Initial Musings on Autoglym HD Wax

[JaredPointer]

Ok - everyone knows the story about Autoglym being at WM. So Imma be like Kanye and skip right to what I wanna say. Lightheartedly....

Prepped my hood using Meg's #83 (busting out old school like 2003, haha....) and a iso wipe down. - Let me just say, my truck is in bad need of a polish right now. A full season of deer hunting, currently in the midst of turkey season, skidder trails and logging roads, etc. Not nice to 'Lil Blue. - So, we have the hood clean and smooth (as much as can be in a short time frame).

Applied the wax using the damp sponge applicator. The directions are pretty clear to make sure the app is damp. They came with the wax, factory sealed and also in another ziplock style baggie. As mentioned in another thread I read about it, a little goes a looooong way. Applied as per directions (circular motions) and let haze for 10 - 15 minutes. Removal was a breeze. I used the supplied red MF towel. Two things on that: 1) Booooooo for having a sewn in tag. 2) I went against my normal convention of washing microfibers before I use them. I always would recommend to wash them prior to use. You never know where they've been or who has touched them.

Now, on to my thoughts.... Application and removal is a breeze. HD Wax is definitely not one of the slickest LSP's I've ever used. While it's not tacky, I think the freshly polished/IPA'ed surface was slicker than was the finished HD wax surface. I don't know why - maybe this wax isn't slick? It has a nice look to it, albeit I am only making that determination under fluorescent lighting. Maybe tomorrow I'll get to see it in the sun. The packaging on this stuff is pretty spot-on. It's eye-catching, it stands out from the other things on the shelf (at WM), it comes with applicators and a towel, and it's just put together nicely. A+ for that.

I'll be interested to see how it beads/sheets , clings/lets go of dirt, and how long it holds out on my hood. I may possibly try to wash and wax the wife's Highlander tomorrow. We'll see how that goes.

Comments or smart-alec remarks welcome.

 

[Mr. Clean]

I'd love to be the first to chime in with a smart alec remark...but one escapes me at the moment, so I'll just subscribe to the thread so I can follow any subequent observations and musings

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Bustin' it out old school, huh?

Now, Biff, don't con me.... I just want to make sure I get TWO coats of wax this time.....

:crazy2:

 

[JaredPointer]

Just making a joke about the DACP because it's been a while since it was the bandwagon polish.

Noticeable improvement in the slickness area overnight.

 

[(901)]

This thread is useless without pics :inspector:

 

[black bart]

Just making a joke about the DACP because it's been a while since it was the bandwagon polish.

Noticeable improvement in the slickness area overnight.

Well I must be old school because I'm never without # 83 but seldom use it.
Last time I used # 83 was when I repainted rear fender on the Corvette I wet sanded with 1500 last then used 83 on a LC orange with rotary and it quickly removed the sanding and glossed it out.

I use M80 for most paint correction, don't see the need to pay twice the money for the latest rage when I can make it look just as good for far less $$$$$$$$.

Will be looking forward to update on durability of the autoglym.
.
JP I remember you using NXT how does this look compared to NXT.

I like the look of NXT on my Black vehicles.

 

[cwcad]

This thread is useless without pics :inspector:

I would complain as well but I am having difficulties posting pictures off of my computer.

Noticeable slickness over nite..eh? This must be cure time. Would waiting longer to wipe off mitigate this or make for harder removal? Does packaging help the product sell in Walmart?

Since it is not initially slick I am interested in dust gathering. I think my new nemesis is morning dew which attracts Texas dust. Nothing stops this particular process but I have had some products that seemed to attract less dust than others.

 

[Mr. Clean]

Just making a joke about the DACP because it's been a while since it was the bandwagon polish.

Noticeable improvement in the slickness area overnight.

Yes and now the 83/80 combo has been supplanted by 105/205 for the Meg's fans. Time and technology marches on!

Well I must be old school because I'm never without # 83 but seldom use it.
Last time I used # 83 was when I repainted rear fender on the Corvette I wet sanded with 1500 last then used 83 on a LC orange with rotary and it quickly removed the sanding and glossed it out.

I use M80 for most paint correction, don't see the need to pay twice the money for the latest rage when I can make it look just as good for far less $$$$$$$$.

Will be looking forward to update on durability of the autoglym.
.
JP I remember you using NXT how does this look compared to NXT.

I like the look of NXT on my Black vehicles.

Good question!

 

[JaredPointer]

This thread is useless without pics :inspector:

Well, since I'm lazy I can post the cell phone pics I took. I might try and get a pic of the hood if the sun comes out today.

Well I must be old school because I'm never without # 83 but seldom use it.
Last time I used # 83 was when I repainted rear fender on the Corvette I wet sanded with 1500 last then used 83 on a LC orange with rotary and it quickly removed the sanding and glossed it out.

I use M80 for most paint correction, don't see the need to pay twice the money for the latest rage when I can make it look just as good for far less $$$$$$$$.

Will be looking forward to update on durability of the autoglym.
.
JP I remember you using NXT how does this look compared to NXT.

I like the look of NXT on my Black vehicles.

Compared to NXT? Hard to tell just basing on the hood and fluorescent lights. I'd say it looks as good so far. Not better, not worse. Maybe if I can do the Highlander I can make a comparison.

I would complain as well but I am having difficulties posting pictures off of my computer.

Noticeable slickness over nite..eh? This must be cure time. Would waiting longer to wipe off mitigate this or make for harder removal? Does packaging help the product sell in Walmart?

Since it is not initially slick I am interested in dust gathering. I think my new nemesis is morning dew which attracts Texas dust. Nothing stops this particular process but I have had some products that seemed to attract less dust than others.

I don't know how much packaging appearance would help in a Wal-Mart, but I definitely think packaging helps sell items in the general scheme of things.

Regarding "anti-static" products that tout less dust gathering - I;m not sure I buy into it. I've never noticed any less static or less dust attraction when using something like FK 425 versus any other quality QD. Methinks it might be a little bit of hype. The best thing I can think of to combat actual static is to make sure your MF towels aren't static-y. Sure, a product may attract more dust than others, but I think that might be the materials in the product make-up, not because it isn't anti-static.

 

[JaredPointer]

Here's a couple of teaser pics....

Hood was during set up last night. Fender I applied about 30-45 minutes ago. I'm letting it sit for a while to answer Kirk's question about letting it sit.

 

[JaredPointer]

Would waiting longer to wipe off mitigate this or make for harder removal?

To answer the harder removal part of this question - no, I let it sit up for over an hour and removal was easier than after the 10-15 minute window suggested in the directions. Still not quite as slick, but I am assuming this will "even out" over time (comparing with the hood).

 

[JaredPointer]

Another thought:

After using the supplied red applicator, I am not real sure I like it. It dries out fairly quickly, and it seems to be "grabby." I nearly dropped it several times on the vertical panels. Maybe it will take some "getting used to".

 

[JaredPointer]

For the vultures....

I don't claim to be a photographer.

 

[JaredPointer]

Drove my Tundra in the rain on Monday morning, and could definitely tell where I had applied the HD Wax (hood and fender). I have heard about the sheeting properties of this wax, however I didn't notice it sheeting any water either during my drive or after I parked at work where it sat. It beaded like most other waxes. As comparison, I can tell the couple of coats of Z5 Pro I put on back in September or October sometime after I got the truck (and did a full out correction job) is shot. Not only does it not bead at all any more, it is really holding onto dirt whereas before it seemed to "rinse" pretty clean in the rain. I think it might have lasted a little while longer had I given it constant upkeep with a Zaino QD (like Z6 or Z8). The HD Wax seemed a lot cleaner after the rain than the rest of the paint, however both panels are "before" the tires, meaning they won't get as much rainwater kicked up from the road as others.

I also have used a couple of QD's over it so far to remove light dusting. Monday afternoon (after an S&W wipedown due to the rain) I used Lucas Slick Mist and yesterday afternoon I used FK 425. Seems to play well with the QD's (and vice versa).

I am not going to touch the Highlander again until the next wash to see how the HD Wax will shed dirt after it's had some time to accumulate during daily driving.

 

[cwcad]

I have read of the sheeting action and have seen posts describing same but I personally have not noticed that particular trait in any product.

For me if it is slick and it is beading it is doing what I want in a product. Once the dirt starts to accumulate the beading characteristics seem to change but return once the dust is taken off. Some QD's offer protection and others don't but what they add is not enough for me to not see the beading change in its intensity.

I am sure that you will notice the rinsing will become harder and harder as the product diminishes. Look forward to your comments when the Highlander is washed in the weeks to come.

 

[elk42]

Bustin' it out old school, huh?

Now, Biff, don't con me.... I just want to make sure I get TWO coats of wax this time.....

:crazy2:

I'm sorry Mr. McFly...Oh hi Marty!

 

[JaredPointer]

Brief follow-up:

We took the Highlander to a family outing today where it was rained on for about 15-20 minutes very lightly. Coupled with the pollen and dust that seems to be the norm (from about early March to October sometime), it left little water spots all over the car. Very noticeable spots. However, they seem easy enough to remove. I did a test panel with some S&W and they came off like butter and the surface underneath was smooth and clean.

In a nutshell, I did not notice any type of sheeting properties/characteristics of the AG HD Wax at all.

 

[JaredPointer]

On my Tundra this morning, I noticed the very fine beading characteristics of AG HD in a torrential downpour. SO now I have seen light rain as well as heavy buckets of rain (sitting and driving) and have not noticed a sheeting effect to this wax at all. I'm not sure how anyone would say that this wax has sheeting characteristics, but I haven't seen it so far.

I do know one instance where I can probably get it to sheet - doing a flood rinse. Other than that, it's beading like everything else.

It also holds onto pollen pretty well, as evidenced by the buildup on the front fender versus the rest of the passenger side panels. And that's after being topped with FK425 multiple times over a week or so timespan.

 

[JaredPointer]

Just a quick update:

Washed the Highlander today and was very impressed by how well the AG HD Wax seemed to rinse clean with an initial spray of the hose. It seems like it releases dirt fairly easily. It also beads very nicely if you like that sort of thing. It's been on around a week, being bombarded by pollen and a couple of rainstorms, but it still looks very glossy and has a nice shine.

I couldn't help myself, so I went ahead and added a second application and followed that with Poorboy's QD+. Very, very slick (most of which I attribute to the QD+) and an unreal glow. Too bad it's already got a nice yellow pollen coat.

For anyone on the fence, I think AG HD Wax is a nice addition to the shelf and you should go ahead and treat yourself.

 

[Ronkh]

For anyone on the fence, I think AG HD Wax is a nice addition to the shelf and you should go ahead and treat yourself.

ya had to go and say that.........