do you apply wax w/ pc

M

mustanginky

New member
do any of you guys apply your wax w/ the pc, or do you do it by hand? I was wondering, i was gonna use 3m perfect it paste wax, and wondered if it would work best if applied by pc using a blue finishing pad
 
yeah it makes it real thin, just wondered if its okay to use it w/ a blue finishing pad, b/c thats what i was told when i bought teh pads, but i have heard that it might cause some swirl marks
 
I do about 99% of my waxing by machine, usually with the Cyclo which is a pretty aggressive way to do it compared to the PC. Works great.



As long as a) the panels and pad are clean, b) you use a pad with no cut, and c) you use a non-abrasive wax, then you won't get swirls or any other marring. What you will get is a thin, evenly distributed application that's worked into the pores of the paint.



Just make sure you a) apply wax evenly on the pad so there aren't any dry areas, b) then scrape as much wax as you can back *off* the pad (you don't need much on there), and c) only reapply to the pad was as truly needed (not as often as most people think), always scrape off any excess.



With the PC I use speed 4-4.5. I don't like super-soft finishing pads for this, but rather soft polishing pads (note that most fine polishing pads don't have any cut of their own, and certainly won't cause micromarring when lubricated with wax). The one "finishing" pad I *do* like for wax-by-PC is the red one from Griot's.



With the Cyclo, I use the white Cyclo "finishing pads", note that I put that in quotes because they're pretty aggressive for finishing pads, much more like light polishing ones.



When you're finished, evaluate your quantity-of-wax-used by how much is still in the pad. If there's an appreciable amount of wax in the pad then you used way too much. There's really no way for me to overstate how little wax (or other LSP) you really need.



Buffing the wax *off* by machine, with MF bonnets, works great too.
 
Heh heh, in the time it takes to get out the machine, set up the pad and then put it all away when you're done...a lot of guys could wax a whole 'nother car doing it all by hand :D
 
i just finished a car today....i started on the truck lid and the rear sides by hand....I will always use a PC....so much faster
 
Hmmm...intersting. I find that using the PC takes too long to apply waxes. I have yet to find an application technique that allows me to wax a vehicle faster than P21S by hand.
 
I can't really speak to wax, but...



I just got my PC 7424 last week and used it on my new Rendezvous - I washed, clayed and applied Meguiars NXT liquid (ok, polymer, not a wax) with the PC. I used the foam pad that came with the PC and used a setting of 3.5.



It went on real nice and very thin. I wiped off by hand with micro fiber towels - the resulting shine was/is amazing! The finish was like polished glass. I'm very pleased. I believe it was faster and better than if I'd done it by hand.
 
i've applied paste wax with the pc via 4" cyclo pad (fits perfect into the tin) and it works great! applying wax by machine gets the into the paint more evenly, and it saves me from having sore arms later... :)
 
I always apply via PC. I find it ensures a complete, thin, even coat, and like above, no sore arms or hands! (especially since I have a minivan and a Tahoe.... lots of surface to cover!)
 
i find that paste waxing is impossible w/ the pc, might as well do it by hand. i cant get it on the pad evenly w/my hands. liquid wax works great w/ the pc though
 
For the guys that want to paste wax via PC..try this.



Dab an applicator into the jar of wax, then dab the applicator onto the areas of the car to be waxed, instead of trying to put the wax on the PC pad. Press the pad up against the panel with the wax dabbed on it, and there ya go. Easy PC wax.
 
mustanginky said:
i find that paste waxing is impossible w/ the pc, might as well do it by hand. i cant get it on the pad evenly w/my hands. liquid wax works great w/ the pc though
Click to expand...

I have a couple of methods, depending on which wax I'm using (have only used the PC with 2 paste waxes): With P21s, I pop the wax loose from the can/jar and hold it upside-down still holding onto the can with the wax resting against the pad and move it around in circles (spreads super easy as it heats from the friction). With Meg's #26 I use a plastic butter knife to dig some outta the can, then spread it on the pad like butter. This isn't nearly as convenient, especially when the wax kinda clumps up.



Using either wax with the PC, I still find it much easier than by hand and provides a much more consistent layer. :2thumbs:
 
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