I am having a conversation with someone on another forum about sealants, carnaubas, "resolution," and durability.
Honestly, I don't know how one would define resolution in terms of a waxed/sealed finish, but here's some highlights from the conversation:
"My carnauba finishes have lasted through typical eastern seaboard winters when they were accumulated properly during a warm season (including rain and snow...uncovered!). If you ask the more experienced detailers, many will prefer a carnauba's resolution over a typical synthetic because the better carnaubas can develop a sharper resolution and greater depth of shine.
However, when I compared those finishes to very good (not talking about exotic yet) carnauba finishes, the carnaubas were not only sharper, but the reflections were clearer and deeper. The high end carnaubas such as P21s, Pinnacle, and Zymol, in my opinion, will outperform most waxes and synthetics, given with similar finishes."
"All waxes will improve a resolution over a surface with no wax on it. There have been countless tests to ascertain this.
Now, in terms of my wax lasting several months. Carnauba by itself doesn't wear or wash away by rain or water. Carnauba contains by products which will promote beading and gloss qualities in the wax resolution, that will in time wear away. The actual wax residue sinks beneath the outer layers of the paint and coats the surface, which in time with oxidation, will become dirty in appearance and will need to be removed with a cleaner.
I will usually start in the spring by a deep cleaning with a paint cleaner, followed by a polish, and then topping it off with one coat of wax. From april until november, I will build my resolution very slowly by applying one coat of wax per waxing session (a lot of people make the mistake of putting three or more coats on at one time, which tends to lose its beading quality much faster), and allowing the wax to dry. I've found by doing this, the wax surface hardens and maintains its shine longer. The hardened wax will also accept additional coats better. By November I have found that the paint surface has built up adequate amounts of wax, which has usually lasted through winter until April when I remove it and start new."
I've never had a quality carnauba last more than a couple of months (in good weather). I've also never seen a carnauba add "resolution." I guess they could all just be personal observations.
What are some opinions on this?
Honestly, I don't know how one would define resolution in terms of a waxed/sealed finish, but here's some highlights from the conversation:
"My carnauba finishes have lasted through typical eastern seaboard winters when they were accumulated properly during a warm season (including rain and snow...uncovered!). If you ask the more experienced detailers, many will prefer a carnauba's resolution over a typical synthetic because the better carnaubas can develop a sharper resolution and greater depth of shine.
However, when I compared those finishes to very good (not talking about exotic yet) carnauba finishes, the carnaubas were not only sharper, but the reflections were clearer and deeper. The high end carnaubas such as P21s, Pinnacle, and Zymol, in my opinion, will outperform most waxes and synthetics, given with similar finishes."
"All waxes will improve a resolution over a surface with no wax on it. There have been countless tests to ascertain this.
Now, in terms of my wax lasting several months. Carnauba by itself doesn't wear or wash away by rain or water. Carnauba contains by products which will promote beading and gloss qualities in the wax resolution, that will in time wear away. The actual wax residue sinks beneath the outer layers of the paint and coats the surface, which in time with oxidation, will become dirty in appearance and will need to be removed with a cleaner.
I will usually start in the spring by a deep cleaning with a paint cleaner, followed by a polish, and then topping it off with one coat of wax. From april until november, I will build my resolution very slowly by applying one coat of wax per waxing session (a lot of people make the mistake of putting three or more coats on at one time, which tends to lose its beading quality much faster), and allowing the wax to dry. I've found by doing this, the wax surface hardens and maintains its shine longer. The hardened wax will also accept additional coats better. By November I have found that the paint surface has built up adequate amounts of wax, which has usually lasted through winter until April when I remove it and start new."
I've never had a quality carnauba last more than a couple of months (in good weather). I've also never seen a carnauba add "resolution." I guess they could all just be personal observations.
What are some opinions on this?
