Paint Care for Black Lacquer Single Stage Paint

[Michael Petti]

Thankyou everyone for the replies about techniques and products. I have investigated at every one of them.
I never thought of letting wax "soak in" but I am willing to try that. After researching the products and techniques suggested, I am going to wash the car (2 bucket method), clay bar it, use Meguires Ultimate Polish with a yellow foam pad on a D/A sander at about 3,000 OPM, then use a glaze or wax on it. Car comes out of storage soon, and I want to get started. I'll report back the results.

[Jim Miller]

Here's my 41 after several coats of plain carnauba wax allowed to sit overnight. The finish was looking tired and I kept using cleaner waxes thinking could brighten it up but was probably just diminishing the paint. A friend suggested I try the multiple layers and I'm pleased with the results. 

[Michael Petti]

Did wax soaking take care of swirl marks without some sort of abrasive polishing?

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Michael Petti...The product used for preconditioning of original lacquer is Meguiar's No 7. Not wax.

I've never done this myself but I can see how it would help to rejuvenate paint that has become dried out with age making the surface more responsive before using more abrasive compounds/polishes. There is a YouTube video on this in which a well known reconditioning shop demonstrates this method. Unfortunately I don't have a link. No matter- all he did was generously slather the No 7 product all over the body and let it sit overnight. Depending on severity, this process would be repeated. There is no need to buff off the remaining product from the surface between applications.

In effect, the paint "absorbs" the polish helping to soften it thus helping to provide better results rather than going straight at it with a buffer and compound alone.

[Jim Miller]

Did wax soaking take care of swirl marks without some sort of abrasive polishing?

I didn't have a lot of swirls or ones that at least showed on the gunmetal gray.