You should wax it once a week, if you really love your car.
But I think every two months is regular, most people don't even wax.
But I think every two months is regular, most people don't even wax.
waxing
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If you do it once a month, it might almost be overkill. It depends on the type of wax. Some synthetics claim they will last all year. The best way to check is right after you do it, you will notice the water beads up significantly. That is, it will collect into pools that will be taller and larger than before you did it.
Gradually as the wax wears off, these beads will become smaller and shorter. Its kind of hard to describe, but once you do it the first time you'll be able to see what it looks like and how the water rolls around like it's a pat of butter on a hot pan. It will also feel a lot slicker, and when the wax wears off it will go back to feeling more like... well.. painted metal!
To wax, make sure you have just washed and dried the car well, and that there is no dust or anything that could scratch your paint. Also make sure you have a clean applicator. Put a little quarter size dab of wax on the applicator, and start rubbing it in small circles (about half a foot in diameter). Do small circles in a line along the vehicle (kind of like when you mow grass, it cuts in a circle but you move in a line). Make sure you get it in there good, and also try to avoid any black trim/rubber, as it will stain and be really hard to get out. Once you have completed a couple square feet of waxing, and the wax you just put on has dried, take a clean towel and buff it out. This usually takes a lot of pressure to get the wax off, but be careful cause i heard the hoods are kind of flimsy.
Thats about it. Don't get the 3-step wax, it has not been shown to be any better in consumer reports tests than 1 step wax. Once you do it a few times, you'll probably be sick of it as it can take an hour or two sometimes.
Gradually as the wax wears off, these beads will become smaller and shorter. Its kind of hard to describe, but once you do it the first time you'll be able to see what it looks like and how the water rolls around like it's a pat of butter on a hot pan. It will also feel a lot slicker, and when the wax wears off it will go back to feeling more like... well.. painted metal!
To wax, make sure you have just washed and dried the car well, and that there is no dust or anything that could scratch your paint. Also make sure you have a clean applicator. Put a little quarter size dab of wax on the applicator, and start rubbing it in small circles (about half a foot in diameter). Do small circles in a line along the vehicle (kind of like when you mow grass, it cuts in a circle but you move in a line). Make sure you get it in there good, and also try to avoid any black trim/rubber, as it will stain and be really hard to get out. Once you have completed a couple square feet of waxing, and the wax you just put on has dried, take a clean towel and buff it out. This usually takes a lot of pressure to get the wax off, but be careful cause i heard the hoods are kind of flimsy.
Thats about it. Don't get the 3-step wax, it has not been shown to be any better in consumer reports tests than 1 step wax. Once you do it a few times, you'll probably be sick of it as it can take an hour or two sometimes.
thanks guys, topworm that is a great explantion, one more question, so i want to do one section of the car at a time, that is i don't want to aplly the wax to the whole care before i start remove it?
Right. That's why you do one or two square feet at a time. You want to try to get it off pretty much right after it dries, so do small sections at a time. Usually it gets so annoying that I end up doing larger areas at a time just to get done faster. Most of the time I'll do one section, like a door panel, or the trunk, or half the hood, etc... but ideally you want to get it off as quick as its ready to come off. It helps if you have a friend taking it off as you're putting it on.
No cicles when applying wax.....that leads to swirl marks. Wax 2 times per month in the summer, once every 2 months in the winter. Use 100% American made white cotton towels for both application and removal.....these are the only towels that will not leave swirl marks and fine scratches on the clear-cote. Theres lots more, but ive explained it all in many other threads, do a search and enjoy!!!!!!! - T
Sorry T, but you're supposed to go in small circles to ensure deeper penetration and total coverage. The only way you get swirl marks from waxing is if you don't clean your car adequately beforehand or if you don't use a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
oh yea? How do circles penetrate deeper. Not only do they leave swirls.......they also do not relflect light as well as if you go apply and remove the wax an up/down motion over the body panel.Originally posted by basilisk4@Aug 19 2004, 02:31 PM
Sorry T, but you're supposed to go in small circles to ensure deeper penetration and total coverage. The only way you get swirl marks from waxing is if you don't clean your car adequately beforehand or if you don't use a soft, non-abrasive cloth.
The circular motion causes you to overlap, so that you get more wax on each spot and thus push the original coat deeper, without unevenness. Only what I've been told... Although the circular motion is what it says on the directions of every wax I've ever used (which is admittedly only about 4 kinds)...
Wax does not get abosorbed into paint, it rests on top of it. If clear-cote were penetrable.......it would only last about a month on a car. Clearcote is a paint, but its clear. It can not be penetrated by carnuba (which is the base of all consumer non-synthetic waxes.) Wax shines because it reflects light off its millions of tiny surface variations back at our eyes. Paint is flat, it can not reflect as much light as a layer of wax can, hence why we wax our cars!
Applying the paint in an up/down motion on body panels allows the best possible reflection from the wax, eliminates swirl marks because you are not swirling the application rag nor the wax.........and if you pay attention you should have ZERO gaps in coverage just remember where you just waxed. See my ponit? - T
Applying the paint in an up/down motion on body panels allows the best possible reflection from the wax, eliminates swirl marks because you are not swirling the application rag nor the wax.........and if you pay attention you should have ZERO gaps in coverage just remember where you just waxed. See my ponit? - T
hey no problem man. If you need any more help concerning paint care or the like......just make a post and we will be happy to help out! -TOriginally posted by basilisk4@Aug 19 2004, 03:14 PM
Makes sense, T. Thanks for the thorough explanation. Sounds like you know what you're talking about, so I'll take your word for it.![]()
Good Reading How to Wax
also check out
Autopia They have good reviews on products and a great "How To Series"
also check out
Autopia They have good reviews on products and a great "How To Series"
good post above......read read read! -t
yeah definitely a good read. Thanks for the links tC_408!
Not a problem, always willing to give advice to fellow enthusiasts. This was also my first new car, and I hated how the dealer doesn't really know how to detail a car. After my first wash I noticed under certain lighting coditions that there were swirl marks and spider webs.
What I did was:
- wash the car with Dawn (dish soap) to get rid of old wax.
- then I used Perfect Shine Detailing Clay to get the paint perfectly smooth and preped for polishing.
- then two coats of 1Z Metallic Paint Polish one body panel at a time, to get rid of swirl marks.
- then to seal it off with I used NXT Generation Tech Wax 2 coats one panel at a time
-for longer lasting protection I use 2 coats of Hi-Tech Yellow Wax one panel at a time
The paint looks deeper and wetter than when I picked it up at the dealership, no more spiderwebs or swirls.
I use this process with my 93 4runner every fall and spring and the paint looks brand new. I plan on doing the same routine with the tC.
heres some pics:
car domain
What I did was:
- wash the car with Dawn (dish soap) to get rid of old wax.
- then I used Perfect Shine Detailing Clay to get the paint perfectly smooth and preped for polishing.
- then two coats of 1Z Metallic Paint Polish one body panel at a time, to get rid of swirl marks.
- then to seal it off with I used NXT Generation Tech Wax 2 coats one panel at a time
-for longer lasting protection I use 2 coats of Hi-Tech Yellow Wax one panel at a time
The paint looks deeper and wetter than when I picked it up at the dealership, no more spiderwebs or swirls.
I use this process with my 93 4runner every fall and spring and the paint looks brand new. I plan on doing the same routine with the tC.
heres some pics:
car domain
Wow, I never thought there was so much behind waxing a car, good thing i asked. If left on my own who know what would have happend thanks guy's...
Those pics don't work for me...
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