Wax Questions

[LubeTechJared]

I tried using the search function but didn't come up with anything. Used "wash and wax" "wax" "wax questions".

Anyway, I have wax questions. I need to wash and then get a good coat of wax on for the winter months coming up. When is it to cold to wax? I could look on the back of the bottles but I just wanted some of your guys experience or opinions. It is currently about 50 degrees Fahrenheit here, I do have a garage in which I could park and then plug in a space heater and then start waxing? I don't know, I just know that I'm running out of good weather and warmish weather so I would like to know what products you guys like and what temperature do you find is a cut off point. And is the space heater idea dumb?

If these questions seem repetitive has anyone thought of making a wash and wax faq thread? If one exists I'll feel stupid. drool

[Pu241]

Search function doesn't work with 3 character or less.
So "wax" will net you zero results.
FWIW, I don't recall a discussion of wax/waxing.
So lets see what we get.

[Damkid]

I would assume if its warm enough for you to want to wax it then go for it, i've never heard of a temurature limit for waxing, but then again i never hear of people waxing there cars in the winter time with negative tempuratures

[drddan]

You could try Eagle 1 nanowax. Its a liquid and it will go on clear, no residue, shines like crazy, and can even be sprayed on plastic and will not leave any color or white haze on the plastic. No buffing. Spray on, wipe with rag. EASY!

[deathegg]

Being a semi-retired professional detailer, I can tell you that anything below 40 degrees is just too cold for the wax to get a good bond with the surface. Heat up the garage with the car in it, and then do it. It'll be fine.

[Festiva_tunner]

Being a semi-retired professional detailer, I can tell you that anything below 40 degrees is just too cold for the wax to get a good bond with the surface. Heat up the garage with the car in it, and then do it. It'll be fine.

I was always told between 40 and 70 is the best temps

[blkfordsedan]

Personally, I get the best results with Maguiars products. I would start with their "Ultimate Compound" if your car is hazy or oxidized. If not, then use their "Cleaner Wax" followed by a Clay Bar (works wonders) and finally one of their premium waxes. I like their new Tech Wax 2.0, but their Gold Class is also excellent. Then after you wash it each time, use a chamois or an "Absorber" followed by a light wipe-down with Maguiars "Ultimate Detailer". You get a small bottle of Ultimate Detailer in the Clay Bar kit, but buy a big bottle 'cause it's excellent stuff. Here are the results I get on my '93L with factory original paint:

[LubeTechJared]

Well, I did it...outside because it was in the 50's today. I went out and got some Turtle Wax (previous to reading this and seeing blk's amazing shine ) and a bunch of soft towels. I waxed in partial shade and waited until the car was cold. I washed first then dried completely then threw the wax on a couple panels at a time. Then wiped and wiped for a while till I was satisfied. And boy did it shine. Then I let it sit for about 2 hours in the shade. The sun went down and I went for a little trip. I'm parking the car in the garage tonight because it's supposedly going to be 28 here. I'm guessing the wax is already set up and the cold temperature wont do it harm but I figured I'd be on the safe side anyway. I'll post pictures tomorrow after work as my buddy came by and was in a rush to leave so didn't have time to take them. I must say that I noticed a small dent in my drivers door I hadn't ever seen before I waxed it. Which was cool but also depressing a bit.

And ye blk I've heard good things about maguiars I'll have to check it out next wax. Your car blinds me with reflections. Now how long do they normally say to wait between waxes? Does it vary based on the wax used? Also, how much wax should I be using when I wax? I used about a quarter sized drop on each panel (a little more for the roof) was this adequate or should I have used more? I didn't see that much haze/residue after waxing on... Thanks for the input so far.

-Jared

[Britstiva]

I have to set up the scene for you to totally get what I'm saying here....

This past January I took my 73 Super Beetle to an indoor car show that I had never been to before. Now, before the show, I bought some of that Ice wax and was pretty impressed with the results. But once I pulled inside and starting setting up, I realized very quickly that my VW was on the "dull" side of shine when it came to the other cars.

So, I quickly found this guy who was selling some wax at the show and decided to give him a go. I'm not being paid for this plug, but I swear to you that it was the best wax I have EVER used!

He came to the FM3 meet, but he didn't do a real demonstration and I don't think people realized how good his stuff is.

My VW went from dull to an amazing shine! You can go over metal, plastic, glass, chrome trim... it doesn't matter! It doesn't leave the white residue on trim! This wax is by far the best I have ever seen or used.

Look at the pictures, they speak for themselves! This was after one coat! I was so busy waxing the Bug, when I looked up, I realized I was in the middle of a crowd. People were taking pics! I couldn't believe the results I got and neither could they!

I have since waxed the car once more and the shine is still fantastic!

The name of the product is "Deep Reflection, Inc"

Now, you can't get it at Wal-Mart or Autozone, you actually have to contact the guy personally.

Here is his info:

Jim Hale
215 Elkin Hwy
North Wilkesboro, 28659
North Carolina
USA
work (336) 667-3034

http://www.deep-reflection.com

(I tried the website and it doesn't seem to be working for me, so here is a number from the label on the back of the bottle: 336-260-1628)


The driver side has the new wax on it. You can see how much glossiness it brought back into the old paint. And remember, the car was waxed the day before the show with "Ice Wax".

Before:


After: Driver side only for comparison


Half of the passenger side now:


Like I said earlier, I looked up and I was surrounded by a crowd of people watching me like a demonstrator. The wax was bringing out the shine and removing tons of oxidation!

When I went to another show this past August, people were coming up to me asking if it was the same wax I had used back in January and were amazed at how well the car still shines!

The results speak for themselves!

[blkfordsedan]

And ye blk I've heard good things about maguiars I'll have to check it out next wax. Your car blinds me with reflections. Now how long do they normally say to wait between waxes? Does it vary based on the wax used?
-Jared

I do the complete clay bar/wax once in the spring and once in the fall. Otherwise, I just hand wash (always use the spot-free rinse), chamois dry and wipe it down with the Maguiars Ultimate Detail (that's the key). The stuff is truly amazing. It makes it look "just waxed" and maintains an incredible shine and water beading. Plus, bird droppings, tree sap, bugs, etc., wash right off. I first used it on my black '02 Taurus to conceal the swirl marks and now use it on my 'Stang. It really makes the metallic flake "pop" in the sunlight.

[marinepolice03]

if your car is a dark color i recommend using turtle wax's "black box". i used it on my wife's maroon Sante Fe and it worked great. but it is like a 7 step process though.

[FestYboy]

i don't touch Turtle wax for one good reason... it HATES plastics. nothing touches my cars except Meguires.

[5.0zone]

For those with BLACK cars, use Meguires #7 Glaze.
Use it before you wax, it hides all the swirl marks!
If your are going to a car show just use the #7 and don't wax, you will be amazed how good the car will look.
It may work as well on other colors, its just that I've owned black cars and it realy works.

[m715]

I will add this... it is recommended that you use a glaze often to "feed" the paint petroleum products that are lost to the elements. Most of the cleaner/waxes have this built into the product. That is also why they remove so much oxidation, (like the product mentioned the individual sells) and enhance the shine so much. The older Meguires Medallion had almost too much of the distillate in it and smeared too much especailly when humidity was high.
Wax is in two forms for the most part now. Actual wax is Carnuba wax for the most part, and is the same protective material used for decades. Don't take that wrong...it is good stuff!!! Drawbacks usually are the removal of the product which is more difficult, and leaves the "beads" or Flakes". it also nets the complaints people have when it gets on unintended surfaces. Look at the label, and the product that still uses fine quality Carnuba wax will say so PROUDLY. It is expensive.
The newest "waxes" as a general rule, are not waxes at all anymore. They are polymer compounds, and have a "deeper" finish that makes the paint pop color wise like a clear coat finish does compared to a single stage paint. These finishes have actually been around longer than you might think The first I can remember was a product called Liquid Glass, and was marketed to owners of black cars. I don't believe they are still in existance today. Megiures (now owned by 3M) Mothers etc have, for the most part, switched to formulations using synthetics in their consumer products for the most part.
The professional lines we sell to body shops and detailers still are available in the older product lines because they are familiar with the product and it's results.
Clay bars are the best product to come along in a very long time. It is useful to remove imbedded surface contaminates from the paint surface with less effort and damage than the old rubbing compounds which were often too aggressive for the thin clearcoats especially. Microfine compounds are my next favorite product to the clay, but a bar, and plenty of the correct lube spray that it needs to glide across the surface without scratching is hard to beat. Make sure you CONSTANTLY fold the bar over itself to move the bar to a fresh surface to avoid making it sandpaper.

HTH
Michael

[FestYboy]

liquid glass can still be purchaced (new), IIRC, we have it at my store (pepboys)