When to Dawn & Clay?

**aham23** · 08-14-2003, 09:49 PM

Got my new ride in May. I have always kept my rides clean but just recently became seduced by the detailing world. Right now I am using Zaino stuff (Z2, Z5, Z6, Z7, Z16) but plan to try others. I have applied several coats of Zaino. The look is awesome and when the ride does get dirty it is so much easier to clean. When should the polish be stripped off and the process started over again? Thanks.

**Tassadar** · 08-14-2003, 09:52 PM

That Zaino sealant will degrade over time, but its really up to you on when you redo the process. I know of a few guys here who seem to redo the whole process every month or less, but its not all that necessary. Zaino can easily last 6 months if maintained, probably half of that if just irregularly washed and QDed.

Again, from what I have learned (which is very little compared to some of the geniouses on this board *cough*umm everyone but me*cough*) its really going to be up to what your looking for.

**Ferrarislave** · 08-14-2003, 10:24 PM

When you get swirls compounds and do it all over again thats about the only time you should do It I like to start over in the spring each year with sealents or when I compound which is 3 times a year.

**Godfather** · 08-15-2003, 02:17 AM

At the risk of being a complete noob, but just to clarify, Dawn is the dishsoap and not some other product? Sorry about this..lol

Boss_429 · 08-15-2003, 04:54 AM

Godfather,

Yes, some are using Dawn dish washing detergent to help strip old wax/sealant off the paint.

aham23,

I know some people who never need to strip their Z.......... or at least they go for a long time without doing it. Anyhow, if it looks good, leave it alone, or continue topping it with more Z until you decide to try some new products, or the finish needs to be polished.

**Ferrarislave** · 08-15-2003, 07:09 PM

Dawn Sometimes doenst get off all sealents and wax IMO APC+ 64:1 works alot better at this.

**Anthony O.** · 08-15-2003, 08:02 PM

Leave Dawn in the kitchen. A claying session will remove waxes and sealants.

**Poorboy** · 08-15-2003, 09:14 PM

Originally posted by Anthony Orosco
Leave Dawn in the kitchen. A claying session will remove waxes and sealants.

I couldn`t agree more...

also polishing will remove old products

**Ferrarislave** · 08-15-2003, 09:32 PM

The Dawn wash is over rated its ok I guess but any Clay or Polish will remove your old wax. What do you recommend for sealent removal besides abrasives. ?

**Koop** · 08-15-2003, 09:44 PM

Clay really isn`t an abrasive. If you want to try something else though megs apc lists wax removal delution at 10:1 I believe.

**Ferrarislave** · 08-15-2003, 09:58 PM

APC+ is 64:1 I dont know how different the regular APC is from the APC+. ?

Boss_429 · 08-15-2003, 10:01 PM

Originally posted by Koop
Clay really isn`t an abrasive. If you want to try something else though megs apc lists wax removal delution at 10:1 I believe.

Koop,

Actually, most clay has micro-abrasives in it (Silica). However, I agree.......... it`s not the best product for removing waxes.

**Koop** · 08-15-2003, 10:07 PM

Wow learn something new every day. Arn`t microbrasives used for polishing though? That`s not really abrasive is it? Or am i wrong again. Polishes really are you`re best bet for product removal IMO.

Boss_429 · 08-15-2003, 10:20 PM

Originally posted by Koop
Wow learn something new every day. Arn`t microbrasives used for polishing though? That`s not really abrasive is it? Or am i wrong again. Polishes really are you`re best bet for product removal IMO.

Some types of polishes are abrasive............. depending on the polish.......... and depending on the definition of a polish. Most all abrasives in polishes are called micro-abrasives............ some are just more "micro" than others. I think the size range is somewhere between 600 grit and 3000 grit.

Anyhow, I`ve checked the performance of clay bars with a jewlers lupe(sp), and they do tend to leave mirco-scratches. On contaminants that are really stuck good to the paint........... they literaly "file" down the contaminant!