car wax?

[Howard]

Porter Cable 7424 FTW. I made an investment and bought one the other week. what a great machine. My theory is it should last a long time, as compared to the $45 Simonez that broke after polishing two panels.

For you... you should've started with a rotary.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

derp.

 

[alexruiz]

For you... you should've started with a rotary.

A rotary is not for the faint of heart. An orbital like the PC7424/7436 is much safer and used with the newer compounds (HD UNO, Meguiar's 105 etc) it is almost as effective. By the way, I had a PC and sold it, as I stayed rotary exclusive. Practice on scrap panels with the rotary before doing your car.

Regardless, they are intended for polishing and paint correction, using either of them to apply wax is overkill, and specially, if you already got practice applying wax, you'll do it faster by hand.

Get this to apply wax HD UNO Duo pad exterior Orange side for hand polishing or working cleaner waxes, red side to just apply wax.

 

[alexruiz]

An hour, really??

It takes me at least an hour to wash, another hour to wax. Of course I drive a Jeep that sees some offroading so I wash it thoroughly to make sure there's no dirt left to scratch the paint.

The 1 hour washing is ok if the car is soiled. Do you use the "2 buckets" method?
I can wash the car with a conventional "2 bucket" method in as low as 30 minutes. Conventional wash means soapy solution, wash, rinse and dry. If you go rinseless wash (rinseless soapy solution, wash and dry) you can do it as fast as 20 minutes. If time is truly precious, go waterless wash (spray and wipe) and be done in 10 minutes. I use this HD Free waterless wash as waterless and works fantastic. In fact, after going waterless, I do conventional washes only as "bonding" time with the car.

What wax are you using that takes 1 hour?

 

[Miramonti]

Damn you guys are slow washing cars. Put a mitt on each hand and rip thru it. 5-10 minutes including rinse. Particularly if it doesn't need scrubbing.

 

[soccerballtux]

What are you using that is tanking after one wash? What color is the car so we can recommend something?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevbo/125966228/ that color
meguires gold class wax

 

[soccerballtux]

Maxima does look good.

I was told that beading really is not an indicator thats the reason for posting this topic here. I am using collinite and nxt right now. It seems the nxt bead after 3 weeks but the pop is gone. Pop meaning when you first wax it. The collonite I was told should last 6 months but I wonder if it really last that long

yes exactly, pop gone after like a week to me, doesn't appear to be just me either but others too have this issue.
This menzerna power lock polymer sealant hasn't lost any pop yet which is why I will continue to use it.

 

[soccerballtux]

Damn you guys are slow washing cars. Put a mitt on each hand and rip thru it. 5-10 minutes including rinse. Particularly if it doesn't need scrubbing.

why have none of us thought of buying a 2nd mit that's genius son

 

[jonesthewine]

Prima makes some very good products, long-lasting synthetic/polymer based...Epic is a brilliant product, easy on and easy off, lasts for 4 to 5 months easily, and can be layered. Hydro is a very good spray-on wax and Slick is their quick-detailer. This has been my go-to brand for a number of years now.

 

[Howard]

A rotary is not for the faint of heart. An orbital like the PC7424/7436 is much safer and used with the newer compounds (HD UNO, Meguiar's 105 etc) it is almost as effective. By the way, I had a PC and sold it, as I stayed rotary exclusive. Practice on scrap panels with the rotary before doing your car.

Regardless, they are intended for polishing and paint correction, using either of them to apply wax is overkill, and specially, if you already got practice applying wax, you'll do it faster by hand.

Get this to apply wax HD UNO Duo pad exterior Orange side for hand polishing or working cleaner waxes, red side to just apply wax.

PCs will do what rotaries will, but they're just so much slower. Besides, Fuzzy was started with shit panels anyway so it would've been a perfect opportunity to learn.

 

[alexruiz]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevbo/125966228/ that color
meguires gold class wax

Lovely color and nice ride!

Bolded for you is the mistake. Gold class looks really nice, but the stuff is probably the shortest lived wax. If you add that removing it is a major pain, it beetr look good once applied (which it does, let's be honest)

If you can get it locally, I wholeheartedly recommend Mothers Reflections Car wax This is the BEST otc car wax you can get, period. As shiny as NXT, gold class or any other, and it won't tank after one wash. Being a synthetic blend, it is a breeze to apply and remove, leaving a deep gloss on dark colors and makes the flake pop in metallics. There are more reflective products (Mothers own FX for example) but reflections leaves a rich deep gloss. Furthermore, you can expect 2 honest months of it. My only gripe is that being an all in one (cleaner) wax, its cleaner are too mild so neglected paint will not show much improvement without a dedicated polish/cleaner.

By going online you obviously get access to a lot of products, but even so, reflections goes toe to toe with the best of them. If you can get it locally (oreillly or pep boys), you have struck gold as the Scion looks in really nice shape.

 

[alexruiz]

Damn you guys are slow washing cars. Put a mitt on each hand and rip thru it. 5-10 minutes including rinse. Particularly if it doesn't need scrubbing.

10 minutes without marring the paint? I want to see it

 

[Miramonti]

10 minutes without marring the paint? I want to see it

Yeah, all that heat I'm generating going so fast... I'm cautious but have a system and stick to it. But if the wheels need a good scrubbing, I'm doomed.

I can't possibly imagine taking an hour on one car unless it was a product of neglect or extremely dirty road condition, or I'm going to detail it too (all the rubbers/trim etc.) I washed and waxed both cars last weekend in 90 minutes using a corded wax/polisher. It was very warm and I sweat like a horse, but they look great.

 

[Howard]

Yeah, all that heat I'm generating going so fast... I'm cautious but have a system and stick to it. But if the wheels need a good scrubbing, I'm doomed.

I can't possibly imagine taking an hour on one car unless it was a product of neglect or extremely dirty road condition, or I'm going to detail it too (all the rubbers/trim etc.) I washed and waxed both cars last weekend in 90 minutes using a corded wax/polisher. It was very warm and I sweat like a horse, but they look great.

Two-bucket method to prevent accumulation of paint-marring elements in the wash mitt will do that to you.

Also, rinsing takes less time if you have a light-colored car.