My Sisters Mazda Tribute Detail-105+205

[J Z06]

This vehicle is a driver and doesn't have the option to sit in the garage. It's an '03, navy blue tribute. Until last year it really never saw a good amount of TLC. I used the FLEX on it last year and some Menzerna(I think it was SIP, then Nano-orange pads then white then Zaino) and it really sparkled! Well...it was time for it to be done again. Since last years "take down" it always remained clear and fairly glossy. I did a basic wash, clayed it while it was somewhat soapy, rinsed(re-washed the panel after claying) then used 3m general purpose adhesive remover for the lower parts where clay couldn't remove some "cemented in" stuff. After that it was time to bring out the FLEX again. This time I used some Meguiars 105 with the dark red coarse pad for stage 1. Stage 2(due to a lack of pads) I went to the cyclo with a green pad and 205. A full isa/alky wipe down after 205 was done netted beautiful results! I went to two coats of Zaino Z5 pro and it really looks nice! Deep gloss and well protected. Here are a few photos:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/Notbadafteroverayearoflowmaint.jpg
Not TOO bad for having zero maintenance aside from washing from June '09.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/VeryFinehazetypescratches.jpg
Some mild scratches....nothing permanent :)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/awesomegloss.jpg
This is after 105 :D
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/Clarityunderthehalogens.jpg
105+205 under the halogens. Crystal clear! and glossy. No defects.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/wetlook.jpg
105-205 and 2 coats of Zaino Z5 pro.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/IMG_1178.jpg
Sun. Scratches are GONE!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/IMG_1174.jpg
What scratches? :)
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b237/JZ06/Goodtogo.jpg
Clean, glossy, protected!:dblthumb2:

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Nice job man, I love when the metal flake pops back out after polishing :xyxthumbs: Dark colors are so much fun to do. I bet you sister loves you!

[J Z06]

Yeap! it was a pleasure! and you reach a certain point in time where you know exactly what to use on the finish and it simply looks wet! I'm with you, when a metallic finish looks "clear" as in like the finish was just sprayed...you know you did your job, and well!

Sis is very happy! She was working from home today. Mom and I just dropped it off and Her first words, coupled with a big smile was "Wow, it looks like new and better than last time" :)

Now if only we could get them to STAY this way!:laughing:

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

lol...you'll have to go and give it a wash every other week or so to keep it lookin nice...and gotta love when you get replies like 'It looks even better than last time'...just means you're still getting better :dblthumb2:

I just did a write up on a Lexus my sis and i just did and was quite happy when the owner wrote us an email a week or so after saying she wanted us to give it a maint. wash every month. It's not a lot of money for us or anything but I like when a car owner is willing to pay a little extra to have their car washed the right way.

Heres my write up if you wanna take a look...not as dramatic as your as this was just a single pass and on silver, but it turned out pretty nice :)
http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/29716-lexus-es-300-lots-pics-usual.html#post369197

[J Z06]

I'm a cyclo guy...so I am still getting used to the FLEX. It's not too much different than the cyclo by function. Just the single head and speed and choice of pads(which is enormously overwhelming) are different.

Good point, keeping the surface clean and dirt free is a great start. I might sneak one more coat of polish before the crappy weather comes around.

Yeah, I was all warm and fuzzy when She said that! LOL, I slept like a log last night after finishing it. It is soo worth it though, her smile was like she had a winning lottery ticket and everyone loves driving a glossy car :)

I will check out your link. You can always learn more! no matter your age :) I'm verrry open minded on detailing.:props:

[Wills.WindowsAndWheels]

Thats awesome she was so happy..the best part about giving someone something is when they are a good receiver...sounds like your sister was just that :)

Yeah it took me a while to figure out all the pads/plates etc etc when i first got my PC. First tried CCS pads, didnt like em too much. Then tried 7" megs softbuff 2.0...great pads as far as foam, but had a couple fall apart on me and that kinda ticked me off so i got myself some LC flats and LC Hydros at 5.5"...i think the smaller size SHOULD hold together better...they should with all the damn $ i dropped on em.

I have heard cyclon's 4" pads are put together VERY well and hold up quite a while..hold onto those bad boys!

How old are you anyway? thanks for the post on my write up btw.

Heres another write up you might find interesting that i just did.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/show-n-shine/29730-cheap-detailing-bag-new-goodies-ag.html#post369403

[Bobby B.]

Great job correcting the paint surface. The Mazda looks awesome.

[J Z06]

wills: she knows what i am capable of over the years :) but is very appreciative and still blown away each time one of her vehicles gets done :D. my brother in law has a '10 ford escape. i just did that one not too long ago. finished in silver. didn't require much. it pops just as well as the blue but being a lighter color...only in certain lighting could you see the wet look. they're both pleased as punch with having "protected+shiny" vehicles :)

i am 40. and no problem replying to your post! detailing still fascinates me and i think it always will.

regarding pads, i am still in the experimental stage. i've had good luck with ccs...but i will try some hydra tech pads, maybe uber pads too. not sure. plenty of choices that is for sure. yes, cyclo pads have been extremely good to me over the years. before they had velcro you used to have a rubber sleeve type to go over the polishing heads. when they became older and the rubber was firmer, what a 'roid to get the pads on and off! i'm glad they changed the design to velcro. much easier to deal with!!

i will be doing a full detail on my '04 z06 soon. it's torch red with mod red interior. thus far, it is washed, clayed, de-tarred and awaiting a menz sip, ip and po85rd(which little did i know i have!). a lot of people like 85rd as a finisher before final polish(zaino in my case). we shall see how it works...just have to have the time and energy to do it.:dblthumb2:

[J Z06]

Bobby B, thank you!!

[Rob T]

Very nice work. I hope you gave your sister (and brother in law) a mini course on how to avoid swirls.

[J Z06]

Rob T, Kinda sorta.....thanks for the kind words. :) in any case, hopefully it'll get done again sooner(just a touch up) than a years time...it is good to know it can be fully restored no matter how brutal the winter is to it.

Thanks again!

[Rob T]

Actually considering that it is not garaged, and it had been a year since you last polished it, the swirls weren't too bad.

[J Z06]

And we had a BRUTAL winter last year!! I'm sure lots of snow removal contributed to those fine scratches. I think She at least gets it washed when the roads are clear and dry. I told Her to keep on top of that. Hand method is preferred.(I wish I had a heated garage with a hose all year!). All things considered, it did hold up well. I did the previous cleaning in June of '09. Perhaps the weather won't be too harsh this winter and I can hit it once more with another coat of Zaino...... We shall see!

Thanks again.

[Rob T]

And we had a BRUTAL winter last year!! I'm sure lots of snow removal contributed to those fine scratches. I think She at least gets it washed when the roads are clear and dry. I told Her to keep on top of that. Hand method is preferred.(I wish I had a heated garage with a hose all year!). All things considered, it did hold up well. I did the previous cleaning in June of '09. Perhaps the weather won't be too harsh this winter and I can hit it once more with another coat of Zaino...... We shall see!

Thanks again.

See, I didn't even realize that you were in CT. Being from SoCal, we don't have to worry about things like snow on our daily drivers. Considering what this vehicle goes through it wasn't in too bad shape at all...but you definitely made it look a lot better!

[J Z06]

As long as the roads are fairly clean and dry....it isn't too bad around here. Once they begin getting happy with the salt and sand, it becomes tough. Yes, winter sucks! If I had enough $ I'd be in a warm climate!

Zaino is a pretty durable product. I've liked it and used it for over 10+years. A few cars have received it lately for protection for the coming months.

O/T but now that I read the Kevin Brown method...I'm tempted to do that on my Z06 :)