Wax or What
#1
8th Gear
Thread Starter
Wax or What
Im buying rainx for my windows but my ilx doesn't repel water at all like my parents car when i wash them, but my problem is that water sticks to it after i wash it and takes a while to dry so does it need a wax or is it just like that?
#2
#5
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Washing and drying is the foundation of any detail, whether it's simply maintaining your vehicle with a wash and dry or the start of a long detailing process. It's often overlooked that properly washing and drying your vehicle is the single most important step in any detailing process. This is due to the fact that most imperfections (swirls, scratches, water spots, etc.) are added to your paint during the washing and drying phase. With the proper tools, products and technique, you can easily minimize adding imperfections to your paint. There are various methods you can use to properly wash, which will be explained below in detail.
Frequency (Return to Top)
We recommend washing once every week or two.
Pre-wash Setup (Return to Top)
There's a few things you want to do to get setup prior to any wash using a hose as your source of water. Properly preparing everything before you start your wash process will help things go smoother, which can help cut down on the time it takes to wash your vehicle. Being able to properly wash quickly will cut down on the chances of water spots forming on your vehicle, which can require a lot of time and effort to remove. To further eliminate any possibility of adding water spots to your paint, you can invest in a water purifier system, which removes any minerals from your water making it nearly impossible for water spots to form.
Recommended Setup Procedure Prior to Washing
Step 1: Attach your hose to your water source
Optional Step: Set up your in-line water purifier for a mineral free wash
Step 2: Unwind the hose and walk it around your vehicle and ensure you can easily spray and rinse every panel
Step 3: Attach the shut-off valve to the end of your hose (make sure the valve is closed)
Step 4: Turn on your water source
Step 5: Attach your spray nozzle to the shut-off valve coupler
Step 6: Place the Grit Guard insert into your designated rinse bucket
Step 7: Turn your shut-off valve to open
Step 8: Fill each bucket up about half way up with water
Step 9: Soak your wash media in the clean rinse bucket until you are ready to wash
Traditional Two Bucket Wash How-To
Step 1: Follow the Pre-wash Setup Procedure
Step 2: Pour roughly an ounce (or as directed on the bottle) of shampoo into your non-rinse bucket
Step 3: Spray the bucket with shampoo to generate some lather and suds
Step 4: Take your wash mitt or sponge from the rinse bucket, and dunk it into the bucket full of suds
Step 5: Starting from the top of your vehicle, gently glide your wash mitt / sponge across a section of your vehicle, using little to no added pressure
Step 6: Clean your wash media in your rinse bucket, running your mitt or sponge over the Grit Guard insert to release as much contamination as possible
Step 7: Repeat steps 4 through 6 until your entire vehicle has been washed
Step 8: Thoroughly rinse off the suds from your vehicle
Step 9: Turn the shut-off valve to the off position and remove your spray nozzle
Step 10: Turn the shut-off valve back on and use the free flowing water to perform the sheeting method
Step 11: Proceed to drying your vehicle
The sheeting method is a simple process that allows you to dry most of your vehicle without ever needing to touch the paint with a drying towel. The main idea behind the sheeting method is to create a cascading effect where the water flowing onto the car combines with the water already on the surface, pulling it down off of the vehicle. Simple physics states that like particles stick together, which is why this method is so successful. When done properly, especially on a vehicle with a sealant or wax on it, you are left with only a few drops of water on each panel, which can easily be absorbed with your drying towel.
How-To Perform the Sheeting Technique
Note: This should be performed after you vehicle has been properly washed following the recommended steps. Also, make sure your hose is dispensing free flowing water prior to starting.
Step 1: Starting from the top of your vehicle moving left to right, flood the roof until water is pouring off the edge
Step 2: Quickly lower the hose a little to "catch" the water falling from the roof, this time moving right to left
Step 3: Lower the hose again and continue in the opposite direction moving left to right
Step 4: Continue this technique until you reach the lowest panels of your vehicle
Step 5: Finish drying your vehicle
Frequency (Return to Top)
We recommend washing once every week or two.
Pre-wash Setup (Return to Top)
There's a few things you want to do to get setup prior to any wash using a hose as your source of water. Properly preparing everything before you start your wash process will help things go smoother, which can help cut down on the time it takes to wash your vehicle. Being able to properly wash quickly will cut down on the chances of water spots forming on your vehicle, which can require a lot of time and effort to remove. To further eliminate any possibility of adding water spots to your paint, you can invest in a water purifier system, which removes any minerals from your water making it nearly impossible for water spots to form.
Recommended Setup Procedure Prior to Washing
Step 1: Attach your hose to your water source
Optional Step: Set up your in-line water purifier for a mineral free wash
Step 2: Unwind the hose and walk it around your vehicle and ensure you can easily spray and rinse every panel
Step 3: Attach the shut-off valve to the end of your hose (make sure the valve is closed)
Step 4: Turn on your water source
Step 5: Attach your spray nozzle to the shut-off valve coupler
Step 6: Place the Grit Guard insert into your designated rinse bucket
Step 7: Turn your shut-off valve to open
Step 8: Fill each bucket up about half way up with water
Step 9: Soak your wash media in the clean rinse bucket until you are ready to wash
Traditional Two Bucket Wash How-To
Step 1: Follow the Pre-wash Setup Procedure
Step 2: Pour roughly an ounce (or as directed on the bottle) of shampoo into your non-rinse bucket
Step 3: Spray the bucket with shampoo to generate some lather and suds
Step 4: Take your wash mitt or sponge from the rinse bucket, and dunk it into the bucket full of suds
Step 5: Starting from the top of your vehicle, gently glide your wash mitt / sponge across a section of your vehicle, using little to no added pressure
Step 6: Clean your wash media in your rinse bucket, running your mitt or sponge over the Grit Guard insert to release as much contamination as possible
Step 7: Repeat steps 4 through 6 until your entire vehicle has been washed
Step 8: Thoroughly rinse off the suds from your vehicle
Step 9: Turn the shut-off valve to the off position and remove your spray nozzle
Step 10: Turn the shut-off valve back on and use the free flowing water to perform the sheeting method
Step 11: Proceed to drying your vehicle
The sheeting method is a simple process that allows you to dry most of your vehicle without ever needing to touch the paint with a drying towel. The main idea behind the sheeting method is to create a cascading effect where the water flowing onto the car combines with the water already on the surface, pulling it down off of the vehicle. Simple physics states that like particles stick together, which is why this method is so successful. When done properly, especially on a vehicle with a sealant or wax on it, you are left with only a few drops of water on each panel, which can easily be absorbed with your drying towel.
How-To Perform the Sheeting Technique
Note: This should be performed after you vehicle has been properly washed following the recommended steps. Also, make sure your hose is dispensing free flowing water prior to starting.
Step 1: Starting from the top of your vehicle moving left to right, flood the roof until water is pouring off the edge
Step 2: Quickly lower the hose a little to "catch" the water falling from the roof, this time moving right to left
Step 3: Lower the hose again and continue in the opposite direction moving left to right
Step 4: Continue this technique until you reach the lowest panels of your vehicle
Step 5: Finish drying your vehicle
#6
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
The primary purpose of a sealant is to properly protect your vehicle from the elements. Sealants are designed to bond to your paint and provide roughly 3 to 6 months of protection. This is significantly longer protection than what a carnauba wax offers, which is typically 3 to 8 weeks. The barrier of protection that sealants provide help minimize contamination from embedding in to your paint and makes maintaining your vehicle significantly easier. Another benefit of a sealant is that it will enhance the look of your paint by giving you sharper reflections and more depth and gloss.
Layering and Cure Times (Return to Top)
Applying multiple coats will increase the strength of the protection and durability of the protection. The most important thing to note is that when you want to apply more than one coat, you have to let the previous coat cure. Each sealant's cure time will vary and environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, humidity, etc.) can impact cure times. Most sealants will cure within 1 - 24 hours and the vast majority of any sealant will be cured within the first hour. If you have the time waiting 24 hours is ideal to be absolutely certain but if you are in a rush waiting a minimum of one hour should still work very well for most sealants.
Frequency (Return to Top)
In general, sealants typically last between 3 to 6 months. There are many factors that go into determining how long a sealant will last. Some of the major factors are if your car is stored in a garage or outside, how many miles are driven, the type of weather conditions your vehicle is exposed to, how well your paint was prepped prior to applying the sealant, the frequency of washing your vehicle, and type of shampoo. The key is to reapply your coat of protection before the previous coat runs out. As you maintain your vehicle, keep an eye out for how well the water beads and sheets off your paint. If water begins to pool on your paint, then chances are there is little to no protection remaining and it's advised to apply another coat of sealant. A good rule of thumb is to reapply a coat of sealant once a season (4 times a year).
How To Apply a Sealant (Return to Top)
The key when applying a sealant is to stretch the product as thin and far as possible. The saying "less is more" definitely applies to any quality sealant. We do not recommend applying a sealant with a rotary buffer, but it is fine to use a random orbital or dual action buffer using a soft foam polishing pad. Hand applications also work very well and help you get in to tight spaces more effectively.
Porter Cable 7424 XP
Step 1: Center your blue pad on the backing plate
Step 2: Apply 2 pea sized drops of your sealant on the pad (fresh pads may require a few extra drops)
Step 3: Visualize your working area, since you're spreading the product as far as possible, it can be as large as a panel
Step 4: Trace your working area with the sealant on your pad with the buffer off
Step 5: Turn the buffer on a low speed setting (1 - 3) and spread the sealant evenly through the entire working area
Step 6: Turn the speed dial of the buffer up to approximately 3 and start in a corner of your working area
Step 7: Working from one corner to the next, move the buffer at controlled pace (approximately 3" - 5" per second) using no additional pressure
Step 8: Once you reach the opposite corner, follow the same path back to where you started, but overlap your first pass by approximately 50%
Step 9: Continue this pattern until you have applied the sealant to your entire working area
Step 10: Repeat this process, but this time use the opposite direction (if you were working top to bottom then bottom to top the first time around, change it to left to right and right to left overlapping movements)
Step 11: Once the sealant is spread thinly and evenly over the paint, shut the buffer off
Step 12: Using a clean microfiber towel, remove the sealant from the paint
Step 13: Repeat steps 2 through 12 until the entire vehicle has the sealant applied
Layering and Cure Times (Return to Top)
Applying multiple coats will increase the strength of the protection and durability of the protection. The most important thing to note is that when you want to apply more than one coat, you have to let the previous coat cure. Each sealant's cure time will vary and environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, humidity, etc.) can impact cure times. Most sealants will cure within 1 - 24 hours and the vast majority of any sealant will be cured within the first hour. If you have the time waiting 24 hours is ideal to be absolutely certain but if you are in a rush waiting a minimum of one hour should still work very well for most sealants.
Frequency (Return to Top)
In general, sealants typically last between 3 to 6 months. There are many factors that go into determining how long a sealant will last. Some of the major factors are if your car is stored in a garage or outside, how many miles are driven, the type of weather conditions your vehicle is exposed to, how well your paint was prepped prior to applying the sealant, the frequency of washing your vehicle, and type of shampoo. The key is to reapply your coat of protection before the previous coat runs out. As you maintain your vehicle, keep an eye out for how well the water beads and sheets off your paint. If water begins to pool on your paint, then chances are there is little to no protection remaining and it's advised to apply another coat of sealant. A good rule of thumb is to reapply a coat of sealant once a season (4 times a year).
How To Apply a Sealant (Return to Top)
The key when applying a sealant is to stretch the product as thin and far as possible. The saying "less is more" definitely applies to any quality sealant. We do not recommend applying a sealant with a rotary buffer, but it is fine to use a random orbital or dual action buffer using a soft foam polishing pad. Hand applications also work very well and help you get in to tight spaces more effectively.
Porter Cable 7424 XP
Step 1: Center your blue pad on the backing plate
Step 2: Apply 2 pea sized drops of your sealant on the pad (fresh pads may require a few extra drops)
Step 3: Visualize your working area, since you're spreading the product as far as possible, it can be as large as a panel
Step 4: Trace your working area with the sealant on your pad with the buffer off
Step 5: Turn the buffer on a low speed setting (1 - 3) and spread the sealant evenly through the entire working area
Step 6: Turn the speed dial of the buffer up to approximately 3 and start in a corner of your working area
Step 7: Working from one corner to the next, move the buffer at controlled pace (approximately 3" - 5" per second) using no additional pressure
Step 8: Once you reach the opposite corner, follow the same path back to where you started, but overlap your first pass by approximately 50%
Step 9: Continue this pattern until you have applied the sealant to your entire working area
Step 10: Repeat this process, but this time use the opposite direction (if you were working top to bottom then bottom to top the first time around, change it to left to right and right to left overlapping movements)
Step 11: Once the sealant is spread thinly and evenly over the paint, shut the buffer off
Step 12: Using a clean microfiber towel, remove the sealant from the paint
Step 13: Repeat steps 2 through 12 until the entire vehicle has the sealant applied
#7
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Carnauba waxes are a great way to protect your vehicle against the elements. Carnauba waxes often offer stronger protection than sealants do, but will not last as long. Waxes typically last 3 to 8 weeks, where a sealant can last up to 6 months. Carnauba waxes often bead water better than sealants, which makes your vehicle easier to maintain. Carnauba waxes are what you want to use when you want the absolute wettest finish possible.
Layering and Cure Times (Return to Top)
Applying multiple coats or layers of wax can add more protection, gloss and shine to the surface. When you want to apply more than one coat, you have to let the previous coat fully cure. Assuming you apply the wax nice and thin, the cure times will range from 1 - 24 hours. The exact time will vary depending on the specific wax, how it was applied, temperature, humidity, etc.
Frequency (Return to Top)
In general, carnauba waxes will last anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks. There are many factors that go into determining how long a wax will last. Some of the major factors are if your car is stored in a garage or outside, how many miles are driven, the type of weather conditions your vehicle is exposed to, how well your paint was prepped prior to applying the wax, the frequency of washing your vehicle, and type of shampoo. The key is to re-apply your coat of protection before the previous coat runs out. As you maintain your vehicle, keep an eye out for how well the water beads and sheets off your paint. If water begins to pool and look flat on your paint, then chances are there is little to no protection remaining and it's advised to apply another coat of wax. A good rule of thumb is to re-apply a carnauba once a month (12 times a year).
Layering and Cure Times (Return to Top)
Applying multiple coats or layers of wax can add more protection, gloss and shine to the surface. When you want to apply more than one coat, you have to let the previous coat fully cure. Assuming you apply the wax nice and thin, the cure times will range from 1 - 24 hours. The exact time will vary depending on the specific wax, how it was applied, temperature, humidity, etc.
Frequency (Return to Top)
In general, carnauba waxes will last anywhere from 3 to 8 weeks. There are many factors that go into determining how long a wax will last. Some of the major factors are if your car is stored in a garage or outside, how many miles are driven, the type of weather conditions your vehicle is exposed to, how well your paint was prepped prior to applying the wax, the frequency of washing your vehicle, and type of shampoo. The key is to re-apply your coat of protection before the previous coat runs out. As you maintain your vehicle, keep an eye out for how well the water beads and sheets off your paint. If water begins to pool and look flat on your paint, then chances are there is little to no protection remaining and it's advised to apply another coat of wax. A good rule of thumb is to re-apply a carnauba once a month (12 times a year).
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CarlosILX13 (10-05-2015)
#9
Team Owner
I preferred ceb's answer more.
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