Tip of the Month
July 2000
How to get (and maintain) the best shine on a black or other dark colored vehicle.

1) Wash the vehicle regularly, using Race Glaze® L.A.S. Wash. The single most important thing that can be done to best maintain the finish of a vehicle, is to remove all surface dirt, and other contaminants as quickly as possible. Race Glaze® L.A.S. Wash does an excellent job of lifting dirt from the surface, and floating it away - without stripping Race Glaze® Polish & Sealant.

3) Dry the vehicle with either an Original California Water Blade®, or a Hydra Wipe® chamois. I have found both of these to do an excellent job of drying a vehicle, without adding scratches to the surface - like some of the "bargain synthetic chamois" that you see being sold at car shows and flea markets for a couple of dollars each. I've used some of these, and feel certain that they caused some of the fine scratches I saw in the surface of my vehicle.

4) Polish the surface with Race Glaze® Polish & Sealant, using a lightly dampened white "anti-static detail pad" to apply the polish. I use a small spray bottle, to mist either the vehicle surface, or the detail pad. This helps to spread out the Polish & Sealant properly, so you don't have too much dust to deal with. Always apply the polish to a cool surface - don't just pull the vehicle in the garage and start polishing. Let it cool down until the surface is cool to the touch. This lets the Polish & Sealant dry naturally, cutting down on the polish dust generated when you buff off the polish. This dust can contribute to surface scratches. Always apply the Polish & Sealant in a lateral (back & forth) motion - like sanding a piece of wood. Work it in real well - I do an area of about 2-4 sq. ft. at a time, and work in the Polish & Sealant until it is almost dry (or actually is). Use one of our "soft gray anti-static detail pads" to buff off the Polish & Sealant. If the Polish is applied correctly, there won't be much dust.

5) To best maintain the finish between coats of Race Glaze® Polish & Sealant, spray/wipe/buff with Race Glaze® Gloss Highlighter. This unique product easily removes bugs, dust, and fingerprints, enhances the shine and "cloth glide", and even increases UV protection. I have also found that if I have a fairly fresh coat of Gloss Highlighter on my vehicles when it rains, and the sun comes out, my vehicle left untouched, dries without water spots. To apply and buff Gloss Highlighter, use soft terry cloth towels - I suggest purchasing some white, 100% cotton towels (made in USA is best quality), wash them in a liquid detergent, and do not use any fabric softener. Use one towel to spread out the Gloss Highlighter (which should be used sparingly), and a second towel to buff to a shine. I have some very soft "wipes", a blend of cotton and paper, that I actually find preferable to towels. I'm hoping to soon have these available in small quantities, so I can offer them for sale. Right now I can only obtain them in boxes containing about 200 wipes.

6) If you have any fine scratches that you can't remove with Race Glaze® Polish & Sealant, I would suggest using Race Glaze® Leveling Compound. This product breaks down (gets finer) while being rubbed in, making it like using a compound and a polish at the same time. Because it is a gentle surface conditioner when used by hand, it may take several applications to remove some scratches. This is definitely better than using a product that may actually remove too much material at once, possibly damaging the clear coat.

"Mr-Shine"

Copyright © 1998-2001 Shine Enterprises

Past Tips:

Make Money!
Best Shine for a Black Car
Getting The Dust Off
Getting Rid of Odors
Love Bugs
Pollen & Sap
Spring Cleaning
Ultimate Shine & Protection
Tool For Power Polishing
Removing pine tar pitch
Polishing All Metals
Removing wax from moldings
Maintain your clear coat finish
Proper Car Washing
Check & fix paint condition
Acid Rain
After the Wash
Winterizing