Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

[Pat M.]

Hi everyone. I'm having my 1970 roadster repainted in lacquer, and I'm working with my painter to have the appropriate shine in the appropriate areas, as per my understanding of NCRS standards.

My question is once this is done, how do I thereafter protect the paint without increasing the shininess? I've read the tons of discussions in the archives regarding who likes what polish and/or wax and why, but all seem geared toward increasing the shine of the paint.

But I'm afraid doing this will shine up areas that should be semi-dull (like the door jambs), and will really shine up areas that already have some shine, which will defeat all my efforts to adhere to factory appearance.

My car will not see much if any bad weather, but I do drive it fairly often and want to protect the new paint. Any suggestions?

Thank You, Patrick Moresi #45581

[Chuck S.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Don't do anything...wash the car, and wipe the jambs, ledges, etc dry with a synthetic chamois and call it done. Any more than that would be in the direction of making it look over-restored in my opinion. Those areas shouldn't require any extra protection; all those areas tht I can think of are protected and get little sunshine or weather.

[Joe C.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Give it a topcoat of satin clearcoat.

"The meaning of the word "shine" has changed over the years..........except in the deep south"

[Pat M.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Hi Chuck - I always appreciate your frequent, helpful responses.
But what about the exterior areas that will get sunshine, yet should only have a moderate shine - like the hood, back deck, etc.?
I love to use Meguire's wax for my 1996, but even that leaves a pretty good shine. So what should I use, if anything, to protect exterior areas on the 1970?
Regards, Patrick Moresi #45581

[Chuck S.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

No true wax or synthetic sealant should have any real effect on the shine...they have no abrasives to polish the finish, and polishing is what increases the amount of reflected light (Shine). The shine level will be set by the amount of polishing done before the waxing/sealing step.

If you want to increase the shine, you first polish the car with rubbing compound, then glazing polish. Once the shine level is set during the finishing process, the typical car can be maintained with Meguiar's three step process: first #2 Fine-Cut Cleaner, then #7 Show Car Glaze, and finally #26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax.

In your case, you would want to SKIP THE FIRST TWO STEPS, and only wax the car with the #26 once the lacquer is fully cured. If you want to wax the jambs, it should have little effect on "shine". Both the #2 and #7 have abrasives, and will likely enhance the shine (remove paint) over a period of time.

If you want longer lived protection, and who doesn't, I would use Zaino polymeric sealant. If you don't know anything about Zaino products, check the link below...they call their stuff "polish" because that's what car shine products have been called since the beginning, but most of Zaino's stuff IS NOT polish because it has no abrasives. No, I don't have ANY conflict of interest. I'm recommending Zaino because it's what I use...I still have some bottles of Meguiar's on the shelf; they are great products, but a little more labor intensive IMO.




Zaino Store

[Pat M.]

Thanks Guys ... *NM*

[Wayne K.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Patrick,

I like using spray detailer on door, hood, and trunk jams as it is easy to use and leaves no residue.

Wayne

[Bill Lynch]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Check with Meguiar's but they told me the #7 Show Car Glaze has no abrasives, only oils.

#7 is safe to use on new paint since it is not a sealant. It won't block outgassing.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Oils??!! Really?

I'm reminded of my first car...an old 41 Ford coupe with the dullest black paint job you ever saw. I swear, I am not making this up...I found I could temporarily enhance its shine by rubbing it's voluptuous flanks with (are you ready for this?)...USED BRAKE FLUID! (Nothing else would work; I wonder why I had that brake fluid laying around?) The "pride of ownership" was short lived...the shine only lasted about a day. It's a wonder the paint hadn't curdled up and fallen off on the ground, but it never seemed to demonstrate any deterioation. Of course, that was back in the day when paint was REAL PAINT.

Are you sure there's not some kind of "failure to communicate" with Meguiars?...I've used #7 Show Car Glaze a lot and there is some kind of solids in it besides oils; and it has a certain "squeakiness" with an increased friction when applied that is typical of abrasives.

In any event, Meguiar's own description of #7 is "Show Car Glaze outshines all other hand applied polishes, glazes, waxes and sealants. Restores a dazzling, deep, wet shine. Show Car Glaze does not dry white and is safe and effective on all paint finishes." All that with OILS??!! It sounds SO good, I think I might skip it for judging. I never found it to dry much at all...you just kind of smear it around until all the traces are scrubbed off.

[Bill Lynch]

Re: Protecting Lacquer Without Increasing Shine

Well it's understood you have some interest in promoting Zaino and dissing competitor's products.

It's so sad that no one can mention finish care anymore without the Zaino zealots proselytizing all the time.

As I said, ask Meguiar's what's in #7. It is definitely not going to remove any paint.

[Chuck S.]

FALSE...

I am not promoting anyone's products; use what you want. I have no interest in keeping you from using whatever you want to use. I honestly thought that Show Car Glaze is a very fine abrasive polish...if that's not true, then shame on me for unintentionally spreading lies.

I will tell you thing, however; I am about to polish and wax an old 97 Avalon with aging clearcoat. I plan to use the Meguiar's, not the Zaino. I WILL NOT use Show Car Glaze with my Porter Cable except on the sides; the top surfaces with the greatest sun exposure will be HAND POLISHED with Show Car Glaze.