Mr. STL]

I just clayed about two to three weeks ago. So it didn't need another claying, so i took the easier route.
But yeah, i do need to invest in a good buffer. Any opinions on which one to get? I've heard good things about the 7424 PC. But that's just online reviews...
This cleaner wax has definitely made me a fan so i'm going to be trying some more of their products and see how they turn out. But i didn't know i was supposed to apply more wax on top of that! I'll have to do that tomorrow. It's good to know though!

 

[Mr. STL]

I just clayed about two to three weeks ago. So it didn't need another claying, so i took the easier route.
But yeah, i do need to invest in a good buffer. Any opinions on which one to get? I've heard good things about the 7424 PC. But that's just online reviews...
This cleaner wax has definitely made me a fan so i'm going to be trying some more of their products and see how they turn out. But i didn't know i was supposed to apply more wax on top of that! I'll have to do that tomorrow. It's good to know though!

 

[pektel]

The Porter Cable 7424 is an excellent machine for a novice. I use a Makita 9227 rotary, but those take some practice, and it's quite a bit easier to mess up the paint with one. But the speed and level of correction a rotary provides is superior. I have both machines. Both have their uses.

 

[M4rk]

Saw this stuff in the store the other day - $20!

 

[Alax7]

Thanks pete, I'll wax on top of that next time.

 

[Mr. STL]

Saw this stuff in the store the other day - $20!

no way?
where?!?!
I must have really overpaid...

And okay, thanks for the advice on the buffer's. I'll have to keep doing some research and decide on which one to get!
It'll most likely end up being the 7424 though. I don't want to mess up my already messed up paint job..

 

[M4rk]

no way?
where?!?!
I must have really overpaid...

And okay, thanks for the advice on the buffer's. I'll have to keep doing some research and decide on which one to get!
It'll most likely end up being the 7424 though. I don't want to mess up my already messed up paint job..

Canadian Tire. I thought it was pretty expensive for the volume you get.